Wacky Cake/Depression Era Cake aka Crazy Cake

 

Right now eggs are $5.++ a dozen because of bird flu.  For bakers and breakfast businesses that's a problem. 

I happened to come across a recipe that was popular during the Depression Era for a cake that uses no eggs or milk.  Here is the recipe:

Wacky Cake

Wacky cake is made without milk or eggs and is a moist, dark, and delicious chocolate cake. A brainchild of the Depression era when ingenious cooks developed a cake that could be made without expensive and scarce ingredients. Frost with your favorite icing.

Submitted by Mary Knipe

Prep Time:

 

10 mins

Cook Time:

 

30 mins

Total Time:

 

40 mins

Servings:

 

10

Yield:

 

1 (8x8-inch) cake

Ingredients

• 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour

• 1 cup white sugar

• 4 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder

• 1 teaspoon baking soda

• ½ teaspoon salt

• 6 tablespoons vegetable oil

• 1 tablespoon cider vinegar

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

• 1 cup water

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

2. Sift flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt together in an 8x8-inch ungreased cake pan. Make 3 depressions in flour mixture; pour oil into one well, vinegar into second, and vanilla into third well. Pour water over all, then stir with a fork until well blended.

3. Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, 30 to 40 minutes. (allrecipes)

4. 
   

   

   1

   
   

No mixing bowl needed. All ingredients can be mixed in the pan.

Here are some websites to view

Southern Living Wacky Cake

Italian Chef Wacky Cake. Eight Variations

Quaint Cooking

Sweet Little Bluebird -Vanilla Crazy Cake

That's it ***

Crafting with a COFFEE CONTAINER and a BOX

2 pics, 1 video 29 sec.

 I drink a lot of coffee.  While I do recycle items, there are some that make me go, "Hmm, what else can I do with this?"  If you've read my profile you know recycling and upcycling is a passion of mine. I've made numerous flower planters. Don't be misled. There will be more. 🙂

I was in need of a container to house a set of silicone utensils I'd bought from Amazon.  Folgers container to the rescue. 

I've had a bit of practice with these items over time. Although I couldn't erase the embossed Folger's symbol, I could do a primer to cover the laser printed label.  Follow up was with red spray paint.

The paint looks faded in some areas because I allowed some of the beige primer to peek through. But, I like the look.

After using acrylic paint, Mod Podge, printed label, cording, glue gun, button and spoon I found in my stash, I had the perfect container for my silicone cooking utensils.

Utensils in container.   29 sec. video

The only thing I'm displeased with is the hot glue showing after it has solidified.

                                                              ***

2 pics

Sometimes I get into an intense crafting mood. Today was that day. 

The Dollar Store container that I keep my TV remote and other items in bit the dust.  It was never sturdy and I'm pretty sure that what was supposed to be fabric was just a cheap plastic fabric imposter.  You get what you pay for.😐

My friend VFH sent me a birthday present in this box.

It contained a mug with a positive affirmation inscribed on it, comfortable footie socks, a make up bag, journal and I'm pretty sure I'm missing something. I didn't want to get rid of such a sturdy box so it became the new  container for my coffee table paraphernalia. 

I used good, old-fashioned contact paper to cover it and put it to use. Easy Peasy. 

That's it ***

SHORT: French Press Coffee

French Press Coffee

My friend RM, a fellow coffee drinker, gifted me with a French Press coffee pot with two matching coffee mugs and a roasted bag of coffee. 

I've never used a French Press so I went to a trusted source for directions. After viewing several YouTube videos 😉 I tried it.

Part 1-:44 sec.

Part 2- :54 sec.

After it was all said and done, I have to admit the coffee had a smooth taste. I was able to drink the whole cup without cream and I always add some form of cream to my coffee. However, all of the prep `a- la- YouTube is more than I'd like to do. I may do this from time to time , just not everyday. Thanks RM for expanding my coffee horizon.

* I discovered I should have said "grounds" instead of "grinds" when I referred to the spent coffee residue.

That's it ☕☕☕

Barking Bee Coffee Shop

 

☕☕☕☕☕☕☕

I'd heard about three new businesses not far from me that had opened. One of them is a coffee shop. From past posts you know I'm a coffee drinker. Of course I had to check it out . They did not disappoint.

My caramel latte was exactly the way I’d

requested. The staff along with its owner are friendly and take pride in their craft. Stylish green décor adds to the ambience and echoes its environmentally friendly ethics. From previous posts you know I am all for recycling, upcycling and respecting the earth. The green corrugated cups require no sleeve and are compostable as well as the green pasta straws. I will be returning.

Here's a 360 (unedited) of the inside. I'm loving the green sofa.😘

Prices are comparable to those of other coffee shops. Pastries and scones are also on the menu though I didn't have any. Outdoor seating is also available.

Raw coffee beans before roasting.
How coffee beans are roasted.

They also; 

 

•  Cater
•  Have gift inventory
•  Do  personalized coffee blends with personalized labels
•  Sell their coffees by the bag and in pods.

Much success to this new small business. 

Barking Bee Coffee Shop

That's It***

The Search for Black Silk

 

You know my fondness for coffee.

That's it***

The Caffeinator

My flavor for that week

In case you didn’t know, I like drinking coffee. I enjoy going through the ritual of measuring the coffee and the water and hearing that click when I hook the fragrance filled coffee basket to the coffee maker.  That smell while brewing? Ummmm.


I haven’t always been a coffee drinker.  At one time I hated the stuff and wondered what the appeal was. I was a tea drinker. Lemon, sugar, good to go. While away at college I developed crazy hay fever and sinus problems which made me miserable.  There were no OTC “non-drowsy” hay fever relievers at that time. I had no alternative but to use what was available and they all caused drowsiness. Needing to stay awake at work I resorted to drinking coffee.  Strangely, after about ten years the problem went away. My seasonal allergies are so small now, I rarely take anything. Go figure.

At a recent library program the owner of Red Bike coffee extolled the wonders of coffee. Red Bike is a small operation located in Irondale, Alabama. 

 Jon Robles is the owner and what a coffee enthusiast he is.  He gave us coffee information from Genesis to Revelation. He really knows his stuff.  Jon orders coffee through fair trade methods. Fair trade allows workers in the coffee business to be treated and paid in an equitable manner.  

Unroasted coffee beans and their place of origin

Coffee goes through a lot before it reaches its purchaser.

• Coffee grows on a small bush or tree.

• Once the coffee cherries are picked, the bean must be separated from the fruit. This can take place by hand or machine.

• The beans must then be soaked removing any husks or unwanted matter. The beans will fall to the bottom of the water.

• Beans must then be dried.

Two unroasted coffee beans

• Once dried, the beans are bagged. Now the beans begin their journey to their new home to be roasted and brewed into java juice.

All of the fixings for YOUR coffee

The roasting process is similar to that of popping corn. The beans are placed in a container that is constantly moving. As the beans roast they pop and sizzle because of the small amount of water that has turned into steam inside the bean, the same as in a popcorn kernel. Trial and error on timing determines how long the beans should roast to give the best flavor.  

Short time= light roast.

 Long time =dark roast. 

Two of the four offerings presented by Red Bike Coffee

True coffee drinkers approach the drink like a fine wine. They sniff the brew, taste a little on the tongue and swirl it around. Then they look for hints of various flavors, and notes. 

Not me. I want that precious jolt of caffeine to get my body and my day started.

Red Bike offers only three or four flavors. They’re pretty much coffee purists and don’t offer pumpkin spice, peppermint patty or other cutesy names and flavors. No problem. You can always make your own brewed coffee and add flavored syrups of your choice.

For fellow coffee drinkers, coffee is a good mediator, ice breaker, soother and bonder.
That's it***

You might be a Senior Citizen

If you get up every morning and head to your closest fast food restaurant for coffee,
   You might be a senior citizen.

If you know that a senior coffee at McDonald's in Pinson is 64 cents, Center Point 54 cents, and Trussville 66 cents,
    You might be a senior citizen.

 If the trash can in your garage is filled with empty coffee containers from fast food restaurants,
   You might be a senior citizen.

If you like your coffee with 7 to 9 creams, know that you're lactose intolerant and keep Lactaid or similar  lactose products in the console of your car,
   You might be a senior citizen.

 If you know the names of the employees at the food establishment, they automatically know what you want without asking you, and proceed to pour it up,
    You might be a senior citizen.

Then again it could mean  something completely different.

That's It ***

Adult Coloring

My brother and his wife would color with their daughter when she was a little girl. I remember him saying how relaxing it was. This was over 25 years ago. Coloring with crayons for adults was not something you'd hear of back then. Sure, you could get away with it if you were sharing an activity with a child. On your own, it might cause other adults to give you  an over the shoulder, second glance. 

NOW there are coloring books for adults. Recently, I was in a local library where one of the activities that morning was adult coloring. I was invited to stay but because of previously scheduled commitments, I had to decline.

After seeing a flier for adult coloring at another library I decided to attend.  The catch word for me was, "coffee." There would be coffee and muffins or, if coffee wasn't your pleasure, bottled water. I'm a coffee lover so I was sold.

There were four other ladies in the meeting room. The librarian had us select a page from one of the several books available. Selections were printed on card stock.  The tables already had pencil colors so all we had to do was get busy. One person brought her own coloring book that she'd been working on. She'd been using  markers made especially for coloring books that didn't bleed through the pages.

I've seen the adult coloring books. They can go from tame to risque. 
The tamer ones usually have very intricate pictures. I chose a design that wasn't so elaborate. Otherwise, I'd become frustrated  and stressed  causing the purpose for coloring to become null and void.

I enjoyed the experience.  It reminds me of the vintage "Paint by Number" series so popular during the 1960's.

Interacting with other people in a comfortable environment made it even better.

THAT'S IT***

PILLOW TALK

Did the title get your attention?

We Can Always Find Something To Be Thankful For

I enjoy doing arts and crafts that serve a purpose. I'd done a little of the Farmer's Market selling, art show, and general selling. I liked it but mainly I was selling so that I'd replenish the coffers to make more STUFF. I wasn't doing it for profit, just as a hobby and sharing with other liked minded people.

 Somewhere along the way I decided to open an Etsy shop.I sold one item during the 3 years I was there. It's a very competitive market. I didn't promote my wares anywhere. If someone asked me to do a showing, I'd do it but really didn't have a business plan. So, "No give, no take."  Since that time, I have closed the shop. I gave away all of the recycled jewelry to someone who says she plans to open her own shop.


I decided to keep the door pillows I made and I give them out as gifts from time to time. Here are some past and present.

I Love Bingo

The Only Place SUCCESS Comes Before WORK Is In The Dictionary.

 My favorite since I'm a coffee drinker; There's Nothing Like a Cup of Vitamin C in the Morning. 

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 One's Destination Is Never A Place But A New Way Of Seeing Things-Henry Miller

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