La Cucina di Nicola: Julie's no egg - no butter chocolate cake

And you thought that we were not going to cook anymore! Well, you were wrong!
I have to admit that we are having a difficult time finding a regular day for our cooking adventures, so I will publish the new recipes as they come.

The other night Nicolas ate over at his friend's, and he had a "really good cake mom!" The little, experienced cook that he is cleverly asked for the recipe. His friend's mom: Julie, was kind enough to share it with us. She said that this family favorite came their way serendipitously, as she was trying many cake recipes that did not call for eggs (her oldest child was allergic to eggs.) Julie does not remember where the original recipe came from, so we are just naming it after her. Fair enough?

JULIE'S NO EGG - NO BUTTER CHOCOLATE CAKE


1 1/2 Cup flour
1 Cup sugar
1/3 Cup cocoa
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt

1 Cup cool water
1/2 Cup vegetable oil
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp vinegar

Preheat oven to 180 C. Mix all dry ingredients in a medium size bowl, then mix all the liquid ingredients in another bowl. Mix everything together and pour into a small pan (this was fine for our family of three, but you might want to double the recipe.) Bake for 30 to 35 minutes.


For the frosting:
2 Cup powdered sugar
1/4 Cup softened butter
3 Tbsp milk or cream
Cocoa to taste

Mix all ingredients with a hand beater, and adjust ingredients to taste. Personally, I could use less sugar, and a little bit more milk, but I am not a big fan of frosting. Next time I might apply a thick layer of Nutella instead!

My friend Debby says that recipes such as this one where first created during WWII, in times of rationing. Creative cooks, don't you think?