I Carry Your Heart With Me
I carry your heart with me (I carry it in my heart)
I am never without it (anywhere I go you go, my dear; and whatever is done by only me is your doing, my darling)
I fear no fate (for you are my fate, my sweet)
I want no world (for beautiful you are my world, my true) and it's you are whatever a moon has always meant and whatever a sun will always sing is you
Here is the deepest secret nobody knows (here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud and the sky of the sky of a tree called life; which grows higher than the soul can hope or mind can hide) and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart
I carry your heart (I carry it in my heart)
by E. E. Cummings
I remember like it was yesterday, give or take a few years...
It had been a month since I sat the last exam of my first year of University. I had a day off from my crappy summer job, had just completed running my errands and was headed to my aunt's office for our lunch date.
I loved the convenience of living close to campus, transit and all the happening spots. My roommate/best friend and I were in teenage heaven.
I paid my fare and descended the stairs to the platform. It was packed. "Don't people work?" I asked myself, and still do on days off when I run into heavy traffic or long line-ups. I HATE crowds. I was just shy of 100lbs and stood 5'3" - jostling crowds was not my event. I found a pillar and stood with my back against it for fear of being trampled, or pushed onto the tracks.
As the train approached, I positioned myself for the onslaught. I was promptly pushed into one body and then another. I looked up to apologize to that second body and was met with the most mesmerizing green eyes. He flashed me a knowing look and a gentle smile and I returned what must have looked to him as the same, for he did not look away for a long time - all the while being carried by the crowed. I was jolted back to reality when the train doors chimed and found that I was already on the other side of the doors. Mister Green Eyes was nowhere to be seen.
I felt a little panicked and found myself searching the crowd for him. But why? I composed myself, pulled out my book and just when I was about to put him out of my head and escape to the last few pages of The Alchemist, the train doors opened, the crowd thinned and he reappeared.
He smiled and I smiled back. I stared at the words on the pages of my book and they stared back, one not making any sense to the other. Each time I looked up from my book, I was met with a smile and I would politely and cautiously return one. This continued for nine subway stops.
With every stop I wondered if he would get off, and secretly hoped he wouldn't. I then began to worry as we neared my stop that I was flirting with a stalker, a killer, a rapist... My mind and heart were in a frenzy - a shouting match of sorts. My smiles became less relaxed and I think he noticed. He began to busy himself with a book.
My stop was next. I found myself noting every detail from his height to his clothing, hair colour, etc. Weekly doses of Law & Order episodes and criminal law courses will do that. But beneath all the panic and worry there was a knowing - I couldn't explain it then and it sounds a little kooky each time we try now. We, because I later learned that he too, felt 'it'.
My stop was announced and the doors slid open. I remember wanting to turn around to say bye, hi, something - fear and nerves got the better of me.
I made my way off the train and to my surprise and horror, so did he. I became extremely concerned and pretty much sprinted toward my aunt's office building, jumped on the elevator and commenced my ascent. As luck or love would have it, the elevator was a vertical fish tank. I pressed the button and turned to see him standing in the mezzanine searching the crowd. For me?
Then the strangest thing happened. I was compelled by a 'voice' to press the lobby button and head back down. Against my better judgement, I did.
"Are you looking for someone?" were the first words I spoke to him. "Yes, you!" was his response. I took him to meet my aunt, gave her a rain-check for lunch and sat in the park with Mister Green Eyes for over an hour, just talking. It was effortless and familiar - says the normally shy, reserved, guarded girl.
He was on summer break as well and would be returning shortly. He loved to read and had recently read the book I was pretending to read on the train. We talked about everything under the sun and as we did, a butterfly landed on his shoulder and remained there for a while. That pretty much sealed the deal for me.
We took the train together and caught a movie. He introduced me to his family and we spent the next couple weeks picnicking, swimming, dining out, visiting museums and galleries. It really was love at first sight and has felt the same ever since - most days ;).
These mini 'His' and 'Hers' anniversary cakes were the pefect portion for two. The writing on His is inspired by these cookies I saw on Haniela's blog. They are so adorable - I knew right away that I wanted to borrow that technique. I planned to use the words from our favourite poem that I shared in the opening, but it was more of a challenge than I had time for and after a few tests, I realized my handwriting at the angle at which I needed to work, just wasn't cutting it. I decided only one would have the writing. The flowers are made using a heart cutter and coloured fondant that were wired and assembled around pearl stamen.
The recipe I used for this Red Velvet cake was not my normal tried and true recipe, so I have decided not to share it. Although it tasted fine, I found it a little on the dry side and it did not produce as vibrant a red. I have shared my go-to RV cake recipe below, instead.
The recipe and video instructions for the white chocolate ganache are here.
Would love to hear how you met your love. Leave me a comment below.
Servings: 2 - 8" cakes
Ingredients
- Cake:
- 1 cup unsalted butter
- 2 tablespoon water
- ¾ cup unsweetened cocoa rouge E. Guittard makes a good red dutch cocoa powder
- 3 eggs
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 1 tablespoon white vinegar
- 2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 tablespoon beet juice 1 medium beet yields about 4 tbsp
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- ½ cup cornstarch
- 1 ½ teaspoon baking powder
- 1 ½ cups superfine sugar
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350ºF.
- Place the butter, water, and cocoa in a small saucepan and heat gently, without boiling, stirring until melted and smooth. Remove from heat and let cool slightly.
- Beat together the eggs, buttermilk, vanilla extract, vinegar and beet juice until frothy. Beat in the butter mixture.
- Sift together the flour, cornstarch and baking powder, then stir into the mixture with the superfine sugar.
- Pour batter into two 8" pans and bake for 30-35 minutes, or until risen and firm to the touch.
- Cool in pan for about 10 minutes, then place on a wire rack and cool completely.
- Once cooled, cut the circles out with the mould and assemble.
Tried this recipe?Mention @isugarcoatit or tag #isugarcoatit !
Paula Kelly-Bourque says
I loved reading the abridged version of how you two met. How romantic! These cakes are adorable and gorgeous. I loved Hani's cookie technique too ( plan to use it soon myself actually) and it looks wonderful on the cake :). Happy Anniversary and best wishes for many more!
I Sugar Coat It! says
Thank you, Paula! Can't wait to see what you create.
Regina @SpecialtyCakeCreations says
What a sweet way of how you met. And you have a great talent for story-telling.
These cakes are so cute and lovely. And I love that your red velvet cake recipe actually uses beat juice. I always cringe when I squirt out the red food coloring. I definitely have to try it when I find red cocoa.
I Sugar Coat It! says
Thank you, Regina! Yes, try the beet juice, you won't taste it. I find red food colouring leaves a bitter after taste. The red cocoa helps intensify the colour, but dark cocoa would work as well. Hope you guys make it to Malaysia safely!
Regina @SpecialtyCakeCreations says
Yes, we finally made it to Malaysia late last night. Can't wait to try a beet juice red velvet cake 🙂
Haniela says
What a sweet sweet story. I enjoyed reading your story.
I love how your cakes turned out, so beautiful. I've always wanted to give red beet juice a go, I don't like to use too much red in baking. Thanks for the recipe. I hope you try it during holidays this year.
Thank you for a sweet mention, too.
I Sugar Coat It! says
Thanks you so very much for visiting, Haniela, and for your kind words!! Would love to hear your thoughts on the RV cake if you try it.
Radhika says
Hi Jacquee, your story was really sweet, and your cakes look beautiful. I use a grated beetroot in my red velvet cakes. They make a very moist cake. Must look for the red cocoa powder though. R
I Sugar Coat It! says
I run my beets through the food processor - will have to try grating! Thanks!