Wedding Gifts I'm Still Using--Nostalgia

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Our wedding shower in my home community was family affair.  You see, in small communities, Wedding showers were events, back in those days!  It was held in the evening and attended by moms, dads, grandmas, grandpas and kids!  They probably wanted to see what I kind of fellow I had managed to get engaged too but I'm certain that our shower was just a good excuse to catch up on local gossip and get out of the house on a Saturday night!  

We received two of these Airbake jellyroll pans.  Since I was new at household management, I couldn't imagine why I needed two and both my mom and Bonnie, my mother-in-law, graciously volunteered to take the extra off our hands.

I couldn't give one to my mom, because then I might hurt Bonnie's feelings.  And I sure couldn't give one to Bonnie cause I knew I would hurt my mom's feelings.  (oh those newlywed emotional adjustments--I can hardly wait!) So, I just kept them both!  And I'm so glad I did because I used them both quite frequently!  

I only have one now because, believe it or not, these pans do not survive being place on a stove burner that's on.  Amazingly enough, they warp beyond repair and get blackened on the bottom!

At first I made cookies on these.  Then I began baking Chocolate Sheet Cake in it.  Have you ever made that? It is simply the very best homemade chocolate cake recipe on earth!  It is deliciously chocolatey, delightfully nutty and scrumptiously moist.  It is my very favorite!  In fact, it is also my soon-to-be son-in-law Jake's favorite and he has requested that his Granny make it for his Groom's cake!

My husband's Memaw gave me a local Electrical Cooperative cookbook that had this recipe in it.  This particular version I use was actually submitted by my Great-Aunt (thus, the Nostalgia part of the title!)

This cake is known as Chocolate Sheath Cake, and Chocolate Sheet Cake.  I've also read recipes called Chocolate Cookie Cake that is almost the same.  Some recipes call for cinnamon.

Please, I beg of you, DO NOT RUIN THIS CAKE WITH CINNAMON! That's not how my family makes it!  And Jake doesn't like it that way either.  (I don't think!)  The cinnamon flavor just does not go with that big old jelly glass of ice cold milk you need to drink with this cake! And I don't like it, either!

By the way, if you don't have buttermilk, do not despair.  You can still make this recipe.  Just add a tablespoon of vinegar or lemon juice to a cup of milk and allow to stand for about 5 minutes before adding to cake.  It's a terrific substitute.