Mystery Snack Cake

When I was growing up, my mother would whip this snack cake up for us kids.  There was always one "secret" ingredient that was added to the mix.  Depending on your taste, or, perhaps what you have on your pantry shelf, some ideas might include, fruit cocktail, (my favorite), pineapple chunks, peaches or pears.  You decide what the mystery ingredient will be!

A funny sideline story to this, was that the recipe card was sitting in my file for over 30 years.  I followed it exactly.  When it came out of the oven and as was sampling it,  I knew something was terribly wrong!  I went to my mom's to find her original recipe.  (I had copied it right, or so I thought.)  Well, I hadn't turned the recipe card over to see the finishing touches of this snack cake on the back.  The pictures posted are without the topping which really makes it delicious, and keeps it moist.   Enjoy!

Ingredients:

1 1/4 cup flour

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

1 egg, beaten

1 tsp vanilla

1 large or medium can of __________________. Substitute fruit of choice.

For the topping:

1/2 cup chopped nuts

1 cup brown sugar

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  In a bowl, mix all ingredients in order, up to the can of fruit,  by hand.  Pour into a greased pan (8x8  or an 11x7).   Mix the nuts and brown sugar and spread on top.  Bake for about 1 hour.  Let cool and serve.

Thanks, mom for the revision!