Story #56: Diet Coke Cake

Henry and me hard at work on the batter

Kelli shows off her frosting, ready to spread

Last weekend we were all in Chicago for my mom's surgery. It also happened to be my dad's birthday. "Can I be in charge of the cake?!" my sister in law Kelli wanted to know. "I have a GREAT recipe I want to try--it's called Diet Coke cake and it's incredible!" Diet Coke cake? I mean, I remember food in the midwest being different than what I eat now in California but this was more than unusual. Sure, I thought--as much as I love my dad and love cake, the last thing I was in the mood to do was create some special birthday confection. Plus with a name like that, who wouldn't be curious?

We went to the Jewel on our way home from the hospital Saturday night. I was worried about getting home because my brother had sounded pretty frustrated on the phone when I called to tell him we were leaving the hospital. Spending all afternoon with Henry and Samuel, while fun, can do that to a person. Kelli reassured me that the trip to the grocery store would be quick. "The recipe only has four ingredients," she explained, "even including the frosting. So there's not much to buy."

Diet Coke Cake

ingredients:
one box chocolate cake mix
one 12-ounce can Diet Coke
one tub frozen Cool Whip
one package Jell-o gelatin mix (we chose raspberry)

directions:
1. Empty the cake mix into a large bowl.
2. Add the Diet Coke.
3. Mix until batter is uniform and free of lumps.
4. Bake according to directions.
5. Cool.
6. Thaw Cool Whip until stir-able.
7. Empty the packet of Jell-o mix into the Cool Whip.
8. Fold until blended.
9. Frost.
10. Eat.

Henry and I were in charge of the batter while Kelli and Samuel made the frosting. The cake itself was light, fluffy, moist, and (on a California note) vegan. The frosting--shocking pink in color--was a little overwhelming to me, mostly because the crystals do not dissolve completely and the texture is crunchy as a result. Overall, though, innovative and enjoyable. Most importantly the birthday man seemed to enjoy being celebrated, which is the most important thing of all.

Dad eating Diet Coke cake!

Story #55: Jessica!

Over Memorial Day weekend I went to Tawonga to work as an educator for family camp. The long drive into the mountains gave me plenty of time to think, worry, plan (ha!) and daydream about the future. The scenery outside the car was gorgeous, as ever, but inside my mind it was a mix of beautiful and exciting possibilities about what could be next in my life and disappointing, terrifying fears about loss.

And then, of course, there is the charge to just live in the present, to show up and unpack your stuff and live amongst the tall, tall trees if only for a long weekend. Breathing clear Yosemite air and watching the millions of stars come out helped remind me of the peacefulness that can come from appreciating every moment. Plus camp, for all its dirt and bugs and lack of Internet access is simply very fun. Just when I get tangled up in my own life and upset about what might or might not be, I find myself on stage with my friend Avner and a bunch of other camp staff, not to mention a dozen kids under the age of six, dancing to the Israeli club favorite Jessica. Like the Macarena or All the Single Ladies by Beyonce, the song Jessica has a signature dance and it is super fun...even better when being coached through and cheered along by Avner: "Okay, now be the train, choo choo! Excellent!" So fun. The next time I need to remind myself about the freedom of being in the present, the next time I need a break from the busy-ness of my mind I think I will dance Jessica just on my own, wherever I am. As a matter of fact, now is as good a time as any. Dance it with me, everyone...

Ech besof hashavu'a
hi be'ofen kavu'a, lo levad
im ein gever bashetach
(az) hi potachat bedietat shokolad
k'mo kol echad.

Vehachiyuch shelah ratuv
ani chozer k'shehi tashuv
nas'ah lah lemakom acher.

Tamid chashvah sheha'elohim
ahav lir'ot otanu menagnim
ki zeh harosh shel Jessica
Jessie, Jessie, Jessie Jessica ooh oh ooh oh
ah ooh oh ooh oh
achshav hi rechokah.

(read the lyrics in Hebrew and English here)

Story #54: At The Beach

me up to my ankles in the cold swirling surf of Ocean Beach, staying right where I am even when the shifting sands and chilly toes make it very tempting to want to go

On Wednesday I went to Ocean Beach with Sarah. She is leaving in just a few days to move back to Seattle for the summer. In the fall, she will move to Los Angeles to begin rabbinical school.

Two years ago we had met on the same beach except then it was me leaving for my sabbatical and her staying here in San Francisco. Now it is the other way around. I was going to camp and then Jerusalem, she is going to Zeigler and then to...well, of course...Israel eventually. Unsurprising.

We talked about the ideas of staying and going, about which is easier, about which is more brave. We talked about how going is usually a choice while staying is sometimes not, is sometimes just status quo. I had always thought that going requires greater courage but recently I am beginning to learn that staying is much harder than it seems.