Strawberry Seven-Up Mania!

Hi, Everyone!

Today’s Friday Freestyle features… oh, let’s just get into the discussion.

I think Gramma Jewel would be happy to know that her strawberry seven-up cake was a big hit on the Rust College campus. Ruby cut about five slices just for herself, and a couple of girls in E.L. Rust were raving over it. Heck, the dormitory counselor even asked me if I could get the recipe from Gramma Jewel.

Those are some heavy-duty compliments, and I’m sure that Gramma Jewel appreciates every last one of them.

So, just how did the strawberry seven-up cake become so popular? Well, according to Gramma Jewel, she had first baked that cake in April of 1963, as a precursor to some good news that she had for my Grampa Clark. Here it is, almost 40 years later, and Gramma Jewel’s strawberry seven-up cake is still putting smiles across the faces of so many.

As a matter of fact (and I may have mentioned this last week), Gramma Jewel entered her strawberry seven-up cake in a baking contest in 1997; I was three years old at the time and I could recall our section cheering like crazy when Gramma Jewel won the blue ribbon. Not too many know this, but Gramma Jewel only entered the contest because her neighbors convinced her to do so; she didn’t even expect to be one of the five finalists, much less win the contest. Gramma Jewel was so humble when she won, though—she was quick to announce that any of the other four finalists should have the blue ribbon, and she encouraged them to follow their baking dreams.

Several others have asked Gramma Jewel for the recipe to her strawberry seven-up cake, and she gladly gives it to them. It hasn’t failed yet—all of them come back and ask her for the secret ingredient. Gramma Jewel simply smiles and says: “Baby, the secret ingredient—though corny as it may sound—is a lovin’ heart!”

Speaking of Gramma Jewel, it sure was fun seeing her again, and I know for sure that we’re gonna have a rockin’ good time when I come home for Christmas—like, for sure!

Well, I shall holla at y’all later. Take care.

Hugs & Kisses,

Natasha