“I double dog dare you!”

Nov 7

Chapter 16

Addy Wilder’s backyard had a Meyers Lemon tree. It was planted in 1915 when the house was built.

To say it produced in abundance was an understatement. The lemons were massive in size. They were almost 3 to 4 times the size of those you would find down the street at Smith Brothers Grocery.

All year, Mrs. Wilder saved paper grocery bags to fill them with the tree’s bounty. She gave them to all her family, friends, neighbors, postman, AC technicians. (Really ANYONE who would take them away!) She also made lemon curd and citrus preserves. Those she would store and give as Christmas gifts.

From Addy’s earliest memories, she helped her mother in making these recipes. Actually, it was a Wilder tradition to do so. The time-honored tasks were passed from mother to daughter.

The first year the tree was planted, it gave a startle to her great grandmother Clatie. She had to figure out what to do with all of them. Leaving them to rot was not an option. She always told the story of what a wonder it was to see the tiny limbs of the tree laden with fruit.

When Addy was about eight years old, she and her friends were playing in the back yard. Then she uttered the words that no 10-year-old boy could let slide by.

“Preston, I double dog dare you to eat a whole lemon from this tree!

Of course, Addy said it in front of Preston’s younger sister, Gelia, his cousin Frankie and Jasper his little terrier. All of them (including Jasper) looked at him to see what he would do or say.

Now, if truth be known, Preston brought this on himself. He was boasting that he loved lemons so much that he could eat a whole one without stopping. Actually, he loved them so much, his mother made a pound cake with lemon curd topping every year for his birthday.

Addy plucked a lemon from a low-lying branch and gave it to him! “Addy you did have to pick the biggest one on the tree, didn’t you?” All eyes were on him. The children made the sound of drum rolls and Jasper joined in the course by barking over the noise. Of course, Preston had no choice. He bit into the lemon, rind and all. His faced grimaced and his mouth puckered, but a dare was a dare. He was going to do it.

And, he did.

To this day, he never told anyone how he had to force himself against his own will to make it through the ordeal. He ate the whole things and then licked each finger for emphasis.

The children cheered. Jasper ran a victory lap around his master.

Preston was king for the day.

It was also the beginning of him being king of Addy’s heart.

She did not understand it, but she had a feeling Preston would be someone who always followed through and would be good to his word, regardless of what challenge was placed before him.

Classic Pound Cake with Lemon Curd Topping

INGREDIENTS

1 cup butter, softened
½ cup shortening
3 cups sugar
6 large eggs
3 cups all-purpose flour
½ teaspoon baking powder
⅛ teaspoon salt
1 cup milk
1 tablespoon lemon zest
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon lemon extract
1 Jar of The Southern Conserve Lemon Curd
Garnishes: candied lemon slices, sugared cranberries, fresh thyme sprigs

DIRECTIONS

Preheat oven to 325°. Beat first 2 ingredients at medium speed with a heavy-duty electric stand mixer until creamy. Gradually add sugar, beating at medium speed until light and fluffy. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating just until yellow disappears.
Sift together flour and next 2 ingredients; add to butter mixture alternately with milk, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Beat at low speed just until blended after each addition. Stir in lemon zest and next 2 ingredients.
Pour batter into a greased and floured 10-inch (16-cup) tube pan.
Bake at 325° for 1 hour and 15 minutes to 1 hour and 30 minutes or until a long wooden pick inserted in center of cake comes out clean. Cool cake in pan on wire rack 15 minutes.
Remove cake from pan to wire rack. Cool completely on a wire rack (about 1 hour). Gently brush the Lemon Curd on top of the cake letting it drip over the sides.
Garnish, if desired.