Yeah, okay… we all know the truth. Most of us aren’t waiting for the turkey to finish roasting or the ham to be carved. We’re already eyeing the dessert table, hoping someone will hand us the spoon, the bowl, or even the blender from the cake batter. Because sometimes the sweetest part of the holiday isn’t the main course — it’s the laughter, the anticipation, and the joy we share while we prepare.
The holidays are about more than food. They’re about the rhythm of gathering, the sound of voices overlapping, and the warmth of being surrounded by friends and family. Preparation isn’t just chopping, stirring, or setting the table — it’s planning moments of joy, making space for laughter, and leaving room for the sweetness that restores us.
So as we head into this season, let’s remember:
• The best recipes are seasoned with conversation.
• The best tables are filled with stories.
• And the best desserts are shared, not saved.
Recipe Bonus: Tommie’s 7Up Cake
Here’s the treat to crown the table — light, refreshing, and unforgettable. A cake that reminds us that joy can be tasted even before the oven timer dings.
Ingredients
• 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
• 2 cups granulated sugar
• 5 large eggs
• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup 7Up (not diet)
• 1 teaspoon lemon extract
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Glaze (optional)
• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 2–3 tablespoons 7Up
• Zest of 1 lemon
Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 325°F. Grease and flour a bundt pan.
2. Cream butter and sugar together until light and fluffy.
3. Add eggs one at a time, mixing well after each.
4. Stir in flour gradually, alternating with 7Up, beginning and ending with flour.
5. Mix in lemon and vanilla extracts.
6. Pour batter into prepared pan and bake for 60–70 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean.
7. Cool in pan for 10 minutes, then invert onto a wire rack.
8. For glaze: whisk powdered sugar, 7Up, and lemon zest until smooth. Drizzle over cooled cake.
The holidays can be heavy, especially if we’re carrying separation or sadness. But dessert reminds us: joy is not canceled. Even in hard seasons, we can still taste sweetness, laughter, and legacy.
So today, let’s leave room for dessert — not just on our plates, but in our hearts. Because the true feast is found in the company we keep, the stories we share, and the love that lingers long after the dishes are cleared.
