Old Fashioned Oatmeal Cake

Sometimes we discard recipes.. or cookbooks. They're not so fashionable anymore, we are tired of them, maybe they are not considered healthy by today's standards.
I almost threw out an old cookbook that someone had given me years ago. It was a church cookbook. You know the type... a fundraiser cookbook.
Mind you, I am a collector of cookbooks and to say I may have 300+... well,
I simply cannot bring myself to confess how many I truly have. This sort of
cookbook is my favorite. It's more down to earth, home style cooking, not so gourmet if you know what I mean.


I decided at the last minute that this cookbook deserved a second chance so I took it to our deer lease. It is usually the only place where I make dessert. There is always such a willing and eager audience of hungry hunters out there. Frankly, they'll eat anything!


So I was looking for something to make out there and quickly found this recipe called "Oatmeal Cake". Sounded interesting and I had all of the ingredients... except for margarine which I do not use. Buttah is bettah! Right? So, okay... I have it all ready to go in the oven when I realized there was no temperature nor baking time for this recipe. Remember it is a hands-on church cookbook. Proofing was not on the priority list I guess. But, oh well... I put it in a 325 degree oven for about 25 minutes and it came out great. I think it is one of the most delicious cakes I've ever eaten. And with oatmeal in it... well, it's almost a health food, right??


It was a total hit! Give it a try when you need a bit of "health food".

Old Fashioned Oatmeal Cake
1 1/4 c. boiling water
1 c. quick-cooking oatmeal
1 stick of butter

Place oatmeal in a medium size mixing bowl and add butter. Pour boiling water over this and allow to stand about 20 minutes. (I only gave it about 10 and it was fine.)

In larger bowl mix together:
1 c. sugar
1 c. brown sugar
1 1/4 c. flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. cinnamon

Add to the oatmeal mixture when somewhat cooled...
2 eggs, beaten
2 tsp. vanilla

Combine flour mixture with the oatmeal mixture and stir.

Pour into a "Pam'd" oblong baking dish
Bake at 325 degrees for about 25 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean from the center.

In a saucepan on low heat:
1 stick of butter
1 tsp. vanilla
1/2 c. sugar
1 c. coconut
1 c. chopped pecans

Pour over cake when straight from the oven and hot.

Serve on a cold winter's night, by the fire with hot spice tea! Guaranteed to warm your cockles.
(Does anyone know what "cockles" are?)