Is it Bakery or Homemade

Michael,

Do you remember the Black Forest Cherry Cake your mother and I baked for a church picnic?

You probably don’t. You and your sister were only about four or five years old at the time. The picnic was to be held at the Baptist Assembly Grounds. The highlight of the picnic was going to be a cake-judging contest. Your mother picked out a cake she wanted us to make and bring to the picnic. It was this elaborate Black Forest Cherry Cake. She and I spent the whole morning making that cake and when we finished the final decorations this was one magnificent cake. It looked just like the picture in the recipe book. Cherry filling was spread between the layers, whipped cream adorned the sides and top, shredded chocolate was pressed into the sides, curls of chocolate were carefully placed on top and then a garnish of maraschino cherries finished the decorating. This cake was truly a work of art.

As soon as we all got to the picnic your mother and I carefully unloaded the cake from the car and immediately headed for the table where the entries for the cake judging contest was to be held. Mrs. Castor was hovering about eyeballing each cake as it was brought in and placed on the table. Now Mrs. Castor ran a tight ship. There had better not be any fooling around at the cake-judging table. Her eyeballing the other cakes halted when she saw the cake your mother and I brought in. Her gaze immediately became fixed although she continued walking around the table. It was as if she wanted to inspect our cake from every side to confirm her suspicions. Finally she stopped and turned to your mother and hissed, “You bought this cake at a bakery didn’t you? We can’t have any bakery cakes here.”

Your mother was stunned into silence for a moment, but she finally replied rather heatedly, “I will have you know my husband and I spent all morning making this cake and I also washed all the dishes it took to make this cake. WE DID NOT BUY THIS CAKE AT A BAKERY! Mrs. Castor immediately retreated from the cake table at this uncharacteristic show of ferocity from your mother. I really did appreciate your mother defending our cake and there was no need for me to untter one word. I figured your mother had put Mrs. Castor in her place. Besides, I was hungry and there were huge mounds of fried chicken, potato salad, baked beans, casseroles of every description, and assorted desserts waiting to be devoured at the food table.

Our pastor gave the blessing for the food. I loved that man. He never gave long food blessings. Afterward I began heaping my plate with the fried chicken, the potato salad, the baked beans, and assorted helpings from the casseroles and then topped it off with the desserts. When I could finally eat no more I walked down to the lake where members of our group had set some reclining lounge chairs in the shade of the huge oak trees that ringed the lake. I was offered a spot in one of the lounge chairs and promptly accepted the offer. The previous brouhaha with your mother and Mrs. Castor were the last thing on my mind as I began to doze.

These assembly grounds are set amid a very picturesque spot. Huge old oak trees frame the lake to make a picture post-card setting. There is a white sand beach where the younger kids can run and play to their hearts content. I scan the beach to see what you and your sister are doing, but I cannot see you two from where I am reclining so I raise up so I can get a better look at where you two are supposed to be, but I can only see your mother and Mrs. Castor. Oh no, Mrs.Castor is lying face down in the sand and your mother is straddled over her. She has Mrs. Castor’s hair is one hand and with the other hand is shoving Black Forest Cherry Cake in Mrs. Castor’s mouth. Then your mother shoves Mrs. Castor’s head into the sand saying, “This is bakery cake.” Then your mother pulls Mrs. Castor’s head out of the sand and shoves cake into her mouth saying. “ This is my cake. Now can you tell the difference”? This went on for some time. Head in the sand, then head out the sand. “This is bakery cake.” “ This is my cake. Now can you tell the difference”?

I was awakened suddenly by a commotion coming from the sand beach in front of me. Two of the men from our church had Mrs. Castor by her arms and were attempting to drag her past me. She appeared to be quite disheveled with sand covering her face and hair matted with more sand. Oh No! Around her mouth were pieces of cake, Black Forest Cherry Cake to be exact. I was not dreaming. Your mother actually did it to her. I ran over to her and exclaimed, “Mrs. Castor I am so sorry. I had no idea my wife would do this to you.”

“What are talking about,” one the men attempting to hold Mrs. Castor upright said to me. “She was walking on the beach while eating a piece of your cake. She wasn’t paying any attention to where she was going. Your son and daughter dug a big old hole in the sand and she tripped and fell in the hole. She was thrashing about and chocking on your cake at the same time. I thought she was going to die before we could get that cake out of her mouth.

Our cake didn’t win a prize, but your mother and I were not unhappy.


Love, Dad

BLACK - FOREST CHERRY CAKE

2 layers chocolate cake (a tight cake does better than a real light one)
1 (16 oz.) can tart cherries, packed in water
1/4 c. sugar, if you want a sweet filling
No sugar, if you want a tart filling
2 tbsp. Kirschwasser (cherry brandy)
2 tbsp. cornstarch
1/2 pt. whipping cream
1 sm. pkg. instant vanilla pudding
1 c. milk
German's Sweet Chocolate, block

Bake chocolate layer cake according to package directions and cool completely. Drain cherries, reserving liquid. Bring 1 cup cherry liquid (add water to juice to make 1 cup) to boil, stir in cornstarch (and sugar), boil for 1 minute. Take off heat, add cherries and Kirsch, let cool completely. Whip cream frosting: Mix pudding with milk, let it get a little thick. Whip cream and fold into pudding.