~ Toasted Whistle Seeds ~
In the frozen lands of Volgiev, there is a forest that gently whistles year round. The constant, low sound doesn’t come from an animal or spirit, as many might guess. In truth, the sound is actually made by whistle cones. As wind blows through the forest, it courses through the gnarly, round cones of the tall whistle trees, causing their cones to sing. The cones are very rare to come by and few know how to properly prepare them because the whistle trees are unique to that forest. More importantly though, the forest is protected by a powerful spirit. Needless to say, that makes procuring the cones all the more difficult.
If you go north of the capital, the forest is only a few days away on foot in good weather. Once you reach the forest, keep to the very edge where the spirit rarely treads and listen for a strong whistle (the louder the whistle, the more cones there are). After you have decided on a tree, start climbing. Unfortunately, the creatures dwelling along the forest floor often pick the low hanging cones, so you will be forced to climb high until you find some towards the top. Pick as many as you can, being careful not to crush the delicate body of the cones, and then quickly leave the forest before the spirit comes looking for you.
It is easy to imagine that you would next crack and tear off the warped scales of the whistle cones to get at the raw seeds inside, but that is a mistake. The cone is so delicate that tearing the scales out would damage the seeds, ruining them. Instead, you must cook the whole thing, scales and all, to get the full flavor.
With a fire lit, hold the cone over the flame (don’t be a coward, hold it by the long stem). The cone needs to be close enough that the scales slowly burn, but far enough away that the seeds inside will be barely cooked. Turning the cone over and over to roast it evenly, it will take about half an hour to fully blacken the scales. (You can tell you are finished if the scales start to fall off on their own). Then, place the cone in the snow to help it cool fast. When it is safe to touch, begin gently pulling at the scales, being careful not to tug too hard. They should come off easily, exposing the toasted whistle seeds inside.
Once they are cool enough to eat, and that shouldn’t be long, pick out a fat seed and enjoy its smoky yet sweet flavor.
The best fruit is not always the ripest