I have used cake flour for many many years. My first experience with cake baking was visiting my aunt and watching her make a cake using only her hands to measure. She would dip her hand in the flour bin and take out the amount of flour required to make her cake. She made the most wonderful angel food cakes with eggs we collected from the hens that morning. She was a wonderful baker. She made biscuits daily using fresh milk from the barn and taught me how to bake those biscuits in a wood stove. Because of her I found it exciting to experiment in the kitchen. I don't have the uncanny sense of measurements she had when portioning out the flour or the "knob"s of butter/lard so I use the standard measuring cups and spoons, but I do have a sense of satisfaction with baking that comes when experiencing the smells and the pleasure of watching someone take a bite and look to the sky and take sigh of enjoyment. Baking is like a quilt. Many of your old quilts tell a story of a family's traditions or were used to create new traditions. Baking is just like that. A certain cake will remind us of celebrations such as birthdays, weddings, or when we just enjoyed a piece on a lazy day with a cup of coffee, glass of milk, or an icy lemonade. We will remember the smell, the taste, and the fun we had when it was presented. I like baking for my husband. He enjoys what he calls "Kathy inventions" when I play around with a concept and come up with a new taste treat; however, I like to give my baking away. It is my way to share the tastes of a time gone by since I use many of the old recipes.

• Reply