A Chocolate Tea

Friend Sally dropped by to say goodbye

Not forever --

I don't think I could stand that

No, it was just a Thanksgiving visit with her son.

She called and said she was coming over

Tea for two in the breakfast room

With my Spode blue and white (of course!)

And a candle -- not for ambiance but for fragrance

Bought at my favorite shop in the little town east of me, Interior Motives

You can't have a "send off" tea without a nosh!

A piece of chocolate cake

When Sally called, my larder was bare!

Not a cookie or crumb to be had.

But this recipe is easy and quick and good

It makes an 8 inch square cake

Not too big and not too little

Enough for Sally and I

with some leftover for dessert

(and perhaps a late night snack for Husband Jim with a glass of milk!)

We sat and sipped

And visited

And ate cake.

I'll miss Sally while she's gone

But, she'll be back and our adventures can begin again!

The cake is a quick cake -- one bowl, one pan.

The recipe came from my mother's neighbor, Mrs. Boland

She was my mother's landlady and cooking mentor

in those early marriage days of my mother and father.

I've talked about Mrs. Boland before for I have her forks

and several of my mother's recipes are really her recipes!

This cake is one of them.

And because it made at 8 inch square it was made often.

Often, too, it was left unfrosted.

It was a great treat to come home to from school.

Mrs. Boland's Chocolate Cake

1 cup sugar

1 1/2 c. flour

3 T. cocoa

1/2 t. salt

1 t. baking soda

5 T. butter, melted

1 T. cider vinegar

 t. vanilla

1 cup cold water

Topping:

1/2 c. brown sugar

3 T. butter, melted

3 T. heavy cream

Preheat oven to 400.

Sift sugar, flour cocoa, salt and baking soda into a bowl.

Make a well in the center, and add melted butter and the liquid ingredients.   

Beat well.

Pour into an 8 inch square pan.   (which has been greased and floured).    Bake for 30 minutes.    Cool completely before spreading topping.    Turn oven off.

For topping, mix brown sugar, butter and heavy cream.

Spread over the cooled cake and set under the broiler for 1 minute.    Watch carefully to prevent burning.

Allow frosting to cool.    Serve from pan.

It's Tuesday and I'm joining Marty at A Stroll Thru Life for Tabletop Tuesday and Sandi at Rose Chintz Cottage for Tea Time Tuesday and Bernideen for Friends Sharing Tea.