A recipe!

On a food blog? What will happen on this crazy interwebs next!

I don't really like to do recipes too much as there are plenty of places on the net for recipes. However, this is a kind of unusual one. It is a Pennsylvania Dutch dessert, my favorite, which I always used to request for my birthday. This year, as my Mom is in Hawaii, I made it for myself. I have not seen it anywhere else on the net, and not many people make it in Pennsylvania any more either. Here it goes:

Funny Cake

2 pie crusts - deep dish, 9" The pie crusts can be your favorite recipe, or can be purchased ones - if frozen, thaw them before use.

Batter:

• 1 cup sugar
• 2 eggs
• 2 cups flour
• 3 tsp. baking powder
• 1/2 cup shortening
• 1 cup milk
• 1 tsp vanilla

Syrup:

• 1 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup cocoa
• 1 cup water
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

This recipe makes two cakes. You could cut it in half and make just one, but why would you? Preheat the oven to 350 F. Mix the batter via the creaming method - mix the shortening and sugar, then add the eggs. In a separate bowl, mix the dry ingredients. Alternate adding the milk and dry mixture until all is incorporated. Add the vanilla and mix thoroughly. Divide the batter between the two pie crusts. Yes, put the cake batter in the pie crusts. Next, mix all the syrup ingredients until the cocoa is all moistened and everything is well blended. Again, dividing the mixture between the two cakes, pour the syrup over the batter. Put the cakes in the oven and bake until done, which should take roughly 50 minutes. As the cakes bake, the syrup will sink through the batter and wind up as a layer between the cake and the pie crust. There will be a very light chocolatey crust on top and some light swirls of chocolate through the cake. It is unusual and delicious - as the Dutchies say "Get to know what good is!"