SUNDAY MEMORIES
Judy Wills
Photo Credit Google Search and NYT cooking
Now onto some of my favorite things to eat – and possibly to make. I have made quite a few cakes in my lifetime, some turned out better than others. Of course there are the boxed cake-mixes that work well. And the flavors have improved over time. I found I like the Duncan Hines mixes more than Betty Crocker (sorry Betty), and I find them richer and more flavorful than others.
At one point of time, back when we were living in Wiesbaden, West Germany, I took a cake decorating class. I generally made the cake to work on from a box mix. I knew a few of the ladies in the class who made their cakes from scratch. I wasn’t that brave. But the class was fun, even if I didn’t think most of my “decorations” turned out well – especially compared to others in the class. Until I took the cake home and Fred and Karen (just a toddler at the time) got a look at it. Their ooh’s and aah’s were enough to make me think I had created a masterpiece! That was quite rewarding.
While I didn’t – and haven’t – done much with my cake decorating since then, I do remember making a cake for a ladies bowling celebration. I remember making it as a sheet cake; I “divided” the cake into squares with some kind of icing design. Within each square, I made alternating icing ornaments – bowling balls and bowling pins. The balls I made with icing rolled carefully and gently between my hands to shape the balls. I had taken white icing and delicately swirled another food color in it, so none were a solid white or colored. The pins I made/shaped icing on a toothpick, then “painted” a line around the “neck” in red food coloring. I thought it was pretty cute, and my family did, as well. The ladies were impressed. I’m just sorry I never took pictures of it. The memory is just in my head at this point. It was fun.
One thing I learned about cake making/decorating – I don’t care how good the “decorating” was, if the cake was over-cooked, dried out, tough…the cake wasn’t a success. I tried to make the cake the best I could…fresh and tender and “moist.”
One little thing I’ve found recently, and Fred and I enjoy, is a “mug cake.” I found this recipe and have been making it occasionally after a supper meal if we want something just a little sweet. According to the recipe, in a mug (no small glass here – a regular MUG), place three tablespoons of the dry cake mixture, then two tablespoons of water, stir until blended, and cook in the microwave for one minute (I usually cook it on high for one minute and one second). Top it with vanilla ice cream and yummmm. According to the recipe, you can use any flavor cake mix you want, but the second cake mix MUST be Angel Food! I put them in a Tupperware bowl (yes, I still have those), and stir them with my whisk until thoroughly mixed together.
Scanned from the recipe I copied
~~~~~~~~~~To Be Continued~~~~~~~~~~
Judy is living in Central Florida with her retired U.S. Air Force husband of 50+ years. Born in Dallas, Texas, she grew up in the Southwestern United States.She met her husband at their church, where he was attending the university in her town. After college and seminary, he entered the Air Force, and their adventures began.They lived in eight of our United States, and spent six years in Europe, where their oldest daughter was born. She was a stay-at-home mom for many years .
Judy has always been involved with music, both playing the piano and singing. Always interested in exercise, she was an aerobic dancing instructor, as well as a piano teacher for many years, and continues to faithfully exercise at home.
After moving to Central Florida, she served as a church secretary for nearly nine years.Her main hobby at this point in time is scanning pictures and 35mm slides into the computer. She also enjoys scrapbooking.She and her husband have two married daughters and four grandchildren, including grandtwins as well as a great-grandson and a great-granddaughter. She and her husband enjoy the Disney parks as often as possible.
Old Things R New 
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