She’s always there when I need her. Even though she lives a thousand miles away, she is only a phone call away. Who may this be? My Auntie Joyce.

My aunt Joyce reminds me of Ms. Mabel “Madea” Simmons, outspoken, wisecracking, tell-it-like-it-is, African American matriarch. My aunt carries a “purse” just like Madea. Those familiar with Madea know exactly what I’m referring to. If you don’t know! google “Tyler Perry Madea.”

I hope my aunt does not get wind of this post. I’m going to share one of her “Madea” moments, and I don’t need her showing up to my house with her “purse.”

Here we go! My aunt and her friend were sipping their “grown-up” drinks, discussing how good God is. I don’t know why, but my aunt announced we needed to pray. (was it the gin or the juice) I don’t know, but you’ll find out who wanted to pray.

My two cousins, Candy and Kim, my daughter Kiara, myself and my aunt’s friend Gail gathered in the living room where we were led in prayer by my aunt Joyce, and oh what a prayer it was!

Holding hands, eyes closed and heads bowed, we prepared for a powerful gin influenced prayer. My aunt Joyce proceeds to belt out a very sincere prayer. “Lord I know I’ve been f**king up”. I immediately opened my eyes, dropped whomever hand I was holding and backed away from the circle, waiting for lightening to strike. My cousins and my daughter started laughing! The gin told my aunt her prayer was reaching heaven and to continue praying, and she did! Gail was clueless as to what just happened (the gin had her marching up to Zion)

The next morning, (after Brother Gin and Sister Juice left) we had a good laugh! And we still laugh about it to this day.

I love you Aunt Joyce!

Here’s the real Madea!

Delicious Holiday Rum Cake

1/2 cup BACARDI® Gold Rum
1 cup chopped pecans or walnuts
1 - 18 1/2 oz. package yellow cake mix
1 - 3 1/2 oz. package instant vanilla flavor pudding mix
4 eggs
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup cold water

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Grease and flour a 12-cup bunt pan or 10-cup tube pan and sprinkle nuts over bottom of pan.

In a large mixing bowl combine cake mix, pudding mix, eggs, Rum, oil and water. Using an electric mixer beat at low speed until moistened. Beat at high speed 2 minutes. Pour batter over nuts.

Bake 1 hour or until a skewer inserted in the cake comes out clean. Cool 15 minutes, then invert onto serving plate.

for the Glaze:

1/2 cup BACARDI® Gold Rum
1/4 cup butter
1 cup sugar
1/4 cup water

Melt butter in saucepan. Stir in sugar, water and Rum. Boil 5 minutes, stirring constantly. Remove from heat.

Prick top of cake with a fork. Spoon and brush glaze evenly over the top and sides. Allow cake to absorb glaze. Repeat until all the glazed is absorbed.

Tags: Madea, Prayer, Rum Cake, Tyler Perry

This entry was posted on Sunday, November 23rd, 2008 at 8:50 pm and is filed under Sunday Piece of Cake. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.