Back then...

... is just as valid now, and it's bloody delicious.

Back then?

Oh, I'm talking about back in the Depression.  No, I wasn't alive then (thank goodness) but I have to say that the women of the house were ingenious when it came to feeding their families with reduced provisions / money.

This recipe is a perfect example (and, given the recent S&P's, Moody's & Fitch's financial downgrades / state of this country's coffers as a result of looting / corruption) of enjoying a "treat" using less expensive, more basic ingredients, and may, if things don't change dramatically here in the very near future, become as popular now as they were back in the 1930's...

It's a cake recipe that uses no eggs, no milk and no butter.

Anyone like chocolate cake?

This recipe can be made into a chocolate cake, coffee cake or lemon cake (alternative ingredients are at the end of this posting).

Chocolate cake ingredients:

3/4 - 1 cup sugar

1 1/2 cups flour

3 - 4 (or even 5 if you like) tablespoons cocoa powder

1 teaspoon baking powder or bicarbonate of soda

1/4 - 1/2 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon white vinegar

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

5 tablespoons vegetable oil

1 cup water

Pre-heat the oven to 180oC / 350oF

Mix all the dry ingredients together

Making three depressions in the flour add the vinegar to one, the vanilla in the other and the vegetable oil in the third.  Pour the water over and mix well till smooth.

Pour into a pre-greased baking pan and cook for 3/4 - 1 hour.

Allow to cool.

Frosting ingredients:

4 tablespoons cocoa powder

6 - 7 heaped tablespoons of icing sugar

2 tablespoons of butter / margarine

2 tablespoons of Nach Musik, Kahlua or any other chocolate liqueur

Mix well until smother.

Spread the frosting over the cooled cake.

Don't wait for a special occasion - cut a slice and enjoy immediately 😂

It is deliciously, and surprisingly moist, and definitely more-ish - RMan scoffs down 2 slices every time he's offered some.  It also lasts in a "fresh and moist" state for 5 - 6 days (if it survives that long).

Depression era chocolate cake - absolutely bloody marvellous 😃

Alternative recipes for a no eggs, no milk and no butter cake:

Ingredients for Coffee cake:

3/4 - 1 cup sugar

1 1/2 cups flour

3 - 4 (or even 5 if you like) tablespoons cocoa powder

1 teaspoon baking powder or bicarbonate of soda

1/4 - 1/2 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon white vinegar

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

5 tablespoons vegetable oil

1 cup strong coffee

Frosting: add strong cold coffee and / or Kahlua or Nach Musik liqueur.

Ingredients for Spiced cake:

3/4 - 1 cup sugar

1 1/2 cups flour

1 teaspoon baking powder or bicarbonate of soda

1/4 - 1/2 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon mixed spice
1 teaspoon cinnamon

1 teaspoon white vinegar

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

5 tablespoons vegetable oil

1 cup water

Frosting choice is yours ;)

Ingredients for Lemon cake:

3/4 - 1 cup sugar

1 1/2 cups flour

1 teaspoon baking powder or bicarbonate of soda

1/4 - 1/2 teaspoon salt

1 - 2 tablespoons fresh lemon zest (or more for a stronger lemon taste)

1 teaspoon white vinegar

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

5 tablespoons vegetable oil

1 cup water

Cover with a lemon (juice and zest) frosting using the lemon juice in the place of Kahlua or Nach Musik.



T'is my birthday on Thursday next week and this recipe is so good that I'm going to make a Lemon version for tea time.  I have a couple of fresh granadilla's, so I'm going to be adding them to the frosting.


Now, if our corrupt President could just be removed with a successful Vote of No Confidence on Tuesday the 8th, then that would be the best bloody birthday gift I could ask for.  Here's hoping and praying...