Admiralty Eats: Soft Molasses Cake

Our past videos have explored the regulation rations of the Newfoundland Royal Naval Reservists, but that wouldn’t have been all they ate. The Reservists and Royal Navy members stationed at HM Wireless Station in Mount Pearl became good friends with the local farmers and their families. 

The Parsons family lived and farmed near the station. In fact, it was members of the Parsons family who bought the Wireless Station land in the 1920s, and resided in the building is now Admiralty House Communications Museum. The Parsons family was recognized for their hospitality and kindness towards their military neighbours. Some of the Parsons women married members from the station. 

Over the next few weeks, we will be exploring the types of homecooked treats that the Parsons might have shared with the crew at HM Wireless Station. These recipes have been adapted from the 1925 edition of the Presbyterian Ladies Aid Cookbook, available though the Memorial University Digital Archives Initiative at http://collections.mun.ca/cdm/compoundobject/collection/cns/id/107121/rec/11.

 

Soft Molasses Cake

Recipe Source: The P.L.A Cookbook, 1925, pg. 128

Memorial University Digital Archive Initiative, http://collections.mun.ca/cdm/compoundobject/collection/cns/id/107121/rec/11. 

Recipe Creator: Mrs. W. Clouston

Adapted by: Nora Allen

Ingredients

• ½ cup shortening

• ½ cup brown sugar

• 1 egg

• ½ cup molasses

• 2 cups flour

• 3 tsp. baking powder

• ½ tsp. salt

• ½ tsp. allspice

• 1 tsp. cinnamon

• ½ cup milk

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F and grease a baking tin. Either a 9-inch round or an 8-inch square work well. 

2. Cream together shortening and brown sugar until light and fluffy. 

3. Add egg to butter mixture and mix well to combine. Mix in molasses. 

4. Sift the dry ingredients together. 

5. Add dry ingredients to the butter mixture, alternating with milk. Mix to combine but do not over mix. 

6. Pour batter into the greased baking tin and bake for 35-45 minutes. Insert a toothpick into the centre of the cake, if it comes out clean the cake is done. 

7. Serve plain, or with lemon sauce.