Menu Mondays | Something from Nothing: Thrifty Foods from the 1930s
We’ve all been there. You're inspired to bake something. You get extremely excited only to find, when you open the fridge, that you're lacking ingredients. Well, with this Recipe for Hard Times, you'll never find yourself in that predicament again! During the Great Depression, those who lived in rural areas could usually find eggs, milk, and butter. But for their city cousins who couldn’t head out the pasture to fetch some milk or rustle up some eggs from the coop, this cake held great appeal. From the end of WWI onward, this cake’s resourceful allure has been featured in cookbooks for chefs who desire Something from Nothing.
Ingredients
• 1 cup water
• 2 cups raisins
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon cloves
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1/3 cup lard (shortening)
• 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1/4 teaspoon. salt
• 2 cups flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
Directions
1. Place water, raisins, cinnamon, cloves, brown sugar, lard (shortening), nutmeg and salt in a saucepan and mix. Place on heat and bring to a boil. Cook 3 minutes.
2. Allow to cool, then sift together the flour, baking soda and baking powder. Stir into cooked mixture.
3. Place in a greased loaf pan and bake at 350°F for one hour.
Ingredients
• 1 cup water
• 2 cups raisins
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon cloves
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1/3 cup lard (shortening)
• 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1/4 teaspoon. salt
• 2 cups flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
Directions
1. Place water, raisins, cinnamon, cloves, brown sugar, lard (shortening), nutmeg and salt in a saucepan and mix. Place on heat and bring to a boil. Cook 3 minutes.
2. Allow to cool, then sift together the flour, baking soda and baking powder. Stir into cooked mixture.
3. Place in a greased loaf pan and bake at 350°F for one hour.