Chocolate sauerkraut cake

Dear Heloise: I remember reading in your column a recipe for a cake made with sauerkraut. I would love to make it for a bake sale. -- Vianne, Baltimore

I'd be happy to share the chocolate sauerkraut "surprise" cake with you.

You'll love this moist cake. Amaze your guests with the "surprise" ingredient after they have tasted the cake. They won't believe it!

You will need:

1-1/2 cups sugar

2/3 cup shortening or butter

3 eggs

1-1/4 teaspoon vanilla

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup cocoa

2-1/4 cups flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 cup water or beer

1/2 - 2/3 cup sauerkraut, chopped, rinsed and drained well

Cream together sugar and shortening. Add eggs, mix well, then add vanilla, salt and cocoa and mix together.

In a separate bowl, sift together flour, baking soda and baking powder. Then add the dry ingredients and the water or beer, a little bit at a time, to the batter and mix.

Next, fold in the sauerkraut by hand. Bake in a greased and floured pan(s) for 35-45 minutes at 375 degrees. This will make one 9-by-13 sheet cake or a two-layer cake.

Use your favorite frosting. My favorite? Sour-cream or cream-cheese icing -- delicious! -- Heloise

SEND A GREAT HINT TO:

Heloise

P.O. Box 795000

San Antonio, TX 78279-5000

Fax: 210-HELOISE

E-mail: HeloiseHeloise.com

FAVORITE RECIPES

Dear Heloise: I always had trouble finding my favorite recipes. I bought some 4-by-6 floppy photo albums and labeled each as casseroles, desserts, etc. Now I can find our favorites in no time. -- Susan Niles, Baraboo, Wis.

REMOVE COOKING ODORS

Dear Heloise: Use this hint to remove cooking odors -- it works great! All you do is pour some vanilla extract into a small saucepan and bring it to a simmer (low heat or it will evaporate -- H) on the stove.

That's it. And it doesn't have to be the expensive "real" vanilla extract; it can be the cheapest thing on the shelf -- it still works fine.

And if it boils down, add water -- it still will smell wonderful. Just don't forget you have it on the stove! -- Debbie, Arlington, Texas