cake you'll need:
4 eggs
1 2/3 cups white sugar
1 cup vegetable oil
15 ounces canned pumpkin
2 cups all purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
And for the rich, velvety frosting:
12 ounce tub of ready made cream cheese frosting — but tell people it's homemade
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees, then using vegetable shortening such as Crisco, grease a 13-by-9 inch baking dish. In a large mixing bowl, beat together the eggs, sugar, oil and pumpkin. Now, in another large bowl mix together the flour, baking powder, salt, baking soda and cinnamon. For the magic moment, add the batter to the dry ingredients and mix completely. Now you can spread the batter into your baking dish. You'll want to leave the cake in the oven for 25 to 30 minutes, then remove it and allow the cake to cool before you attempt to frost it.
SWEET RETURN Bring back memories with your favorite childhood candies. BY MEGHAN ERWIN
At the time it seemed perfectly normal to be biting yellow, pink and blue sugar dots off of a strip of paper. There was something about having to work for our candy that made us love it. Whether it was potentially eating paper to get a tiny piece of sugar, licking until your tongue hurt to reach a bit of tootsie roll inside your tootsie pop, or suffering through explosions in your mouth for that wonderful artificial taste of strawberry in your pop rocks, we all remember what it was like to reach a childhood sugar high.
Even if you don't remember these candies from the '60s, '70s or '80s, retro candy is back. Although it actually may have never left the shelves, you can still find your favorite childhood sweet. The Candy Barrel, 2450 Grand Blvd., Kansas City, Mo., carries a large assortment of retro candy. Diana Tolson, employee at the Crown Center candy store, says the sale of retro candy at the store is constant and that it has many varieties to choose from. It even has a "nostalgic tree," which
has a large mix of retro candy perfect for gifts.
Here are just a few of many classic candies.
Deemed an "American Classic," Necco wafers, the chalk-like candy disks that come wrapped in waxed paper, are still sold today and long ago were considered to contain some nutritional value. In 1913 Donald MacMillan an explorer, took Necco wafers on an expedition to the Arctic. It is said that he used the wafers for nutrition and as rewards for Eskimo children. Ninety years later people are still crunching away on those wafers, but probably not for nutrition.
Pop Rocks, the candy that claims it's "Entertainment for your whole mouth," and that you should "Taste the Explosion," has been exploding in mouths across the country since 1975. Invented in 1956 by General Food research scientist William A.-Mitchell, this popping candy contains small amounts of carbon dioxide that cause a mild exploding sensation.
If you prefer more natural ingredients such as roasted peanuts and chocolate to carbon dioxide, try the ever-famous Cherry Mash. Another American favorite, Cherry Mash has been on the shelves since 1918. Although originally called Cherry Chase and then Cherry Chaser, named after the Chase Candy Company that produces the candy, it is now Cherry Mash as we know it today. The "mash" consists of a quarter pound of chopped roasted peanuts blended with chocolate that coats a smooth, cherry fondant (sweet, taffy-like and cherry flavored) center.
These candies, along with many other retro-favorites such as candy necklaces, bubble gum cigars, atomic fireballs, fun dip and a list of many more can be found in most candy stores and through Web sites. Locally you can find some of your favorites at Penny Annie's Sweet Shoppe, 845 Massachusetts St.
—Meghan Erwin, Jayplay staff writer, can be reached at merwin@kansan.com.
thursday. october 30, 2003
jayplay 7