Our friends lost their home to a fire about two weeks ago. There was nothing left except a frying pan. Thankfully no one was injured.
Needless to say they’ve been on my mind a lot.
The husband and wife are both full of our colorful Appalachian language. In fact over the years I’ve used them as fodder for blog posts.
Years ago she shared an old chocolate cake recipe with me. She said her husband loved the cake and she loved that it didn’t take but a minute to whip up.
There are many variations of the cake out there so your probably familiar with it.
Easy Chocolate Cake
- 1 cup self rising flour
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 2 tablespoon cocoa
- 1/2 cup milk
- 2 tablespoon oil
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 1/4 cup cocoa
- 1 1/2 cup boiling water
Mix first six ingredients together and pour into a deep pie plate or baking dish. Don’t grease the pan.
Mix last three ingredients together and pour over batter. Do not stir.
Bake at 350 for 30 to 35 minutes or until cake is done.
Scoop out with a spoon to serve. The icing, a thick chocolate sauce, is underneath the cake part.
The cake is especially good with a scoop of ice cream.
The wife is also battling cancer, if you’ve got a minute say a prayer for our dear friends. And if you try the cake I hope you like it!
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Good morning Tipper,
I can’t keep up with your posts everyday; but I enjoy them when I get to them!
So sorry about the misfortunes of your friends! I pray that they are recovering from the fire.
Is there a fund being raised for them? I would like to contribute.
I’m looking forward to trying the chocolate cake recipe! Sounds wonderfuf.
I made your cake this evening for friends who were coming over for supper. It was delicious with that dollop of icecream you recommended. Wishing the best for your dear friends. I’ll pray for her especially.
Prayers for your friends
I make one similar to this but it is made in a crock pot and called chocolate lava cake. So very sorry to hear about your friend. Prayers to them.
I can’t wait to make this. I just discovered your YouTube channel last week and have watched every single video. I’m now watching your daughters’ channel and my oh my are they talented. Is there a go fund me account set up for your friends? I would love to help.
Jackie-thank you! You can send money by Venmo to @brittanymcconnell or if you’d rather you can mail it to me and I’ll make sure the family gets it! Tipper Pressley PO 83 Box Brasstown NC 28902. Thanks!
I don’t have Venmo but do have paypal or I could just mail it.
Jackie-you can send it by paypal to: @knitwicks That’s their daughter Brittany.
Thank you. I will send it soon. God bless your family.
I made something very similar to this from a small cookbook I bought in Devon England. Very good! Prayers for your friend.
I am so sorry your friends are going through double tragedies. Mama’s family lost their home in a fire–including Grandpapa’s fiddle and her trunk of clothing she had picked cotton to get. Sixty years later she still remembered it vividly and painfully.
Oh my! I pray their trials will be turned into blessings “according to the working whereby he is able to subdue all things unto himself” Phil. 3:21b. But the word “subdue” means it is a fight, for him and us because we are in it together. I’m sure you have been and are being a blessing to them.
I am reminded again of something my Dad said. (I believe I have posted it before.) He was paralyzed at age 47 by a rock fall in the mines. His renter, who lived in our old house, said he didn’t understand why ‘a thing like that should happen to a man like him’. Dad said, “It’s just life I reckon.”
It was not ‘Appalachian fatalism’. It was just saying things don’t sort neatly into only good things for the ‘good’ and only bad things for the ‘bad’.
It doesn’t seem fair that your friend has to deal with two of the most frightening things in life at the same time. With lots of prayers, God will see them through this difficult time. My grandkids are going to love that cake and I’m going to love making it.
I don’t have much, but I would be interested in giving a donation to this family. I have experienced a fire in the past and it made me realize how a lifetime of work to have something and a lot of family treasures can be lost in a matter of minutes.
Yes dear! Is there a place or way to help these dear folks from afar???
Margie, Randy, and Miss Cindy-You can send money by Venmo to @brittanymcconnell or if you’d rather you can mail it to me and I’ll make sure the family gets it! Tipper Pressley PO 83 Box Brasstown NC 28902. Thanks!
I am saddened to hear of the fire and tremendous loss of possessions for your friends. I am glad they are safe and kept their lives, but to hear the lady of the house has cancer she is battling is awful. “Lord place a hedge around this family of your protection and bind the devil so he cannot touch your people. Lord, by your stripes we are healed and I ask that you take cancer away from this lady today!!! You’re no respecter of persons and in you alone ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE that are impossible with man!!! In Jesus Holy name above all others!!! Amen to the king of king and lord of lords!!!! Thank you for what you’ve done, are doing now and will do in time to come!!” The cake sounds tasty and not too hard. Thanks, Tipper and friend with the recipe to share!!!
I haven’t tried a recipe like this one, but it sounds easy and quick for a fast dessert. I will remember your dear neighbors in my prayers. Have a good day.
The cake sounds great and also sounds like one my Mother used to make. I had forgotten all about it. Will give it a try.
We call that dish, or one very similar, Brownie Pudding. It’s in a lot of the Better Homes and Gardens cookbooks. It’s a favorite. I always make it when our son comes to visit from Georgia.
I’m so sorry for your friend, that’s a devastating thing to have happen! Is there some place to make donations?