Sue Freeman posted 04-27-98
Thunder Cake
This cake is called a thunder cake because when this woman who gave me this recipe was a little girl she was afraid of thunder. Her grandmother,who lived with her calmed her fears of thunder by telling her they would go make a "thunder" cake.
1 tomato
2 sticks butter
1 3/4 c sugar
3 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup cold water
2 1/2 c cake flour
1/2 c dry cocoa
1 1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 t salt
powdered sugar
Bring a small pot of water to a boil. Add tomato and boil for 10 seconds and remove. Put into cold water immediately and then slip the skin off' he tomato. Cut in half and squeeze out all the seeds. In a blender puree the tomato and set aside. Preheat the oven to 350. Butte and flour a 9x13 cake pan. In a large bowl cream together butter and sugar til fluffy.
Separate the eggs and beat yolks and vanilla into butter mixture. Add COLD water and tomato and beat until smooth. In another lare bowl sift flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt. Gently and gradually beat flour mixture into the butter mixture.
Whip the egg yolks til they form stiff peaks. Fold into the batter.
Pour batter into prepared cake pan and bake for 35 to 40 minutes. Test as you would a normal cake. Cool on a wire rack 10 minutes and remove from pan and cool completely.
When cool sprinkle with powdered sugar pressed through a kitchen strainer or a sifter.