Recipe: MawMaw Cook’s Tea Cakes

MawMaw Cook was my great-great grandmother . A tiny woman from Kentucky and a time when woman chopped wood, did their laundry on the back porch, and killed chickens with their own two hands. I just can’t wrap my brain around how they did all that while raising a family, keeping a garden, working the land, etc. etc. etc. This is one of her recipes, and originally did not have any measurements, I’m sure.  Fortunately, someone in our family did figure out what the measurements were and put it down on paper.  These cakes have shown up at many family a get-together for years.  They are simple ingredients, kind of ‘old fashioned’ goodness and really pretty on a plate.  So, if you have a spring event like a bridal shower or ladies tea – give these a whirl.  It is very Southern!

MawMaw Cook’s Tea Cakes

1 cup butter
1 1/2 cups white sugar (rounded)
3 eggs
4 cups flour, sifted
3 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/4 cup buttermilk
1 teaspoon vanilla

Cream butter and sugar, add egg, beating thoroughly.  Add milk and vanilla and mix.  Add flour, nutmeg, baking powder, soda and salt.  Mix well.  Chill for several hours.  Roll on floured pastry cloth and cut in rounds with a biscuit cutter.  Sprinkle with sugar.  Bake at 375 degrees for 10 minutes.  Cool and fill with filling.

Filling:

2 eggs whites
1 small can crushed pineapple
 1/2 cups sugar
1 cup chopped pecans

Cook sugar and pineapple until thick and sticky.  Add beaten egg whites.  Stir in chopped nuts.  Use as filling between 2 tea cakes.  Store in tightly covered container.  (little side note: these improve with ‘age’, so let ‘em sit a spell.)

Y’all Enjoy!