times they are a changin'

I'm pretty sure that I was born in the wrong decade.

Because of some sort of cosmic glitch, there was a 40 year delay and I was born in the 80's instead the 40's as was meant to be.

Can't you just imagine it?  ....{entering la-la land}...

...growing up in the mist of WWII with gas rationing and Rosie the Riveter
...wearing bobby socks and saddle oxfords while watching Disney's Fantasia
...fawning over men like Frank Sinatra and listening to Bing Crosby sing to-be Christmas classics
...watching sports legends like Jackie Robinson and Sugar Ray Robinson
...going to the drive-in to see Humphrey Bogart star in Casablanca *sigh*
...marveling at inventions such as velcro, the microwave, and tupperware


A few other facts about 1940:

• average annual income- $1,900 
• average cost of a home- $6,550
• average cost of a car- $800
• a gallon of gas- $0.18
• minimum wage-$0.30

So, I wasn't lucky enough to experience the 40's first hand (thank goodness for Casablanca on DVD!) but, my mawmaw was.
There are a few things you should know about my mawmaw.
She:

1. is from a tiny town just outside of New Orleans, Louisiana.
2. has 2 daughters, 1 son, and 2 step-sons.
3. was my weekend sleepover partner when I was little.  We would stay up late watching moves, sing along to Dolly Parton's greatest hits, and eat breakfast at the Cracker Barrel.
4. makes the best pecan pie. ever.
5. is a retired Delta flight attendant.
6. currently resides in small town Florida.
7. has restored a historic home.
8. enjoys gardening.
9. loves sweets.
10. volunteers her time protecting sea turtles and tracking wolves (no, that is not a typo. She actually tracks wolves).
11. loves scary, creepy, grotesque movies.
12. has a sense of humor that would probably make you blush.
13. is not your average mawmaw.
14. turned 70 this month.

 Minus the gory movies and rather odd sense of humor, my mother is practically the same person.  And apparently Mawmaw has pretty strong genes.  It's only a matter of time until I too am tracking red wolves through the forests of a wildlife refuge.

3 generations
(like I said....strong genes)

For her birthday, we gathered at my aunt's home to celebrate.  Per her request for chocolate ganache, I made a chocolate fudge cake with white chocolate whipped cream filling and poured chocolate ganache over the top.  It got rave reviews from the family (and my taste-testers who got to try the 'make-sure-it's-not-a-total-flop' trial run).  The cake was deliciously moist and the whipped cream filling was a perfect match for the rich layer of ganache.

Happy Birthday Mawmaw!

*Triple Chocolate Fudge Cake recipe adapted from Sky High: Irresistable Triple-Layer Cakes