Memories of Easter
Every holiday holds a special memory. I’m fortunate that most memories are happy for me. Today, while preparing for the Easter dinner, I opened a cupboard I don’t use much looking for special Easter napkins. I didn’t find the napkins, but at the very top, I spied Mom’s lamb tin peeking out. And, oh, how the memories flooded back. Mom used this little cake tin every Easter. Some years she nailed it right on; other years, she put too much cake batter in and as the poor lamb cake started to rise, it spilled all over into the oven. I smiled at the thought of Mom scraping the oven and starting all over again.
I made this cake several Easters for my children when they were young. Now they are grown and away from home, so I decided to make it for my 93-year-old mom. The first step, I aced—my cake did not overflow. But with the lid on, I had to guess at the timing. That didn’t go so well. But all I had to do was to put the bottom of the well-formed cake back in the oven for 10 more minutes.
Chocolate frosting wouldn’t do; this little guy had to be white. So I stirred up white frosting and put a good amount all over Mr. Lamb. Then I added coconut to make him all fluffy. In mid-stream, I thought of my Emily, soon to be 26, away at med-school. She used to help me pat the coconut onto the lamb. She must have been two or three years old when she started baking with me. I wondered if she would think of the little lamb cake today. I also remembered the Easter bonnet and new purse I got every Easter, along with patent leather shoes and of the Easter bonnet and purse I gave my little Emily every Easter. Traditions.
Green grass needed to be added under the lamb yet (coconut, colored with food coloring). For a special touch, I put white clouds of more coconut in the sky.
So here’s my lamb. What do you think? I hope this fluffy coconut cake will put a smile on Mom’s face tomorrow.
What memories came to your mind today or on Good Friday? Tomorrow morning, I will be at a sunrise service at Canyon Lake celebrating the resurrection. Wherever you are tomorrow, consider the remembrances of yesteryear, as well as the memories you are making now.
Happy Easter! Happy Resurrection!
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2 Comments
by Dorothy Carter
On April 19, 2014
A heart-warming essay. Thank you.
by joan
On April 20, 2014
I love your lamb. He is a great visual for teaching kiddos about the ultimate lamb- Jesus. My childhood memories center more around chocolate bunnies. Hollow but delicious! But getting ready for church I knew we’d sing “Up From the Grave He Arose!” That made me happy. Thanks for reminding me of the new patent leather shoes and a glorious celebration.