Sweet Treat Friday -Thunder Cake

My Son read Thunder Cake by Patricia Polacco, and came to me with this hand written recipe. He claimed at the time, though I already knew the recipe was in the back of the book, that he came up with it himself. I ran with it, up until I asked him if he mixed up the cups, with tablespoons. He grabbed the book, flipped it open to the back and proceeded to show me how he was wrong. Ha I’ll give him credit for writing it down, and making up his own directions, like “stir the gooey cake together till you can spread it into a pan. ” or “don’t forget to crack the egg before you stir it in, no one wants the shells.” It cracked me up more than anything, but this became a very yummy reading project. Since the cake takes tomatoes, it makes it super moist. You’ll enjoy it, and while you are at it, pick up the book for the kids!

Thunder Cake

1 cup shortening
1 3/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract 
3 eggs, separated
1 cup cold water
1/3 cup pureed tomatoes
2 1/2 cups cake flour
1/2 cup dry cocoa
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
Your favorite Chocolate Frosting ( I used the one from Hershey)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.Grease and flour two 8 1/2 inch pans.
Cream together shortening, sugar,  then add in one at a time, vanilla, water, tomatoes and blend the egg yolks in. In another bowl Beat whites until they are stiff, then fold in with the rest of the mixture.
Sift together these ingredients: flour, cocoa, baking soda, salt.
Mix the dry mixture into the creamy mixture. Divide batter into the two pans equally and Bake at 350 degrees for 35-40 minutes.

Enjoy!!