Red velvet cupcakes for Loving Day
A scrumptious red velvet cupcake By Carly Pildis
By Carly Pildis June 10, 2021
#tweetyourshabbat is a global movement founded by Carly Pildis, celebrating the struggle and joy of getting Shabbat on the table every week. This is a place for real dinners and real conversations about Jewish life. Join us at Forward in sharing what you’ll be eating and how your feeling this week at #TweetYourShabbat
A scrumptious red velvet cupcake By Carly Pildis
Loving Day has always been a special day in my household, and when Loving Day falls on Shabbat, it’s really a cause for celebrating with something special. This calls for Red Velvet cupcakes.
What is Loving Day and why does my family embrace celebrating it? Loving Day commemorates the 1967 Supreme Court Case Loving v. Virginia, which struck down the last remaining anti-miscegenation laws in America. The case was brought by Mildred and Richard Loving, two high school sweethearts who wanted something that too many of us take for granted, to be married to the love of their life and live in their hometown.
As a mixed race family, we see Loving Day as an opportunity for gratitude and reflection. Despite the challenges we may face in confronting racism and antisemitism, we are tremendously lucky. We strive to never forget the hard work and sacrifices others made so that we could enjoy a beautiful marriage and a family full of love, laughter, and abundant, radiant joy.
It’s also an opportunity to talk about racism and share this challenging history, including with our very young daughter. Conversations about systemic racism, hatred, and the evils of violent racism are difficult to have with someone who is still afraid of My Little Pony.
We also firmly believe that America forces young Black girls to grow up too soon, and protecting Black girlhood is an anti-racist act. Loving Day provides an opportunity not just for celebration but for conversation, to begin the heartbreaking task of telling our children about anti-Black racism, but framed in victory, hope, love and progress.
The history of Loving Day feels very close to our home and our family. It wasn’t long ago — my father was in college when it happened. It wasn’t far away — the story of the Lovings takes place very close to us physically, in D.C. and Virginia. It’s important to sit with that closeness, because it informs who we are, what we collectively as a nation have achieved and how far we have to go in the fight for racial justice and an America that lives up to its stated ideals. We make the time to celebrate this victory as a family.
When Richard Loving was asked by his lawyer, Bernard Cohen, if he had any words for the judges he said, tell them I love my wife. I love my family too. Happy Loving Day and Shabbat Shalom
How was your week? How are you spending Shabbat? Let us know at #tweetyourshabbat! Everyone is welcome at this table! Come hungry.
Pareve Red Velvet Cupcakes for Loving Day
Filled with cocoa powder, a touch of vinegar and coconuts, this recipe feels like a party. A traditional red velvet cake has buttermilk and cream cheese frosting. Too make it pareve I made vegan buttermilk and topped it with coconut whipped cream, a traditional Southern American flavor that fits the flavor profile perfectly. Pop a few unfrosted in the freezer and you’ll be all set for Juneteenth with one bake.
Ingredients
2 ½ cups flour (not self-rising)
4 tablespoons cocoa powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 ½ cups sugar
1 ½ cups oil( I prefer safflower but vegetable will work)
2 extra large eggs, room temperature
2 tablespoons vanilla
1 to 2 tablespoons red food coloring
1 cup soy milk with 2 tablespoons of white vinegar
1 ½ teaspoon baking soda
Store bought coconut whipped cream.
Shredded coconut flakes
Put on some great music. I’ll probably listen to Sam Cooke. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and line your muffin tin with cupcake liners
Add soy milk and vinegar and let sit for 5 minutes. While it sits, whisk together flour, cocoa, and salt.
With an electric mixer, whisk oil and sugar and then slowly add eggs. Add food coloring and vanilla. I like mine really red, but you can decide the look you prefer. Add your soy milk and vinegar mixture (hey look! You made vegan buttermilk!) and mix until just combined. Add flour in two batches on low.
Evenly spoon cupcakes into liners and bake until a toothpick comes out clean – 15 to 20 minutes. Cool completely and then decorate with coconut whipped cream and coconut flakes. YUM. Feels like a celebration to me!
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