Quick Lunchbox Cake

My Sweetie-Pi niece, Laura, emailed me to say she was following my blog and was enjoying the recipes here and learning a little more about our family. Hearing that from her I decided to post a recipe that my grandmother made as an after school snack for me and my brothers.

This recipe has been in the family archives for over 40 years. It's not sophisticated by any means, as my grandmother lived simply and humbly her entire life. The food she prepared was plain, but it was comforting and satisfying. She was of an age where canned goods and TV dinners were incredible culinary events. Her old, oak ice box sat in the hall of her woodshed, holding paint cans and brushes, while her new-fangled Philco refrigerator took up way too much in her tiny, tiny kitchen.

This is a no frills, no thrills (except for the chocolate chips) , no spice, not even vanilla recipe.

Quick Lunchbox Cake

2 1/2 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
2 eggs
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/4 cup soft butter
1 1-pound can fruit cocktail, undrained

1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate pieces
1/2 cup chopped walnuts

Preheat oven to 350F. Generously grease a 13x9 inch pan and set aside.

Combine all ingredients, except chocolate bits and nuts, in a large mixer bowl. Blend well at lowest speed, then two minutes at medium speed. Pour batter into pan and sprinkle with chocolate pieces and nuts.

Bake 35-40 minutes. Cool thoroughly before slicing into serving pieces.

Grins. Told you it was quick!