Today, my mother, Mabel, would have been 105 years old. Usually I share one of my favorite pictures of the two of us, from a time before our family life together became so complicated. Today, instead, I am sharing one of the few things that I have in her own handwriting…the recipe for my favorite birthday cake, a cake which she made for me over and over again from a recipe she got from her mother during the Great Depression. In fact, it is sometimes called a depression cake, because it substitutes mayonnaise for eggs and oil, which were so difficult to find and so expensive to buy. Apparently Hellmann’s was cheaper.

I’ve enjoyed this cake. I’ve made this cake. There are few things in this world that remind me more of Mabel and the many things that I carry within me that were gifts from her. And maybe, if you give it a try (I mean, who doesn’t like a ridiculously moist chocolate cake), then you will know her just a little bit too. And whatever you do, don’t forget to shake the liquids with the mayonnaise in the empty jar together. It’s important.

Happy heavenly birthday, Mama.