Right after Pesach when the new flour came into the stores, I
set about baking up a storm for the upcoming Shabbosim,
birthdays and a Bas Mitzva. After the storm abated, I was
left with one nice-sized chocolate cake in a pan in my
freezer.
Of course, I wasn't the only one who knew of the cake's
existence and the house rules are pretty lenient about taking
a piece of cake when the mood strikes, unless it is clearly
marked off limits for a special occasion.
Oh, how much trust I had that there was a chocolate cake in
my freezer. Oh, how much reassurance it gave me that I
needn't fear the arrival of unexpected guests. Emuna
ubitochon! I was emotionally secure. I was prepared for
anything.
I envisioned surprise company. I saw myself spreading on some
commercial chocolate spread and colored sprinkles to please a
crowd of grandchildren.
I thought maybe it would be an extra cake to supplement the
treats for Ruthie's Bas Mitzva party. I could then spread it
around in those pretty ruffled paper holders along with other
people's contributions.
I imagined that the cake might make it all the way through to
Shavuos. I could slice it sideways and fill it with dairy ice
cream as a special dessert.
Occasionally, I would be tempted to lift off the tin foil
cover to peek and see what, if anything, was left. But I
resisted because to know that I had no security would leave
me with nothing to fall back on.
Today I made some cream jelly rolls and a coffee cake for a
friend's daughter's engagement party and, of course, I made a
little extra for the family. As I popped the new reserves
into the freezer, I decided that the moment for unveiling had
arrived...
In the end, we had store-bought cheesecake for Shavuos and
we'll need a fresh batch of brownies for that Bas Mitzva.
Anyone want to wash a very cold pan?
[Suggestion for keeping those cakes in the freezer, intact.
Store YOUR cakes in your neighbor's freezer, and HER cakes in
yours, carefully labeled. No child will be so bold as to nosh
from a neighbor's cake!]
