Kids and a Mom in the Kitchen #87:Thunder Cake with Creamy Chocolate Frosting

Time for Kids and a Mom in the Kitchen

(A weekly linky to share what you and your children have created in the kitchen.)

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The linky is at the bottom.

We just finished our science unit on rain and storms in weeks 8 and 9 of My Father's World 1st grade. One of the books we read is "Thunder Cake" by Patricia Polacco. In the back of the book we found the recipe for Thunder Cake, with its secret ingredient. Of course, we had to make it for our Kids and a Mom in the Kitchen time. Then we found a yummy recipe for Creamy Chocolate Frosting at allrecipe.com. It went very well with this cake.

Cake Ingredients (from the book Thunder Cake):

1 cup shortening

1 3/4 cup sugar

1 tsp vanilla

3 eggs separated 

(Blend yolks in. Beat whites until they are still, then fold in.)

1 cup cold water

1/3 cup pureed tomatoes 

2 1/2 cups cake flour (we used all-purpose flour)

1/2 cup cocoa powder

1 1/2 tsp baking soda

1 tsp salt

We started by combining the flour, cocoa, baking soda, and salt. It was supposed to be sifted, but I never do so I didn't this time either.

We set the dry ingredients aside and creamed together the shortening and sugar in another bowl.

Then I added the vanilla.

I separated the eggs, putting the yolks in with the creamed mixture and the whites in a separate bowl to beat until stiff.

We then folded the egg whites in.

And added the water and the pureed tomatoes.

We mixed the dry mixture into the creamy mixture.

Amelia helped me grease the round cake pans.

And Tabitha helped flour them.

Oopsie...

We baked them in a 350 degree oven for 35-40 minutes.

Frosting Ingredients:

5 1/2 cups confectioner's sugar

3/4 cup cocoa powder

3/4 cup butter (we used shortening)

1/2 cup plus 2 Tbs evaporated milk

2 tsp vanilla

Harold got to help with the frosting.

We added the confectioners' sugar.

Then we added the cocoa powder.

He helped me mix them together.

In our large bowl we creamed the shortening.

Then we added the sugar mixture and the evaporated milk, alternately, a little at a time.

Then we added the vanilla.

Yes, he got to lick a beater.

This was supposed to make a layer cake. However, I didn't get the cakes out of the pans soon enough. Here is the first cake, frosted and topped with strawberry slices.

Here is our second cake. I didn't try taking this one out of the pan. Isn't that much nicer?

Directions:

1- Cream together the shortening and sugar.

2- Add in the vanilla and cream.

3- Separate the eggs and blend the yolks in.

4- Beat whites until they are stiff, then fold in.

5- Add water and pureed tomatoes.

6- Sift the flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt together and mix it in to the creamy mixture.

7- Bake in two greased and floured round pans at 350 degrees for 35-40 minutes.

8- Frost with chocolate frosting and top with strawberries.

Do you have your children help you in the kitchen?  What lessons do they learn? Do you have any kid friendly recipes to share?

I'd love to see your posts, whether you have done something this week or some time in the past. Just link up below. This is a weekly linky.

I am linking up to:

Melt in Your Mouth Monday
Try a New Recipe Tuesday at Home to Four Kiddos
The Gathering Spot at Mamal Diane
Friday Food Frenzy at Close to Home
Fantastic Thursday at Five Little Chefs
Foodie Friends Friday at Robyn'sView
Family Fun Friday at Happy and Blessed Home
Find a New Recipe Friday at Almost Supermom

And here is my Kids and a Mom in the Kitchen linky