A very special cake recipe

I first wrote this little story back in 2000 when Matthew was just 5. He's now 11, and tomorrow he is having his tonsils removed. We'll be home in no time, I know. But I guess no matter how old I get, I will never get over missing my mom at times like this. Please enjoy the story, and bake the cake!

I know Matthew will never remember my mother. He was not even 11 months old when she died. She was extremely close to all of her grandchildren, but Matthew never really got the chance. His first steps were at her funeral – I always thought of that as ironic. But she loved him so much and when I do still grieve for her, I do it for I know Matthew will never know her. He does not remember when he was 4 months old and so sick with the flu; she sat in my living room and rocked him for 2 days. She rubbed his tummy, and the sickness he felt was second to the pain she felt for him. Jimmy was close to her, she was there when he was born and experienced all the firsts with him. Steven was born after she died, but the entire time I carried him, I imagined her by a quiet stream my pastor mentioned in her eulogy, rocking Steven and getting him ready for the world. I went into labor twice with Steven and had to return home, I joked it was because mom was not ready to let him go. Of all of my children, I always considered Matthew to know of her the least.

Until tonight.

I have gone through her box of recipes no less than 100 times looking for particular dishes. As I was scanning through there today I saw a recipe that had never caught my eye. No name, just some ingredients and the directions. Something would not let me put that card down. I decided to bake it tonight. It smelled wonderful, and I do not remember mom ever making it. It was odd to me too because it had no name. It was not like her to do that. And why had I never noticed? It is in her handwriting and everything. After dinner, I gave each the boys a piece of the cake. It has no icing so I was going to top it with whipped cream - before I could turn around, Matthew had inhaled his! "What is this mom, it is great!" He ate another piece. A half an hour ago, he showed up in the kitchen, still half asleep, asking for more cake. I let him have another piece. And I told him the recipe came from his Mamaw. Just then it hit me - we would name this cake for Matthew. And he too, will have something from her.

Matthew's Memories of Mamaw Cake

1/2-cup margarine or butter
1 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
1 egg
1-teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup all purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt1 cup chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease 8-inch square pan. In small saucepan, melt margarine or butter over low heat. Remove from heat and add sugar stirring until dissolved and smooth. Pour mixture into bowl and beat 1 minute. Add egg and vanilla, continue beating until fluffy. Mix in four and salt, just until blended. Fold in chocolate chips. Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until tooth pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool slightly and serve. Go make some memories too.