I came across this photo of a service men's centre in Saint John, New Brunswick, 1944. My grandmother is the lady dressed in black near the far end of the counter. My Aunt Gloria is at the end of the counter with the flower in her hair. Just check out those cakes on the counter. Got me to thinking. Retro cakes.
From a terrific book I found called "The Kitchen Sink Cookbook: Offbeat Recipes from Unusual Ingredients," I managed to find the Classic Tomato Soup Cake recipe which has been around since 1925 (according to Campbell's).2 cups flour
1 1/3 cups sugar
4 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoons ground allspice
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon cloves
10 oz. (284g) can tomato soup
1/2 cup solid vegetable shortening
2 eggs
Preheat oven to 350F. Grease and flour two 8-inch round cake pans.
In large bowl, combine all the ingredients with 1/4 cup water. 
With the mixer at low speed, beat until well mixed, constantly scraping the bowl with a spatula. Beat 4 minutes at high speed. Pour into prepared pans.
Bake 35-40 minutes or until toothpick inserted in centre comes out clean. Cool in the pans on wire racks for 10 minutes; then remove from pans and cool completely.
I frosted mine with seven minute icing and drizzled chocolate to get that '50s retro-look. (Don't you just love the vintage tablecloth?) I brought the cake to a potluck supper and every bit of it disappeared very quickly! The cake is easy to make and yummy.
I've made that and loved it. It didn't look as good as yours, though :) Great old photo. I love the black and whites.
ReplyDeleteI love that old photo! And the cake looks delicious.
ReplyDeleteI am so proud that I found your grandmother before I read your text! I just new that she was the one. And Sylvia. Retro tablecloth is super. I also dig those aprons on the ladies.
ReplyDeleteLauren, it's Aunt Gloria, not Sylvia although they do look very much alike!
ReplyDeleteThis looks AMAZING! I'm snagging this for sure. Also, I love seven minute icing. I haven't had it in years. I need to make some ASAP.
ReplyDeleteThe old photo is amazing. And the cake looks yummy. But it should be updated and called "Andy Warhol Cake."
ReplyDeleteGreat photo Ronna! WOW I do remember eating that tomato cake my grandmother used to make during the Christmas holidays along with other goodies. Now I am tempted to give it a try myself for memories' sake. Thanks for sharing this with us.
ReplyDeleteReminds me of lunch at Kresge's.
ReplyDeleteI just found this same recipe on another site and I'm so interested in it! What does this taste like?
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