When I met my husband last year, he took me to meet his sister, Ginny, in Oklahoma. During my visit with this wonderfully sweet lady, I asked her if she would share some recipes with me that had been favorites of my husband's over the years. I wanted to make him some special things once we got back home that would remind him of his childhood and various family occasions. I wanted to make those recipes part of "our" family as we made new family traditions together. She was only too happy to oblige. She made me photocopies of the recipes that had, in some cases, been written by hand by the cook. There were all kinds. Savory, sweet, traditional, you name it. I did not tell my husband about my new recipes, I just saved them for a special day.
About a month later, a rainy Sunday, I made my husband dinner and the dessert featured here. He has not eaten this cake since his Mom made it for him, she had since passed on. We finished our meal and I presented him with dessert. He took a bite and instantly a look of surprise, mixed with joy, mixed with confusion came over his face. He said "who made this cake?" I told him that I had made it and he said, through tears, "I'd know that cake anywhere, that's my Mama's cake". I told him how I had gotten the recipe and how glad I was that he had enjoyed it so much. There is no way NOT to enjoy this cake, though, it is scrumptious. So I offer today:
Mama Lucille Bolton's
Chocolate Brownie Cake
For the CAKE you will need:
2 cups flour (all purpose or regular)
2 cups sugar
1 stick of MARGARINE
1/2 cup vegetable oil
3 1/2 Tblsp. cocoa
1 cup water
1/2 cup buttermilk
2 eggs
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. vanilla
For the FROSTING you will need:
1 stick margarine
3 1/2 Tblsp. cocoa
1/3 cup milk
1 box powdered sugar
1 cups nuts (chopped)
1 tsp. vanilla
To make the cake:
Combine together the flour and sugar. Set aside
In large sauce pan melt 1 stick of margarine, 1/2 cup vegetable oil, 3 1/2 Tblsp. cocoa and 1 cup water. Bring them to a boil and pour over the dry ingredients. To that mixture add the buttermilk, eggs, baking soda and vanilla and mix well.
Pour batter into a 9x13 pan (greased) and bake at 400 degrees for about 35 - 40 minutes. It may take longer depending on your oven. Cake is done when it passes the "toothpick" test.
ABOUT FIVE MINUTES BEFORE THE CAKE IS DONE: PREPARE FROSTING:
In saucepan melt 1 stick of margarine, 3 1/2 Tblsp. cocoa and 1/3 cup milk. Bring to a boil and add 1 box of powdered sugar, the nuts and 1 tsp. vanilla.
Pour the frosting over the HOT cake when you take it out of the oven. Let it sit about an hour before serving. All you need is an ice cold glass of milk and you are all set. I hope you enjoy Mama Lucille's cake as much as my David did. Don't forget to add the love!!!!
