Here it is. Our birthday cake for Jesus. Made yesterday and stored safely away in the freezer. Okay, so it’s a little lopsided with frosting nearly running off the plate, but I assure you the taste will make up for the less than perfect presentation. You see, this is our family’s famous orange cake.

As far back as I can remember, Mom made orange cakes for us on our birthdays. At least for those of us who requested them — and that was nearly all of us because this cake is beyond delicious. I’m not sure where she got the recipe. As I remember, it was just from a small white paperback booklet of recipes, though I could be wrong (sisters, do you remember?). Regardless of its origin, it was a special cake made only on our special days, our birthdays.

Of course, I adopted Mom’s orange cake recipe and have made it many times over the years myself — again, usually only on someone’s birthday. Several years ago, however, it got worked into our family’s traditional Christmas fare. I believe it was Dad who suggested that we should really have a birthday cake for Jesus on His special day, and what better cake to have than the one we loved eating on our own birthdays?

The baking of Jesus’ birthday orange cake somehow fell to me, and it has become my annual contribution to Christmas dinner. It’s also become a great tool to show the children in the family that Christmas is in fact someone’s birthday. The birthday of One so great that the world virtually comes to a standstill to join in the celebration.

And since a birthday celebration is not complete without the giving of gifts, let me be one of the first this season to give you a little gift in honor of our Savior’s birthday — the recipe for our birthday cake for Jesus. (You will find it at the end of the post below the scripture).

I’d also like to give you the opportunity to give a little gift. Maybe you’d like to tell us about one of your family’s favorite Christmas treats or even give us the recipe. Or perhaps you can share one of the things your family does to focus on the birth of Jesus in the midst of all the holiday hoopla. So go ahead. What little gift can you give today?

“And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.” Hebrews 13:16

Fresh Orange Layer Cake

Mix together:
2 c. flour
1 1/2 c. sugar
2 t. baking powder
1/4 t. soda
1 t. salt

Add:
1/2 c. shortening
grated rind of 1 orange
2/3 of 1 c. liquid (1/4 c. orange juice & 3/4 c. water)

Beat 2 minutes at medium speed and then add 2 eggs and rest of liquid. Mix well.

Pour into greased and floured 8-in. layer pans. Bake at 350 for 30 minutes (I start checking it at about 20 minutes — my oven is crazy and I don’t want to overbake it. Not sure what a regular oven would do — I would start checking early.) Cool cake before frosting. (Go ahead and set out the margarine for the frosting so it can be getting soft.)

Frosting

2 1/4 TB. flour
1/2 c. milk
1/2 c. shortening (half margarine)
1/2 c. sugar
1/4 t. salt
1/2 t. vanilla
1/2 c. nuts
1 c. powdered sugar

Gradually blend milk into flour. Cook until thick. Cool till lukewarm.

Meanwhile, cream shortening (half margarine) with granulated sugar and salt, using high speed mixer. Add lukewarm paste. Beat until fluffy. Fold in vanilla and nuts. Use 1/3 for filling. To remainder blend in 1 c. powdered sugar and frost the cake.

*My photo

I’m back in blogging business after a nice little Thanksgiving break. Hope your holiday was filled with good food, good times with family, and a few extra memorable moments. As the week unfolded for me, I found myself once again carrying out traditions both old and new.

For most of my married life (over 30 years now!), I have spent the day before Thanksgiving making homemade rolls to take to our Thanksgiving gathering with Don’s family. Now these are not just any ordinary rolls, these are my Grandma Hoy’s homemade crescent rolls. The melt-in-your-mouth, pure heaven variety. As far as I’m concerned, they’re the only kind worth going to the trouble to make. At least they’re the only kind I go to the trouble to make :)

Grandma Hoy actually got the recipe for the rolls from Grandpa’s sister, my great-Aunt Alice. I don’t know who Aunt Alice got the recipe from, but I do know that it’s being handed down through the generations. I first grew to love these rolls at Grandma Hoy’s Thanksgiving gatherings. They became even more a part of our family’s life as my mom adopted the recipe and brought it into her generation of holiday meals. I’m not sure about my other sisters, but I do know that Carolyn and I have continued the tradition of making Grandma’s rolls. Know what else is really exciting to me? My daughter Kristin has already taken up the roll-making mantle as well. She made rolls this year and took them on a 7-hour trek to Shawn’s family’s Thanksgiving gathering. It looks like the rolls have secured a spot in yet another generation :)

I love seeing things handed down through the generations. It makes me realize that if I can touch the generations around me and those that follow with something as simple as a recipe or holiday tradition, surely I can impact their lives with more important things as well.

The Bible gives an example of this principle. In one of Paul’s letters to Timothy he says, “I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.” (2 Timothy 1:5 NIV)

I realize everything I’ve handed down thus far may not be as admirable as it should be — you know, things like attitudes or fears, etc. More than any negative thing, though, I pray that I am handing down a love for God and a thirst for His Word and a way of life that is filled with prayer, love for others, and an attitude of service.

Handing valuable things down through the generations, whether traditions or virtues, is not an easy thing to do. It takes effort, consistency, and love. But one thing is certain — it’s always worth it. What would you like to hand down?

**Wishing you could have the recipe for Grandma’s rolls? Here it is!

1/2 c. sugar
1/2 c. shortening
2 eggs
1 1/2 c. hot water
1 TBSP salt
2 pkg. improved yeast
5 1/2 c. or more flour

Mix 1/2 of the flour with the sugar, salt, and yeast. Mix hot water and shortening until melted (actually just soft). Add it to the flour and yeast mixture along with 2 eggs and beat with mixer. Add remaining flour (not all at once — in parts). Kneed about 5 minutes. Cover and let rise until double (1 1/2 hr.). Punch dough down and divide in two parts. Roll out each part in a circle, spread with butter, and cut and form into 18 crescents each. Cover and let rise another hour. Bake in 400 oven for 8-12 minutes (depending on your oven — I actually start checking mine at 6 minutes). Enjoy!