A Memorable Gift

There is no gift I like to put together more than one that reminds the recipient of a fond memory. 

So when Daddy regaled me with one of his childhood tales a few months ago, I knew I had the beginnings of an epic gift for him!

As the story goes, Daddy, along with his brothers and sister, would often go on a walk with their father. 

Each trip would culminate in a special treat that he remembers to this day - cornbread that they would crumble into the bottom of a cup and pour milk on top.

Thankfully, I made a mental note of this story. So for Christmas, I whipped up some of my sweet honey cornbread and I headed over to Daddy's house with a bottle of fresh cow's milk from a local vendor.

What a splendid start to our Christmas festivities!

'Twas the Site by Three Sisters - 2016

We know you've been waiting for this ALL YEAR. So, without further ado, it's the Harris Sisters 2016 Christmas Eve year in review in the form of a "Twas the Night Before Christmas" parody. (Hey, we Harris Sisters wouldn't disappoint you!)

'Twas the Site by Three Sisters - 2016

'Twas the site by three sisters, Twenty Sixteen

And what an exciting year it has been!

In January, we went under the sea,

With a Mermaid and Shark Tail crochet spree.

As June popped up, we just couldn't wait,

To lounge at the beach in the Tarheel State.

More rapid than eagles, our childhood reclaimed,

And we traveled, and toured, and visited again!

"Now, RALEIGH! now, SHACKLEFORD! now, BEAUFORT and TURKLE!

On, SWANSBORO! On, TRIPLE S! FORT MACON and EMERALD!

From the top of the porch (wine glasses and all),

We fended off our fair share of catcalls!

For the smoothest of skin, makeup primer by E.L.F.

And you'll want to make sure Retin-A's on your shelf!

In the wink of an eye and without twisting a lead,

Wunderbrow gives you nothing to dread.

We'll speak not a word, but go straight to our work,

And write ALL NEW blog posts (it sounds so berserk)

In twenty seventeen as we sit and compose,

And give a nod, up on the blog they will go!

So as we bid another year toodle-oo,

We wanted to express our sincere gratitude,

To all who have followed, shared, commented, and liked

"HARRIS CHRISTMAS TO ALL, AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT!"

Merry Christmas from Deanna, Misty, and Donna!

Find our previous year's Christmas Eve parodies here: 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2015.

Grandma Elizabeth's Oatmeal Cake

Just in time for Christmas, I'm sharing one of our Grandma Elizabeth's old-fashioned family recipes. This one is straight out of our cherished family cookbook, and it does not disappoint. It's an oatmeal cake with a brown sugar, coconut, and pecan frosting that offers a break from the all-chocolate, all-the-time Christmas treats that you may be experiencing this time of year.

This recipe is truly a treasure, and you might already have all of the ingredients in your pantry to whip it up today!

Grandma Elizabeth's Old-Fashioned Oatmeal Cake

1 1/2 cups water

1 tsp salt

1 cup old-fashioned oats

1 cup granulated sugar

1 cup brown sugar

1 tsp cinnamon

1 1/2 cups self-rising flour*

2 eggs

1/2 cup oil

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 3 quart casserole dish with cooking spray and set aside.
2. Add 1 1/2 cups of water and 1 tsp of salt to a small pot and bring to a boil. Remove from heat and add oats. Let stand while mixing remaining ingredients.
3. Mix together in a large mixing bowl sugars, cinnamon, and flour. Add oil and eggs and stir until incorporated.
4. Add oats and water mixture and stir until entire mixture is combined.
5. Bake in preheated oven for 35 minutes or until toothpick inserted into center of cake comes out clean.
6. Remove cake from oven and let cool on a wire rack.
7. While cake is cooling, prepare frosting.

Frosting

1 stick butter, softened

1 1/2 cups brown sugar

1 tsp vanilla

1/2 cup milk

7 oz. sweetened coconut

1 cup chopped pecans**

1. Place the butter in a large mixing bowl. Blend with an electric mixer on low speed until fluffy, about 30 seconds.
2. Add the brown sugar, 1/2 cup milk, and vanilla. Blend with the mixer on low speed until the sugar is incorporated, 1 minute. Increase the speed to medium and beat until light and fluffy, 1 minute more.
3. Add coconut and nuts and blend on low speed until incorporated.
4. Frost oatmeal cake while still warm.
5. If desired, put cake in oven under broiler to brown top.

Notes:

If you do not have self-rising flour on hand (I did not), you can make this substitution for the 1 1/2 cups of flour required for the recipe:

Add to one measuring cup:

• 2 1/4 tsp baking powder
• 3/4 tsp salt
• enough all-purpose flour to fill the cup

PLUS another 1/2 cup all-purpose flour

You can substitute walnuts in the recipe for pecans if you'd prefer.

If you enjoyed this old-fashioned recipe, make sure to check out the other old-fashioned recipes we've posted:

• Grandma Elizabeth's Applesauce Cake
• Grandma Elizabeth's Magic Fruitcake
• Grandma Elizabeth's Coconut Custard Pie
• Grandma Elizabeth's Cobbler
• Grandma's Old-Fashioned Chicken Soup