A recipe that supplies the right dish for any occasion is the best recipe.
I grew up making Poor Man's Chocolate Cake. As time went by, I learned I was making all these others as well. I would exchange favorite recipes with someone and we would laugh because it would be the same cake, only under a different name.
From the mid 60s through the 70s, my family was on the lower end of the economic scale in our town. Father struggled to make ends meet and he slipped into alcohol troubles pretty quickly, which led to more troubles in our family. He always seemed to be at the wrong place at the wrong time, doing the wrong things.
But Father was a very good engineer, and machinist, designing gadgets that would enhance our lives, yet they never quite came to fruition. He could draw a 3-D plan of an engine, or a machine, or some mechanism, and do it from several angles and cut-away drawings. I regret that none of his drawings were saved.
We lived without electricity for 11 years of my life (Age 4 - 15) The power lines stopped a half mile from us on the east side and a mile from us on the west side. We were the only house on this 'power-less' stretch of road and the power company wouldn't connect the lines just for one household. There was no way we could afford to pay to have them put in.
We were poor, and without electricity. We had a hand pump in the kitchen and a convenient little building at the end of the shed. We used kerosine lanterns and lamps. We had battery operated everything; radios, tape players, record players and even a Television.
Father began machining the blades for a windmill, using the IT lab at the High School during Adult Education classes. He didn't need the classes, just the tools. But it never was finished and the huge blades rusted in the shed over the years. He drew the entire structure in detail and those drawings fascinated me.
One convenience Father did rig was a gravity-fed system that brought the oil to the furnace in the basement and the oil/gas stove in the kitchen.
One of the things we children got from living 'off the grid' so to speak was an immense amount of freedom. Mother and Father liked to go dancing, fishing, and out to play card games 83 or cribbage with friends, leaving us kids home for the evening or the night and sometimes the whole weekend. I suppose that would be frowned on today but we children loved it.
Amid our wild, crazy nights of freedom, I learned to cook.
It wasn't so much of a need, for Mother saw we had something to eat; I did it because there were no restrictions against it while we had the run of the house. For a time there were five if us children, then my oldest brother left at age 12 to live with a family near where he worked and my older sister, at age 17, went to live with friends in Massachusetts. That left three of us, my next oldest brother, myself and our little sister. We had a lot of fun. It's great when your best friends are your siblings.
Mother and Father discovered I could cook, the kitchen was available for me any time. Before age 9, I was up to American Chop Suey, potato salad and meatloaf. Fish from the lake nearby our house, I would fry or bake. I made stews and soups, rice and pasta dishes.I learned to bake chicken, turkey, and roasts before age eleven. I was baking pies at age 12.
And somewhere in there, I learned how to make Poor Man's Chocolate Cake. It is still my favorite go-to recipe if an occasion calls for cake. It is a simple recipe, easily enlarged or reduced. It can be layered or single, as cupcakes or minis.
There is another aspect to simple recipes and detailed drawings. God designed intricately for the salvation of everyone and described it to us throughout the entire Bible.We also have the simplicity of it in that Jesus death on the cross and His ressurection is the absolute best recipe for salvation.
* Poor Man's Chocolate Cake
Grease an 8 x 8 cake pan. Preheat oven to 350.
1 1/2 cup all purpose flour
1 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 Tablespoons cocoa powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
6 Tablespoons vegetable/canola oil
2 Tablespoons white or cider vinager
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup water
In medium bowl, mix all the dry ingredients (You may sift dry ingredients but it is not necessary) Add remaining ingredients. It is best if the vinegar is the final addition as it tends to work fast. Mix quickly, beating or whisking until the batter is smooth and creamy. Pour into cake pan and cook for 25 to 30 minutes. I usually cook it between 27 & 28 minutes.
Cool cake and frost with your favorite icing.
- *Poor Man's Chocolate Cake
- Dump Cake
- Crazy Cake
- Wacky Cocoa Cake
- Depression Cake
- Eggless Cake
- One Bowl Cake
I grew up making Poor Man's Chocolate Cake. As time went by, I learned I was making all these others as well. I would exchange favorite recipes with someone and we would laugh because it would be the same cake, only under a different name.
From the mid 60s through the 70s, my family was on the lower end of the economic scale in our town. Father struggled to make ends meet and he slipped into alcohol troubles pretty quickly, which led to more troubles in our family. He always seemed to be at the wrong place at the wrong time, doing the wrong things.
But Father was a very good engineer, and machinist, designing gadgets that would enhance our lives, yet they never quite came to fruition. He could draw a 3-D plan of an engine, or a machine, or some mechanism, and do it from several angles and cut-away drawings. I regret that none of his drawings were saved.
We lived without electricity for 11 years of my life (Age 4 - 15) The power lines stopped a half mile from us on the east side and a mile from us on the west side. We were the only house on this 'power-less' stretch of road and the power company wouldn't connect the lines just for one household. There was no way we could afford to pay to have them put in.
We were poor, and without electricity. We had a hand pump in the kitchen and a convenient little building at the end of the shed. We used kerosine lanterns and lamps. We had battery operated everything; radios, tape players, record players and even a Television.
Father began machining the blades for a windmill, using the IT lab at the High School during Adult Education classes. He didn't need the classes, just the tools. But it never was finished and the huge blades rusted in the shed over the years. He drew the entire structure in detail and those drawings fascinated me.
One convenience Father did rig was a gravity-fed system that brought the oil to the furnace in the basement and the oil/gas stove in the kitchen.
One of the things we children got from living 'off the grid' so to speak was an immense amount of freedom. Mother and Father liked to go dancing, fishing, and out to play card games 83 or cribbage with friends, leaving us kids home for the evening or the night and sometimes the whole weekend. I suppose that would be frowned on today but we children loved it.
Amid our wild, crazy nights of freedom, I learned to cook.
It wasn't so much of a need, for Mother saw we had something to eat; I did it because there were no restrictions against it while we had the run of the house. For a time there were five if us children, then my oldest brother left at age 12 to live with a family near where he worked and my older sister, at age 17, went to live with friends in Massachusetts. That left three of us, my next oldest brother, myself and our little sister. We had a lot of fun. It's great when your best friends are your siblings.
I began simply with eggs, toast, fried potatoes, and all sorts of canned food before age 7. Before my eighth birthday, I was making cookies, cornbread and muffins, biscuits and bread puddings. When
And somewhere in there, I learned how to make Poor Man's Chocolate Cake. It is still my favorite go-to recipe if an occasion calls for cake. It is a simple recipe, easily enlarged or reduced. It can be layered or single, as cupcakes or minis.
There is another aspect to simple recipes and detailed drawings. God designed intricately for the salvation of everyone and described it to us throughout the entire Bible.We also have the simplicity of it in that Jesus death on the cross and His ressurection is the absolute best recipe for salvation.
I learned God loves me
My salvation is easily the best recipe.
"So then faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God" Romans 10:17. (NKJV)
Jesus crucified once = eternal salvation
That's a good presentation for eternity.
Grease an 8 x 8 cake pan. Preheat oven to 350.
1 1/2 cup all purpose flour
1 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 Tablespoons cocoa powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
6 Tablespoons vegetable/canola oil
2 Tablespoons white or cider vinager
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup water
In medium bowl, mix all the dry ingredients (You may sift dry ingredients but it is not necessary) Add remaining ingredients. It is best if the vinegar is the final addition as it tends to work fast. Mix quickly, beating or whisking until the batter is smooth and creamy. Pour into cake pan and cook for 25 to 30 minutes. I usually cook it between 27 & 28 minutes.
Mini cakes with peanut butter frosting
No comments:
Post a Comment