We have certainly welcomed this improved May
weather with open arms, haven't we? The sunshine has been glorious. May your
flowers and gardens bloom and grow bountifully.
To commemorate my 4th anniversary writing this
column for the Leader, I thought I would share a little bit of what I
wrote in my first column, published May 20, 2009. And just in case you have missed
the story of why I call myself the "Better" Baker-read on.
But first of all, I want to thank all of you for your support and encouragement over the last 4 years. It is always a joy to see you somewhere in public, and hear that you've tried one of my recipes or that you are a faithful reader. I was very excited recently to meet a self-proclaimed "Biggest Fan of All" of my column. Hello Darlene! You are all my inspiration and I do appreciate your support more than words can express.
"We've decided to name this column as
such, because whenever folks have told me that I'm a good cook, I love to reply
with "But I'm a better Baker" and I love opportunities to live up to my name. (I
love teasing my husband that I had to humble myself to get married. I went from
being a "King" to a "Baker".)
Since this is Mother's Day month, I want to share
a few things about my own dear mother, Marie King, from Kunkle. I recently saw a
friend of hers, whom I hadn't seen for nearly 40 years. When she realized who I
was, she proclaimed to me "I ADORED your mother!" I hear that often and couldn't be
more pleased when anyone tells me I'm like my mom.
Without reservation, her grandchildren have
declared her to be a saint. And probably just about anyone else who ever knew her
would agree. My mom passed away when she was only 64 years old. I have kept a jar
of macaroni that I recovered from her kitchen cupboard soon after she died to
remind me of the brevity of life.
Oftentimes, I love to share a quote by author
Barbara Johnson. "If being a mother was going to be an easy job, it wouldn't begin
with something called labor". Isn't that the truth?
So Happy Belated Mother's Day to all you
Moms!
"All women become like
their mothers. That is their tragedy. No man does. That’s his."—Oscar
Wilde
I decided to share two
recipes from my mom's recipe box. This was her favorite cake. I love the simplicity of mixing
it by hand in one bowl. It's delicious and moist.
GRANNY CAKE
1-1/2 c. sugar
2 c. all purpose
flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
2 eggs
1 (20ozs) can crushed
pineapple, undrained
1/4 c. brown sugar
1/4 c. chopped
nuts
Preheat oven to 350. Grease
9" X 13"baking dish. Mix sugar, flour, baking soda, salt and eggs together. Add
pineapple and blend well. Pour into prepared pan. Combine brown sugar and
nuts; sprinkle over top before baking. Bake about 30-40 minutes.
TOPPING:
1/4 c. sugar
1 stick margarine (1/2
c.)
1 c. evaporated milk
1 tsp. vanilla
extract
Combine sugar, margarine, and
evaporated milk; bring to a boil, then add vanilla. Pour over hot cake and let
stand. Serve warm or cold.
I remember very well
enjoying this special jello treat as a kid. It was one of the dishes I made to
impress folks when I first got married. It makes a big batch too. Recipe can
easily be halved for smaller families.
JELLO DESSERT
16 large
marshmallows
1 c. milk
1 (6 ozs) box dry red
jello
1 (8 ozs) pkg. cream
cheese, softened
1 (20 ozs) can crushed
pineapple, undrained
1/2 pt. whipping
cream, whipped
(or use 8 ozs.Cool
Whip)
1/2
c. mayonnaise
Place marshmallows and
milk in double boiler (or microwave) and melt. In large bowl, pour mixture over dry
jello and stir until blended. Beat in cream cheese until smooth. Add
pineapple; cool. Add whipping cream and mayonnaise. Let stand until firm.
I don't believe it's
ever too early to think about Memorial Day. I appreciate this quote from Ronald
Reagan: 'If we lose freedom here, there's no place to escape to. This is the last
stand on earth". My husband, Ron, will be speaking for the Pioneer Memorial Day
ceremony at Floral Grove cemetery. Please support those who have, or who are
currently serving, and remember those who have paid the ultimate price for our
freedom. HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY!
