Lemon Layer Cake Recipe for Momma

In 1960, I wasn’t really aware that our country was in the midst of presidential debates or that our country would soon be electing our first Catholic President. At eight years old, I was not even sure what a Catholic was. I knew we attended a nearby Methodist church every Sunday and we recited “The Apostles Creed” which included a line about believing in the “holy catholic church.” So I assumed it was a more saintly church since we were not referred to as the “holy methodist church.” And anyway, my little world consisted of home and family. I wasn’t worried too much about elections or Catholics.

My parents were in their mid-thirties and my two sisters were fourteen and six years of age. We lived in a rural area of southern Louisiana on several acres with a few cows, chickens and ducks that swam in our acre-sized pond located on the back of our property. Lots of people visited just to cast a line in our pond. Daddy kept it stocked for several years. Momma and Daddy purchased this place so they could have vegetable gardens, a few cows and no restrictions. It was a great place to grow up. I also think it reminded Momma of her girlhood home which was four hours away in the northeastern part of the state.

Momma was a no-nonsense type. I am not saying she wasn’t loving but she was busy washing, hanging clothes on the line, ironing, sewing dresses for her three daughters and cooking. She did take time to drink coffee with neighbors that happened to drop by and she enjoyed those visits. It gave her a brief respite from her otherwise daily grind.

I do remember her ready smile although she could scare the bejesus out of me when I erred on the wrong side of the rules. I had a habit of doing that on occasion. After all, I was the middle child. My two sisters did not break rules. Though eight years apart, they were alike in their solemn and quiet ways. They were rule followers. I was extroverted and pushed the limits.

I lived in a time where “no” meant “no.” Negotiations were for car salesmen. Occasionally, I would try to pit one parent against the other. I quickly learned that Daddy always deferred to Momma. She was the final decision-maker and didn’t believe in sparing the rod. She didn’t need it much because we all understood the “look” when we were about to have to embark on a trip outside to get a switch. It was amazing the behavior change that could be brought about from either the inflection in her voice or a raised eyebrow.

Momma loved her family. She grew up in a very small town. It had a school and a doctor nearby. Like many young people who think the grass is greener on the other side, she could not wait to spread her wings. After high school and subsequent courses at the Western Union Training School in Springfield, Missouri, she got a job at Western Union in Baton Rouge, about 200 miles away from her home during the early 40’s. She met a handsome young man while working there and they married. But her heart always remained in Baskin, her hometown. If you have not seen the movie, Trip to Bountiful (1985) and you are sentimental about your childhood home, see this one. I have watched it several times and never tire of it. It always makes me think of Momma.

Momma’s daddy was named Worth and the name suited him. Everyone loved him and his raucous laugh. He usually wore khaki’s or denim overalls and a stetson. His skin was darkened by his years of working in the fields in the hot sun. I loved to watch him roll cigarettes pouring the tobacco from a small red Prince Albert tobacco can. He was a tenant farmer which meant he rented a few acres, planted cotton, then tended it and picked it alongside family members. I remember him laughing and teaching me to play cards. Grandmother leaned toward the non-denominational church teachings so frowned on card playing and thought it sinful. It seems in pictures they always looked so serious and almost like it was a crime to smile. And it is only now that I am actually looking at their pictures and seeing what a hard life does to folks.

Like many daughters, Momma worshipped her Daddy. I called him PawPaw. She told us about her family life from the time I was very small and of course, we visited often. Every time we visited she always brought a cake that she had made. It was usually apple or lemon. Her cakes never had that visual appeal because they were usually wrapped in tin foil and had to survive a four-hour drive on bumpy country roads. But they were dee-licious always. I have included a basic Lemon Layer Cake that I make in memory of Momma.

They would come down to visit us when they could. PawPaw was not in good health. Then he had a stroke that affected one side of his body. Momma’s brother drove Grandmother and PawPaw down the last time they visited. He had mobility problems. He loved to fish. Daddy had a small wagon attached to his tractor. He loaded PawPaw up, drove him slowly to the back of the property and backed the trailer right up to the edge where PawPaw could throw his line with his good arm. Daddy loved him almost as much as Momma.

We got the call one day that PawPaw had passed away. I had never known of anyone to die so I wasn’t exactly sure what that meant. I knew it wasn’t a good thing because the house became very somber and there was a flurry of activity to get ready for the trip home. Mother always referred to her parent’s place as “home”. I never even gave that a thought.

Daddy loaded the car with our things. Of course, Daddy drove and Momma sat upfront. The three of us girls, usually arguing, sat quietly in the back bench seat. We knew it was a long drive but we understood this was not a day to misbehave or be too chatty. Awhile into the ride, Momma quietly leaned on Daddy’s shoulder and began to weep. It was a soft cry. I looked at both my sisters and back toward the front seat. I had never in my eight years seen Momma cry.

I guess you could call this my first defining moment. Someone that I dearly loved would be absent forever except in my heart. I learned that life was not all about me and that many adults can cry. Life as I knew it changed the day Momma cried. Momma, this Lemon Layer Cake is for you.

RIP~ WORTH WILLIAM WALTERS~ 1896-1960

Yield: 10-12 slices

Lemon Layer Cake with Lemon Frosting

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Lemon Layer cake with Lemon Buttercream frosting and candied lemon slices for garnish

Prep Time 20 minutes

Cook Time 55 minutes

Total Time 1 hour 15 minutes

Ingredients

Cake

• 3 cups all purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon soda
• dash of salt
• 2 sticks unsalted butter, room temperature
• 1 3/4 cups sugar
• 4 eggs, room temperature
• 2 teaspoons vanilla
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 1 tablespoon lemon zest
• 1/3 cup lemon juice

Frosting

• 2 sticks unsalted butter, room temperature
• 1 8-ounce cream cheese, room temperature
• 5 cups confectioners sugar
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• dash salt

Candied Lemon Slices for garnish

• 1 lemon, sliced thin, seeds removed
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 cup water

Instructions

Cake

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour 3 cake pans.
2. Combine dry ingredients in a bowl. (flour, baking powder, soda, salt). Sift altogether.
3. Beat butter until creamy. Pour sugar in a steady stream while the mixer is on low. When all sugar is added, turn the mixer on high and beat about 4-5 minutes and the mixture is fluffy. Scrape sides down with a spatula.
4. Add eggs, one at a time. Add vanilla.
5. Alternate adding the flour mixture and buttermilk.
6. Add zest and lemon juice.
7. Pour into prepared pans distributing batter evenly.
8. Bake 25-30 minutes. Cool completely before frosting.

Frosting

1. Beat butter and cream cheese until smooth and creamy.
2. Turn mixer to low and add about half of the confectioner's sugar, pouring it in a steady stream to the mixing bowl.
3. Add lemon juice, vanilla and a dash salt.
4. Continue to add the rest of the confectioner's sugar.
5. Reserve about 1/2-3/4 cup of frosting if you want to make some decorations for the top of the cake.

Candied Lemon Slices

1. Bring water and sugar to a boil.
2. Drop in the thin lemon slices.
3. Continue boiling about 2o minutes.
4. Place a sheet a wax paper on a small tray.
5. Lay slices singly on the tray. Cool and refrigerate 2 hours or overnight.

Notes

The candied lemon can be made a day ahead to save time.

I use an XL decorating tip in a large zip lock bag to make the flower decorations on my cake.

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