And The Mystery Goes On...

Look at this stuff.  Isn't it neat?  Wouldn't you think my collection's complete?

While most families are enjoying a snowy, post-Christmas weekend, we're weathering out a day of Louisiana thunderstorms.  What perfect conditions for me and my dad to start the tedious process of cataloging centuries of family artifacts.  

Oh, and there's wine to help.

We've spread out on the dining room table.  Photos, certificates, letters - even a receipt for 100 foghorn chickens (reportedly "good layers"!) - I'm slightly overwhelmed.  I feel a deep sense of responsibility in accurately paying tribute to those I owe my life, but really - where do we start?

I've had to summon the powers of Google Docs and Ancestry.com to keep us organized - but it still feels chaotic.  As an IT geek, I'm a little annoyed in not being able to find recommendations on how to build out a family history site; however the path in navigating these family history is still exciting for me and my nerd dad.

Today, I've really enjoyed discovering the hilarious facial expressions of my grandfather, Edward Eugene Miller.  Maybe I can convince Papa Gene to join Instagram.

Edward Eugene Miller.  1926. Conway, Missouri. #Iwokeuplikethis

Edward Eugene Miller. ~1932. Conway, Missouri. #flawless

The rain is subsiding, day turns into a warm December night.  Dad pours a glass of wine and sits down to sort through another stack of relics.  

"And the mystery goes on..." he sighs.  And so it does.

Miracles On Icing.

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Clara Baker LeMaire.  Christmas.  New Orleans.

Our family loves a good celebration... and we have much for which to be thankful.  When planning out the next fête, we'll flip through our recipes to create the perfect menu.  Then comes the moment...

"Should we try .... the cake?"

Deep breath.  Mrs. LeMaire's Caramel Cake.  She's a southern lady, so address her properly ("care-a-mel").  Her buttery interior is simple enough; however making the golden, sugary goodness holding her all together can melt the ego of our most tenured bakers.  I can only remember making it twice during my childhood.  It's that hard.

Mrs. LeMaire recommended making it "on a cold day".  A cold day... in Mississippi?   Either way, you need a miracle to get this cake right... but oh, when you do... this cake is everything.  EVERYTHING.

I have decided this Christmas, we'll give it a try.  My sister and I are older.  There's a slight chill in the air.  Caramel Cake time - let's geaux.

Here's the recipe.