Gingerbread with Meyer Lemon Glaze
I've had this food blog for 9 months, and have been keeping this favorite morsel from you all the while. If you'll forgive me and read on, I think we can patch things up.
My mom used to make this Silver Palate recipe--it was often her go-to dessert when company came over. I've been making it, in her kitchen or mine, since my early teens. My sister makes it too. When I pour the boiling water over the batter, stirring it to golden smoothness, I have almost overwhelming physical memories of all the other times I've done it. If you've followed along with In Praise of Leftovers for any length of time, you've no doubt noticed my irrepressible streak of sentimentality. Food does that--reminds us of every other time we've eaten it, all the things we used to do and the people we used to be.
And gingerbread reminds me of my girlhood neighbor, Mrs. Owen. Food writers have been accused of being "wheezy memoirists," and these are the kinds of stories that give us a bad name. But I have to tell it anyway. If you skip forward to the recipe, I won't be offended.
Mrs. Owen was 92, living in a big old turn of the century house by herself, with a daily caregiver and cook named Nancy Drew (no joke). I read to her once a week when I was in middle school. She'd sit in her favorite chair, all dolled up for the occasion, and have me read National Geographic features or The Incredible Journey. She loved stories about animals, and one of her cats would curl up on her lap as I read. She'd pat my hands and kiss my cheeks, and always, always have Nancy make something for my visit. We'd have Minute Maid orange juice (which Mrs. Owen adored) and often, gingerbread. At first, she'd attempt to serve it herself, pulling down her ancient china plates and barely making it into the living room, forks clattering the whole way. I convinced her to let me, finally, and we'd sit there with our orange juice and gingerbread, the most unlikely pair in the world.
I marvel at that 12-year old self sometimes. Loretta turns three today, and I have no idea if she'll be the sort of girl to read to her elderly neighbors. I hope so. If gingerbread is involved, it's quite likely.
Gingerbread with Meyer Lemon Glaze
From The Silver Palate Cookbook, the first cookbook I bought in college. The simple glaze is lemon juice and powdered sugar, poured over the hot cake and turning sticky as it cools. I used Meyer lemons since they're around right now, but you can use conventional ones with the same delicious results. I always eat this with whipped cream, but you don't need to. Without it, it makes a wonderful breakfast. I made this for a weeknight dinner with our friends Derek and Amity this week. After all these years, it's still my go-to dessert.
1 1/2 c. flour
1 1/4 ts. baking soda
1 1/2 ts. ground ginger
3/4 ts. ground cinnamon
3/4 ts. salt
1 egg, lightly beaten
1/2 c. sugar
1/2 c. molasses
1/2 c. boiling water
1/2 c. vegetable oil
For lemon glaze:
2/3 c. powdered sugar
4 Tb. fresh Meyer lemon or lemon juice
Preheat oven to 350 and butter an 8" square baking pan.
Sift dry ingredients together in a mixing bowl. Add eggs, sugar, and molasses, and mix well. Pour boiling water and oil over mixture. Stir thoroughly until smooth.
Pour batter into prepared pan. Set on the middle rack of the oven and bake for 30-35 minutes , or until top springs back when touched and the edges have pulled away slightly from the sides of the pan.
While gingerbread is baking, make glaze. Sift powdered sugar into a bowl, add lemon juice, and mix well.
While gingerbread is still hot, poke small holes with a toothpick all over cake. Pour glaze over the cake and cool in the pan.
Serves with lightly sweetened whipped cream, if you like.
January 28, 2010
Reader Comments (31)
What a wonderful story of Mrs. Owen. It reminds me somewhat of an older neighbor we had when Yancey was growing up, Mrs. Medby. Yancey mowed her lawn, and she thought he was very special. The gingerbread sounds scrumptious and Loretta makes it look even more tantalizing. I can't wait to try it...YUM :)
Mmm that sounds perfect. I love a good gingerbread. I've always wanted to try Laurie Colwin's from Home Cooking as she has a very vivid chapter about it (I think it's that book or maybe her 2nd one). I think I have all those ingredients, except for the lemon, but I do have some oranges and a grapefruit, so I think either could probably sub with little harm. I also have some special caramel sauce that is looking for a home.
this is a beautifully written post and great storytelling as I have a picture in my mind of Mrs. Owen and the whole event. And you're right, food does do that...create stories, memories and maybe because it invokes so many of the senses. Happy Birthday Loretta and a special great job to you mama for carrying her in your belly and as your mama has said, "Sarah is seriously one of the best mothers I have ever met." And I'm sure she's telling it like it is.
Oh my, this looks delicious. Gingerbread and lemon are two of my favorite things!!
I used to make this years ago and totally forgot about it! Thanks for the reminder - I can't wait to make it again!
LOVE this post. And your 12 year old self and that 3 year old little girl.
Happy Birthday, Loretta Paige.
See you soon.
Still reading every post! Can't wait to try this cake- it looks wonderful!
What a sweet post. Thanks for sharing. I have to say, every time I roast vegetables, which has been weekly since Ginger's party, the smell brings me right back to the night of the party. The savory smells remind me of dear friends, the layers of my heart that have peeled away over the years and the adventure of the unknown still ahead. I have made the squash soup as well, but have taken a liking to roasting whatever veggies we have around with all the same spices. :) Happy Birthday to darling Loretta!
u write beautifully and i feel the same. Many types of foods and dishes remind me of a lot of things and stir up memories and feelings :) Gorgeous cake. I want to make this! x
Loved the sentimental note tonight. Happy Birthday, Loretta! You have some uh-mazing photographs of your children to look back on =)
[...] want to eat this gingerbread with meyer lemon glaze. (just eat it, not deal with making it. . . anyone feel like baking for [...]
Lovely post. My mother used to make gingerbread for us when we were little and my father continued to make it for us when we grew up. Gingerbread for me is family. I live in North Lincolnshire, England. Seems that gingerbread is pretty universal in its appeal. Really enjoy reading your blog.
I remember you coming home from those visits filled up, and not just with gingerbread and orange juice.
Love love love gingerbread. MMM. Can't wait to try this recipe! Your memory made me smile - your family makes me smile. Have a good weekend and Happy Birthday Loretta!!
Silver Palate and Frugal Gourmet were my first cookbooks in college too!
I still use S.P., it's truly a classic!
Love the story and the photos of the ginger bread, thanks:)
I'm another gingerbread fanatic -- it's so wholesome and nostalgic! Thanks so much for sharing the recipe and the stories behind it.
I just made gingerbread cupcakes with lemon glaze the other day! Great minds...
I'm so glad to hear someone else that considers things like gingerbread cake a good breakfast!
Loretta looks like she just might need an oxygen tank before she finishes off the gingerbread. I can relate!
OH MY GOODNESS!
Is this my new favourite blog?
I THINK SO!
delectable photo. i love that story of you and mrs. owen. happy birthday dearest little pudgy loretta. 3 is a milestone for sure.
Yum! Couldn't resist baking this tonight. Mine is in the oven right now! Loved reading your story...you are such a talented writer!
Happy Birthday Loretta!
This looks so delicious! I bet the zing of the lemon really plays nicely with the ginger. Funnily enough, I almost made a gingerbread today for a dinner party, but settled on an oat cake with a mixed berry compote instead; I'll have to bookmark this recipe for later. If it's as tasty as it is easy, it'll become my go-to recipe, too. Thanks for sharing it! :)
P.S. Hillary is so right about the photos ... what memories you'll have! You really have some priceless photos on this blog, Sarah...
I love this comment. This might be the sweetest thing a mom could say in response to that post.