Grandmas and Cakes

By Erica

My mom always had a recipe box. It's this giant, cream, plastic monstrosity that might be almost as old as I am. When she died, one of the only things I asked for was that box. I have such fond memories of seeing her looking through it for the recipe for Potato Chip Cookies to make for one of my school bake sales. (They were an annual favorite and often requested.) 

While going through this box, I realized that it held even more history than I had originally expected; I found quite a few recipes from my grandmothers and great grandmothers. There's something so gratifying about nourishing my family with the same foods the women in my family used to make for theirs.

Great Grandma Bills's Raisin Cake

2 c sugar
2 c water
2 c raisins
1/3 c shortening
2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp each ginger, allspice, clove and cinnamon
2 c flour
Nuts, if desired

Add sugar, water, raisins and shortening to a sauce pan and boil for five minutes. Let cool.

In a mixing bowl, add baking soda, salt, baking powder, ginger, allspice, clove and cinnamon. Add flour and mix. Add nuts, if desired.

Mix with a spoon while adding raisin liquid. Bake in a 9 x13 pan at 350 for 35-40 mins.

{Image credit: http://www.bellaonline.com} 

Grandma Hemsath's Pineapple Nut Cake

2 c sugar
2 c flour
2 tsp baking soda
1 c chopped nuts
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1 20 oz can crushed pineapple with juice 

Mix all ingredients together by hand. Bake in a well-greased 9 x 13 pan at 350 for 40-45 mins. 

Frosting:
1 8 oz block of cream cheese, softened
1/4 lb butter, softened
1 tsp vanilla
1 1/2 c powdered sugar

Mix well and spread on as soon as the cake comes out of the oven.

{Image credit: http://www.tasteofhome.com}

Comments

[jennielynn]

My grandmother handed down a similar recipe to the raisin cake, but in bar form. It was my dad's favorite, my brother's favorite and now my husband's. So, so simple but so, so good!

[twitter.com/omg_youguys]

I call shenanigans on you mooning over your mom's potato chip cookies & then not including that recipe.

(the cakes doo look good, though)