Jason asked for the cocoa loaf recipe - so here it is like I promised! It was passed on in the family from Nan Laverty (Mildred Evelyn Helmuth Laverty) our Grandmother and great grandmother to Bethany on our Dad's side.
Cocoa Loaf
1 cup sugar 1 cup cold water 1 cup raisins 1/2 cup crisco 2 large tbsp cocoa 1/2 tsp ground cloves 1 tsp cinnamon 1 tsp salt
Boil above together for 5 mins. Stir continuously so as not to scorch. Cool. Sift 2 scant cups of flour add to above. Put 1 tsp baking soda in 1/4 cup hot water and add. Mix well. Grease and flour lightly two med. pans or 1 large. Bake in loaf pan 45 min at 350* I use two smaller pans as it goes further and doesn't have as much tendancy to fall.
This is the recipe as Nan wrote it. HOWEVER, times have changed!!!!!
Flour is pre-sifted today, so don't sift your flour. Use 2 cups of flour loosely packed. Also, you should use Dutch Process Cocoa powder. I have a hard time finding it so I use 1 rounded tablespoon of Dark Chocolate powder and 1 rounded tablespoon regular cocoa powder. I don't use crisco, I just use liquid canola oil and it actually works better.
Don't overcook in the oven. No one likes cocoa loaf dried out but everyone likes it when the middle falls. It falls quite often and cooks up best on a humid day but don't let that discourage or stop you from making it! It is delicious and the house smells scrumptuous while the first step is being cooked on the stove.
2 comments:
Hey Deb thanks. I actually read the recipe and your advise. Humidity will not be a problem here it is 88% today.
I will however discuss this with Pam and see if we can do it together as baking is not my strong point. In fact to be honest I will ask her to make it for me.
It is great to see this type of communication between everyone. How about the pictures. I hope to see more as time goes on.
Love ya,
Jim
Yumm, I always loved the smell of the cocoa loaf during the holidays, Mom! :)
Love,
Lara
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