I arrived home one summer for my annual visit with my mother and, as usual, she informed me of something wonderful going on, and was told to follow her. She always had something interesting to show me. One time it was a rattlesnake skin she was tanning for a young man and was making him a belt. Another time it was a doll the size of a two year old child. When we reached the kitchen, she took the cover from a stone crock and announced the concoction in the container was the beginning of “Friendship Cake” which would take thirty days to make. I asked why thirty days and she replied, “You'll just have to wait and see to understand.”
At this she took a large ladle and dipped a generous amount and swigged it down, smacking her lips all the while. She offered me a drink and I told her I believed I would wait for the finished product to do any tasting. The following day I questioned her further about the cake and she assured me it came straight from a deacon's wife at her church and there was nothing strange about this cake. She said the nice part was when you made your cake, there would be enough of the mixture left to divide it with two other friends so they could have the experience. I was beginning to get some doubts, especially when I observed Mama removing the lid quite often and sipping the liquid.
I asked her how often she was instructed to check it and she said her friend said once a day but said she just wanted to make certain it was doing what it was supposed to be doing. I thought about that for a minute and then asked Mama just what it was supposed to be doing. She gave me a sly smile and said, “Wait and see.”
I went to spend some time with my brothers and arrived back at Mama's several days later. In fact, the thirty days would soon be up. Mama was sampling her cake when I walked in. She had upgraded her dipper to a pint jar. I told her if she kept that up, there would not be enough to bake her cake, let alone share with friends. A little later I had a phone call from an old friend and was talking for quite some time. I went searching for Mama and found her hanging on to the kitchen counter and informed me in a slurred voice; “I jes' tasted one lil' ole' jar full but hup us to a seat,” and about that time, she did sit down in the middle of the kitchen floor.
She received quite a bit of teasing about her cake but finally promised me the recipe if I would drop the whole thing. I am sure she would not mind my sharing with you. The cake is quite good!
“Friendship Cake” (Thirty Day Preparation)
Use a large glass gallon jar and stir with a wooden spoon.
First day: Stir together one cup started fluid which is a 29 ounce can of chopped peaches with juice. Stir daily.
Tenth day: add 2½ cups sugar, one large can chunk pineapple with juice. Stir daily.
Twentieth day: add 2½ cups of sugar, one large can fruit cocktail with juices, one can (10 oz.) maraschino cherries with juice. Stir daily.
Thirtieth day: Drain liquid from fruit. Divide juice into six jars and give to friends. Divide fruit into three equal parts and make three cakes. Hints: During the 30 days none of the above should be refrigerated. Fruit may bubble and the lid may pop off. Cake may be frozen after baking. Juice cannot be frozen.
Cake: One yellow or white cake mix (without pudding) 2/3 cup oil, 4 eggs, 1 cup water, 1 box pudding mix (pineapple, vanilla, or butterscotch), 1/3 cup of fruit, 1 cup chopped nuts. Mix all ingredients, folding in fruit and nuts last. Bake in a greased tube or bundt pan for 50 minutes at 350 degrees.