The Long Arm of Love

My Grandma has been long gone from this world but to this day, manages to reach out with her loving touch each year when it comes time to make my Christmas Cake.  (A very heavy and rich concoction that most UK and Australian readers will be familiar with.)  Usually made a month or two in advance of eating, dosed with a good quantity of rum or whiskey and most often layered with marzipan before icing and decorating with a little Christmas landscape.

She first sent me her recipe when I was a 'mere' teenager...faithfully typed out on her old typewriter, along with several other favourites that I had requested.  The flimsy sheets are to this day, taped safely inside one of the first cook books I ever owned.  I've since scanned them and filed them away electronically for preservation but it's to the cook book that I turn each time I go to make my cake.  I just hope she's watching and knows that each and every time the batter is mixed and the cake cooked well and slowly, that it's eaten with love and appreciation and thoughts of her in mind!

And speaking of love from afar...it was with much surprise and gratitude that we received flowers delivered for Thanksgiving last week from my friend Nancy in Canada.  The blooms are still so beautiful and rich and I can't thank you enough for the lovely thought!

Comments

[Chris]

oh, my. this is so touching.

My mom didn't write her recipes down. I just remember watching her throw the flour out, cut up the butter, melt and pour in the CRISCO ! sugar, eggs, raisins or coconut or fruit, all from memory. She could cut egg noodles up like on a cartoon, you know, slice slice slice and all in a pile under a cloud of flour. A pie crust? forget it. It was a work of art.

I wish she'd written them all down!

[Iris Otero]

I love this one a lot! I have sentimental little things like this from my grandma who died last year. I know I will hang on to them for life! :)
Also, you know you will have to make this cake when Ryan and I come visit because it sounds fantastic!

Love ya (and thanks for making me hungry now),

Iris

[Jen Crossley]

A beautiful memory Marie, thats what gives you comfort when you least expect it
Jen