It was cold and there was snow all around. It was too cold to go out and play. It was a Sunday, February 2, and I had a whole afternoon to figure out what to do. Mom and Dad had announced it was their anniversary. “Could I bake a cake for their anniversary?” I wondered. We bake cakes for birthdays, what about anniversaries? I looked in my mother’s first cookbook for an idea.
And there I found it. We had all the ingredients. That did it. I was going to bake a cake. Since their anniversary was on Ground Hog’s Day, I thought it would be a beautiful thing to make…you know, to cancel out the Ground Hog part.
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We even had the ingredients to make a lovely pink frosting.
Dad marked their 11th anniversary and my first cake with this picture on February 2, 1958.
I think the sparkly ring came from the dime store.
Cinderella Cake
January 29, 2012 by georgettesullins
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I loved this post! The olde tyme cookbook, the measuring instructions and your adorable photo at the end
I’m sure your cake will be delicious .. MJ
It only made one layer but I remember making it several times more until Duncan Hines promised two layers and made his way into the house. I’m glad you like the post. I like the way you spelled “olde tyme”.
That’s really sweet.
ooo…the jam frosting made of almost pure confectioner’s sugar was sweet. (fishlips)
Oh, what a wonderful story and I love that photo! My daughter was just asking me what we could make for Valentine’s Day, she loves nothing more than to bake.
The pictures of the pages were taken by my husband’s smartphone…I hope you can read them. That would be so cool if you and your daughter made “Cinderella Cake”–perfect for Valentine’s, easy and pink!
oh, how sweet is that!!! what a great memory!
I remembered it was a weekend, not a school day. I remember we were snowed in, in our house in NJ. And then Google told me February 2, 1958 was a Sunday. That completed the one detail I wasn’t sure about. The rest I remember so well.
Who wouldn’t love receiving a Cinderella Cake? I bet it added a magical touch to your parents’ anniversary!
At age 7…, I knew Cinderella Cake would be the perfect thing to celebrate. The cookbook was published in Cleveland, OH in 1932. My mother was six that year, and I was seven when I started cooking from it. I recognized then it was an “old” book, but the pictured directions and you’re right, the name “Cinderella Cake” sold me on the recipe.
Georgette, my mother’s birthday is on Groundhog’s day. I’ll have to make this and tell her the story behind it. It’s interesting that you kept the cookbook. How neat.
I definitely remember the cookbook as I pulled it out so many times to make Cinderella Cake several times more and a few other child friendly recipes. The truth is, the book is at my mother’s house. I told her I wanted to write this post so I asked her about the book. She went right to it, pulled it out and my husband took photos with his smartphone to capture what I wanted. Happy Birthday to your mother! What a special day. (wink…even if it is on Ground Hog’s Day)
What a lovely post!
I used to like making fairy cakes when I was a child (that’s what cupcakes are – or at least used to be – called in England).
I have heard about fairy cakes, and thanks to you, now I know what they are. Thank you for letting me know! Love it! Yes, this recipe that only yields one layer, could definitely be used to make “fairy cakes.”
What a treasure, Georgette! Imagine you doing that for your parents at 11! And imagine that you still have the cookbook!
I wonder which made you prouder – the cake or the ring!
When I was young, we’d go to this town about 30 miles from our small hamlet. While Mom whizzed through her to-do list, I would stay in the 5 & Dime store and try on every ring! The owner must have had angel wings…
The truth is, the book is at my mother’s house. I told her I wanted to write this post so I asked her about the book. She went right to it, pulled it out and my husband took photos with his smartphone to capture what I wanted. I was surprised how clean the pages were, although p. 10 did have some “smudges”. You’re right about the ring…probably not an accident I lifted my right hand to “show off the ring” or was I taking a lick of that delicious, sugary frosting? I had forgotten about that ring until I saw the picture. You remember all the rings at the 5 & dime!
What a sweet posting! I truly enjoyed your childhood memory. And the photos. As a photographer myself, I could probably say something about the technical execution, but the photos are shot with so much honesty and emotional attachment, that they just shine. Beautiful.
I am not a photographer, but I do want to preserve these memories digitally. Going forward, I am learning so much. Please do not hesitate to coach me in the future, the past is captured as is. Thank you for taking the time and interest to read and view. You are very kind.
Oh, Georgette, this is “sweet” on so many levels….that little girl on the cover of the book, the child friendly drawings for the amount of each ingredient, that you wanted to make such a lovely little cake for your parents’ anniversary, the yummy-ness of the cake and frosting, that wonderful photo of you with the cake, that your mother not only has the special cookbook, but knows right where it is, that your husband got involved with his smart phone…and that you cared enough to share this special memory, and recipe, with all of us…thank you Georgette…. : )
Thank you, Kathy. This is a story for the family book. Quite frankly, my job, consulting work, etc. (even though I’m retired) has some high level stress, but I really find this blogging to be my Happy Place…”I’m happy now!” as you would say. So I choose to write here about those things that don’t bring on more stress. Thank you for reading and understanding who the girl behind the daily rigors is.
Lovely memory. Lovely cake!
Remember you asked me what to do for a special anniversary? You reminded me that I wanted to write about this.
I think I will make a cinderella cake for our anniversary…thanks for sharing!
lol…What a wonderful idea!
How preciously sweet were you?!?! I LOVE it!! So young yet so thoughtful, creative, & capable … know it’s a memory they fondly remember … I know I would!
I loved using that book. Easy recipes for younger ones and the pictures reinforced what the measurements meant…math teacher you.
Great post – brings back memories of my learning to bake. My parent’s anniversary was on February 2, also. This would have been their 66th if my dad was still alive. Thanks for sharing your memories.
Amazing connection! Who would have thought February 2 would be such a popular anniversary date? I have another blogging friend whose anniversary is Feb. 2. Amazing connections.
“remove from fire”. PRICELESS!
Georgette, this is easily within the top five of my favorite posts shared by you. This is wonderful. I am glad your Dad captured the cake on film, too. You were adorable. Loved this!!
Top five? hmmm… So will Charlie and Joey be making Cinderella Cake for Valentine’s? I want to see a picture. btw Did you post a picture this AM? I looked for it but I think I missed it. I saw the listicle.
Sweet story! And even sweeter because Motor Man and I share the same anniversary as your parents! (I don’t think there’ll be a Cinderella cake on our special day though!)
lol…no Cinderella cake? Dianna, as you read through the comments, it’s amazing how many birthdays and anniversaries are on Feb. 2.
How sweet–You, and the cake! That sounds like an easy frosting to make.
Patti, did you notice the cover of the cookbook is the same picture you had on a former post? When I saw that vintage picture, I remembered this book, then marked my calendar to write it out for Feb. 2. “The Last Leaf” was an inspiration (masterpiece) in short story craftsmanship…and yes, required kleenex.
Yes! I did recognize the image. Loved that picture, now I know where it originated. I told my daughter that I mentioned “The Last Leaf” in a blog post. She remembered the whole experience well. I guess we made some memories.
I love that you and your daughter read literature together and that she remembers doing so. My mother comments that with raising us four children, things were quite a blur for her. I was surprised by that comment because I remember so many distinct experiences in detail, not a blur.
I loved this post and pictures. Made me miss my childhood and made me miss sitting with my grandfather and listening to his stories too. Family stories are the best!
Are we going to see a “Grandpa and You” post?
Family stories are the best.
Every aspect is adorable! First that you wanted to do something so loving for your parents on their anniversary. Second the children’s cookbook – my oldest daughter still has her Mickey Mouse Children’s Cookbook, one of her treasures. And last, but definitely not least, the picture of you with the cake! So sweet!!
I was surprised that the book had aged as much as it had. But I remembered the title page, measurements and directions as I used to read them.
What a perfectly lovely post. Simply told and with the actual 1930′s recipe book, but the icing on the top was ending with the charming picture of 7 year old Georgette, “baker of cakes”
lol…I’m afraid I gave my mother no rest once I made this one. “Can we bake a cake today?” she would have to answer to whether there was an occasion or not.
Oh, that is so precious! How sweet that you have photos of the recipe and the baker (you).
What a wonderful memory. And I am so impressed that you made such a beautiful cake!
You’ll be baking soon with yours…if you haven’t already. Such memories of that cake and peanut butter cookies from the same book. Thank you for visiting today.
gorgeous.
Thank you, Cindy. So nice of you to drop by. Are you getting ready for the Olympics at all?
I love your birthday picture. So much happiness and hope in those beautiful eyes. This brought a smile to my heart and made me remember with joy the birthdays of my own childhood. The Cinderella cake looks delicious. It have me piece of what a fairy tale taste like…Thank you. Happy Valentine’s day to you and your love ones. Wishing you of the love…
This was my parent’s anniversary…a different birthday of sorts. I decided I could make a cake on their anniversary, and with the picture marking that anniversary, I have always remembered that. IT, thank you for visiting and reading about my little memory.
Food and memories – they do go together, don’t they? When I was clearing out Mom’s place after her death, I found some of the old recipes that were family favorites. One was for an icebox cookie with black walnuts – the sort you make into a roll, refrigerate and then slice.
I had some black walnuts in the freezer, so I made a batch and sent them to my aunt in Kansas City who’s in assisted living now and doesn’t do any baking. When she told me how much she liked them, she told me as much about the times and places their taste evoked as about the cookies themselves. Cinderella cake or Cinderella cookies – they’re all magic!
Thank you for telling me about your “Cinderella” recipe. How much it must have meant to your aunt that you sent those cookies to her. When I wrote about my grandmother’s Christmas crumbs back in December, you remind me that she sent these icebox cookies, I think. They were cut individually, showing a vanilla and chocolate spiral…right? Thank you for visiting my site and commenting. It’s such a pleasure to have you. PS Thank you for suggesting Steve Schwarzman’s site. I am enjoying both tremendously, his Spanish-English word connections and his wildflowers.