The Ozark Pudding Cake and Telling Our Stories
Golden Ozark Pudding Cake
Ozark Energy
I didn’t actually have a “thoughtful” reason for choosing the Ozark Pudding Cake for my cake-of-the-week. In truth, I came upon a weekend when we decided to make a quick trip to the Ozarks for one day of R & R. Why not take an Ozark Pudding Cake to the Ozarks?
We actually have a solid group of friends, affectionately coined the “Ozark Group,” blessing us with friendships as strong as the cast iron in which this cake was baked. Friends who vacation together stay together. As an aside, we also have a Key West friend group. If only there was a key lime recipe in my book.
Easy Does It
This confection came together in a snap. I think it’s expected that a cast iron skillet begs a casual cake.
If you’ve been following me, you know my favorite thing is the fewer dishes the better. Additionally, when fruit is involved, give me a recipe with no peeling. Do you see a theme? Ease and speed. Isn’t that what we all need these days?
The author’s twist on this classic was substituting Bartlett pears for apples. Genius! Why? No peeling. She’s my hero.
A Truly Special Element
I always like to point out a special element in a cake, as I see it. Until now, I’ve always shined the light on a particular ingredient. Today, I’m choosing a real element. Atomic number 26 on the periodic table: Fe, or iron. That’s right. The cast iron pan is the special element.
Fun fact: iron is the fourth most common element in Earth’s crust. How fitting, because it created a crunchy/chewy crust on this cake. Cast iron heats more evenly, and it provided a lovely golden exterior with a pudding-like middle.
A Comforting Classic
At a glance, this dessert emerging from the oven appeared truly nostalgic. Obviously, there’s the cast iron vessel, but the swirl of pear slices on top gave a nod back to times of old when fruit often graced cakes. The scattering of almonds added texture and visual appeal.
This take on the Ozark Pudding Cake was a tasty, classic dessert that would conclude any meal with a casual, comforting closer. Served warm out of the oven with vanilla ice cream, it was truly a pleasure.
The cake traveled well, too. It was easy to pop out of the skillet into a Tupperware pie carrier (also vintage). This provided a pleasing dessert served at room temperature the next day.
Preserve Your Story: The Transcend Moment
Typically, the reason why I selected a particular cake leads into my conclusion. Although I could easily write about my sturdy friendships, I chose a different angle.
Ozark pudding (originally an apple cake) was popularized by Bess Truman during her husband’s presidency, according to Julie Richardson, author of Vintage Cakes. In fact, the author reported that Mrs. Truman made it for Winston Churchill during a 1946 visit to the White House. If it was good enough for the British Bulldog, it was surely a solid choice for this cake collection.
My first thoughts when reading this recipe and the description were:
I loved the use of a cast iron pan. I grew up using only cast iron pans for stovetop cooking, Sunday roast beef, and baking cornbread. A cast iron pan itself is vintage and nostalgic (and really heavy! No wonder my mom was strong.)
The thought of a first lady in the kitchen cooking for anyone, much less a foreign dignitary…enough said. Not only has cookware evolved immensely, but so has the domestic landscape.
This brought to mind my paternal grandmother and the stories she would tell about the 1940s. The tales that surfaced, not surprisingly, include her witnessing President Truman’s inspection of the naval fleet when my grandpa was a naval officer. The second one was listening to Winston Churchill speak on the steps at Harvard. Such special stories; I wish so much she had written them down (in detail).
What beckoned me to buy Vintage Cakes was the arousal of feelings just looking at the cover: beauty and nostalgia. The history behind this particular cake triggered reflection on my grandma’s stories and evoked those emotions.
Whether or not you are the sentimental type (and I hope you are), consider writing down your story. In fact, that is a foundational reason I chose to start telling stories out loud (via written work). When I’m gone, my kids or grandkids may want to know.
Someday, somebody will enjoy your story. You may think it’s ordinary, and sometimes it is, but it’s YOUR ordinary, and that actually makes it extraordinary to someone else because they didn’t live it.
Your words and your lived life have meaning. Preserve it and share it.