Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Welcome, Neighbor!




The bundt cake is out of the oven~ 

Just imagine its warmth seeping through the 
bottom of the plate...
the scent of cinnamon wafting up through 
its wax paper hat. 
Oh,  how I wish we could brew a pot of french roast coffee and share a slice!

The summer of  my 13th birthday,  our family piled into our green Impala and moved 1,500 miles away from the small Texas town I knew as home.  With each rest stop on that long trek across the country, fresh tears erupted from my 
13 year old broken heart. 

The day after we moved in, our new neighbor, Nan, in her perfectly quaffed hair, manicured nails and cheerful flower garden walked over with a beautiful smile and a bundt cake. It was a warm, spongy cake, splashed with powdered sugar icing that tasted delicious; the perfect antidote for my homesick heart.

I don’t have Nan’s original recipe, but Mrs. Botsford (one of my mom's dear friends) made a simple, yummy cake that I have always loved.  It is a wonderful bundt cake that would bless any new neighbor, welcome a baby, or bring comfort to a sick friend~
Add your names and phone number to the back!
Wrap it in cellophane from the dollar store, tie it up with raffia and a sweet "blessing" ribbon, and tie on a standard shipping tag with a greeting (make sure to add your name and phone number to the back as a courtesy).  
  
Sweet, simple, and packaged with love...

"Bless Your Neighbor" Bundt Cake

1 cup oil
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup white sugar
1 cup buttermilk
2 eggs
2 1/2 cups flour
1 t. salt
1 t. soda
1 t. cinnamon
1 t. nutmeg
1 t. vanilla
1 cup coconut
1 cup pecans
Combine all ingredients in the order listed.  Bake in greased and floured bundt pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 45-60 minutes. After it cools, dust with powdered sugar.

Rather Cater than Cook?  Head to Nothing Bundt Cakes~ They'll do the cooking and packaging for you!


7 comments:

  1. Great idea! Love the design of the blog. Thanks for linking to the resources!

    Can't wait to see what's next...

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  2. Great job Sharon! Sweet and simple idea. I know I will enjoy checking in to see each new idea.
    Love Lilly

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  3. I LOVE it Sharon!!! Going to pick up a "Nothing Bundt cake" today for a baby shower! They are so delicious!
    Big Hugs,
    Nikki

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  4. Thanks for the idea, Miss Sharon! I'm learning more and more that God creates my "mission field" full of those who are around me--immediate family and neighbors. Great idea!

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  5. This is a lovely idea. I still remember a similar kindness of a neighbor in 1976! My family moved from Texas to Mississippi, and our neighbor sent us off with fried chicken to eat on our journey. In fact my Mom and I were just talking about this yesterday. I can still see the wooden salt shaker that came with the chicken. God bless Bonnie Michaels for her thoughtfulness, that I carry in my heart today.

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  6. All of you are blessing your neighbors in some special way. I love your reflection, Kelly! Would love to hear from anyone else who has "felt the love!"

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  7. Wow, I love how complete this post is! Very impressed by the links!! Thanks so much, Sharon. I can't wait to try this recipe! Great pics, too! This blog is going to be SUCH a blessing to all who read it! Congrats! :)

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