Monday, February 22, 2010

Happy Birthday to Me!

Wacky cake is the first cake I made all by myself and I remember I was really put out when after receiving a complement on the cake I was told that, no, you didn't make it because it was too good. Sheesh! I'm getting better at this baking in the iron pan, but I find I need to cook at a slower and lower temp to keep the sides and bottom from getting too crispy.
Still, the cake tasted pretty good. Kristine said she noticed the oil (I didn't.) I noticed the lack of a real strong chocolate flavor because I used hot chocolate mix since I was out of baking chocolate. Since there are no milk or eggs in the cake the texture is more like a sponge cake.
If I had used good baking chocolate, I know the cake would have been even better. The more I eat of this cake the more I want. It is addicting. It is a fun cake to make, and with the simple ingredients it isn't going to give me migraines. I sprinkled powdered sugar on top.

Wacky Cake

Sift together into an un-greased square 8 by 8 by 2 inch pan:
1 1/2 cups sifted flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons cocoa or carob powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup sugar

Make 3 holes in the flour mixture.

Put in first hole: 1 teaspoon of vinegar.
Put in second hole: 1 teaspoon of vanilla.
Put in third hole: 5 tablespoons of salad oil.

Over all the holes pour 1 cup water.
Mix well; bake 25 to 30 minutes at 350 degrees.

Sprinkle sugar on top or frost. 



The Food Timeline
http://www.foodtimeline.org/

I went searching online for some history about this recipe and found Wacky Cake listed (1949 - Wacky Cake) on the Food Timeline page. This Food Timeline site is way too much fun. I could spend days upon days here reading old recipe books. I love looking back through history by reading recipes and reading about how people lived, ate and the origin of different recipes.

February 22, 2009
Dolores and Jean called me again this year.
Happy 69th Birthday!
They are so sweet!
Kristine got me books, really neat red pot holders and a super duper bread knife from Japan!
I'm going to go read now!

[4 eggs today]
Morgan and the hens were outside in the sun.

I had more photos, but IPhoto developed a problem with it's delete photo function and started freezing up, so I'm letting it rest in hopes it will recover.

~:>
Smiles

27 comments:

Deb said...

Happy Birthday to you!

Your cake sounds yummy :) - I like the idea of carob powder and cooking it in a cast iron pan. I'll save your recipe and give it a try.

~Kim at Golden Pines~ said...

It has been a long time since I saw this receipe! As I recall it really is a delicious cake and one piece is never enough--But I feel that way about a lot of cakes! :-)

Do you sell your eggs or are they just for your family?

JoyceAnn said...

Happy Belated Birthday , Callie. Your Wacky cake sounds interesting , no eggs or milk , that's hard to believe. Hope your day was " Great ".

~ Many Blessings ~

John Going Gently said...

is IT your birthday???
have a great day
xxxxx

Carol said...

Happy birthday Callie - that cake looks amazing!

Dog Hair in my Coffee said...

Happy, Happy Birthday. I hope you had an awesome day. And I hope the day AFTER your birthday is just as good! :)
Laurie

Anonymous said...

Let me be the first of your readers to wish you a happy birthday, Callie. May the year bring you love, good health, and happiness, and most of all, good chocolate!
Lee

Anonymous said...

Let me be the first of your readers to wish you a happy birthday, Callie. May the year bring you love, good health, and happiness, and most of all, good chocolate!
Lee

Melodie said...

Happy Birthday! The cake looks great! I have gotten where just about all I ever use is cast iron to cook with!I love it!

Chicken Boys said...

Sounds pretty yummy!
~Randy

Jen said...

Happy Birthday...

Merideth in Wyoming said...

I will have to try your Wacky Cake. If you enjoy cooking on your wood stove; you would enjoy a dutch oven. My daughter in law uses a dutch oven all the time.

flowerweaver said...

Happy Birthday Callie!!!!!!

tberry29 said...

Happy Birthday! Hope your day is a wonderful one : )

DayPhoto said...

HaPpY bIrThDaY! Callie!!!! You should say you are retired and loving it! I'm looking forward to my retirment. Terry sure is enjoying his.

Linda
http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com/

DayPhoto said...

HaPpY bIrThDaY! Callie!!!! You should say you are retired and loving it! I'm looking forward to my retirment. Terry sure is enjoying his.

Linda
http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com/

jerilanders said...

Even I,( the one who hates to cook) would have fun makin a wacky cake, it looks like fun! Happy birthday! PS.ALL cakes are addicting.... Jeri

Holly said...

Your cake was done in a cast iron skillet but when I was first married the oven in our first apartment didn't work so I learned to bake in an electric skillet. I put pennies on the bottom and then the cake pan and either baked a cake or I put in cookies or bars. it's amazing what you can do by improvising. Wadded up balls of aluminium foil instead of pennies works also. I'll have to check out the food time line. Sounds like fun.

Louise said...

Happy Birthday! Ignore anyone who says anything about your cooking unless it's glowing compliments!

Knatolee said...

A very happy birthday! I very much enjoy your blog. :)

Gus, Louie and Callie said...

Happy Birthday.. That cake sounds really cool. We will get mom busy..
Have you ever checked out http://www.kingarthurflour.com There are lots of great recipes there. Dad bought mom like 3 cookbooks from there. The baking with whole grains is pretty good. She makes cookies for the guys at work and they don't even know they are made with whole grains.. She said she isn't going to tell them either...

Big Sloppy Kisses
Gus, Louie and Callie

Tanya said...

Happy Birthday Callie! I never would have guessed your age! You do way too much to have that number on you! Now what might a super duper bread knife from Japan be...?

Becky's Barnyard said...

Happy Birthday! That sounds so wonderful, I believe I might try to make me one.

Little Messy Missy said...

Happy Birthday!!! The cake looks wonderful! I wonder if I have any chocolate in house....

Diary From Africa said...

Happy Birthday ! Hope that you have a fantastic day .... the cake looks delicious, and quite easy to make, too :)
Lynda, Kilimanjaro, East Africa

dirtyduck said...

happy late bday! wacky cake, the ingredients are vegan!! yum!i was looking at a more recent blog and you have got just the prettiest flock!!

Anonymous said...

Happy belated birthday! And thnks for the wacky cake mention. When I first started dating my now hubby, he made that cake for me for my birthday -- I'd forgotten, so thanks for the happy memory!
Hope you enjoyed a lovely day
Ali