Day 3 Of “The 12 Days Of Christmas Music” & An “Easy Holiday Wreath Cake”

“May the ringing bells of Christmas, fill your life with music of happiness and prosperity” Author Unknown

Welcome to Day 3 of “The 12 Days Of Christmas Music.” I hope that you enjoyed yesterday’s post on “Frosty The Snowman.” Just to remind some of my readers that have just stopped by what I am doing is, everyday for the next 9 days I will post a Christmas song, and share a holiday treat, a homemade gift idea, or just a favorite recipe that I think may go with that song, all leading up to “Christmas Day.” This has been an incredible year! I want to say thank you to my readers, as we prepare for the most joyous time of the year! (Don’t forget to come back tomorrow!)

In 1998 through 2005 I lived in a small town in upstate NY called Salamanca. It is about 90 miles South from Buffalo in the Southern Tier. My house was nestled in between the mountains and surrounded by pine trees that were too tall to see the tops. The town was very quaint and it was located on an American Indian Reservation. Now, as you know I am Italian, but enjoyed the customs and traditions of the American Indian as well as the land. In this picturesque town was one theater that was called “The Ray Evans Seneca Theater.” One day I had asked my best friend, Mary Ann, who was this Ray Evans and why did they name this theater after him? She told me that he was the man who wrote the lyrics to the Christmas song, “Silver Bells,” and the town had an annual “Silver Bells Festival” in honor of him. I had no idea and then she told me his story………………

Raymond Bernard Evans was born on February 4, 1915 in Salamanca, NY. He was a partner in a songwriting duo with Jay Livingston. Evans wrote the lyrics and Livingston wrote the music for their songs. Livingston and Evans won three Academy Awards. The first award was in 1948 for the song, “Buttons and Bows,” in 1950 for the song, “Mona Lisa,” and the third was in 1956 for the song, “Que Sera, Sera.” The very talented duo also wrote the song for, “Tammy”, themes for TV shows including Bonanza, Mr. Ed, and in 1951 the song that is most popular at Christmas time the song, “Silver Bells.” Mr. Evans also collaborated separately with Henry Mancini. Livingston and Evans were inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1977 and received their star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1995. Ray Evans died in 2007 at the age of 92 in Los Angeles, California, on the 42nd anniversary of the death of Nat King Cole who made “Mona Lisa” so famous.

Day 3: “Silver Bells” by Jay Livingston and Ray Evans

Silver Bells

City sidewalks, busy sidewalks.
Dressed in holiday style
In the air
There's a feeling
of Christmas
Children laughing
People passing
Meeting smile after smile
and on every street corner you'll hear

Silver bells, silver bells
It's Christmas time in the city
Ring-a-ling, hear them sing
Soon it will be Christmas day

Strings of street lights
Even stop lights
Blink a bright red and green
As the shoppers rush
home with their treasures

Hear the snow crunch
See the kids bunch
This is Santa's big scene
And above all this bustle
You'll hear

Silver bells, silver bells
It's Christmas time in the city
Ring-a-ling, hear them sing
Soon it will be Christmas day

My recipe today is simple and festive. It looks like a beautiful wreath that you place on your door; instead you place it on a plate and share it with your guests. You will love this cake recipe as it is easy and luxurious. This dessert is my tribute to Ray Evans and “Silver Bells.”  Enjoy and don’t forget to come back tomorrow for more goodies…

“Easy Holiday Wreath Cake”

Ingredients:
1 pkg. (2--layer size) cake mix. White cake is best but can use yellow cake mix.
1 can of Cream Cheese Frosting
1 package of sweetened shredded or flaked coconut
1 big red bow

Directions:
Follow directions on cake box, and then pour into greased, floured Bundt pan. You could also use a 10 inch tube pan. You want it to be round to resemble a wreath with a hole in the center. Bake according to directions on the cake box. Cool for 15 to 20 minutes. Remove from pan. Cool for another 15 to 20 minutes on a rack. After cooled then put on a plate and frost with the cream cheese frosting. Now you take the shredded coconut in your hand and carefully pat on some of the coconut. Go around the cake and the top as well as the hole in the middle. Cover cake completely with the coconut. Now that the cake is coated, attach your red bow on one side of the cake and now you have an “Easy Holiday Wreath Cake.” It is so moist and sweet due to the coconut. Plus, it is pretty placed on a plate that your guests will be amazed and think you worked on this cake for hours. See attached photo. Enjoy!!!

Till Next Time……………………………….........

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