Chocolate Depression Cake

This chocolate depression cake is made without eggs and milk. During that time commodities were scarce, certain things very hard to come by, and everything was homemade at the time. Wives and mothers had to come up with ways to make do with what ingredients they had and make it work or do without. My mother (the woman who raised me) was born during the Great Depression, even when it ended in 1939 things were not easy. Dresses were made from flour sacks and her hair was rolled using strips cut from a can. I was taught to make do with what you have, where there is a will there’s a way, and always give to others even if you don’t have it to give sometimes. I truly believe in kindness and I believe the world would be a better place if more people would just be kind. I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as we do. I can’t help but think of how mama would have to help harvest in the fields on the farm just to make enough money to buy a pair of shoes to wear to school. She worked all summer in the field and earned a few dollars to buy a pair of shoes. As she was looking for another size to try on, she left her wallet on the bench and turned her back for a second. When she turned around her money was gone. I think about the despair she must have felt when this happened. I think about the stories I heard growing up about how she and my aunt would run behind the wagon, hopping on and off of it, while the family was headed into town to have their corn ground into grits and cornmeal. They didn’t get to go into town much, so this was a special treat for them. Time sure doesn’t slow down for anyone. My mother has dementia now her memory comes and goes. She may not remember something from yesterday, but she always remembers the good ole days. The days her mama would make her homemade biscuits on the lid of a lard can inside the woodstove. And I believe those are the most beautiful memories to have.