Just posting this...because “cake”...and I thought some might find it interesting.
I grew up in a very small town. My Grandmother was widowed when very young & took a job at a bakery for a short time. She went on to marry my Grandfather (who already had six kids!) and they had 2 more.
Once the kids were older, she started baking cakes for people. She did this for decades...I cannot begin to imagine the number of weddings, graduations, showers & other events! She was also a seamstress AND made wood fiber flowers by hand. It was not uncommon for me to go to her house after school to find the entire house (they built an addition for her business) full of wedding cakes, bridesmaids dresses, bouquets & centerpieces! I often helped; she did the main cake, complete with cascading buttercream roses, sugar bells & columns. My job was to pipe the little white squares onto the sheet cakes & complete them...each piece having a tiny flower as a decoration.
Her white cake was legendary...almond flavored with fluffy buttercream icing. I have the recipe someplace and will try to remember to post it. PRO TIP: She ALWAYS made the white cake 3 or 4 days before she was going to decorate (5 or 6 days before the event). She wrapped each cake very tightly in several layers of saran wrap...which ultimately made the cake extremely moist.
Her chocolate cake was also wonderful; basically involved making a “scratch” version of chocolate syrup.
In her “spare time” she made quilts, rag rugs, Barbie clothes, and other gift items & sold them in a little “store” on her front porch. If she was there she would help the customer...if not, they could shop & just leave money in a little box. She sold her queen size quilts for $25, or some ridiculous amount...she was worried about overcharging...lol.
What a wonderful story!
If you do find and post her wedding cake recipe (or, any of her cake recipes :), please ping me!
I am obsessed with GOOD wedding cake. There is one that we had at a family friend’s daughter’s wedding, years ago, that I have been trying to duplicate (without luck), since.
TIA!
(What we would give for one of her quilts and the Barbie clothes, too, right? :)
Sounds like a wonderful, inventive lady. I’m glad you had her.