Moron Test Kitchen – Chocolate Cobbler

As you may recall, I was in Zollicoffer back in July for a family reunion. I had planned on just showing up and eating but my mother got all flustered and swore that we “couldn’t show up empty handed! It just wasn’t DONE.” Really? Cause that’s the way I’ve been showing up for the past 40+ years, but okay. The problem was that neither one of us wanted to make the five minute drive into town to buy groceries. So my mom looked around in her pantry and came up with this –

Flour, egg, oil, brown sugar, baking soda, sugar, and milk. Doesn’t EVERY pantry have this just hanging around? Excellent. Let’s get started.

In one bowl, combine 1 cup of self-rising flour, 1/2 cup of sugar, and 2 tablespoons of cocoa. We didn’t have self-rising flour, but the recipe said this – As a substitute for 1 cup of self-rising flour, place 1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a measuring cup. Add all-purpose flour to measure 1 cup. Duh? Like who didn’t know THAT trick?

Stir in 1/2 cup of milk and 3 tablespoons of vegetable oil until smooth. Then pour into a greased 8 inch square pan. Or a round 7 inch. Or and 9 inch oval. We don’t get all legalistic around Zollicoffer – just grab something clean.

Now in a separate bowl, combine 1 cup of firmly packed brown sugar with 1/4 cup of cocoa. Then sprinkle on top of the batter. You know, the stuff you just poured into the greased pan?

Now pour 1 and 3/4 cups of HOT water over the mixture and DO NOT STIR.  I sat there quietly for ten minutes until my mom explained they meant don’t stir the batter. Bake at 350° for 40-45 minutes or until top of cake springs back when lightly touched.

Once cooked, take it to your family reunion, then grab a plateful at the first opportunity. See cousin David’s wife watching, and put one of HER brownies on your plate, just to be polite. Chuck her brownie in the trash at the first opportunity. She’s a YANKEE, didn’t we cover this?

Moron Test Grade – A. This was just okay but my mama was supervising and I learned all my cooking from her, so I’m going to assume she put the same amount of love and attention into it that I did. And DESPITE that, if you paired this was some vanilla ice-cream, it would have been delish! I think it’s a great last minute dessert for unexpected guests.

Unless you don’t LIKE your guests, in which case you could just give them David’s wife’s brownie.

Actual recipe HERE.