War-Time Breads and Cakes

by Amy L. Handy

Date Roll

When bread dough is ready for the pans take out enough for a small loaf. Roll out till half an inch thick, and spread with butter, brown sugar, and dates that have had the stones taken out. Roll up and put in a bread pan. When risen bake like a loaf of bread.

Date or Fig Biscuit

When putting the whole wheat bread into the pans save one pint. Roll this out one eighth of an inch thick and cut in rounds with a biscuit cutter and brush with butter. Put a layer of chopped figs or dates over half the rounds and cover with the other half. Let them rise a little and bake in a moderate oven half an hour.

Coffee Cake

Cream one tablespoonful of shortening with two of sugar and add one well-beaten egg. Mix this with one and a half cups of any bread dough till it is a smooth batter. This can be done quickly if a knife is used instead of a spoon. Spread the batter in a shallow pan and allow it to rise about twenty minutes. Pour over it the following mixture just before putting it in the oven: two tablespoonfuls of sugar, preferably brown, one teaspoonful of cinnamon, one teaspoonful of flour. Mix thin enough to just pour with cream or milk. A few nuts scattered over it are a great addition or some cake crumbs.

Apple Cake

When the coffee cake is put in the pan lay quartered apples thickly over it and use the cinnamon mixture as directed, only using more sugar.

Squash Biscuit

To one cup of squash that has been cooked and put through a sieve add one cup of scalding milk, one teaspoonful of salt, two tablespoonfuls of melted shortening, and two tablespoonfuls of molasses. Dissolve half a yeast cake in half a cup of lukewarm water and add to the squash mixture. Add enough whole wheat flour to make a dough, rather soft, but one that can be handled. Knead well until it is elastic, using as little flour as possible. Set to rise overnight. In the morning turn on to the board and roll lightly till the dough is about three quarters of an inch thick. Cut with a biscuit cutter and put close together in a pan. Let them rise till they double their bulk and bake about half an hour.