Picolo had a box. It was a wooden box with a lid that fit perfectly. He liked the way it smelled like forests and the smooth sanded pattern of tree rings. Picolo carried the box with him everywhere.
One morning while Picolo was at the library, there was a short boy on his tiptoes trying to get a book off the shelf. The boy saw his box. “Oh, a step stool! That’s just what I need. Can I borrow it?”
“No, sorry. This is not a step stool,” Picolo said, hiding the box behind him. “I have something special planned for it.”
“Like what?” The kid asked.
“I… I don’t know yet,” Picolo stammered, and quickly walked away.
As he made his way down the street, Picolo walked into a waiter who was balancing four drinks in his hands. He saw his box. “Oh, that box lid will be a great tray for me to serve these drinks. Can I use it?”
“No, sorry. This is not a tray,” Picolo said, clamping down his hand on the box lid. “I have something special planned for it.”
“Like what?” The waiter asked.
“I don’t know yet,” Picolo grumbled, and dashed away.
Picolo was nearing the end of the street and passed by a baker picking up a torn bag of flour. The baker saw his box. “Oh, a container! That is just the thing I need. The box will help me get this bag into the kitchen. The flour is spilling everywhere! Will you let me borrow it?”
“No, sorry!” Picolo snapped and sprinted away before the baker could ask what his plans were.
He ran and ran as far as he could. Soon the downtown main street was out of sight and he stopped at a park to catch his breath. There was an old woman leaning on a cane who was panting too. She saw his box and said, “Oh, that is just the thing I need. The box will be a great chair for me to sit on and rest. My legs aren’t what they used to be. Will you let me borrow it?”
It had been a long day. He didn’t know what to say anymore. Hot tears rolled down his cheeks as he sank to the ground. He buried his face into his knees and the box tumbled out of his arms. The old woman approached him and took a seat on the box. Picolo was too busy crying to notice.
“Oh dear, what’s wrong?” The old woman asked, patting his head.
Picolo wiped his tears. He looked up at the old woman and down at his box that she was sitting on. The soft folds of her wrinkled face stretched as she smiled. Her hand felt warm.
“I guess I can let you borrow it for a few minutes,” he sniffed. Picolo told the old woman about how everyone he met wanted to use his box and that he was saving the box for something special. But he had no idea what it was. The old woman nodded.
“I think your box is special too. If it was my box, I would sew a fluffy cushion to put on top of it and sit on it every morning while I knit. I could even keep my yarn in the box. Now that would be something special.”
Picolo wiped his tears on his sleeve. “I like your idea, but I don’t knit.”
“I’m sure you’ll find the perfect use for it.” The old woman tapped her cane against Picolo’s leg and then stood up. “Thank you for letting me rest on your box. It is wonderful.”
Picolo took back his box. It still smelled like forests. “You’re welcome.” Maybe I’ll go back downtown to search for the perfect use, he thought. He cradled the box in his arms and headed back into town.
As he turned the corner, he saw the baker again. The baker was sweeping something into a trash bag. Beside him was a torn bag of flour spilling out onto the sidewalk. Picolo spun on his heel and hid behind a light post. Wait, maybe he can give me some ideas. He approached the baker and offered his box. “Here. I’m sorry for running away.”
“Oh, you are a life-saver boy. Thank you!” He wrestled the bag of remaining flour into the box and together they carried it into the kitchen. “Y’know this is quite a beautiful box. It would make a perfect cake box.”
Picolo tilted his head in confusion. “A cake box?”
The baker chuckled. “You don’t believe me?” He brought out a whole cake covered in frosting, slid it onto the box lid and then carefully lowered the box over it. He unveiled the cake to reveal it without a single smudge on the frosting.“See? A perfect fit.”
Picolo nodded, in awe at the creamy white frosting piped into swirls. It looked yummy.
The baker saw Picolo’s hungry gaze and gave him a big slice. “Here, I’ll give you a helping of cake for helping me.” Picolo giggled at his play of words and wolfed it down. It was delicious.
“This is so good!” He exclaimed.
“Thank you. My carrot cakes are known throughout the town. We’re usually sold out by noon.” The baker grinned, returning the box back to him. He even gave him an extra slice of carrot cake.
“Thank you!” Picolo waved.
He decided to go find the waiter. He found the waiter trying to carry four plates on his arms. “Here. I’m sorry for running away,” he said, offering his box lid.
“Oh, I’m so glad you came back!” He placed the four plates on top of the box lid and together they carried it to the customer’s table. “This is a sturdy lid.” He remarked. “It would be perfect for serving breakfast in bed.”
Picolo blinked. “Like a table?”
The waiter nodded. “See, you can serve breakfast on the lid like a tray, and then have the box next to the bed as an extra table to hold a teapot, napkins or other dishes.”
“Oh, I see. That’s very creative!” Picolo said. “Thank Y–”
Just then, another waiter came and interrupted them. “We found your tray!
“Perfect timing, I guess I won’t need your lid anymore.” The waiter smiled at Picolo as he handed him the box lid. Picolo waved goodbye.
Both the baker and the waiter were both so nice and helpful. Picolo felt a tinge of guilt for running away from the boy at the library. He decided to go back and find him. He hoped that the boy didn’t leave already. Picolo threw open the library doors and zoomed straight to the aisle. The kid was still trying to get the book, but now he had managed to clear off the lowest shelf in order to put his feet in them to climb up.
“Here. I’m sorry for running away.” He offered his box.
“Oh, you’re back!” The kid put the box on the floor and stood on it. He still wasn’t quite tall enough, so Picolo stood on the box with the kid on his shoulders and together they got the book down. It was a drumming book. “Thanks! Though, this box is too nice to stand on. If I had one like yours, I’d use it as a box drum. I bet it has a beautiful sound.”
The kid straddled the box and tilted it at an angle. He started thumping the top and sides of the box with the palms of his hands and fingers. Picolo tapped his foot to the rhythm. “Wow, you’re really good!”
The kid smiled. Just then a librarian came and towered over them with her arms crossed. She did not look happy. The kid returned the box to Picolo sheepishly.
“Thanks again.” He whispered and scuttled away with his book.
Picolo tiptoed out of the library and felt like seeing the old woman again to tell her all that had happened.
She was still at the park, leaning against the tree and looking at the sky.
“Welcome back. Did you find the special use for your box?” The old woman asked.
Picolo gazed down at his box. There were grass stains, specks of flour, rings of water and dirty footprints. But he smiled, as it reminded him of all the people that he helped. His box was used for many different special things.
He set the box down upside down in front of the old woman and thumped his palms against the sides of the box to create a drumroll. Then, to her surprise, Picolo lifted the box to reveal a slice of cake on the upturned box lid.
Then he placed the box behind the woman, gesturing for her to take a seat, and then served her the slice of carrot cake on the box lid. It was a perfect tray in her lap.
“Well, my…” the old woman gasped.
Picolo grinned with pride.
Carrot Cake
makes one two-layered 8″ cake
prep time: 30 minutes
cook time: 45 minutes
total time: 1 hour 15 minutes
ingredients
cake
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
1 cup pecans, finely chopped
1/2 cup light brown sugar
1 tbsp ground cinnamon
2 tsp baking soda
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp allspice
1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
4 large eggs, room temperature
3/4 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup Greek yogurt
1/2 cup crushed pineapple, drained
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 1/2 cups carrots, finely grated
cream cheese frosting
8 oz cream cheese, room temperature
1/2 cup + 3 tbsp powdered sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1/3 cup chopped pecans, to top
ingredients
cake
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
1 cup pecans, finely chopped
1/2 cup light brown sugar
1 tbsp ground cinnamon
2 tsp baking soda
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp allspice
1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
4 large eggs, room temperature
3/4 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup Greek yogurt
1/2 cup crushed pineapple, drained
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 1/2 cups carrots, finely grated
cream cheese frosting
8 oz cream cheese, room temperature
1/2 cup + 3 tbsp powdered sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1/3 cup chopped pecans, to top
instructions
for the cake
Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.
Line the bottoms of two 8″ round cake pans with parchment paper, spray bottom and sides with nonstick cooking spray and then lightly flour the pans.
Over a small bowl, add crushed pineapple to a fine mesh sieve and push down on the pineapple with a spoon to remove excess liquid. Set aside.
In a large bowl, mix together the flour, sugar, finely chopped pecans, brown sugar, cinnamon, baking soda, baking powder, salt, allspice, and ground nutmeg.
In a separate bowl, gently whisk the eggs then stir in vegetable oil, Greek yogurt, drained pineapple, and vanilla extract until just combined. Do not overmix.
Stir the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients until just moistened. Add the grated carrots and mix until evenly combined, again being careful not to overmix.
Divide the batter equally between the prepared pans. Drop the pans on the counter a few times to get rid of any air bubbles.
Bake for 45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into center comes out clean and the cakes begin to pull away from the sides of the pans.
Let the cakes cool for 15 minutes, then remove from pans, placing on a wire rack to let cakes cool completely.
cream cheese frosting
Place the cream cheese in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment and mix on low speed until smooth, about 2 minutes.
Scrape down the sides of the bowl, add the powdered sugar and pulse on the lowest speed to combine.
Add the vanilla extract and mix for 2 to 3 minutes, until completely smooth.
assemble
Slice off the tops of the cakes with a sharp knife to ensure the tops are level.
Scoop approximately half of the cream cheese frosting onto the first cake and spread evenly.
Top with the second cake and spread the other half of the frosting on top.
Finish the cake by sprinkling 1/3 cup chopped pecans in a swirl pattern on top of the frosting.
Refrigerate cake for 30 minutes and serve.
Author’s Notes
In the kitchen
You can make a lighter (less sugary) version of the cream cheese frosting by mixing ½ cup cream cheese, ⅔ cup vanilla yogurt, 3 tbsp powdered sugar, 2 tbsp coconut oil and ¼ tsp vanilla extract. You can also try just mixing the 8 oz of cream cheese with 2 tbsp of maple syrup and spreading that as frosting.
In the classroom
Did you know that there are vegetables other than carrots that are delicious in cakes or baked goods? Pumpkin, avocado, zucchini, eggplant, spinach, and beets can also be made into moist cakes, loafs, pies, cupcakes, donuts, and brownies.
In life
I made a cutting board in my high school woodworking class. It was beautiful with strips of cherry and walnut, and lovingly sanded to perfection. Over the years it somehow migrated to my sister’s kitchen. One day when I was over, she pulled it out and was about to use it. It had never been used before. There was not a single stain or knife mark on that beauty. I jumped up in protest, determined that the cutting board be kept that way. “Why make a cutting board if you’re never going to use it?” She asked. I sat uncomfortably in my selfish attachment for a while and later wrote this story about the gift of sharing.
