Post-Concert Cake

Concerts always mean dessert at our house and tonight's choir finale for 2009-2010 is no exception. Making the goody before the big event was a race against time since I didn't arrive home until nearly 5 p.m. and had to leave again at 6:15. Luckily a cake mix and icing were lurking in the pantry waiting for the right moment to present themselves.

Tonight's flavor choice was cherry. I'd never eaten a cherry chip cake before, but decided to try the variety when I had a coupon that made the cake and frosting (together) about a dollar. The cake itself does not have much cherry flavor and is basically a moist white cake with flecks of "cherry chips" that look like pink confetti. On the other hand, the icing does have a distinct cherry flavor, albeit an extremely sweet one. Overall, the pair is a good combo for post concert discussions, especially when teamed with a glass of cold milk. (It would probably be better with chocolate milk, but alas we're out.)

Jeff's kids performed admirably under his direction as well as that of a student teacher. Between the large groups, soloists and duos entertained the audience following the concert's Broadway theme. I have to say the musical highlight of the evening was Jeff's own arrangement of "With You" from Pippin. (Please note, Jeff says I'm biased since he wrote the arrangement for me and it's "our song.") The biggest crowd pleaser was a song from 70 Girls 70 called "Coffee in a Cardboard Cup" which garnered several laughs and a huge round of applause.

The final concert of the year is bittersweet for us as well as students. We take the opportunity to bid farewell to the senior class, many of whom we have known and watched grow for the last three years. Some of these kids have looked up to Jeff as a dad, while others have regarded him as a teacher who goes beyond his subject matter and helps them grow as human beings. The final song at the spring concert is always "For Good" from Wicked and always manages to evoke a few tears from even my jaded old eyes. (Of course this is nothing since there is always at least one girl who wails through the music.) In addition, several members of the choir council usually break down when they are thanking Jeff and presenting him with some token to remember them by. This year he received a pitch pipe in a silver box engraved with his name and the year. In the past, he has been given picture frames, pocket watches, letter boxes, and a host of other sentimental trinkets which are all on display at home or in his office at school.

It only seems fitting that such sweetness bringing the concert to a close should be greeted with edible sweetness at home.