"... They seem to be ready," Louie nodded, beginning to remove the mochi from the pot. He shifted it a little in the bowl with a spoon and took note of the texture, the solidity, the way it looked, and everything else that he needed to. It seemed to be ready to go, that was for sure! It held its own unique fragrance, being such a savory rice dish unlike any other.

Okay, now Louie was REALLY drooling.