In my family there has been a favorite sweet treat that somehow became a tradition. Periodically, for birthdays or such we would go by Biff's Bakery (this little whole in the wall place that also has really good Bismarks) and we would get this Banana Nut Cake. I don't know when or how we came to find this sweet confectionery delight but it became "our thing". Only a few times a year would we get this cake, so it was a pretty big deal to us when we did get one. It was light and fluffy and had this creamy icing and then it had a nut topping sprinkled all over it..... mmmm.... so good!
So last week my mom calls me and says "I just want to remind you that its the thought that counts". I have no idea what she is talking about. So she proceeds to explain: mom thought she'd surprise me with one of these cakes as a belated birthday gift. She had even bought one for her sister who had heard us rave about this cake but hadn't tried it. Well, she buys the cakes and of course my dad and siblings are eager to eat this rare treat. They cut into expecting the same yummy cake that we've always gotten. But, not this time. They found the cake to be hard, apparently overcooked, and much darker in color than we've had before. It was definitely not satisfying the craving. Out of character for him, my dad agreed that
they should try to get their money back because the cake was just awful. Mom went ahead and brought me a cake partly to show me how bad it was and partly to hold me over until new ones could be made. I could tell as I cut into it that it wasn't right. We ate a couple of pieces but ended up picking at the icing over a few days. RIGHT: a picture of the bad cake.
Yesterday though, ah, my dad brought the replacement cake. Oh, sweet! Biff's Bakery had redeemed themselves! Once again it was the fluffy, melt in your mouth Banana Nut Cake (pictured on the LEFT) that we had been wanting from the beginning. Now we are savoring it, really appreciating it instead of taking it for granted like we have all these years. I know its just a cake.... but to us its more than a cake, its one of a few small family traditions which we should also savor.
"Go and celebrate with a feast of choice foods and sweet drinks, and share gifts of food with people who have nothing prepared. This is a sacred day before our Lord. Don’t be dejected and sad, for the joy of the LORD is your strength!"
Nehemiah 8:10
So last week my mom calls me and says "I just want to remind you that its the thought that counts". I have no idea what she is talking about. So she proceeds to explain: mom thought she'd surprise me with one of these cakes as a belated birthday gift. She had even bought one for her sister who had heard us rave about this cake but hadn't tried it. Well, she buys the cakes and of course my dad and siblings are eager to eat this rare treat. They cut into expecting the same yummy cake that we've always gotten. But, not this time. They found the cake to be hard, apparently overcooked, and much darker in color than we've had before. It was definitely not satisfying the craving. Out of character for him, my dad agreed that
they should try to get their money back because the cake was just awful. Mom went ahead and brought me a cake partly to show me how bad it was and partly to hold me over until new ones could be made. I could tell as I cut into it that it wasn't right. We ate a couple of pieces but ended up picking at the icing over a few days. RIGHT: a picture of the bad cake.
Yesterday though, ah, my dad brought the replacement cake. Oh, sweet! Biff's Bakery had redeemed themselves! Once again it was the fluffy, melt in your mouth Banana Nut Cake (pictured on the LEFT) that we had been wanting from the beginning. Now we are savoring it, really appreciating it instead of taking it for granted like we have all these years. I know its just a cake.... but to us its more than a cake, its one of a few small family traditions which we should also savor."Go and celebrate with a feast of choice foods and sweet drinks, and share gifts of food with people who have nothing prepared. This is a sacred day before our Lord. Don’t be dejected and sad, for the joy of the LORD is your strength!"
Nehemiah 8:10
3 comments:
This REALLY is a confectionary delight...mmmmmmmmm mmmmmmm good! The best part people is the peanut buttery crumbly topping!
Thanks, Wani, for letting me share your birthday delight. I still have some leftover for a treat later today...yahoo!
Lehi
how funny! cute story. What's crazy is I totally know Biff's and used to go there growing up anytime my family visited Indy. you see, my parents grew up in Mooresville and my grandmas still both live there. We would go and eat in Biffs sometimes or just my Dad and grandpa would go and pick up Bismarks and other yummy treats. I loved long johns. Oooh! I really want one now! :-)
That's funny. For a second there I thought you actually wrote, "I know its just a cake" on your blog.
I'm just imagining that right? You're not underestimating the power of cake, right? Right? This is CAKE we're talking about. Don't mess with Texas...or CAKE!
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