One way I used to judge how rich someone was when I was a kid was if they got a solid or hollow chocolate Easter Bunny in their basket. We only ever got the hollow ones and I would be so disappointed because the first bite would break it all to pieces. And it never lasted very long after that. The other kids in town that got a solid bunny would eat on it for a long time and mine would be gone so fast. It is sad to look back on things like that and think as a kid I thought we were so poor. Momma Said, “Riches are measured in many ways.”
I look back on things like that and realize we were so rich in other ways. I would not change what I learned from Momand those are riches that are far rarer than gold and silver. It is sad that as a kid I had feelings like that and worried about things a child had no business worrying about. My mind was far reaching when it came to our status in the world. We had more riches than money. We were a hard working middle class family making do with what we had.
We had fun and made memories that money cannot buy. We may not have had much but we worked hard and Mom raised four kids on a shoestring. We didn’t have food stamps or any help from the government and I still don’t know how she made it. Momma Said, “A Mother’s love can build mountains if necessary.” We always got our Easter basket even though it had a had a hollow bunny, Mom’s love was solid… like a rock.
Sister’s Note:
Yes, how did Mom always make things happen for us kids, we never wanted for anything that was essential. Yes, we did without a lot of luxury items but Mom made up for that with love. Our Easter Bunnies were hollow, but we always got new shoes at Easter.
Being slightly older than the author of this column I remember a few more things about our child hood. Mom made so many things work by doing without for herself. I never remember my Mom buying new clothes for herself. There was so many things she did not eat. I thought it was because she didn’t like them. No, I found out later in life she didn’t eat them so that there would be more for us kids. I remember I was 17 years old, and our finances were slightly better, I saw my Mom take the first drink of milk that I had ever seen her take. I said to her that I thought she didn’t like milk. I can still here her voice as she said “I love milk.” I asked why she never drank it and she told me she never wanted to take it from us kids. That my friend is a Mother’s love. Believe me I never pour a glass of milk that I don’t remember this. Mom, you were and still are the best!!!!
Lemon Almond Cake
Ingredients
- 1 cup butter (2 sticks)
- 1 cup sugar
- 3 eggs
- 2 tablespoons lemon zest
- 1/4 cup lemon juice
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 cup almond flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 cup almonds slices or slivers
For the lemon syrup:
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1/4 cup lemon juice
Directions
- Cream the butter and sugar and beat in the eggs, one at a time, before mixing in the lemon juice and zest.
- Mix flours, baking powder and salt before mixing into the wet ingredients.
- Pour into a greased 9 inch baking pan and sprinkle on the almonds before baking in a preheated 350F/180C oven until the top is lightly golden brown and a toothpick pushed into the center comes out clean, about 25 minutes.
- Let the cake cool for 20 minutes, puncture it all over the top with a thin knife and pour the lemon syrup over the cake and let it soak in before serving warm.
For the lemon syrup:
- Simmer the sugar and lemon juice until the sugar has dissolved.
