The Making of The Legendary Cake

This Thanksgiving I thought I'd tackle traditional desserts. Legendary desserts from the different branches of my family. On my Mom's side I picked apple pie. My grandmother made great apple pie and oatmeal cookies. I am sure she made much more than those two but they are what I remember the most. And I have made pie before and knew I could do it. For Adam's side I picked banana pudding. He loves it and I had never attempted Southern Banana Pudding before. But the real doozie was Granny's chocolate cake. I know what you are thinking.... Big deal Carrie, you made a cake for Thanksgiving. Most people do bake things for Thanksgiving. But y'all just don't understand this is the Granny cake. (Dana knows)The cake that caused almost riots at calm laid back family gatherings. The cake that even Granny claims she doesn't get right every time. Its status in our family history is simply legendary. It was a risk and I felt up to it...

It involved sifting several cups of flour and cocco over and over and over. I don't have a sifter. And because Target didn't carry one they must not make it anymore. So I improvised with a pasta strainer....

This is not a Cooking Light Cookbook recipie... Its from the Ellison Miller Family Cookbook so it involves two sticks of butter, five eggs and three cups of sugar.

Adam took pictures of me pouring the finished batter into the pan. I felt like a famous cooking show hostess....

Then it baked for one hour and forty five minutes...

When it came out it looked like Granny's cake... But I still had the icing to go. I had to make two batches before I felt I had got it kinda close. I wish I knew how to make arrows on photos like my friend Emily to point out the giant hole where the icing lovingly known as the "middle" collects. This is the source of all the fights. It all looked good. But I will have to wait for Saturday to taste it. People who have tasted reported as pretty darn close. So I will consider my first attempt a success.

I only wish the banana pudding was as successful. Sweet Adam said that it tastes good but its a little thick and overdone. I will have to work on this a little more.

How did your Thanksgiving cooking go? Any yummy recipies to try??