Meadow Hill Gingerbread

Christina Putnam, a retired art teacher, and her husband Phil, a contractor, are owners of Meadow Hill Bed and Breakfast in Middle Grove, New York, just outside Saratoga Springs. Their beautiful home is one they built themselves, and a tribute to their many talents. The Putnams are gracious hosts, and offer beautiful rooms and wonderful breakfasts to their very happy guests.

Christina writes:

"This recipe is from Christina Vollmer who was the town librarian in Cazenovia for all of my childhood. I am named after her. She had a sister. The two of them lived in a sweet little white house on Linklaen Street. Her sister was Marrianna. Christina was known as the "food" sister and Marrianna was known as the "flower" sister as she could make anything grow. The Vollmer sisters had a huge cast iron stove in their kitchen which warmed the house, heart, and soul. The brand name embellishing the stove door was HAPPY THOUGHTS. The most wonderful treats came daily out of Happy Thoughts. Popovers which melted in your mouth were a special favorite of mine. This gingerbread is wonderful and brings me happy thoughts of my dear adopted 'aunties.' It uses white sugar to make a pretty and tasty top and was used sparingly as it was rationed during WWII."

Ingredients:

½ c. Sugar
½ c. Butter
1 Egg
1 c. Molasses
2 ½ c. Flour
1 ½ t. Baking soda
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 t. Ground ginger
½ t. Ground cloves
½ t. salt

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Cream together: sugar, butter, egg, and molasses. Sift together: flour, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, and salt. Add the sifted dry ingredients to the creamed sugar, shortening and molasses mixture and stir. Gradually stir in one cup of hot water. Pour into a greased and floured rectangular cake pan. Sprinkle some additional sugar on top. Bake at 350 degrees until an inserted toothpick comes out clean. Your kitchen will smell great! Serve plain, with lemon sauce or with whipped cream.
Delicious!

Here's a link to the Meadow Hill B&B website!:http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.meadowhillbb.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/house_619x150.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.meadowhillbb.com/&usg=__4KQ24k0w13Y0eaGKb_jyKp9ChW0=&h=150&w=619&sz=24&hl=en&start=4&tbnid=l2L5IYHggyttiM:&tbnh=33&tbnw=136&prev=/images%3Fq%3DMeadow%2BHill%2BBed%2Band%2BBreakfast%2B12850%26gbv%3D2%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DG

Photo credit: http://www.meadowhillbb.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/house_619x150.jpg

upcoming posts: A Poet's Risotto and baking for a three-cake weekend!