Depression is Delicious

I made a tomato soup cake.

I know what you're thinking and you better put that face away.

Ok, here's the story: I found a recipe for this bizarre cake a few months back and needed an excuse to make it. I originally thought it was from the 1930s, a time period where money and having food on the table was a worry for the average American family. I thought that perhaps the recipe was birthed out of desperation - a need to create food out of what was available, but in my research I discovered that a recipe for this cake originally came out in the 1920s. Kind of weakened my story... but still serves as a life lesson.

How? Let me tell you, gurl. I made it my goal to not only make this cake, but to only use ingredients I already had at home... and to my surprise it worked! Most of us have the basics at home: sugar, flour, spices, etc. With a little bit of creativity (and Google searches for alternatives if you're out of something), you might be able to do the same.

Here's what I did:

2 Cups flour

2 Teaspoons baking powder

1 Teaspoon baking soda

1 Cup sugar

1 Teaspoon cinnamon

1 Teaspoon pumpkin spice mix

1 10oz can of tomato soup

1/2 Cup oil

1/2 Cup milk

Pre-heat oven to 350. Stir together dry ingredients and then add the rest. Mix well. Pour batter into a greased pan (I think mine was a 9... by 13? Something like that) and pop it in the oven. Bake somewhere around 30-40 minutes... I guess. I'll be honest, I wasn't paying attention and didn't keep track of time. You know the drill, wait til golden brown on top and check with a knife or toothpick to see if it's ready. You're grownsed up. I trust you.

Once cooled down I used cream cheese frosting I had made up a few days ago for something else and topped with a sprinkle of clove and nutmeg. DELICIOUS.

You can add nuts, change the spices, try a different frosting, use water instead of milk, add raisins... you name it. Find your motivation and creativity in the kitchen, not just on this recipe, but with anything you want to cook or bake. Homebaked goods will make you happier, be more popular, and give you better skin texture.
Ok, not really, but I believe the happier part.