Depression Cake (No Egg or Dairy) & Butter Cream Frosting

• 1 1/2 cup all purpose flour
• 3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa
• 1 cup white sugar
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon white vinegar
• 1 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
• 5 tablespoons vegetable oil (coconut oil works just as well)
• 1 cup water

Preheat oven to 350º F

Spray and flour a square baking pan.

Mix dry ingredients in a medium sized bowl. Make 3 depressions in dry ingredients. Pour vinegar into one depression, vanilla into another and the oil in the third. Pour water over entire mix. Whisk until smooth. Pour into pan.

Bake in middle rack of oven for approximately 35 minutes. Check with toothpick making sure it comes out clean after inserting into center of cake. Be sure not to over bake this cake.

A sprinkling of powdered sugar is enough to top this cake but if you like frosting (like we do) and don't mind the dairy, we top it with butter cream seen below.

Double recipe for a 9x13 inch cake pan. Bake cake at 35 - 40 minutes.

Butter Cream Frosting
This makes enough to cover a 9x3 pan. Half the recipe for a square cake.

• 2 1/2 - 3 cups powdered sugar
• 1 cup softened at room temperature butter
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1-3 Tablespoons milk (almond milk works great)

Using a mixer with the whisk attachment whisk butter and powdered sugar until well blended. Increase speed to medium and whisk for another 3 minutes. Add the teaspoon of vanilla and whisk for another minute. Add milk while continuing to whisk until it becomes your desired consistency for spreading.

Homemade Dry Laundry Detergent (Safe for use in HE washers)

3 bars Felz Naptha Soap (approximately 16 oz total)
1 Box Arm & Hammer Washing Soda (55 oz.)
1 Box 20 Mule Team Borax (4lbs 12 oz.)
1 Tub Oxi Clean (3 lbs) -optional
1 Box Arm & Hammer Baking Soda (4 lbs) - optional
1 Container Purex Crystals (28 oz.) or approximately 8 - 1o drops essential oils - optional


I use my food processor to make the Felz Naptha into a powder. first putting it through the slicer then pulsing it until it's fine. If you don't get it fine it won't mix in very evenly. After that I dump into a 2 gallon container and stir until well mixed. Make sure not to breath in the Borax dust when you pour that into the container or stir it up.  Once mixed well I dump it into a covered 1 gallon container.


I use a very small amount of soap. About 2oz for each average sized load. If they are really dirty I use another 2 oz.

Optional Ingredients:

The Oxi is to help get really dirty clothes a bit cleaner. I use this mostly because I have dirty men in the house. I did find that home made detergent did not do as well as commercial cleaners at getting stains out. The Oxi helped with that but I still find I also need to spot treat stubborn stains accordingly.

If you prefer a scent use the Purex Crystals or Essential Oils.  I have not done this but I did have Lavender scented Felz Naptha. I do hang outside three seasons so the clothes get that smell. I suspect it's much like using that scent free detergent. I admit I did miss the smell that came from commercial detergents. It took a while but I've mostly gotten used to it. I cannot speak as to which would be less expensive, the essential oils or the Purex Crystals but if you're about environmental causes like I am, I'd probably go with the essential oils regardless of cost.

Of course the additional ingredients will add to the over all cost and then you'd have to recalculate to see if it was worth it for yourself.

Caramel Puff Corn

• 1 8 ounce bag Puff Corn
• 1 cup peanuts - or other nuts (optional)
• 1 cup butter (do not substitute)
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup light corn syrup
• 1 teaspoon baking soda

Spray roaster pan lightly with cooking spray. This is not a necessary step but I find it makes mixing and clean up easier.  (I use aluminum disposable - it washes up great soaked in warm water and soap. It can be reused over and over again).
Place puff corn in large roaster pan
In 2 quart sauce pan bring the butter, sugar and corn syrup to a boil. Cook this for 2 minutes.
While still on the flame add 1 teaspoon baking soda. Mix well and remove from heat.
Pour over puff corn in roaster. Mix until most of the corn is coated.
Bake at 250ºF for 45 minutes stirring every 15 minutes to distribute the caramel.
Remove from oven and spread out on wax or parchment paper in a single layer to cool completely. _
Break apart and serve or store in 2 gallon sized plastic bags. If you do not let it cool completely before putting it into bags it will get soggy.

Chocolate Zucchini Nut Bread

• 2 Cups Flour
• 1 Teaspoon Baking Soda
• 1 Teaspoon Salt
• 1 Teaspoon Ground Cinnamon
• 3 Eggs
• 2 Cups Granulated Sugar
• 1 Cup Cooking oil (or reduce by 1/2 and use 1/2 unsweetened apple sauce)
• 1 Teaspoon Vanilla
• 2 ounces melted unsweetened chocolate (to make life easy I use the prepackaged Nestles brand)
• 2 Cups Grated Zucchini
• 1/2 Cup Mini Chocolate Chips (optional)
• 1 cup chopped walnuts or other nuts (optional)

Preheat oven to 350º F . 
Prepare loaf pans with baking spray or oil and flour.
In a medium bowl combine flour, baking soda, salt and cinnamon.
In a large bowl Beat eggs until light, gradually add sugar, oil and vanilla.
Stir in melted chocolate and zucchini.
Gradually add dry ingredients stirring well after each addition until just blended.
Stir in nuts and chocolate chips.
Divide batter between two greased and floured  9x5 loaf pans.
Bake at 350º for 1 hour - 1 hour 15 minutes. Check for toothpick to come out clean.  
Makes 2 loaves.