Family Recipes and a Tribute!

Today Stefan watched an episode on Caillou and there was chocolate cake involved. He looked at me with his "happy" eyes and said "Stefan auch Chocolate cake!?!" How can a mom say no?!?! Those "Happy" eyes are hard to resist! I thought about it and actually, chocolate cake would be perfect. Family is coming over in the afternoon and chocolate cake goes well with coffee. So I said "Sure!" and Stefan ran to the kitchen to have some cake..."honey, mommy has to go to the store first...we'll make it afterwards" - Now WHAT kind of chocolate cake should I make? I searched the web and was overwhelmed by Brownie, German Chocolate Cake, Devils Food Cake and Fudge recipes. Then I remembered a recipe book my mom made years ago...full of family recipes. That was it! I remembered seeing a recipe for a chocolate sheet cake...and I distinctly remembered REALLY enjoying how moist and chocolately and just absolutely scrumptous this cake was...and I'd never made it before, so why not? This will be the 2nd recipe listed.

My Tribute. I never got to meet my grandpa Cowles, but rumor (and family old recipes) has it he was a pretty darn good cook! He was a Marine, a father, a son, a grandpa, and a man I wish I'd had the chance to meet. I am pretty sure I get to see a little bit of him though, whenever I see and talk to my dad. Unfortunately, now, that's not very often, due to a few states, the Atlantic Ocean, and a few countries laying between us. Now before I go and get all choked up...lets get back to this recipe! Okay American friends, everyone loves a REALLY good Sloppy Joe! Put that Manwhich can down, step away from the shelves of canned goods and run your cart over and get some fresh hamburger meat, green bell peppers and everything else listed on this recipe, because nothing beats it! This is the sloppy joe recipe we always used....granted after a few years ...decades...of using it we stopped reading the recipe and just did it our way. Today I thought, I'd peep inside that "Family Favorites" recipe book and follow that recipe that Grandpa used and have a day of family recipes to enjoy...with my husband and my son. Here's to you Granpa!

Sloppy Joes - Clyde Cowles Style!

Brown:
2 Pounds hamburger meat
3-4 Stalks of celery (optional)
2 Chopped green bell peppers
2 small or 1 large onion - chopped

Season to taste with:
Salt
Pepper
Garlic (powder, salt or chopped)
Chili powder

Add:
3/4 cup sweet pickle relish (I had to chop up pickles, can't get relish here)
1/4 cup brown sugar (to your taste - I used less)
1 cup ketchup
1 cup barbecue sauce (your favorite kind)
1 can tomato puree
1 can crushed or diced tomatoes

Reduce heat and simmer at least 30 minutes.

Serve with hamburger rolls and chips or fresh raw vegetables

Mom's Chocolate Sheet Cake:

Mix in pan and bring to boil:
1 cup of butter or margarine
4 Tbsp Cocoa powder
1 cup water

Take off stove and pour over a mixture of:
2 cups flour
2 cups sugar

Add:
1/2 cup buttermilk
2 eggs slightly beaten
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp baking soda

Mix all together. Pour into a greased cookie sheet pan and bake at 350° for 20 minutes

Frosting:
While cake is baking, mix in pan and boil:
1/2 cup butter
4 Tbsp cocoa powder
1/3 cup milk

Remove from heat and add immediately:
1 box of powdered sugar (about 3 1/2 Cups)
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup chopped nuts (optional - but shouldn't be, cause it's so great with them!!!)

Spread frosting on cake while cake is still hot - you can technically pour this frosting on the cake...it'll set after awhile.