All my boys start learning to cook in the 3rd grade with box brownies. In 5th grade, they move to cakes made from scratch. Reading directions is what it is really all about, going by the rules. The second son has never mastered the box brownies – it is a going by the rules thing. However, he is the quintessential griller – a much more out-door, rugged-type of cook.
Our oldest son had to have one years worth of rent saved up before he could move out when he went to college. We paid his college tuition, his car insurance, and, yes, his cell phone bill. However, he paid for his other living expenses. He only asked us once a semester for groceries, spending only about $100. By January of that year, he had the same amount of money in the bank as when he left. I asked him how he managed that. He said that he offered to cook for his friends if they would bring the food. Mom’s cooking skills passed down truly paid off.
And, that’s what cooking is really all about to me – passing down cooking skills, traditions, family history – and recipes. All shared in celebration moments, overcoming moments, and just everyday humdrum moments. Every recipe has a story. Every recipe came from someone.
Cooking in the kitchen is a different experience with the women in my family verses cooking with my boys to men. Sharing the kitchen with women is a totally different experience – and I think that is one thing I do miss most about being a mom of sons. Women just pick up the peeler and start peeling the apples, potatoes, pears, carrots – whatever needs to be done. And talk! Easily! About family, about history, about recipes – and we laugh. No one would ever say out loud that their scones were better than mine. They might think it; but no one would ever say it. However, they would say if the turkey or cake was too dry, and then we would find a solution to make it better next time.
And if I need a recipe, all I would ever have to do is call one of my aunts or my mom – and Paula Dean watch out! These women have an arsenal of recipes decided to break through any barriers, bring fighting factions to their knees, just to have a bite of their cooking.
We are definitely made-from-scratch kind-of cooks, but we are not too proud to use a recipe that. . . . SSShhhhh. . . includes a box cake. After having a tough couple of weeks, I needed something refreshing, something fruity – and that something is my Aunt Joyce’s Mandarin Orange Cake, which I am re-naming The refreshing Cake.
Cake Recipe:
1 pkg Duncan Hines Yellow Cake Mix, not pudding
11 oz can Mandarin Oranges
1/2 Cup Oil
4 Eggs
Juice from Canned Oranges
Blend cake mix, drained mandarin oranges, oil, and eggs. Beat 3 minutes. Add juice from orange can. Beat 2 minutes at medium speed. Pour into 3 8″ pans lined with wax or parchment paper. Or use 2 loaf pans. Bake 350 degrees for 30 to 35 minutes. Cool.
15 oz Cool Whip
1 15 oz can crushed pineapple, drained
1 large pkg instant vanilla pudding mix
Mix together.
A refreshing cake – a cake to eat on a spring-to-summer day in the shade, shared with people who cared enough to comfort in difficult times and celebrate in joyful times. Is tat not what days like these, Memorial Days, Special Shady Days, Celebration Days are all about? Surviving the storms, surviving the heat of life, overcoming distress? And celebrating that survival in the shade with loved one?
“For You have been a defense for the helpless, A defense for the needy in his distress, A refuge from the storm, a shade from the heat; For the breath of the ruthless Is like a rain storm against a wall” (Isaiah 25:4)
That cake sounds and looks so good. I used to bake alot when I was a teenager. Now I hate being in the kitchen. I don’t know what happened. Kudos to your son and his cooking skills.
Stopping by from SITS.
The cake looks great! My mum and granny taught me to cook, well not so much taught as took me into the kitchen and gave me jobs! I think it’s an important thing to teach our children and it’s a lovely way to just spend time together.
Popped in from SITS to say Hi. I’ll be back, I love your work.
This looks and sounds amazing. I love my husband, but your son sounds like a keeper. Stopping from SITS!
that cake looks and sounds yummy, i am definitely going to make it this week. My little ones love to help me in the kitchen and this looks like it will be one that they will love to give a try.
stopped in from SITS. Happy Memorial Day
Wow that cake looks so yummy.
My mum taught me how to cook the usual cakes and biscuits etc when I was a child but she didn’t really teach me how to cook meals. So when I moved out of home for the first time I had to learn how to cooka proper dinner for myself and, later, my family.
I cook with my kids (4yrs and 2yrs) now and as they grow I plan on letting them in the kitchen more. One they are old enough I hope to let them have a night each week where they choose what to cook, buy the groceries (if we don’t already have them in stock) and then cook for the family. I think this will teach them some important lifeskills.
That cake looks absolutely delightful! I’m happy you had such a wonderful dish to find comfort and family time within. 🙂
Oh my word ~ yum~! 😉 my little girl would be horrified to find oranges in it ~ he he! but I love slipping good things in food!! deceptively delicious!
I am impressed reading about your money saving cooks!
That is my goal!! so far I think we are doing ok!~ with a first grader and fourth grader~ =)
That looks SO yummy! I wish so badly that I had spent more time in the kitchen with my mom before I became a mom myself at a very, very early age (17). I never learned all the great family recipes or even really how to cook much of anything. Most everything I’ve learned, I’ve learned by talking to my mom over the phone while I was doing it or by teaching myself. Now all of the older women in our family are starting to pass away and those precious recipes are going to the grave with them. It makes me sad and it is one of my greatest regrets in life. However, this summer my middle daughter who just graduated from high school plans to spend some time with my mom in hopes of learning some of her recipes. Hopefully all is not lost. :0)
Thanks for all your prayers and words of encouragement as you stop by my blog. You are such a blessing to me.
{{HUGS}}
Teresa <
That looks like a truly delicious cake! Well rounded ingredients too. 🙂
I think it is important to pass down the cooking skills in the family, as it keeps traditions alive. 🙂 And what better way to bond with your children.
Oh Wow…what are you doing to me!? THis cake looks delicious. I am going to have to make me some of that yummyiness!
This sounds so delicious!!
I am so impressed with what you said about your son knowing how to cook so well that he made it through the first year of college without having to spend much money on food because he was able to cook for others who purchased it. What a super great idea!! I am going to have to pass that piece of wisdom onto my son who is quickly approaching college age. I think that he might just be interested in cooking a little bit more if he had a reason to. 🙂 He has done a little but he has not been that interested so far. But he is interested in not spending his own money so I think I have some inspiration now!! Thank you! 🙂