Sugar is on my mind today on numerous levels. Nine years ago today my sweet grandma left this earth. Growing up with her meant pocket change to walk to the corner store for a candy treat. On Easter weekends, my brother and I eagerly found chocolate eggs and jelly beans stashed on window sills and in hiding places in her house. I envision Max's Chocolate Chicken.
On that same day nine years ago, my nephew entered the world. He loves sweet treats and would rather eat the decorations for the gingerbread houses we construct each year than add them to the house. This year he told my mom a bird attacked the gingerbread house's chimney. That sounds like a book idea.
I baked our family's traditional birthday cake (we call it the Condo Cake due to its many layers) for our eldest son today. When he was younger, his teachers encouraged a guest reader instead of treats at school. I read A Present for Big Pig by Debi Gliori (alas, another out-of-print book) several times!
And then there is the fascinating book I have been reading: Sugar Changed the World: A Story of Magic, Spice, Slavery, Freedom, and Science by Marc Aronson and Marina Budhos. The authors present a detailed history of something I use in my kitchen every day. Topics are interwoven and linked together in an engaging prose.
That Condo Cake makes my mouth water just looking at the photo! I know how amazing it tastes, because I've been the recipient of one - without a doubt one of the best cakes I've had in my life!
ReplyDeleteHappy sweet thoughts of your grandmother, your nephew, and your oldest son.
How amazing that one left, one came, the very same day. Happy belated birthday to N. Wish we could have shared a slice of condo cake with the family.
ReplyDeleteWe would have loved to have you here for the condo cake. It looks a bit different than the last one we shared :)
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