Becky's mom Bobbie Jo made her an apricot-almond butter 5 layer cake garnished with real flowers, Apricot Pansies and others from the garden for her 14th birthday. Phil and I gave her a cedar Hope Chest and the rest of the family here at the ranch gave things to put in it. A set of sheets, and pillowcases, a dresser scarf embroidered by her g'g'Grandmother, some other family heirlooms, a beginning towards adulthood for a wonderful young lady.

Becky sitting on the Hope Chest with the cake candles lit with the love we have for her...

Folks have asked for the recipe for the cake.. so here it is.... It is really quite simple...

Apricot-Almond Butter Cake

White cake mix baked in thin 1" layers
Almond Paste and Apricot Jam blended and spread between...

It was frosted with "Gravy Frosting"

1/4 cup flour
1 cup milk
3/4 cup butter or crisco
1 1/4 cup sugar
1 tsp vanilla

Combine flour and milk in a small saucepan. Cook over moderate heat, stirring constantly, bringing to a boil for 5-8 minutes or until very thick. Cool completely.

Combine butter/crisco, sugar and vanilla with thickened mixture and beat at high speed about 5 minutes or until smooth and creamy.

Spread on layered cake and garnish with fresh flowers from the garden, with mints and other herbs that look and smell pretty.

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For us "olders" in the family, a tradition and our favorite for Birthdays and "Occasions" is Grandma's "War Cake", a recipe that had its origins back in the 40s or maybe before, when eggs and sugar and other condiments were hard to get and in short supply. Sometimes it gets frosted with "Gravy Frosting" and sometimes not...no matter... it is good either way.

War Cake

2 cups raisins - 1 lb
2 cups brown sugar - 1 lb
1 cup lard or oleo
3 cups water
1 heaping tablespoon of Pumpkin pie spice
or
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp ginger
1/2 tsp cloves
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/2 tsp allspice

Combine and boil until raisins are swollen and cooked, then cool.

Combine with
4 cups flour
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 tsp soda
Mix well and bake in greased pan at 300-350 for about an hour or until a wooden match doesn't stick...

Marvelous hot, and great if frosted. .. and our favorite....

And There You Have It...!!!!

P.S. -- Becky's older brother Justin skipped out of attending her birthday party..."That is girl stuff!!"...and went fishing. Justin caught a 46"- 34.5 lb Tiger Muskie, the Idaho State Record...!!

P.P.S - And for a Finale - Grandma's Page and Grandma Hardison's Sweet and Sour Meat Balls

Barefoot's World

Created May 27, 1999

Five mighty important things, Pardn'r, LOVE And PEACE, Boys and GIRLS & Cake!!