Caramel Orange Cake

Patrick Beam

My dad's mother is the one who came up with the recipe for this cake. She heard about it and thought it sounded nasty, but she decided to try to make it anyway. I personally do not like the cake.

My grandmother made it for the first time when my father was 3, and he absolutely loved it! So, for the past 50 years, he has had that as his birthday cake every year. When my grandmother died 11 years ago, my dad's sister and my mom both tried to make the cake the way my grandmother did. But it was not the same taste as when my grandma made it.

My dad heard about a home economics teacher who makes cakes, and he gave her the recipe and let her try to make it. She did, and it was the same as when my grandma made it.

So, for the past 11 years my parents have paid the lady to make this cake twice a year. Once is for my dad's birthday. My mom loves it now, so they get one for her birthday, too.