Shoo Fly Cake (Recipe)

Just in case anybody is interested in trying it.

If you like molasses, you should like this cake. It is a very homey cake; it's not exotic or anything like that. I think it's a good comfort food type cake.

Also posted in the Recipe Exchange:  http://www.thecatsite.com/t/238191/cakes-and-other-baked-desserts/30#post_3556200 

SHOO FLY CAKE

4 cups flour
1 cup butter or margarine, chilled (do not use soft or whipped margarine)
2 cups sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda dissolved in 2 tablespoons very hot water
1 cup molasses (I use dark molasses; use what you have on hand)
2 cups water
1 teaspoon salt

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (180 degrees C).

Combine flour, sugar, and salt. Cut in butter until crumbly. Reserve one cup crumbs for topping.

To the remaining crumbs, add 2 cups water, molasses, and hot water-soda mixture. Mix thoroughly.

Pour into greased 13 x 9-inch pan. Sprinkle with reserved crumbs. Bake 40 to 45 minutes.

Where did the name come from,  @Winchester?

According to my grandmother, when the cooks would bake this pie, they'd put it on a windowsill to cool. That would attract the flies. The cook would wave her arms around saying, "Shoo, fly!"  And that's how the shoo fly pie got its name. The shoo fly cake uses pretty much the same ingredients, different amounts, of course. Then the batter is poured into the greased pan, topped with the reserved crumbs, and baked. Either way, pie or cake, it's pretty good stuff.

Did you know that raisin cookies used to be called Funeral Cookies or Church Cookies around here? That's because mothers brought them to funerals and to church to keep their little children from being so hungry and restless during the long services. (There's a little bit of trivia for our Thursday!  )