Monday, March 28, 2011

A Wacky, Yummy Recipe



This picture of my mom was taken in approximately 1959, when I was around 12. She would have been all of 30 years old. The picture accompanied a newspaper article in the local paper in International Falls, Minnesota. I'm not sure why she was chosen for this article, but there was most likely a series featuring local housewives with interesting recipes.

I remember this little 8x8 pan Mom used for many years. I wonder what happened to it. I hadn't tasted this cake in years, but decided to make it the other day - again for the Wednesday night meal at church. I made it in a loaf pan, and did not add the frosting. It was delicious, and was quite a hit.


1 cup sugar
1 egg
2 cups flour
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 cup shortening
1 tsp. baking soda
1/3 tsp. salt
and . . . TA DA . . . the secret ingredient . . .
1 can TOMATO SOUP!

Cream shortening and sugar, add beaten egg, soup, then flour, soda, salt, cinnamon.
Bake in greasedloaf pan for about an hour at 350 degrees.
Raisins and nuts may be added (I didn't)
Spread with powdered sugar frosting, if desired


Let me know if you try it! I'd love to hear what you think.

17 comments:

Beth said...

I can't get past this picture of Grandma. I see her arms and her hands and it's like I'm looking at MY arms and hands. I have seen numerous pictures of Grandma young and I am always amazed to see so much of my body in hers. I love genetics!!

jmckemie said...

Okay, the secret ingredient threw me off. Is it supposed to be a dessert or more like a quick bread? Might have to make it just to find out for myself!

Needled Mom said...

Tomato soup???? You must be kidding. That is like the sauerkraut cake.

Love the picture of your mom.

Midlife Mom said...

Yes, I agree with Mary the last ingredient threw me off too! So what does it taste like exactly???

Love the picture of your Mom, that is wonderful!

Just got an e-mail from the Hubs who had gotten one from Mike and he said that he was very impressed with A but doesn't have an opening right now. It's good to get a foot in the door though as you never know when someone might transfer to some place else, get married, go on maternity, go back to school etc..

grammy said...

That sounds really different...i should try it. Should being the word...there are a lot of things i should do. I do like making 'stewed tomatoes with fresh garden tomatoes. Heat them in a pot...remove skin if you want...add whole wheat bread torn up...and sugar. I love that taste. Learned it from my MIL.
Next Thursday should work....no kids? Mine are in school and Shay naps after pre-school. Let me know what you find out.

Hootin Anni said...

Wacky?!! Ya, I guess so, with tomato soup. Never heard of such a concoction.

With that, I'll stick to zucchini brownies. No tomato soup thanks.

Glenda said...

Love your mom's beautiful apron!

Tomato soup ... in a cake?? Well, if you say it's good, I'll take your word for it!

nancygrayce said...

AWW,,, love the picture of your mom in that apron. Russell's mom was also in the paper I think for some human interest stories. One she's cooking while on the phone, the other she's reading to my husband and his brother. They're neat pics!

The tomato soup threw me off too!

Unknown said...

It has been awhile since I have "visited", but I am caught up now. :-)

Tomato soup...very interesting! I never would have guessed that to be the secret ingredient.

Linda said...

Your Mom is just adorable Dawn!
That's an amazing secret ingredient. I may try it one of these days!!

Brenda said...

tomato soup...wow! well, I put day-old coffee in my roast...and I don't even like coffee, so I guess tomato soup shouldn't surprise me. I should try it!

Ann, Chen Jie Xue 陈洁雪 said...

I have an 8 x 8 tin, I have my special recipe like your mum less the tomato soup and shortening.

I use pears and oil.

Your shouldn't be sharing your family's secret recipe LOL How does it taste?

Sam said...

LOVE the beautiful picture of your mom!

I bet the tomato soup makes this cake extra moist. I'll have to try it!

Linds said...

Ok, so is it ordinary tomato soup or the condensed version? I think it sounds interesting! I love the photo of your Mom, Dawn! We put courgettes or carrots in our cakes, so why not tomato soup? I will have to try it!

Carole Burant said...

You know me, I love to bake and try out new recipes...plus I always have cans of tomato soup on hand so I'll have to give this recipe a try:-) Love that picture of your mom. I have a newspaper clipping of my mom when she was chosen as the baker of the month by our local newspaper...the picture shows her looking at one of her cookbooks and she has the prize ribbon pinned to her blouse. Must find the picture and post it:-) xoxo

Ann, Chen Jie Xue 陈洁雪 said...

Hi Dawn,

Thanks for your supportive comment and following.

If I remember correctly, you joined up one of the memes that I do, I often visit other sites and comment if I am interested.

Your mum's tomato soup Stood up and said ," READ ME" I am glad I did and I have made a new friend.

I went back to your post, but I didn't see a link to the memes, and I went to all the 4 for yesterday I worked on yesterday, I can't see the name Dawn. I am sure I saw it yesterday.

Shall I say it is a wonder thing that God had done to connect us?

Ann
XXX

nannykim said...

fascinating--I can't have it so I won't try it, but I have heard of something like this before. My mom may have used a similar recipe. The museum stuff in the post after this one made me smile. I love the vignettes at museums of old times.