Thunder Cake!!!

Pillip is one of the kids from next door that I tutor in English!  At school he read the book Thunder Cake and came over one day and said,

"We make thunder cake?"

He had brought the recipe and although we didn't make it that night... 

we did the next day.  Pillip is very good in the kitchen! 

This is how it turned out!  

 Not quite finished but on the way!

Now it is done and time to take next door!  

 Pillip was so happy to have his Thundercake! 

 Before we cut the cake!  Bruce said we needed a picture.
This is our neighbor's kitchen... 

 Here's the rest of the family...Juan is hiding to my left.
The cake was amazingly good!
Everyone enjoyed it!

The story is by Patricia Polacco and she tells the tale of her
gramma helping her not be scared of the thunderstorm
by gathering all the ingredients for t hecake as the storm was approaching.

Eggs from the chickens, milk from the cow, etc.. and then
she had to add the secret ingredient... TOMATOES!
Yes, really there are tomatoes in it and i think
they make it perfect.

By the time she was done... the cake was baked and the storm was over.
She had gathered all the things in the middle of the storm....and
she totally forgot about all of her fears!

Never thought about baking when i was fearful of something but
maybe i should give it a try.

If you'd like to make the cake... here is the recipe..


THUNDERCAKE!

Pre-Heat oven to 350 degrees

Cream together one at a time: 

1 cup shortening

1 3/4 cup sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla

3 eggs separated ( Blend yolks in... Beat whites until they are stiff, then fold in)

Add:  1 cup cold water

         1/3 cup pureed tomatoes

Sift together  (i didn't sift)

2 1/2 cups cake flour

1/2 cup dry cocoa

1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda 

1 teaspoon salt

Mix dry mixture into creamy mixture.  Bake in two greased and 

floured 8" pans at 350 degrees for 35-40 minutes.  Frost with chocolate

butter frosting.  Top with strawberries--  (we didn't have those here)

I also added a creme filling... between the layers! 

If you make it--- your fears will all be gone.... 

                                                          except the fear of eating too much!   

Enjoy!

love,

margie