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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsI Hate Frosting.
Last edited Sat May 11, 2013, 04:13 PM - Edit history (1)
I hate frosting. Disgusting stuff. I won't eat it. I scrape it off everything.
My mom was that lady who baked a cake from scratch with swirls and drifts of beautiful icing for every occasion. Spice cakes had rich cream cheese icing that she'd whip and she'd whip until it was more like meringue than frosting . German Chocolate, my dad's favorite, was layered with thick chocolate butter cream icing and that candied pecan topping, all made from scratch. She'd stand in front of the stove for half an hour stirring that pecan stuff while it bubbled and popped. You couldn't stop stirring or it would burn. She'd trust me to stir it if she was working on something else but my dad wasn't allowed near it. My dad would be hopping around the kitchen, hoping my mom would look the other way, just so he could steal a hot mouthful out of the saucepan.
My mother took her baking very seriously. If you asked my family over for a picnic my mom showed up with a potato salad big enough for a football team, and a beautiful cake. Well, a MOSTLY beautiful cake. Because they were always square, and they always had one corner that was unfrosted. There it would be, a two or three layer sheet cake, looking like Julia Childs had just spent a day in the kitchen baking something fit for the King of France. Except for that one little unfinished corner that looked sort of like an abandoned lot.
Yes, my Sunset-Magazine Worshipping mother, who strove to make every holiday look like a clipping out of her favorite magazine, would leave one corner of her masterpieces unfrosted, unfinished, and undone. Just so her youngest son, who could be a little bit fussy, got to have a piece of cake just the way he liked it.
I saw the eyebrows raised when people looked at her cakes. I know they thought she might be a little bit nutty. The cakes did look weird. Sort of like a roof with one little patch that had no rooftiles, or a perfect lawn with a little square chunk of just good old dirt. But my mom didn't care. Her kids came first. Sunset Magazine be damned.
That's how much my mom loves me.
Happy Mother's Day Mom. I know I won't see you this year but I hope you liked the flowers.
Call your mama, if you can. If you can't, then send them some good energy and a couple of beautiful thoughts.
cherokeeprogressive
(24,853 posts)DonRedwood
(4,359 posts)I took mine to the airport, my brother gets to have her this year.
HappyMe
(20,277 posts)I've got something in my eyes.
A really lovely tribute to your mom.
DonRedwood
(4,359 posts)I like your tagline. Is that a quote?
HappyMe
(20,277 posts)Oddly enough, it's something that one of those Housewives of Beverly Hills said.
DonRedwood
(4,359 posts)sammytko
(2,480 posts)During her fight with Adrienne and Kyle wouldn't back her up!
Must stop watching trash TV. Lol
HappyMe
(20,277 posts)I couldn't remember.
redqueen
(115,101 posts)2theleft
(1,136 posts)I love hearing stories of wonderful mothers, and yours sounds just fabulous. Beautiful tribute.
DonRedwood
(4,359 posts)Though, her favorite way of waking me up in the winter was to sneak in my room and put her ice cold hands on my back.
So, she could be kind of evil too. But a great lady, for sure.
2theleft
(1,136 posts)I might steal her trick for waking up his kids - the gentle approach barely gets acknowledgement!
DonRedwood
(4,359 posts)she's a trickster... lol...and I learned it from her.
southernyankeebelle
(11,304 posts)Evey year I tell her I love her and miss her. To me mother's day is just another day.
DonRedwood
(4,359 posts)I'd bet you a million bucks she hears you every time.
Have a lovely day.
southernyankeebelle
(11,304 posts)I was in a sad mood. But I got the surprise of my life that one of my twin nieces sent me flowers for mother's day. I am her god mother. I know she is so very busy because she is in dental school and close to finishing. It's nice to be remembered. Everyone please remember to give hugs and kisses to your mothers. You don't know how lucky you all are. Have a wonderful day with your mommas.
DonRedwood
(4,359 posts)She lost her oldest son this past year and I know she is down.
Amazing how flowers cheer people up, eh?
southernyankeebelle
(11,304 posts)the worst thing in the world. I know you made her day. Keep watching out for her especially if she is by herself. Elderly people like the indenpendence but going over and seeing if they need something will make her feel good.
DonRedwood
(4,359 posts)so when she misses a day, i go check on her. she appreciates it.
southernyankeebelle
(11,304 posts)DonRedwood
(4,359 posts)Reward enough.
southernyankeebelle
(11,304 posts)mick063
(2,424 posts)Always scrape off the frosting.
I also don't like cookies with candy in them either (ie. chocolate chip).
I hate ice cream cake with all the stuff piled on. Too much work to segregate the crap off of it. Just give me a bowl of regular ice cream.
Box of donuts at work? I always grab the plain one.
The crazy thing is that I do like candy. Just not on my pastries.
Happy Mothers Day!
treestar
(82,383 posts)matt819
(10,749 posts)But if she really raised you right, you'd love frosting. Who the heck doesn't love frosting? That's just nuts. I mean, I like carrot cake as much as the next guy, but it's really only a vehicle for the frosting.
senseandsensibility
(16,911 posts)but I figured it out soon enough. Great tribute to your mom. Maybe you should send it to her? I will see my mom tomorrow, so I am very fortunate. I've been thinking of her a lot lately. She's barely twenty years older than me, so my memories of her from when I was little have been taking on a different tone lately. I'll think, "She was only twenty-five when she did that? Or she was still in her thirties then? Younger than I am now?" I hope to have a good visit with her tomorrow. Happy Mother's Day to your mom and all DU moms!!!
I
DonRedwood
(4,359 posts)My mom carried our family through some very hard times...and she was like the energizer bunny. She kept going no matter what.
shraby
(21,946 posts)my brother who ate them from the top down. Both of us were happy.
Frosting on a cake makes a cake just too darn sweet.
The only kind of frosting I used to like was a peanut butter frosting my gramma made...and only on chocolate cake.
Jamastiene
(38,187 posts)We could definitely share a piece of cake that way.
Your Mom sounds great.
DonRedwood
(4,359 posts)We'll bake a cake and make icing. You get the bowl of icing. I get the cake.
Tikki
(14,549 posts)Or frosting or topping, whatever.
I had an amazing mother-in-law..she was a great friend, role model and mother.
I think of her more than often and still talk to her even though she is gone.
Happy Mother's Day, Demie, you are loved forever.
Tikki
Freddie
(9,256 posts)I was a picky eater kid too and Mom always made sure there was something I'd eat at family gatherings. I'll visit her tomorrow in the nursing home and hope she recognizes me.
Homemade frosting is great! Frosting from a can--ick.
DonRedwood
(4,359 posts)Nice that you are going. I hope it is a lovely day for you.
Freddie
(9,256 posts)Dementia started stealing Mom from us a while ago. She usually recognizes my brother and myself, but not the grandkids anymore.
Hope everyone has a great Mothers Day! We avoid restaurants, DH will cook on the grill.
DonRedwood
(4,359 posts)Have a good one!
abelenkpe
(9,933 posts)My mother is a hateful bigoted jerk who last time she spoke to me said she was happy my employer was going out of business (and I was losing my job) because now I'll understand why Obama is an awful president.
I wish my mother was like yours. She sounds awesome. Enjoy!
Danmel
(4,907 posts)I am not a huge cake eater, but I do love a good spice cake!
Wish your mom a happy mothers day. This is going to be a weird one-my kids are BOTH away at school for the first time, and my husband's mom passed away in September (mine died in 1999) so it's gonna be strange.
DonRedwood
(4,359 posts)Have a good day today and tomorrow. :0)
No Vested Interest
(5,163 posts)So now, I'm the head Mama of my clan.
My adult kids will come to my house - the family gathering place,- and prepare a lovely meal for all of us tomorrow.
We'll sit down together, which is not always easy to make happen, because of their various commitments, and the dinner and the company will be very nice.
It's good for them to do this ritual, so that when I'm no longer here, they'll know they did the right thing for their Mom, and won't have guilt or regrets on that front.
And I do appreciate their attention.
Happy Mother's Day to all the Mamas, young & old.
The Velveteen Ocelot
(115,576 posts)my mom is no longer with us, but she was a great cook, too. We kids liked frosting so she didn't have to leave pieces of cake unfrosted, but she humored us in other ways. I sure do miss her.
Granny M
(1,395 posts)She raised a good guy.
DonRedwood
(4,359 posts)We are very happy to have you here.
flvegan
(64,403 posts)make DU a better place.
Sorry you won't get to see your mom this Mother's Day.
DonRedwood
(4,359 posts)and gave her a great big bouquet with these instructions:
"If they don't let you take them through security, then you'll have to give them to a stranger. Maybe some nice young man who is meeting his mother at the airport."
She laughed and headed off with the flowers.
I'll bet she does it.
Sekhmets Daughter
(7,515 posts)She has the gift of mothering... and you the gift of being a son.
A HERETIC I AM
(24,360 posts)TNNurse
(6,924 posts)A great tribute to a wonderful mother.
DonRedwood
(4,359 posts)We are very glad to have you here.
xtraxritical
(3,576 posts)Happy mothers day Ma...
freshwest
(53,661 posts)As if I was a celebrity. And to him, I am always beautiful. I lost my folks early, so I understand the flowers, too. Enjoy the day with your partner, Don.
DonRedwood
(4,359 posts)So it's mostly been just me and mom. Though, the brother shows up once in a while....
sheshe2
(83,635 posts)You are "almost embarrassed". Nope, you are proud.
Hearts to you and the kid. Enjoy the day.
she
freshwest
(53,661 posts)malaise
(268,664 posts)Wish my mom was still alive- thanks for the love and the memories mom.
Skittles
(153,104 posts)yes INDEED
SnowCritter
(809 posts)She's 79 and doesn't get around too well anymore. She chose the place and off we went.
It was a good time.
DonRedwood
(4,359 posts)kiva
(4,373 posts)your post is a great mother's day wish - for those who still have their moms around, give her a hug for me.
Curmudgeoness
(18,219 posts)I have no doubt that she would love it. It is sweet and it shows how much you love your and appreciate her.
bluedeathray
(511 posts)But loved and defended her peeps as much as any Tigress. Hey Pizza Hut delivers!
Happy Mother's day Mom. I wish I could see your face. Hear your laugh. And put my babies in your arms.
DonRedwood
(4,359 posts)We're glad to have your voice here with us!
Rhiannon12866
(204,642 posts)Lost my mother 18 months ago and it's still pretty hard to process. I share your wishes.
DonRedwood
(4,359 posts)I'm sure your mom isn't far away.
Rhiannon12866
(204,642 posts)Wishing you the same.
dballance
(5,756 posts)My mom could make a pound of ground beef feed the six people in our family for dinner. We had a lot of spaghetti dinners on Fridays during those lean times.
The last time I saw my mom we were the combative, argumentative people with one another that defined our love for each other. Kind of as the Prince of Tides said - it's the Southern way. She called me an SOB and so I reminded her that made her the "B" in SOB. We laughed. My great friend with a Cuban background was totally taken aback.
DonRedwood
(4,359 posts)She would cuss and say awful things...and you would laugh and snuggle up even closer.
dballance
(5,756 posts)I'm of the generation where women were still second class citizens and they were "oh so cute" when they had opinions.
It is too bad that mentality still pervades our society.
NRaleighLiberal
(60,006 posts)I became a good cook mostly because she was not! But she tried - though money was tight, my brother and I were always well-fed (in quantity, if not quality). My mom (who is 86 and now in assisted living) and dad (gone since 2007) loved to come visit and have me cook for them (even if they were deathly afraid of me putting garlic in things - they were fussy to the extreme).
My mom always let me lick the beaters. When she made chocolate pudding, I got to scrape out the pan (the best part!). She is not happy in Florida in the facility, but she is safe and well cared for, and my brother lives close by to her. (yes, she drives him crazy).
Tomorrow my two girls (girls - they are 32 and 28!) will come over to make dinner for my wife and I. Crab cakes with sugar snap peas and roasted potatoes (home made salsa and chips to start), with a vanilla bean chocolate layer cake for dessert topped with chocolate covered strawberries (they took after me - love to cook - not my wife, who does not, but is happy I do!). When we are all here, we will call my mom - my girls love their grandmother. My wife's mom is not doing well, and is in a hospice situation - we will call her as well.
Time flies. I miss my dad, and love my mom...even if she has become a (understandably) cranky person!
ohheckyeah
(9,314 posts)One of my sisters and I took Mom to lunch and to get a pedicure on Saturday. My husband and I will go to my parents house tomorrow and take my mom a plant. We'll probably just hang out on the front porch and talk as that is what they like to do. I'm blessed - both of my parents are 86 years old and still going pretty strong. Mom still does all of the housework, baking, and cooking and Dad still gardens and mows the lawn.
They've been married for 66 years.
DonRedwood
(4,359 posts)Thanks for the love story. Put a smile on my face.
Liberal_in_LA
(44,397 posts)Great story
Kali
(55,002 posts)my Mom has been gone almost 20 years, but she did those same food things for me. And spread the butter evenly and all the way to the very edges of the bread.
lovely tribute, give her a copy
dem in texas
(2,673 posts)What I sweet story, thanks for sharing with us. My mom was a cake baker and she had a special cake for every occasion and her six children always looked forward to those cakes, Valentine was a heart shaped cake with crushed peppermint candy on top, Christmas was a German's Sweet chocolate cake, Halloween was spice cake, etc. When it was your birthday, you could request your favorite cake and she'd bake it. Your mom and my mom were memory makers.
DonRedwood
(4,359 posts)We are glad to have your voice here. And, I must add, I am intrigued by the sound of "German's Sweet chocolate cake". Never heard of it but it sound delicious!!!
hopemountain
(3,919 posts)reading your post and the comments from many - made me all teary.
tomorrow is my mom's birthday - and mine, too. i was born on her 20th birthday and every few years our birthday falls on mother's day. growing up there was always a massive family bar-b-que at a local park where all of the mothers, grandmothers, and aunties were honored.
mom and i didn't have the closest of relationships - but there were many things i do love and appreciate about her. tomorrow, i celebrate that 20 years ago she accepted me for who i am and not as an extension of all the things she hated about herself - and i accepted her for who she is - perfect in many beautiful ways.
mom is now in the final stage of alzheimer's. she said the disease would never beat her - and as of yet, it hasn't. every now and then we catch that stubborn, sassy gleam in her eyes.
DonRedwood
(4,359 posts)savebigbird
(417 posts)NJCher
(35,616 posts)You're both lucky.
Being someone who loves to mix up a masterpiece myself, I can appreciate what it took for her to leave that corner square unfrosted.
I really enjoyed your Mother's Day essay.
Cher
dballance
(5,756 posts)Your story is far superior to any Hallmark card I could find. What a great mom! It's not the big things in life. It's all the little things every day that make moms special.
CincyDem
(6,333 posts)nolabear
(41,930 posts)applegrove
(118,462 posts)cream, layer of marzipan, layer of butterscotch syrup, layer of almonds. Most delicious dessert I've ever had. No icing whatsoever.
DonRedwood
(4,359 posts)JCMach1
(27,553 posts)so good to be back in USA where it actually tastes good again... UAE can't make frosting to save their lives...