Ingredients
1 cup oatmeal
1 1/4 boiling water
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup canola oil or olive oil
2 eggs, slightly beaten
1 1/2 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 scant tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp vanilla
Directions
Pour boiling water over oatmeal. Stir and set aside.
Combine sugar, brown sugar, and oil until well blended. Add eggs and stir until smooth.
Sift together flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon.
Alternating flour mixture with oatmeal mixture, add slowly to sugar/egg mixture, stirring in between.
Add vanilla. Mix all ingredients thoroughly.
Pour in a 13x9x2 inch cake pan coated with cooking spray or butter.Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes or until a toothpick, inserted in the center of the cake, comes out clean.
Topping
Combine 1 cup brown sugar, 6 TBSP melted butter, 1 cup pecans, 1 cup coconut (optional), 1/4 cup evaporated milk, and 1 tsp vanilla. Stir until smooth. Pour over top of cake. Place under broiler for 2 minutes or until brown and crunchy.