Recipe: Depression Cake (aka Crazy Cake) and Chocolate Frosting

Depression Cake

aka Crazy Cake

Original Author Unknown

This cake was popular during the depression, as it does not use eggs.

3 C. all-purpose Flour

2 C. White Sugar

1 tsp. Salt

2 tsp. Baking Soda

1/2 C. Unsweetened Cocoa Powder

3/4 C. Canola Oil

2 T. White Vinegar

2 tsp. Vanilla Extract

2 C. Cold Water

Sift flour, sugar, salt, soda, and cocoa together into a 9 x 13 inch greased cake pan.

Make three wells.

Pour oil into one well, vinegar into second, and vanilla into third well.

Pour cold water over all, and stir well with fork. Do not beat.

Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 30 to 40 minutes, or until tooth pick inserted comes out clean. Frost with your favorite icing.

Chocolate Cake Frosting

Paula A. Tomey-Allen

1/2 Stick Butter
4 T. Cocoa
6 T. Milk
4 C. Powdered Sugar
1 tsp. Vanilla

Using small saucepan, melt butter with cocoa. Remove from heat.

In medium mixing bowl measure out Milk, Powdered Sugar, and Vanilla.

Pour Butter and Cocoa mixture over all and beat with mixer until smooth.

Spread over warm cake.

Substitutions:

Watkins Vanilla Nut Extract for Vanilla

 

Recipe: Vegetable Beef Barley Soup

Makes 12 to 14 cups

1/4 cup Canola oil
1 pound beef stew meat, cut in 1/2-inch cubes
1 cup finely chopped onion
1 tsp. minced garlic 

1 can (28 ounces) chopped tomatoes (undrained)
1 quart hot water

1 large can vegetable juice (V-8)

10 beef bouillon cubes, or 10 tsp. powder

2 carrots, pared and diced
2 stalks celery, chopped
1 can whole kernel corn, drained or box of frozen

1 can peas, drained or box of frozen

1 can green beans, drained or box of frozen

 4 potatoes cut in 1/2-inch cubes

1/4 cup barley

1 tablespoon parsley flakes

Heat oil in a large Dutch oven and lightly brown beef cubes. Stir in onion and garlic.

Add remaining ingredients. Mix well. Heat to boiling, reduce heat, and simmer covered for 1 hour.

Add other vegetables if you like.

Recipe: Almost Homemade Tomato Soup

Paula A. Tomey-Allen

1 - 10 1/2 oz Can Campbell’s Tomato Soup
1 - 14 1/2 oz Can Diced Tomatoes
1 - Soup Can of Evaporated Milk
1 T Onion Flakes
1 T Parsley Flakes
1 T Celery Flakes
1/2 tsp Garlic Powder
1/2 tsp Salt
Dash Pepper

Cover and tilt lid and simmer on low for about 10-15 minutes, stirring often to prevent sticking. Watch carefully for boil overs. Great with grilled cheese sandwiches.

Note: I prefer Campbell’s Tomato Soup because of its’ rich, red color and flavor.

Recipe: Mom's Foolproof Biscuits

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Thelma L. Hall-Thompson-Tomey

2 C. Flour

1 tsp. Salt

3 tsp. Baking Powder

5 T. Cold Butter or Oleo

¾ C. Milk

Sift all dry ingredients in bowl. Cut in cold butter until mixture looks like coarse corn meal. Add milk and mix until smooth. Knead dough on floured board. Roll and cut biscuits with floured rim of glass.

Bake on greased baking sheet in preheated 425 degree oven 12-15 minutes or until browned.

Makes about 20 biscuits.

Recipe: A Happy Marriage

1 cup consideration
1 cup courtesy
2 cupfuls flattery carefully concealed
1 gallon faith and trust in each other
2 cupfuls praise
1 small pinch of in-laws
1 reasonable budget
A generous dash of cooperation
3 teaspoon pure extract of "I'm sorry"
1 cup contentment
1 cup each confidence and encouragement
1 large or several small hobbies
1 cup blindness to the other's faults

Flavor with frequent portions of recreation and a dash of happy memories. Stir well and remove any specks of jealousy, temper or criticism. Sweeten well with generous portions of love and keep warm with a steady flame of devotion. Never serve with cold shoulder. 

Author Unknown

Recipe: Cream of Potato Soup

Paula A. Tomey-Allen

10 Medium size potatoes, cubed
3 Carrots, diced
3 Stalks celery, diced
6 Slices crisp bacon, crushed (Reserve approx. 3 T. drippings)
2 T. Parsley flakes
1 ½ Qt. Milk
1 T. Onion flakes
2 tsp. Salt
½ tsp. Pepper
Hot water to cover

Combine all of the above ingredients including bacon drippings in a large kettle and cover with hot water. Bring to boil and reduce heat and simmer until vegetables are tender. “Lightly” mash with potato masher. Don’t over-mash!

In a blender or with a whisk combine the following three ingredients, approximately 30 seconds. Stir into vegetable mixture and simmer and stir often to enhance flavor and thicken soup. Add more salt and pepper if needed.
¼ C. Instant creamer
¼ C. Flour
¾ C. Hot Water

Recipe: Crazy Cake

This cake was popular during the depression, and does not have eggs in it.

3 cups all-purpose flour

2 cups white sugar

1 teaspoon salt

2 teaspoons baking soda

1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

3/4 cup vegetable oil

2 tablespoons distilled white vinegar

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

2 cups cold water

Sift flour, sugar, salt, soda, and cocoa together into a 9 x 13 inch greased cake pan. Make three wells. Pour oil into one well, vinegar into second, and vanilla into third well. Pour cold water over all, and stir well with fork. Do not beat.

Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 30 to 40 minutes, or until tooth pick inserted comes out clean. Frost with your favorite icing.

My variations:

Hidden surprises:

Place Hershey Kisses and Hugs on top of cake batter in pan before baking. They will sink into cake while baking.

No frosting needed:

Before baking sprinkle top of cake batter liberally with Tones Cinnamon Maple Sprinkle and pecans. Makes a nice crispy sweet topping.

Recipe: Chicken Noodle Soup

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 Paula A. Tomey-Allen

2 C Cooked, Chopped Chicken (lightly browned in canola oil)*
2 C Chopped Celery
2 C Chopped Carrots
3 “Heaping” T Corn Starch, dissolved in ½ cold water
8 C Hot Water
4 "Heaping" T Chicken Bouillon
1 T Minced Onion Flakes
1 T Parsley Flakes
Dash Garlic Powder
Dash Paprika
12 oz Rotini Noodles 


* Can use Canned Chicken

Crock Pot Method:
Put all ingredients in large crock pot, except for noodles, and cook on low heat about 3-4 hours. Time needed depends on your crock pot's cooking time and when the vegetables are tender. Sample broth to make sure it tastes right for you. If not "chickeny" enough, then add a little more bouillon powder. I don't add salt as the bouillon has plenty. When it tastes just right, turn up the heat so that it boils or transfer to another pot and finish cooking on the stove. (My crock pot is the type that sits on a hot plate and then can be used on the stove as well.) Bring to boil and add a package of noodles and cook until they are tender, but not soggy. We like Rotini noodles and the vegetable ones look so pretty.

Stove method:
Combine all ingredients except noodles and cover with tilted lid and simmer on low for about and hour or until veggies are tender. Bring to boil and then add noodles. Cook until noodles are tender but firm, about 7 to 10 minutes. You can of course substitute turkey for the chicken for Turkey Noodle Soup or stew beef and beef bouillon for Beef Noodle Soup.

The name "Buckets of Love" comes from where I like to fill an ice cream bucket with this or another soup and take to a family needing some good ole' fashioned Mom's homemade soup.

Recipe: Spaghetti Sauce

Paula A. Tomey-Allen

2 Lb. Ground Beef or Turkey

4 Stalks Celery, chopped

2 T. Onion Flakes (or ¼ C. chopped fresh)

2 tsp. Parsley Flakes

1 T. Italian Seasoning

2 T. Garlic , from jar

2 Lg. Cans Tomato Sauce

1 Sm. Can Tomato Paste

1 Lg. Can Diced Tomatoes

1 Sm. Can Mushroom Pieces, chopped

1 tsp. sugar

1 C. Hot Water

Spaghetti Noodles or Other Pasta

Brown meat, celery and onions in deep pan and drain grease. Add other ingredients except for pasta. Transfer to crock pot and simmer on low for four to six hours. Stir occasionally if you are home.

Serve with pasta of your choice and top with Parmesan cheese.

Recipe: Flu Season Vitality Helpers

For when the flu season is upon us (I have experienced it first handed), I thought I would share a couple of flu helpers that I have gathered over the years that I have found do work to help one feel/get better.

Flu Vitality

From Dr. W.H. Whitley
1 Qt. Orange Juice
1 T. Baking Soda
1 tsp. Salt Substitute
1/2 T. Table Salt
Add White Karo Syrup to taste.

Drink to renew your system and replenish electrolytes.


Diarrhea

Remember the acronym: B.R.A.T.

Eat these foods ONLY, for 24 hours in four hour intervals:
Bananas
Rice
Apples
Toast

Great for what ails you and children too!
Drink plenty of water!
No milk or juices!