My Grandma Jo

My Grandma Jo

I have so many memories of my Grandma Jo. She was good at many things, but the two that inspired my business were her green thumb and her cakes.

In the late ’90s, I decided I wanted to learn to bake cakes like hers. I made colossal mistakes! I remember being so proud of myself when I baked a cake for work—only to realize I had forgotten to put sugar in it. Epic fail! Talk about embarrassing!

I kept trying, but my cakes never seemed to taste like hers.

One day, when Grandma Jo was in her 80s, I invited her to Savannah to show me how to plant a box garden and, of course, how to bake a cake. She brought hens and chicks from her garden because she said there was no way I could kill them.

Welllll… they are now rescue plants at my sister’s house. They’ve been there for years, but I digress.

After the garden, we moved inside to the kitchen.

Grandma Jo didn’t measure one ingredient, and she couldn’t tell me how much of anything was anything! I was in awe—and equally frustrated. I messed my cakes up in the kitchen with her! I suppose you can tell from the pictures which cakes are mine.

But I kept practicing, off and on, over the years.

When I finally thought I had it, I took Grandma Jo a slice of cake while visiting her in the nursing home. By this time, she had dementia, which made what happened next even more special.

She took the first bite, closed her eyes, and said:

“Cook it about seven more minutes, and it will be perfect.”

She ate every crumb!

Ever since that day, I have baked my pound cakes for one hour and twenty minutes—even when they look done or smell done before the timer goes off.

It was my honor to name my business after Grandma Jo: JoCakes By Josephine.

She’s been gone since 2013, but I know she would be so proud.

It’s about time I got it right.

After all, us Josephines have a reputation to uphold!