| I never knew my husband's grandmother. I never | | | | family recipes and do the same thing. Perhaps |
| knew her like he did because by the time we | | | | your children won't appreciate what you've given |
| started dating, Grandma N. was in the advanced | | | | them until you're gone, hopefully they will before |
| stages of Alzheimer's. I only knew the shell that | | | | then and you can get THEM to make your |
| remained of this wonderful woman after the | | | | favorites for you! |
| disease had robbed her of most of her memory. | | | | As for Grandma N's recipes? Well, this past |
| What I do have though is what was so special | | | | Christmas was our first Christmas without |
| about her and one of the things that my husband | | | | Grandpa N. He passed away in April of 2006. All 3 |
| and his family remembers most fondly of her, her | | | | of his children were together at Christmas so I |
| recipes. | | | | decided to make one of Grandma's recipes. I |
| Years after Grandma N passed away, Grandpa N. | | | | picked out the Ricotta Cake recipe. As all of the |
| decided to go into an assisted living center. My | | | | "kids" (all adults) enjoyed the ricotta cake, they |
| husband helped clean out his home in preparation | | | | talked about how they remembered the flavor of |
| for it's sale. My husband asked me if I might want | | | | the cake from childhood. Thinking of their |
| anything. The first thing that came to mind was | | | | childhood brought us to talking about Grandma |
| Grandma's recipes. I had heard the stories of her | | | | and Grandpa N. and the time they all spent on |
| talents in the kitchen. My husband spoke of | | | | Grandma's apron strings watching her make |
| Grandma N's skill at making homemade tortellini, | | | | homemade tortellini and other classic Italian dishes. |
| raviolis, gnocchi and other specialties that were | | | | I think that the cake and the resurrection of |
| taught to her by her Italian -born mom. When he | | | | those great memories was one of the best gifts |
| came home with a black binder overflowing with | | | | I ever gave or received. |
| her handwritten recipes, you would have thought | | | | Grandma N's Ricotta Cake Recipe |
| I had the mother lode! Gold, pure gold! | | | | 4 eggs |
| Smells and aromas trigger some of our deepest | | | | 1 cup sugar |
| memories. This is why we feel a deep stirring | | | | 1 cup cake flour |
| when we enjoy those comfort foods from our | | | | 1 tsp baking powder |
| childhood. Mine are the browned pot roast, | | | | 1 TBS water |
| potatoes and carrots my Great Gram made and | | | | 1 tsp vanilla |
| my husband's brother raves on every time my | | | | Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit |
| mother-in-law makes Italian cookies like her mom | | | | Separate the egg yolks from the white-keep |
| (Grandma N. ) taught her. Whatever they are, | | | | both. Beat the egg whites and baking powder |
| those recipes aren't just pieces of papers. They | | | | together until stiff. In another bowl, beat the yolks |
| are part of your past, part of YOUR memories, | | | | and add the sugar a bit at a time until thick. Add |
| keys to unlocking some of our deepest and more | | | | water and vanilla to the egg yolk mixture and mix |
| fond moments in childhood (or adulthood for that | | | | to blend. Fold the flour into the yolk mixture. Fold |
| matter). | | | | the yolk/flour mixture into the beaten egg whites. |
| My mom gave me the gift of both my maternal | | | | Place mixture into two ungreased 9" cake pans. |
| and paternal grandmother's most loved recipes. | | | | Bake for 20-25 minutes. Turn pans upside down |
| Many I learned from cooking with them, but a | | | | immediately after baking and allow cakes to cool. |
| few like my great memere's (grandmother in | | | | While the cakes bake, make the filling: |
| French) creto recipe (a French Canadian meat | | | | 1 lb of WHOLE milk ricotta cheese (whole milk |
| spread-oh so good on thick toast or crackers) | | | | ricotta is much thicker, otherwise your filling will be |
| were lost to me until my mom got her recipe | | | | runny) |
| from one of her aunts. I couldn't wait to make | | | | 1 cup sugar |
| my first batch. The moment I bit into the first | | | | 1 tsp vanilla |
| bite, I was brought back to my great memere's | | | | 3 TBS of white crème de cocoa (optional but |
| house with the 50's blue tile, the steep steps into | | | | VERY good! ) |
| the upper bedrooms, and the game that had the | | | | Beat all of these ingredients together and keep |
| popper that I always played while I was at her | | | | cold. |
| home. Oh, the memories! | | | | Once cakes are cool, cut each one to create two |
| So first I say to you, write down those recipes | | | | more layers. You'll have 4 layers total. To |
| that mean so much to your family. Give them as | | | | assemble, place your first layer down on your |
| a gift to your children. Perhaps in a nice scrapbook | | | | cake plate. Spread with the ricotta mix and then |
| form, but if you aren't that motivated or gifted (I | | | | place another cake layer. Continue with more |
| speak from experience here!) then simply writing | | | | ricotta and layers, ending with a cake layer on |
| them down in your own writing and placing them | | | | top. Sprinkle with confectioner sugar to finish. |
| in acid free, clear protective pockets will still mean | | | | The cake has an angel food texture and the filling |
| a lot when you're gone. After you've written | | | | is not overly sweet. A relatively light end to a |
| down your recipes, search out and save the older | | | | special evening. |