Cardamom’s Courage
Word Count: 214 Cardamom sat on the dusty, top rack and thought: If only I could be a little more fiery, like Cayenne. Or, perhaps a little more bold, like Dill. Instead, she was an acquired taste… an unpopular spice, rarely used in any recipes. Above all, Cardamom struggled to feel confident in her own glass jar. Valentine’s Day finally arrived. The seasonings were musing about who would be used in tonight’s special dish. “I hope Chef is feeling SPICY tonight!” Cayenne said. “What about me? I’m a BIG DILL!” Dill added. Cardamom stared from her empty rack, lonely and quiet. Soon, the Chef opened his well-loved recipe book. The spices watched eagerly as his spindly finger grazed the list... Past the soups and salads, Past the appetizers and entrees, Landing on… desserts. The old pages of the book flipped and settled on: Raisin Nut Bread. The Chef gathered the ingredients. Suddenly, he gripped Cardamom tightly, measured the perfect amount, and sprinkled her into the mixing bowl. Cardamom’s heart fluttered. Be brave, Cardamom! Be YOURSELF! She danced among the raisins and walnuts. She folded her sweetness into the sticky dough. Her warm notes paired with the other spices beautifully. It wasn’t long before the delicious smell filled the kitchen. She watched from her rack–proud to be Cardamom.
19 Comments
2/12/2021 10:58:18 am
Delightful! I love the part where Cardamom dances among the raisins and walnuts.
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Molly Ippolito
2/12/2021 01:05:14 pm
Thank you! That was my favorite part to write! :) Good luck to you!
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2/12/2021 11:30:13 am
What a unique idea to tell a story from the spices' perspectives. And boy do I want a bite of that Valentine treat! Well done! Good luck!
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Molly Ippolito
2/12/2021 01:05:53 pm
Thanks so much for the positive feedback! Good luck to you as well!
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Anne Lipton
2/12/2021 02:27:34 pm
Mmm. Such a sweet and heartwarming Valentine's poem with an original perspective. It cleverly teaches kids about different cooking spices, too. I happe to love cardamom, and Swedish cardamom buns are a popular Christmas treat in our home. Best of luck in the contest!
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Molly Ippolito
2/13/2021 09:36:25 am
Yum!! The Swedish cardamom buns sound absolutely delicious! Thanks so much for reading and taking the time to comment! :)
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Armineh Manookian
2/12/2021 04:18:50 pm
Such an original story! I love the flavor of cardamom, especially in desserts and tea.
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Molly Ippolito
2/13/2021 09:37:02 am
Thank you so much! She's a SWEET one! <3
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2/12/2021 06:40:46 pm
Love this unique POV for a Valentine story, Molly! So nicely told, and such clever use of the spices. I'm glad Cardamom got her chance to shine!
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Molly Ippolito
2/13/2021 09:38:02 am
Thank you so very much for your thoughtful comment! I suppose that even kitchen spices can remind us to find the courage and bravery to be ourselves! :)
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Sally A Yorke-Viney
2/12/2021 07:34:21 pm
Molly, you brought spice to my life tonight and inspired me to look up cardamom for my gluten free goodies and there are loads of recipes! I love how cardamom waits quietly anticipating and then celebrates by dancing with all the ingredients! What a "sweet" story!
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Molly Ippolito
2/13/2021 09:38:55 am
Oh my goodness! I feel HONORED that I inspired you! Your gluten free goodies sound very tasty!
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2/13/2021 10:47:15 am
I love the creativity here! What a fun, unique character and perfect for Valentine's Day!
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Molly Ippolito
2/13/2021 03:46:04 pm
Thank you so much for the positive comments! :)
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Echo Roben
2/14/2021 03:13:52 pm
What a sweet story! It's so warm & inviting. As a forever fan of cardamom, I'm so happy she got to shine!
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Molly Ippolito
2/16/2021 02:12:37 pm
Thanks so much! Agreed! Cardamom should ALWAYS shine! :)
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Martina
2/15/2021 04:17:23 pm
I like this story very much!:)
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Molly Ippolito
2/16/2021 02:13:35 pm
Thank you so much! :)
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Nancy Derey Riley
2/17/2021 05:16:23 pm
A fun, new perspective. A spice that brings her own touch to the recipe. Great job and good luck!
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AuthorMy name is Molly Ippolito. But, my 3rd graders call me Mrs. Ippy! I love to learn, I love to teach, I love to write. Archives
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