Although we live more than 400 miles away from one another, I still am very close to my best friend from high school. We email, Facebook and talk on the phone several times per week. I spent as much time at her house growing up as I did my own. She was raised in part by her grandparents who became my surrogate grandparents. J’s grandfather died about 10 years ago, but her grandmother is still thriving and just turned 90 yesterday.

J’s family traveled from all over the country to come celebrate their matriarch’s big day. Gram no longer has immediate family in the area, so D and I check in on her and help her out when needed. Gram didn’t want anyone making a fuss. Just having her family in town was all she needed to feel special. She chose the Olive Garden as the place to celebrate. It may have seemed an odd choice, but it was what Gram wanted and that’s what was important. They don’t take reservations, so we had to wait more than an hour to seat the 12 guests. It was worth the wait to see the joy on her face to be surrounded by her progeny. We felt blessed to be included.

I wanted to bake something for her birthday to show her how much she means to me. She has always made me feel welcome and during my turbulent teens, her home was often a sanctuary. Gram loves coconut, so I made her some macaroons. I found the following recipe in Bon Appetit. While it was rich and more decadent than other macaroons, it was also quite delicious. The orange zest takes these little gems to new heights.