First of the Month Baking: Hot Water Gingerbread

I have a charming cookbook: The New 1930 Subscription Edition Modern Priscilla Cook Book. Modern Priscilla was a magazine for women that ran from 1887 to 1930. I have a few copies myself and it was a delightful magazine.

I love the cover of this cook book!

I have owned this cookbook for about fifteen years and have never used it. So I thought I would make something from it once a month, around the first of the month, and see how these recipes turn out!

I do not have any method to my madness - I'm not starting at the beginning and going through the entire book. I'm just going to cook or bake something that takes my fancy. And today that was Hot Water Gingerbread. It looked like a simple recipe, so I thought I would give it a try.

The recipe was simple, and mixed together perfectly.

I like how it says to bake in moderate oven, and still gives a temperature! Earlier cook books often will just do the former. 

How it looked all mixed up!

The centre caved in a little, but I sampled a piece and it still tasted lovely! 

I was very happy with this recipe. I followed the instructions as exactly as I could, with one exception. We didn't have any shortening in the house, so I used cooking oil. It turned out very nicely. I'm just wondering if I should put a lemon glaze on it or just leave it plain. I would recommend the recipe - especially if you're a fan of gingerbread.