Favorite Family Recipe

Your Name Informant: Bonnie Brown, Kent Washington, 1964

Title: Flauden German Coffee Cake

Genre: Family Recipe

Informant (who):

Bonnie Brown is my Grandma who lived in Washington for a majority of her life, but after the death of my grandpa moved to Lindon, Utah. My grandma is 67 and female and received a high school education in the state of California where she grew up. Following graduation she married my grandpa who at the time was a pilot for United Airlines. My grandma’s side of the family mainly consists of German and English descent. As for religious ties all of my grandma’s family for generations have been affiliated with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. My grandma was a stay at home mom for thirty years and then invested her time and efforts into real state by buying and flipping houses, she also worked for a bed and breakfast inn which was located in Anacortes, Washington. Bonnie has always been a busy bee whether it is sending out family news letters to update everyone or crocheting endless blankets for every member of our extended family, but one thing that strikes me most about my grandma is her cooking and her desire to please others.    

Context (where):

This recipe was given to my grandma from her grandma which was then passed onward to me. My grandma Bonnie first received this recipe in order to bake this cake for my aunt Sharlene’s first birthday and from then on it has always been a tradition to have the German coffee cake as the birthday cake. This cake has always been a part of birthdays in my family and continues to be every year. My family as well as extended family have always used this recipe for birthdays so in this manner it has been a tradition that with stands the test of time and brings everyone together.

Text (the Cultural Artifact itself – the item):

This recipe was handed down to my grandma from her grandma who passed it down to my mother which eventually cycled to me. This recipe is rather famous in our family because of our German heritage. My family would encourage foods that came from our native land. This cake recipe in particular has always been a cake served at birthdays as well as other special events. For the most part this cake recipe brings up past memories of laughter and family bonding. It is symbolic in the manner that it has always been there since before I could remember. One thing that can be relied upon is that any member of my family will have a German Coffee Cake as their birthday cake.

Texture (how):

 This recipe was hand written by my grandma Bonnie. The authenticity of her writing is truly genuine she takes extra time with her writing and always has. There is also a stain on the card which the recipe was written which shows that the recipe has been used quite often throughout the years.

 Meaning:

This recipe means a great deal to me because for eighteen years of my life I have has a moist German Coffee Cake to celebrate another year of being me. It is a great tradition that continues on and I absolutely adore it. The cake is one that just melts in the mouths of many and I wouldn’t ask for a better recipe. I enjoy this recipe so much because not only does the cake taste delicious, but also the memories that come flooding back when I think about the cake. The endless birthdays and parties would have never been the same without this cake. This artifact is a staple in the households of all the members of my family and everyone feels genuinely grateful to have the recipe. Without this recipe not only would their taste buds be deprived of my great-great grandma’s German cake recipe, but also it would seem as though there would be something missing.