Eggless cake

EGGLESS CAKE

1 cup brown sugar, firmly packed1 1/2 cups water1/3 cup vegetable oil2 cups dark raisins2 tsp cinnamon1/2 tsp ground cloves*1/2 tsp ground nutmeg*1 tsp baking soda1 tsp salt2 tsp water2 cups flour1 tsp baking powder(*I substituted 1 tsp Allspice in place of these 2 spices)
Preheat oven to 325°. Combine sugar, water, oil, raisins, and spices in a medium saucepan and boil for 3 minutes, stirring frequently. Remove from heat and let cool for 10 minutes.
Dissolve baking soda and salt with 2 tsp of water (I re-used my 1/3 cup measuring spoon to avoid dirtying a bowl). Add to raisin mixture, be careful because it will foam and rise up some.Blend in flour and baking powder, mixing well. (I just did all of this in the pot since it was big enough and to avoid dirtying a mixing bowl!)Pour batter into a greased 9 inch square pan and bake for 55 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let cool for about 10 minutes before serving.

This recipe was one used by many during the depression. It is a cake that can be made without dairy products or eggs. It is very rare to find a good cake that can be made without these. My grandmother (Lois May Fox Wolfe)(on my mother's side) passed this down to me from my great grandmother(Rose May Collins). We don't know a whole lot about her before she met my great grandfather(Tom Collins). My middle name is also May after her and my grandmother. We do know that they came from New York and that she left her husband and kids to go with Tom. He was suppose to have been raised in an orphanage, but have had little luck locating it. It seems that he gave himself the name maybe even after the drink which was popular at the time.

It is a different recipe, just like it says when you add the baking soda mixture it swells almost like making fudge. It sure filled the house with a wonderful smell. I hope the class enjoys it tomorrow.