Fallen Cupcakes

Well, today is John Calvin's 500th birthday! I've already wrote about why we should be celbrating his birthday this year (see Happy 500th Birthday, John Calvin on June 8). Today, instead of explaining why to celebrate his birthday, this is how to do it.

Perhaps start with reading one of his prayer (found at http://homepage.mac.com/shanerosenthal/reformationink/jcprayers.htm). Perhaps read from one of his works.

The highlight of our celebration today was making and eating some chocolate cupcakes in his honor. Here's the recipe (for 12 cupcakes):







1 stick unsalted butter, cut into 8 pieces
2 oz. bittersweet chocolate (we used Lindt chocolate, since it was a Swiss brand)
1/2 cup Dutch processed cocoa powder
3/4 cup all purpose flour
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 large eggs at room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup sour cream

1. Microwave the butter chocolate an cocoa together. Whisk until melted and smooth. Set aside to cool.
2. Heat oven to 350 degrees. Line a muffin pan with liners. Whisk the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt together. Set aside.
3. Whisk the eggs and vanilla together in a large bow. Slowly whisk in the sugar until combined. Whisk in the cooled chocolate mixture.
4. Sift one-third of the flour mixture over the batter, then stir in. Stir in the sour cream. Sift the remaining flour mixture over the batter and stir until completely incorporated.
5. Fill the cupcake liners with a rounded ice-cream scoop full of batter. Bake until a toothpick placed in center of cupcake comes out clean, 18-22 minutes.
6. Let cupcakes cool in pan for 5 minutes on a wire rack. Remove and let cool for 1 hour before frosting them.

Frosting:

1 tablespoons half-and-half.
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
pinch of salt
1 1/4 sticks butter, softened and cut into small cubes
1 1/4 cups confectioner sugar
1/4 cup dutch processed cocoa powder.

combine all ingredients in a bowl and mix with a handheld electric mixer until smooth. Scrape down sides of bowl to get all ingredients mixed thoroughly.


Why cupcakes? Why not? John Hesselink, a Dutch Reformed Theologian at Western Theological Seminary in Holland Michigan delivered a paper entitled, John Calvin: The Theologian of Sweetness." In his paper, Hesselink shows the overwhelming occurence of the work "sweetness" when referring to God and God's presence in our lives. This is the kinder and gentler Calvin that we sadly don't hear about. His paper shows Calvin's emphasis on the goodness and grace of God who desires to fill the hearts of his people with joy and love by their knowing and tasting the sweetness of God and his provisions. Hence the cupcakes.

Yet that is not the whole story. You see, I made the cupcakes this morning, waiting for my daughter to be home to make the frosting and decorate. We had a great time doing it. There they were, beautiful cupcakes on a cooling rack, looking so perfect.



After dinner, I announced it was time to have cupcakes. My daughter, excited goes to the kitchen to get our beautiful creations. Then we hear a thud and know what happened. She dropped them. We consoled her and praised her for wanting to bring the cupcakes out. We pick the cupcakes up, still with some frosting on them, cleaned up the frosting stuck to the floor and went and had some delicious cupcakes, singing "Happy Birthday" to a picture of Calvin before devouring them.

Then I realized how perfect it was: fallen cupcakes. That's what we are (according to Calvin). God's creation, created so beautifully and with such delight and joy by God. But then we fell, destroying the original beauty. Yet God did not just throw us into the trash because we fell to the floor. God fixed the frosting, put new sprinkles on us and enjoyed us nonetheless.

Okay, it's not a perfect analogy, but this little event did remind me of why I like Calvin so much and perhaps understood God's providence in having me make fallen cupcakes today.

Happy Birthday, John, this imperfect yet delicious cupcake is for you!