BETTY CROCKER

How does she do it? How does she have such marvalous recipes that actually turn out? I can definately say that I am not next to be in line for the Betty Crocker title.

This is how the story goes...

Nancy Carpenter had brought in a delicious, homemade chocolate cake with vanilla sauce into work. Ahhh it was GOOD! So I had asked her if I could have the recipe because she said it was such a simple cake and sooo EASY to make. Easy.... I can do easy. I can't cook but if it is easy i will consider it.

The cake was easy. Very simple and stress free. The problem was the sauce. Everything was going very nicely until i had to run to Katie's house to get some corn starch. I had turned off the heat so it would not burn. I literally ran to Katie's house so I could come back and finish and because there was broccoli on the stove as well. Out of breath, I ran and put the corn starch into the sauce mix and CRANKED up the heat. Oh baby this was gonna be a good cake!

So the recipe says to stir til thick for the sauce. The stupid mixture was not getting a tid bit thicker. The broccoli on the other hand had rapidly began to steam. Ummm...oh well. Just keep stirring. Ok that broccoli was starting to smell. I thought "Mom forgot to turn the heat down before she went outside." So i lift the lid and the broccoli is BURNT! EKK... Well i go to turn down the heat and i see that it is on super high. Now why would Mom do that.....Hmmm....OH Sh**! I turned the heat on the broccoli and have been stirring this sauce just for fun. There was no heat underneath it. OH GOOD JOB LESELI! I was like super girl after that. I took the broccoli off the stove and hurried to get the sauce on the heat. Unfortunately some how the bottom of the sauce got burned. ( You have got to be kidding me).

FORTUNATELy, the cake and sauce turned out and was a big hit- as long as you just skimmed the top of the sauce you would not get anything burnt. The broccoli....not so fortunate. So to the broccoli...thank you for not lettting me get the Betty Crocker award this year. there is always next year:)

Anyways. It was my first homemade chocolate cake and I am proud of it. The recipe is below and I encourage everyone to try it. If anything it will be a good story!

Crazy Cake

Preheat the oven to 350 F. Stir togther in an ungreased 8 x 8x 2-inch baking dish

1 1/2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour

1 cup sugar

3 tablespoons cocoa

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon baking soda

Make three depressions in the stirred ingredients, Into these place:

6 tablespoons oil

1 tablespoon cider vinegar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Pour over all:

1 cup cold milk, water or coffee

Mix with a fork just until all ingredients are well blended. Bake at 350 for 25-30 minutes, or until the cake springs back when lightly pressed in the center. Cool in the pan. Serve warm or cold with Vanilla Sauce or Fast Fudge Sauce.

Vanilla Sauce

Combine in a heavy saucepan

4 tablespoons unsalted butter

1/2 cup granulated sugar

pinch of salt

1 cup whipping (heavy) cream

Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until the butter melts, the sugar dissolves, and the mixture is smooth. stir together and then stir into the cream mixture.

1/4 cup cold water

1 tablespoon corn starch

Continue to cook and stir until the mixture thickens. Remove from the heat, Gently stir in

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Serve warm or cold.