I was going to give you a recipe for Rhubarb Pie or Rhubarb Crisp, or at the very least Rhubarb something. But I have a story for you instead. I don’t think you’ll mind.

muff1a

The day after school let out for the summer, one of my very nice, gentlemanly customers who works at the hospital next to my restaurant came in for his usual triple Americano in a 2o oz. cup, with no room for cream. First let me fill you in. Every day for over a year I ask him if he’d like anything to eat. A fresh-from-the-oven scone? A slice of banana bread? A croissant that happens to be oozing chocolate? Some fruit, yogurt and granola? Each time he just smiles in a very quiet and peaceful way, and says no thanks. He leaves with his change, and slips a single into the tip jar “for the girls”. So nice. But never any food.

You with me?

So the day after school lets out, he comes in. Usually we see him ambling toward the door and start his shots before he gets to the counter, but today I was busy with another customer so I didn’t see him coming. When I turned around I saw him standing at the register, I immediately started his shots. I was a little busy and distracted, so this time I didn’t ask him if he wanted anything else.

“I think you could sell me something to eat today,” he said quietly. I whirled around in surprise to see his young daughter standing next to him. “She’s coming to work with me today,” he said. “This is Olivia.” Well she was just about the sweetest thing! I gave her some menu ideas, and after briefly considering her options she decided on a white hot chocolate and vanilla scone. They settled in at the high top near the window, and when I brought her drink out, I asked her about school and what she liked to do in her spare time.

“I like to cook,” she said with a shy smile. “I have 12 recipes!” Well! I asked her about her recipes, and she told me all about the muffins, cookies and pies she and her mother make. Hmmm, I thought as I walked back to the counter. I could not help it. I just got so excited. I went back over to her and said that I’d started baking with my mother when I was very young, and that I used to watch this public television show called “Zoom” which had recipes for kids to try at home. I told her she should keep baking and cooking, even if some of her experiments bombed. Then I had an idea. My restaurant has Oilcloth-covered tables, and we sell aprons, lunch bags and other cool stuff made from Oilcloth fabric. I said I wanted to encourage her to keep cooking and baking by giving her an Oilcloth apron, which made her so excited since her dad told me she was just admiring the tablecloth. I had her pick out an apron to take home. She chose one with white and blue polka dots, which fit her perfectly. She and her dad left, holding hands, walking towards the hospital where he works. She was still wearing the apron, and as I watched them go I remembered all the people who’d encouraged me over the years, and never said I was too little to learn.

A few days later, the quiet, sweet man came in for his coffee, but this time he had something to give me. It was a polka dotted bag, with a note inside from his daughter, and a hand written recipe. He told me she spent a long time writing it, and was worried about her spelling. We both laughed and as I read it with my staff crowded around me, we all giggled and teared up at her thougtfulness. When I gave her the apron, it gave my joy to bless her and encourage her. I had no idea what a blessing she would be to me in return.

On the notecard there is a little drawing of a cafe in the lower right hand corner, with two outside tables. I know she must have chosen it just for me, with my restaurant in mind. I love this note and will treasure it forever. The thought of seven-year-old Olivia, sitting at the kitchen table at her parents house, wearing her apron, carefully writing out her thoughts and recipe in pencil, drawing lines on the back to write out the seven steps straight makes my heart hurt. I just had to share it with you.

And Olivia? I did have fun makin it. Thank you so much, my friend. Keep on baking. The world needs love like this.

muff2a

Summertime Raspberry Muffins (in her own words)

from Olivia’s Kitchen

What you need:

3/4 cup flour

1/2 cup cornmeal

1/4 cup sugar

1 tsp. grated lemon peel

1 1/2 tsp baking powder

1/8 tsp salt

1/2 cup raspberries

1/2 cup milk

1 egg

2 Tbl butter, melted and cooled a bit

1. Preheat to 400.

2. Mix dry ingredients.

3. Mix raspberries and 1 Tbl flour.

4. Mix wet items in sep bowl.

5. Stir wet into dry items.

6. Add berrie and stir.

7. Fill muffin tin bake 14 min.

This recipe made seven muffins. Feel free to double the batch. I sprinkled raw sugar on top before baking.