Wacky Cake

Wacky cake...it's really good.  I brought it to the "healthy eating" potluck thing at my church tonight, as it's a vegan cake.  Pretty much everything was vegan.

Sorry I didn't take pictures of the cake as I made it this morning just before work.  My 4 year old daughter woke up just before the timer beeped.  She got excited when she heard the beep..."What are we eating for breakfast?"

"Sorry we're not gonna eat here for breakfast, you're going to eat at school...we're leaving as soon as you get your clothes changed."

Then when we left the house, she goes, "I want to take my birthday cake with me to school!"

"Sorry it's not a birthday cake...it's for church tonight."

She had a sad face the whole drive to school.  She got over it.  But at least she got to eat a slice at dinner!  The cake was a hit!

I googled and found this recipe: Wacky Cake (Vegan).  Most recipes use 8x8 pan...but this one is 9x13...perfect for a crowd!

Wacky Cake

• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 cups granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoon baking soda
• ½ cup cocoa powder
• ¾ cup vegetable oil
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 2 tablespoons distilled white vinegar
• 2 cups cold water

Preheat oven to 350. Spray a 9x13 pan with cooking spray and set aside. Sift all dry ingredients together into a large bowl. Make three wells and put the oil in one, the vanilla in another and the vinegar in the last. Pour water over it all and mix until well blended. Pour into prepared pan and bake 30-40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack.  Is great served warm or cold and may be frosted or served with a dusting of powdered sugar.

Upside Down Pizza

My husband requested this recipe, as he hasn't eaten this in such a long time.    His grandma Wanda made this and he always loved it whenever she made it.  She passed away shortly after we got engaged.  I found the recipe in our church cookbook, and of course his grandma submitted this recipe to that cookbook. :)    It's a quick and easy crowd-pleaser recipe.

First brown the ground beef with the onions, and while that is cooking, mix up the batter.

Drain the grease and add pizza sauce and garlic salt

Spread on bottom of greased 9x13 pan

Top with mozzarella cheese

Then pour the batter on top of the mozzarella  (don't worry if it seems thin)

My little Junebug helping shake the parmesan cheese on top

Fresh out of the oven.  Smelled yummy!

Time to eat!!!

Upside Down Pizza

• 1 1/2 lb ground beef 
• 1 med onion, chopped 
• 1 15.5 oz jar pizza sauce 
• 1/2 tsp garlic salt 
• 8 oz Mozzarella, grated 
• 2 eggs 
• 1 c. milk 
• 1 tbsp oil 
• 1/2 tsp salt 
• 1 c flour 
• 1/2 c. grated parmesan cheese 

Preheat oven to 350. Brown ground beef and onion; pour off fat. Blend in pizza sauce and garlic salt. Put mixture in greased 9x13 inch pan and sprinkle with Mozzarella cheese. In small bowl, mix eggs, milk, oil, salt, and flour. pour over meat mixture and sprinkle with parmesan cheese. Bake 30 minutes. Makes 12 servings.

Optional: You can add other pizza toppings to the meat mixture (green peppers, mushrooms, olives, Canadian bacon, pepperoni, Italian sausage, etc.).

Amaretto Brownies

I was wanting to make some brownies for the family picnic today...so I looked through my cookbooks.  I saw a recipe but I wanted to give it a little something extra.  I love amaretto...

Pic taken with my phone...not bad!

Amaretto Brownies

2 sticks butter, melted

2 cups sugar

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 tsp almond extract (I think it needed a little more)

4 eggs

3/4 cup cocoa

1 cup all purpose flour

1/2 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp salt

optional: sliced almonds for topping

Preheat oven to 350*. Lightly grease a 13x9 inch baking pan.  Set aside.  In a large bowl, combine melted butter, sugar, vanilla extract, and almond extract.  Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.  Add cocoa.  Mix until well blended.  Add flour, baking powder, and salt, beating well.  Pour into greased baking pan.  (OPTIONAL: sprinkle sliced almonds on top)  Bake for 30-35 minutes.  Cool and cut into bars.