I love family recipes.  I really don’t have too many.  It’s one of those things where you get a little older and you really wish you would have paid attention to your grandma and even your mom and watched and learn how they did things.  I love the thought of passing something down so natural and ritualistic as preparing food.  Sometimes it doesn’t even have to be a recipe.  It can just be eating toast and cheese with a cup of tea.  I always think of my grandma when I make that.  And I always think of my dad when I put honey on my toast.  It’s the personable aspect and the thoughtful meaning behind the every day task of preparing food and the way we eat it.

I have been bugging my older family members for information and old recipes.  A couple of month’s ago my Great Aunt found some handwritten recipes from my Great Grandma.  I was thrilled.  Even if I never bake them (which of course I’ll attempt) just to have the handwritten papers to me is like a treasure map of sorts.  They are cake recipes, which is perfect because I much prefer baking.  I thought I would start with the easiest of the lot which was a Lemon Pound Cake.  My grandpa had a short visit to the hospital this weekend and I thought this might cheer him up, as it is his mom’s recipe (and no one can live up to her cooking, at least with him).

This is not a “from scratch” recipe.  So I’m assuming that this was something she made later in life.  And here is the best part of all…It calls for a cake mix and when I looked at the box there was a pound cake recipe on the side and wouldn’t you know it was almost the same.  I had a chuckle.  This is a slight variation but sometimes these little variations make a big difference.  Anyhow, my grandpa thought it was wonderful, which definitely says something!

This goes lovely with tea!

*1 box Duncan Hines Lemon Supreme cake mix

*1 pkg instant jello lemon pudding

*6 eggs

*1/2 cup mazola oil

*1/2 cup milk

*1/2 cup water

Mix at high speed 4 to 5 minutes.  Bake in a slightly greased angel food cake pan at 350 degrees for about 55 minutes.