MARGIE’S KITCHEN: NEIMAN MARCUS CAKE
by Darlene Parman
This article is dedicated to my mom, Margie Trammell, who shared her love through her Texan, homestyle cookin’. Speaking of Texas, the iconic department store Neiman Marcus started in Dallas. Growing up in Texas, I observed how that store became a cultural symbol for how Texas ladies should dress and cook. You may recall that December 2024’s recipe was for the famous Neiman Marcus Cookies. This month, I’m sharing the Neiman Marcus Cake. I am not certain if it was served in the Neiman’s café, but when you ate this cake, you definitely felt rich! Perhaps that is the source of the name. When we moved to Oklahoma, I noticed they called this recipe Gooey Butter Cake. You could purchase it at the old “Sweet Memories” shop on May Avenue in a round aluminum cake pan. I hope this amazingly yummy cake helps you have a “richer,” more loving relationship with your family and friends!
A Deep Dive Into ‘Old Ironsides’ America’s Invincible Icon
Some American institutions were built to last.
In 1794, a shipbuilder named Joshua Humphreys earned his status as an American hero by designing the first half-dozen warships used by the U.S. Navy. Amazingly, one of these ships, the USS Constitution, remains commissioned to this day after being used in some of our country’s most significant achievements at sea. The USS Constitution was first commissioned circa 1797 during the Quasi-War with France before being shipped off to North Africa during the U.S. conflict with the Barbary Pirates. However, the ship’s greatest fame came during the War of 1812, when it helped secure a victory against the British Navy. Known for its virtually impenetrable construction, the USS Constitution earned the nickname “Old Ironsides” after it was victorious against a British warship known as the HMS Guerriere. When the war-worn Old Ironsides seemed to be nearing the end of its structural life and would need to be decommissioned in 1830, a national campaign to save the ship kept it in service. By 1881, Old Ironsides finally got its well-earned retirement, and the ship was officially decommissioned. Was that the end of this iconic vessel’s storied history? Not by a long shot! In 1931, the Navy returned the ship to a different kind of active duty, where it remains to this day. These days, Old Ironsides is docked in the Charlestown Navy Yard in Boston, Massachusetts — next to a nonprofit museum dedicated to preserving its incomparable impact on American history. The warship and museum attract hundreds of thousands of visitors annually, and official USS Constitution crew members are on hand to deliver presentations on the frigate’s extraordinary past. More than 200 years after it first left Boston Harbor, Old Ironsides continues to stand (or, more accurately, float ) as a symbol of American ingenuity and our nation’s commitment to liberty and freedom for all.
Bottom Layer • 1 box yellow cake mix • 2 eggs, beaten • 1/2 cup butter, melted Ingredients
Top Layer • 8 oz cream cheese • 2 eggs, beaten • 1 tsp vanilla • 1 box of powdered sugar or approximately 3 1/2 cups
Directions 1. Preheat oven to 350 F. Grease and flour a 9x3x3-inch baking pan. 2. Mix ingredients for the bottom layer and press into the prepared baking pan, making a 1/4-inch lip around the edge. 3. Mix ingredients of top layer and pour over the first layer of cake batter. 4. Bake for 40–45 minutes. When done, the top is golden brown, and the edges are darker brown. When in doubt, underbake. Cool completely. Cut into squares. 5. Sprinkle with powdered sugar and enjoy. If you want us to share a recipe in Margie’s Kitchen, please email it to Info@parmanlaw.com. We’ll feature it in our newsletter or on our website!
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