A throw back from my days when I wrote for the Falmouth Bulletin. This story appeared under the column: "Lessons From Val's Kitchen" in early December of 2010. Eight years later, Ava is still in love with dance, still dancing in the Sea Captain's Nutcracker this weekend: November 24th and 25th. However, she has graduated into one of the "older" dancers, now wearing satin pointe shoes and an icicle tiara.
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| Chocolate and Cherry Mice for your holiday table |
Nutcracker Sweet
"I’m so excited!” Ava
said as she rolled out of bed early this morning, her eyes still smudged with
black liner and her long locks sticky with hair spray from dress rehearsal the
night before. We were at the theatre pretty late last night just as we were all
week for practice with the rest of the Sea Captain’s Nutcracker cast. Every
night we left the theatre around 9:00pm, way past her usual bedtime of 7:30pm
but every night she bounded down the concrete walkway under the light of the
moon as if she was ready for more. Her energy is contagious which is a good thing
because before she got up, I sat with my cup of coffee wondering how I was
going to get through two performances. All of the mom’s had a job; mine was to
help with the hair and makeup and thwarting inevitable backstage catastrophes
like “Fritz” losing his only pair of white tights and the little sea pearl who
suddenly has to use the bathroom as the stage manager calls “places everyone!”
Ava never tired watching all of the “older” accomplished
high school age dancers during the long practices at her dance school. I had to
drag her out after each four hour session was finally over even though she
spent such a short period of time practicing her own part and the rest of the time
observing. It seems she just can’t get enough of satin pointe shoes and leg
warmers.
Being involved in a large scale production is exciting but
the costumes make it more so. Ava couldn’t wait to put on her mouse hat
complete with pink and white felt ears, and sparkly gold whiskers made out of
pipe cleaners. The outfits were over-sized and baggy. They made all the kids
look like they were fat mice who had been stuck in the dryer for a cycle. The
mice in the fight scene added a touch of comedy as they jumped and scurried
about cheering and jeering. Of course, this scene was far too short in my
opinion! But when the few minutes were over, Ava waited patiently back stage
for her next part, eager to change into her
“sea glass” costume and color with her friends until she was called back
to stage during Scene 3.
I understand Ava’s excitement. The ballet always seemed so magical
to me, and still does. Ever since my grandmother took me to Boston when I was
about ten yrs old to see the Nutcracker, I have loved the music and hummed
along, visions of Sugar Plum Fairies dancing in my head. Tchaikovsky’s music is
my go to sound track for holiday baking. Just hearing the first few notes of
the “Overture” gives me the motivation I need to wrap the last few gifts I have
left to put under the tree. I took ballet as a child but retired my dance shoes
around age eleven; I’m sure much to the relief of my dance teacher. I was a bit
too uncoordinated and self conscious of my chubby body. And I could never get
my legs stretched enough to even closely resemble a split. In spite of all
this, my love for the music remains and every time I hear the horns announce
the beginning of the “March” during the party scene, I recall the sparkly
tutus, elegant dancers and elaborate decorations that remind me of Christmas. I
played my worn Nutcracker CD the other day to get myself into the spirit of the
season. Ava kicked off her shoes and pirouetted a few times across the kitchen floor,
eventually crashing her long gazelle like legs into some furniture in our small
house. She picked herself up and kept on going, unfazed by any obstacles and
completely entranced in her love of dance.
Six year old Ava as "Lead Mouse" and Fourteen year old Ava as "Ice and Wind"
I discovered these “mice” this summer at the 3 Dogs Café,
Rockport, ME www.3dogscafe.com. I duplicated them in my own kitchen to surprise
Ava after her performance. Children love to eat the cute critters but a steady
hand is needed to add the eyes, nose and ears. Enjoy these on your holiday buffet or any time of year!
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| Chocolate Mice |
Chocolate Mice
(Makes 24)
Ingredients:
24 Hershey’s chocolate kisses
7 oz. semi sweet chocolate chips, divided
1 10 oz. jar maraschino cherries with stems
12 Oreo cookies
Slivered almonds (small package)
2 teaspoons instant coffee
Tooth picks
Set out all ingredients needed: Unwrap kisses and place in a
small bowl. Place 6 oz. semi sweet chips into a sauce pan and heat over very
low heat, stirring frequently until melted, then remove from heat. Select 24 cherries with stems attached, drain
and place into a small bowl. Open Oreo cookies by slicing through filling with
a small knife. Place open halves onto a lined baking sheet. Cull through
almonds and place 48 unbroken slivers into a small bowl. Moisten fingers with water and smooth out any
dings and white marks on kisses.
Begin each mouse by holding a cherry by the stem and dipping
it into melted chocolate spooning chocolate over cherry to completely cover. Drip
off excess and place chocolate covered cherry on an Oreo half. Place a kiss on
its side and gently press the flat end into the chocolate covered cherry to
attach the head. Place 2 almond slivers into the chocolate just behind the flat
edge of the kiss for ears. Continue
until all mice are made to this point.
Place remaining ounce
of semisweet chips into a microwave safe bowl. Add instant coffee and microwave
at 30 second intervals until just melted. Stir until smooth. Using a toothpick, dot eyes and a nose onto
each mouse. Let mice set for 3-4 hours until firm. Store for 2-3 days in an
airtight container.
This holiday season, Andrea
Norris can be found humming along to Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker while making
treats at her home in East Falmouth, MA. For more recipes, go to: www.valscapecodkitchen.com
