Editor's Pick
FEBRUARY 9, 2010 12:44AM
Rate: 17
kindergarteners - the pixie and the giant at age 5
There are few things more humbling than finding out what your kindergarten teacher really thinks of you. Even more embarrassing is finding out that she thinks one less cookie might be good for you. Mrs. C. was the first person in my life to point out that I was a little large for a kindergartener. Tall by more than what is reasonable, I was built like a little tank. Not zaftig exactly, but certainly not pixie.
My clothes were always a hair short or a smidgeon tight because I grew so fast. My mother, who sewed all my clothes, could not keep up for so many reasons. I never went without, but it is clear from the early photos that it looked like I was always wearing last year's clothes.I was happily oblivious until that one fateful February 14, many centuries ago. Valentine's Day meant party day in the Kindergarten, where you hang decorated paper bags and each classmate (hopefully) fills the other bags with dreamy (read: stupid) little sentimental cards.
And there were the treats. Someone's mom was assigned the task of making cookies for the party. The party at the end of the session, consisted of gathering on the floor in a circle and the teacher handing out a single heart shaped, frosted sugar cookie to each child. We were not allowed to eat them in class (smart teacher) and had to take them home in our valentine card bags.
The bags were at our feet when we were instructed to collect our stuff from the cubbies and get out the door, post-haste. Hands clapping, Mrs. C. startled most of the kids into acting like a herd running from thunder. The kid next to me jumped at the noise and stomped my bag.
I could hear the cookie crumble, even with the noise of the herd thumping to the cubbies. These were not the kind of cookies my mother made. I had rarely seen rolled sugar cookies with frosting and this was a really special treat. One that I wouldn't have to share with 3 brothers. That is, until the cookie met its demise from a little boy's shoe.
I probably was crying when I went up to the teacher to show her my footprint smeared bag and cookie crumbs. She looked at me and sighed as she shook her head. There were no more cookies and even so, it probably was good that I not eat one anyway. I really didn't need the sweets. I must have looked puzzled because she tweaked the waistband of my skirt to show me that it was a little bit small. Or I was too big.
My best friend came up to stand next to me just that moment. We walked home together. I was half again taller than her, though we were just a few months apart in age. The teacher smiled at her and frowned at me, shaking her head. For the first time ever, I looked at my friend in a new light and understood that school-life would be a picnic for that adorable pixie and I might be in for a challenge. A bit of a smart-ass comic was born that day.
At home it was hard to hide my disappointment. My mother effortlessly coaxed it out of me. Before I could get my coat and boots off and put away, she had mysteriously delivered a single cupcake, white with a little bit of pink frosting and tiny little red heart on top - right into my hands. She gave me a kiss and told me I was her littlest Valentine and this was just for me.
Although I cannot thank my kindergarten teacher for many things, I can thank Mrs. C. for creating one of the best traditions ever. There isn’t a Valentine’s Day that goes by where a cupcake is not front and center.
This year, easy, but fabulously light, and yet seriously rich tasting cocoa cupcakes will make their way to our table. Topped with a dash of freshly whipped cream and topped with a sweet little cherry.
This recipe is an adaptation from The Essence of Chocolate by Scharffenberger/Steinberg with Stephanie Hersh.
Little Valentine Cocoa Cupcakes
Ingredients- 2.5 tablespoons Valrhona unsweetened cocoa
- 8 tablespoons unsalted butter cut in cubes
- ½ cup filtered water
- 1 scant cup white sugar
- ½ cup Authentic Brand Foods Featherlight gluten free flour (or any gluten free flour)
- ½ teaspoon xanthan gum
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- 1 large egg
- ¼ cup full fat sour cream (don’t skimp)
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
Preheat oven to 350.
Place the cocoa, water and butter in a saucepan and simmer on low heat just until the butter is melted. Using a whisk, combine everything thoroughly. Add the sugar off heat and stir with the whisk until fully incorporated.
In a small bowl, mix the flour, xanthan gum, and baking soda and combine with fork. Add to the pot and blend with a whisk. Add the egg and incorporate. Add the sour cream and mix well. Add the vanilla and mix well.
Let the batter sit for exactly 20 minutes without stirring. Using a regular sized cupcake tin, place paper liners in 8 cups. After 20 minutes fill each about ¾ full. Bake for about 15 minutes and check. Bake a few minutes more and as soon as a toothpick comes out mostly clean, remove from oven. Using the toothpick loosen any edges that baked over the rims but leave them to cool in the pan for about 15 minutes. Remove to a wire rack. When cool, top with whipped cream and add a cherry or raspberry on top.
Notes: Skip the xanthan gum if you use regular flour. Equal measure for exchanging gf flour with regular flour. You don’t have to let it rest if you use regular flour. Use any gf flour you like. I like the Authentic Featherlight for cakes like this. Using excellent quality cocoa makes a big difference. You can find Valrhona cocoa at Whole Foods or other specialty markets. When loosening the edges after baking, try to spin the cupcake in place to make sure it is totally loose.
Happy Valentine’s Day.
Comments
What a great story, Lulu and Phoebe! (and shame on your kindergarten teacher!) You look fine, like a big kid who is the right size for her height in the picture. Gotta try these cupcakes. And good for your mom.
I love the photo (and that you are still bffs), and the cupcakes look simple and divine!
Im going to try the cup cakes they look yummy! I had dresses like those! Polly Flanders made them. Mine always had to be hemmed because I was the class shrimp. Hey, we lived to blog about it!
Shame on that teacher who picked a moment when you were already unhappy to make you feel even worse.
But your mom really picked a perfect moment to produce that cupcake and start a happy tradition, rescuing Valentine's Day from the emotional rubbish heap. =o)
But your mom really picked a perfect moment to produce that cupcake and start a happy tradition, rescuing Valentine's Day from the emotional rubbish heap. =o)
Amazing how those small moments make such a big impact, I have a heart full of them. Coming from a family of tall, solid women who were always a head taller than their friends, your story rang very true to me. My kids would love those cupcakes!
Awwwwwwwwwwww ... that is the loveliest sad Valentine's story I've heard. Mothers are the BEST.
If I could modify my last name - i would lose the first syllable and add scharffen~
If I could modify my last name - i would lose the first syllable and add scharffen~
Too much emotion for me this morning.
Love: As in I love your mother.
Hate: As in I hate your kindergarten teacher.
Empathy: I too became a smart ass comic early on.
Jealousy: You can write *and* bake. _r
Love: As in I love your mother.
Hate: As in I hate your kindergarten teacher.
Empathy: I too became a smart ass comic early on.
Jealousy: You can write *and* bake. _r
Beautiful cupcakes! And, I like the jumper. My mom made my dresses, too.
I'm slavering over those cupcakes. Great photo! I just ate and I'm hungry again!
I think your teacher was very wrong to comment on your size. "You were tall is all, very tall. If a very fat kid ran up to me crying because their cookie was stomped, I would hug him or her. What cruelty not to do so!
I think your teacher was very wrong to comment on your size. "You were tall is all, very tall. If a very fat kid ran up to me crying because their cookie was stomped, I would hug him or her. What cruelty not to do so!
How could any kindergarten teacher be like that! Beautifully told and the bonus of another gluten free recipe...
Those look amazing, even if the story is sweetbitter. I actually hissed "Bitch!" when I came to the part about her tweaking the waistband of your skirt.
I'm sure it was an incredibly painful experience and no doubt your teacher was a clueless oaf, but I'm grateful that it produced yet another "smart-ass comic." There can never be too many.
Happy Valentine's Day! Of course, I love your dear mother, and your friend, and I'm glad you got a tradition out of the deal. I did read the story with horror and can't help hoping something rotten (just rotten enough) befell that teacher. My mom also made my dresses (usually jumpers) as well as cupcakes. None looked like those yummy cocoa ones, though, which I'll have to try before (happily) tweaking the waistband of my own pants.
Shame on your kindergarten teacher! It's amazing, the kind of impact the teachers have on us. I had some wonderful teachers and some awful ones, but they all left their mark.
And those cupcakes look simply divine.
And those cupcakes look simply divine.
froggy - thanks! I didn't know it then, but the older me knows that I looked normal for a tall kid.
Linda - thanks, and yep. amazing, but we still are bffs half a century later. it is fun to have someone around who knew you way back.
Poppi - the cupcakes take five minutes to mix up. be sure to eat one warm. sooo good. I remember Polly Flanders dresses!
Shiral - thanks! I'm guessing Mrs. C. thought she was being kind. Happily, my mother was nicer.
mamoore - thank you. I wish we could have been tall together growing up. I was the one and only for a long time. The cupcakes are really easy to toss together. Eat them warm.
Ann - you crack me up. I totally redid your name. Sadly, John Scharf and Steinberg sold (out) to Hershey's. At least H sees the benefit of having the name retained as well as most of the quality.
Joan - I am smitten. You are the best. Thank you.
Lucy - I never appreciated how much work went into those clothes until I see the photos now. Thanks!
Lucy - many thanks! think the early 60's. Teachers were not quite as tuned to the emotional needs of kids back then. I imagine that some of her distaste had to do with fact that I could almost look her in the eye. Scary for a kindergarten teacher, probably. But you are right. So wrong to do to a little kid. If you enjoy chocolate, you will love these.
mtk - thanks! I can even remember what she was wearing. funny how some moments become like tiny YouTube mental videos. you could absolutely make these. One pot, five minutes!
Bell - you always make me smile!
Jeff - she was clueless, but a very tiny petite oaf. and yep, without her I would probably not be a smart ass. so in a weird way, I'm grateful.
suzi - thank you! the recipe only makes 8 so you probably won't have to tweak the waistband!
Ash - thanks! Kindergarten was not my best year, but I did have some fantastic teachers mixed in with the bad as the years went by.
Linda - thanks, and yep. amazing, but we still are bffs half a century later. it is fun to have someone around who knew you way back.
Poppi - the cupcakes take five minutes to mix up. be sure to eat one warm. sooo good. I remember Polly Flanders dresses!
Shiral - thanks! I'm guessing Mrs. C. thought she was being kind. Happily, my mother was nicer.
mamoore - thank you. I wish we could have been tall together growing up. I was the one and only for a long time. The cupcakes are really easy to toss together. Eat them warm.
Ann - you crack me up. I totally redid your name. Sadly, John Scharf and Steinberg sold (out) to Hershey's. At least H sees the benefit of having the name retained as well as most of the quality.
Joan - I am smitten. You are the best. Thank you.
Lucy - I never appreciated how much work went into those clothes until I see the photos now. Thanks!
Lucy - many thanks! think the early 60's. Teachers were not quite as tuned to the emotional needs of kids back then. I imagine that some of her distaste had to do with fact that I could almost look her in the eye. Scary for a kindergarten teacher, probably. But you are right. So wrong to do to a little kid. If you enjoy chocolate, you will love these.
mtk - thanks! I can even remember what she was wearing. funny how some moments become like tiny YouTube mental videos. you could absolutely make these. One pot, five minutes!
Bell - you always make me smile!
Jeff - she was clueless, but a very tiny petite oaf. and yep, without her I would probably not be a smart ass. so in a weird way, I'm grateful.
suzi - thank you! the recipe only makes 8 so you probably won't have to tweak the waistband!
Ash - thanks! Kindergarten was not my best year, but I did have some fantastic teachers mixed in with the bad as the years went by.
Thanks for sharing your story and your cupcake recipe! I know exactly how you felt being the tallest in your class since I was for most of elementary school. I was over 5 ft tall and weighed 115 lbs in third grade... I know this because we had a class weigh-in and I was not only the tallest, but weighed the most... and everyone in the class now knew it. How humiliating was that?!?!
Looking back at pictures, I was perfectly normal weight for my height, but it started a long tradition of dieting that I wish I'd avoided.
Yes small comments do have long lasting consequences. But I think I'll make your cupcakes and feel better about everything. :)
Looking back at pictures, I was perfectly normal weight for my height, but it started a long tradition of dieting that I wish I'd avoided.
Yes small comments do have long lasting consequences. But I think I'll make your cupcakes and feel better about everything. :)
Homemade chocolate cupcakes are LOVE. I can't wait to try these!
Wonderful story, what a great mom you have! I love the picture. Happy Valentine's Day!
Now I KNOW we're sisters of different mothers. I was always the tallest kid in my class, too. It sounds like you got the better mom, though. What a wonderful way for her to help you feel special again. That cupcake looks amazing. I'm usually intimidated by your recipes (I'm lousy at baking) but this one looks like even I could manage it. Happy Valentine's Day!
Stories AND food....be still my black heart. I admit this made me smile, a LOT, and I also want a cupcake.
Oh my God!! I just came across this and it made me love you more than I already do...if that's possible. I was the tall one too. I was the freak, the bean stalk, bean pole, jolly green giant, etc. I was 5'7" in 5th grade, and that was the year dancing school started - with boys who were all 4' something.
Fantastic post. I am honoring you and your amazing family and going to start the cupcake tradition with Kai and Lola.
Steph
Fantastic post. I am honoring you and your amazing family and going to start the cupcake tradition with Kai and Lola.
Steph
::grin::
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