Pork Cake

Don't let this delicious recipe fool you because of the salt pork. This recipe uses salt pork instead of the oil normally used. Lots of moisture and flavor in this cake. No icing needed.

Think about making this in mini-loaf pans or big muffin tins. They make wonderful gifts!

Ingredients:

1 cup finely chopped salt pork
1 cup boiling water
½ tsp baking soda
1 cup molasses
1 cup sugar
1 cup raisins
1 tsp cinnamon
½ tsp nutmeg
½ tsp allspice
½ tsp ground cloves
3 cups all-purpose flour

Directions:

Heat oven to 375 degrees. Crease a 8-inch square pan. Place chopped salt pork in a large bowl. Pour in boiling water, then cool to room temperature.

Add baking soda to molasses. Stir until dissolved. Stir in molasses sugar raisins, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice and cloves into salt pork. Stir in flour gradually until just blended. Pour into pan.

Bake at 375 degrees for 1 hour to 1 hour 15 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.

Jamaican Banana Bread

Get ready because you are gonna love this!!

A little twist on the traditional Banana Bread.  This bead has raisins and dark rum, a combination that could possibly cause you to hide the finished product and save it all for yourself.

1 pound very ripe bananas, 3-4 medium-sized bananas
1 tsp dark rum
2/3 cup golden raisins
2 cups all-purpose flour
8 tbs (4 oz) butter, softened
1/2 cup sugar
1 large egg, at room temperature
1 tbs baking powder
1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
1 tbs grated orange rind
1/2 cup finely chopped pecans

Heat oven to 350 degrees.  Lightly butter a 9 x 5 inch loaf pan.

Mash bananas n a bowl with a fork and add the rum.  In another bowl toss the raisins with 2 tablespoons of the flour.

Cream the butter with the sugar until fluffy and light.  Add the egg and beat until smooth.

In another bowl sift the remaining flour with the baking powder, salt and nutmeg.  Add the grated orange rind.  Make a well in the center of the flour mixture and add half the banana mixture, blending well, and then half the butter mixture.  Repeat the process with the rest of the bananas and the remaining butter mixture.  Stir in the raisins and nuts.  Scrape the batter into the prepared pan.

Bake for 1 hour until the loaf is lightly browned and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.  Cool for 10 minutes before removing the bread from the pan.  Cool completely on a wire rack.

I have not tried to freeze this, but I bet that because of the rum,  it would just get better.  Enjoy!  

Old Timey Raisin Spice Cake

This recipe does not have any eggs in it. This is like those delicious spice loaves that my grandfather would buy a the local A & ? store. This recipe calls for layers with the icing between and on top. The loaves grandaddy bought just had the icing on top. This bakes well as loaves or layers. Enjoy!

2 cups brown sugar
½ lb raisins
½ cup butter
2 tsp. Soda
2 cps buttermilk
2 tsp. Cinnamon
3 cps flour
1 tsp. (each) cloves; allspice

Cream sugar and butter. Dissolve soda in milk, add to sugar mixture. Add dry ingredients and raisins, and mix well. Bake in layers* for 25 minutes at 350 degrees.

Icing:

Mix 2 cups Brown sugar and 1 cup sour cream and cook until soft ball is formed in cold water test. Cool and beat until creamy. Spread between layers and on top.

*I like mine in loaves.  This can make 2 of the regular sized loaves.  If you add the icing, you can split the loaves and spread between.  This is also great to make in mini loaves and give as gifts for Holidays or a housewarming.  This will freeze well for about 3 months, but I don't put the icing on it if I freeze.

Raisin-Cinnamon Roll

This was one of my favorite treats growing up!!  The ones that are bought now cannot touch the ones that were made years ago.  They used to be made with lots of cinnamon AND raisins.  Yummy Yum!

1pkg. active dry yeast
3 1/2 cups sifted all-purpose flour
1 1/4 cup milk
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup shortening
1 tsp. salt
1 egg

In mixer bowl, combine yeast and 2 1/4 cups of flour.  Heat milk, sugar, shortening and salt till warm.  Stir until shortening melts.  Add to dry ingredients.  Then add egg.  Beat at low speed of electric mixer for 1/2 minute, scraping sides of bowl.  Beat 3 minutes at high speed.  Stir in enough of the remaining flour to form soft dough..  Place in greased bowl, turn once.  Cover.  Put aside for 1 1/2 to 2 hours.  Let rise.  Turn out on a lightly floured surface; divide dough in half.  Roll each half to 16 x 8 inch rectangle. 

Combine 1/2 cup sugar, 4 tbsp. melted margarine, 2 tsp. cinnamon.  Spread half the cinnamon mixture over each rectangle.  Top each with 1/4 cup raisins.  Roll each, from long side, jelly roll fashion.  Seal edge: cut in 1-inch slices.  Place cut side down in 2 greased 9x9x2 inch pans.  Cover.  Let rise till double, 30 to 40 minutes. 

Bake in 375 degree oven for 20-25 minutes and then drizzle with the following icing while still warm.

Combine:
1 cup powdered sugar
1/4 tsp. vanilla
4-6 tsp. milk

These are definitely worth the effort and once you taste them