Coconut Cake

Originally published on my blog 2012–2014

Like many families, our holidays revolved around food. The steadfast Christmas menu based upon signature dishes rarely changed. After a marriage into the family, it may have taken a while to find your signature dish that was unanimously accepted by our family, but once found, don’t ever show up without it. It didn’t matter where you were or your health status when we got together, your dish was expected to show up regardless whether you made it or it showed up by proxy cooking.

The grand entrance always was food before presents. Some members waited near the door for the aunt with red paprika sprinkled atop the deviled eggs to snatch at least one from beneath the plastic cling wrap. Others followed closely behind the aunt who lived near the Blackhawk Bakery. This latter aunt’s arrival was announced when the front door opened accompanied by scent of several dozen warm flakey butter rolls wrapped tightly in a festive Christmas dish towel. Another favorite for those less accustomed to home cooked meals was a cousin who brought creamy still warm German potato salad.

Meanwhile those family members who were kitchen challenged eventually were delegated to bringing sodas and paper goods like towels and napkins. If you weren’t cheap you might be asked to bring “the good paper plates,” the ones as thick as cardboard, and largest diameter you can find. Rarely was anyone delegated those now famous red cups, those were washed and reused by the eldest members of the family, so plenty were always on hand…