Grandma Rosenbaum's Persimmon Pudding

Grandma Lois Rosenbaum was my husband's maternal grandmother. I first tasted this "pudding" in 1971 and was delighted by its rich texture and tart, fruity taste. I didn't know a pudding could be baked into the form of a cake. I had never tasted anything like it! Since my only surviving grandmother had always lived so far from me, Lois was happy for me to adopt her as my grandma. Traditionally, she served this pudding each Thanksgiving and Christmas with sweetened whipped cream. My husband's mother told me there never was a Thanksgiving or Christmas that she did not make it, as everyone looked forward to having some. When she passed away in 1991, my sister-in-law became the keeper of the recipe and she began to serve it to the family at our gatherings for Thanksgiving and Christmas to keep tradition going. She was honored to let me serve it here today. Grandma Rosenbaum was a firm, but loving, second generation, American-born of German immigrants named Baugh. She met her husband, Ralph Rosenbaum, in Bedford, Indiana. They got engaged within three days and married six weeks later. They remained married for over 69 years. He preceded her in death in October, 1990. On Mother's day 1991, she leaned over to my husband as they posed for a photo and said, "I miss Ralph." Within two weeks, she had gone to be with him in eternity. No matter what time of day someone would show up at her home for a visit, she rose and cooked them a meal. That was her way. We all miss her so.

Submitted by: Betsy from Mooresville, Indiana