My book group just read the historical novel The Kitchen House by Kathleen Grissom. Hosted by our group leader Nancy Klotzsche, the meeting turned out to include not only a lively literary discussion but also a culinary delight--the homemade Molasses Cake featured in the novel. In fact, Nancy was busy in the kitchen whipping up this delicious cake while we were enjoying her southern-style appetizers.
The cake baked while we discussed the book: I'm sure you can imagine the incredible mouth-watering aroma that filled her house. The result was a warm, fresh-out-of-the-oven, super-moist molasses cake that we topped with whipped cream. Nancy, thank you so much. It was delicious!
The Kitchen House Molasses Cake
1/2 Cup Butter
1/3 Cup Brown Sugar (packed)
1 Egg
1/2 Cup Milk
1 Cup Molasses
2 Cups Flour
1 t Baking Soda
1 t Ground Ginger
1 t Cinnamon
2 dashes Ground Cloves
1/4 t Salt
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease 8-inch square baking pan.
In a large bowl, cream the butter and sugar. Beat in the egg.
In a separate bowl, combine the milk and the molasses.
In another bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, ginger, cinnamon, cloves and salt.
Add each of these alternately to the butter mixture, beating well between additions.
Spoon batter into the prepared pan.
Bake for approx. 45 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
The Kitchen House Summary: Orphaned while on board ship from Ireland, seven-year-old Lavinia arrives on the steps of a tobacco plantation where she is to live and work with the slaves of the kitchen house. Under the care of Belle, the master's illegitimate daughter, Lavinia becomes deeply bonded to her adopted family, though she is set apart from them by her white skin. Eventually, Lavinia is accepted into the world of the big house, where the master is absent and the mistress battles opium addiction. Lavinia finds herself perilously straddling two very different worlds. When she is forced to make a choice, loyalties are brought into question, dangerous truths are laid bare, and lives are put at risk. The Kitchen House is a tragic story of page-turning suspense, exploring the meaning of family, where love and loyalty prevail.
http://www.amazon.com/Kitchen-House-Novel-Kathleen-Grissom/dp/1439153663
