This morning, I began the process of making my daughter a birthday cake. She’ll be 15 tomorrow (Jan. 8 … yes, she was born in Tupelo on Elvis’ birthday). I’ll admit I used a Duncan Hines butter cake mix for the layers, but I’m making a homemade chocolate frosting for it.
I can’t remember the last birthday cake I made. It’s just so easy to call the bakery or Baskin-Robbins and order one. And you know, there’s a period there where all children want are store-bought cakes in the shape of Barney or the Little Mermaid. For a couple of years, all mine would have were cupcakes from Rose McCoy’s cake shop in east Tupelo.
So I was pleasantly surprised when I asked my daughter, Mary, if she would like a homemade cake this year, and her face lit up. ‘Yellow cake with chocolate icing, please. And thanks, Mama.’ It still warms my heart to replay her reply in my head.
Now, there won’t be any fancy roses on top or writing or even sprinkles. Just an-old fashioned yellow cake with chocolate icing. And 15 candles.
