My grandma's 'sour cream' cake always sounded weird to me

I mean, I thought it was just a weird old thing she did, putting a whole cup of sour cream in a chocolate cake. I tried it last month for my mom's birthday, following her handwritten card from 1978 exactly. The cake was so moist it was crazy, and it stayed that way for like 4 days on the counter. I guess all those old recipes had their reasons, you know? Has anyone else tried a family recipe that sounded gross but turned out amazing?

3 comments

3 Comments

the_reese10d ago

Totally get this. My great aunt's meatloaf recipe calls for a can of condensed tomato soup right in the mix. Sounds like slop, looks awful going into the pan. But man, it makes the best, most savory glaze as it cooks. Those old recipes just work.

rowanjenkins9d ago

My grandma's secret to perfect mashed potatoes was a full stick of margarine. It seems like a crazy amount, and the bowl looks greasy before you mix it. But once you whip it all together, they're the smoothest, richest potatoes you've ever had. Those old-school cooks knew their ratios.

dakotaknight8d ago

Wait, margarine instead of real butter?