That old song I quoted in the title reflects a time when entertaining involved a special cake served to guests. Our entertaining life is different these days. Very rarely is cake served unless it’s a child’s birthday or some other special occasion.
When I was a child nearly every adult female I knew had a special cake that was theirs alone. Recipes were shared, but it wasn’t polite for a homemaker to show off with someone else’s cake, unless they weren’t around of course.
My mom has a wonderful file box filled with many of these cake recipes. The recipe card says the name of the person and then the title of the cake. For instance, my grandmother’s cake was called Little Grandma’s Heaven’s Food Cake. My mom’s was called Marian’s Lazy Daisy Cake. Our neighbor’s cake was so popular it was known simply as Mrs. Schmidt’s Date Cake even though it’s real name was Duchess’ Delight.
Homemakers in the 1930′s, 40′s and early 50′s had to be quite creative. Sugar was first expensive and then rationed during World War II. Cake recipes that called for low amounts of sugar and/or few eggs were popular. Cake was a treat but still served often, although not every day. If I saw my mom baking a cake, I always asked, “Who is coming over tonight?”
I began my own search for “my” cake when I took Home Ec in seventh grade. I wanted something exotic like Sauerkraut Surprise Cake (I still have the recipe) or Buttermilk Apple Cake (that one’s lost). My friends and I were excited when we found the Tomato Soup Cake. It was new within our area so many of us adopted that one. Later I added other cakes like Carrot Cake and Red Velvet to my repertoire.
Making those cakes gave me a lot of cooking confidence. Remember those were the days prior to KitchenAide or electric mixers of any kind. If you make a cake, it was all by hand. In addition to beating by hand, there were other little tricks. For instance, after you filled your cake pans with the batter, you let the pan drop gently on the counter until you got enough bubbles. And for some reason we always tip-toed around in the kitchen if a cake was in the oven. We wanted to cake to rise.
All of this changed for us when Betty Crocker came along with her cake mixes. It was just too easy to make a quick cake with them. Gradually we learned to adapt the cake mixes and make them our personal signature cakes again. My Tomato Soup Cake is still possible, only now with a mix.
I know some of you are wrinkling up your nose at the thought of these items together. If I could just serve you a piece without you knowing that it contained tomato soup, you would be amazed. You have to trust me on this one. Here’s my recipe:
Tomato Soup Cake
Ingredients:
- 1 box of spice cake mix
- 1 (15 oz.) can of tomato soup
- 1/4 cup of water
- Eggs and oil in amounts called for on the cake mix box.
- 1/2 cup raisens
- 1/2 cup chopped nuts
Directions:
- In a bowl mix the soup and water. Add all other ingredients called for on the cake mix recipe. (Do not use the amount of water called for on the box. The 1/4 cup and the tomato soup will be the liquid.) Stir everything together.
- Add the cake mix and stir.
- Add the raisens and nuts and stir again.
- Grease and lightly flour (or use cooking spray) the pans. (Use round pans or a 9 x 13″ pan.)
- Bake at 350 degrees for 30 to 40 minutes. Cool on a rack.
Frost with your choice of frosting. I usually use a butter cream frosting. You could also buy those little cans of frosting. I hope you’ll give this one a try. If you’re looking for something to go with a retro-party, this one could work. It originated in the 1930′s. I hope you enjoy it.
Talking about food is a regular feature on my blog and others as well. Visit Beth Fish Reads for other bloggers who are participating in Weekend Cooking.
I remember when this one was popular! It really is good. My grandmother’s and mother’s recipe boxes also have the name of the person — Aunt Ida’s Date Cake (I wonder if it is the same as the one you mention), Mrs. O–’s Coconut Dream Cake and so on.
I have never heard of tomato soup cake!
My husband’s favorite cake when he was younger was his grandmother’s Coconut Cake with 7 minute frosting. The time and love that went into baking that cake was evident in every mouthful.
I’ve never heard of tomato soup cake, but it sounds good. I remember the days of everyone having a “signature” cake – my mom’s was German Chocolate cake.
Oh my! I think I like the look of the cake in your photo more than I’d like tomato soup cake. I remember very well mixing cakes by hand, whipping egg whites etc and the joy of using a food mixer!
or is that the tomato soup cake?
I’m sooo intrigued by the combination of ingredients. We, too, each had our own “cake,” except mine was actually Chess (Buttermilk) Pie.
Thanks so much for checking out the recipes on my site…I’ve had more hits than misses, so that’s good. Love me some Southern Living!
I remember how shocked I was that zucchini cake could be good!
This is fabulous! How is it that I’m still finding out such charming mysteries about you? I’m happy that you have a forum to “share” this information, you are really a very interesting lady, and I’m so honored to call you “mom”.
You really seem like an apple buttermilk or a carrot cake person to me. I’m going to have to think about what kind of cake I identify with. It seems sad that we don’t have cake for visitors any longer, but I guess few people come by for a “REAL” visit these days…
I’m loving your Saturday Food Post, great addition to your engaging blog, thanks!
My mom hated when the mixes came in, especially Angel Food because that was her specialty and then after the mix anybody could make one. She said she was the only person in her crowd patient enought to beat all those egg whites to the requred stiffness (by hand beater, as you said). Yikes!
My dad frequently breaks out into this song, even though as far as I know *he’s* never baked a cake.
I AM wrinkling up my nose at this one… have never heard of tomato soup cake. But, I’ll trust you on this one and give it a try (or maybe have Twin A whip it up for us).
Your right, I was wrinkling my nose
I do like tomato soup and cake, of course, so I might have to give this one a try.
I think I want to try this one.
What a lovely post-I have never heard of tomatoe cake-funny what you say about sugar being rationed-I always chuckle when I see how much sugar a recipe calls for-I always half it and have never had a problem.
my daughter and her friend wrecked a cake mix this weekend. They were about to head back to the store for another mix when I asked them “do you just want to make it from scratch?”. Their reply, “you can do that?” They made chocolate and it turned out pretty good.
Tomato Soup cake???????? This is the first time I’ve ever heard of it!! Sounds interesting…different but in a good way
Oh my goodness I am so intrigued. If you swear it is good then I almost want to try it just to see! How creative those ladies were back then. I love hearing stuff like this!
Refreshing for the spirit to come across your nostalgic blog!
Afternoon tea is a thing of the past!
See now my group of friends have signiture Drinks. lol
Maybe I will have to bake a cake for my friends.
I don’t know if you caught this – but thought I would pass along the link. It must be the week for Tomato Soup Cakes
http://www.mysteryloverskitchen.com/2010/03/tomato-soup-cake.html