Recipe: Yorkshire Parkin

YORKSHIRE PARKIN
Guy Fawkes was a citizen of York
and on November 5th his attempt to
bomb the House of Parliament is
celebrated by burning him in effigy
in bonfires while eating baked potatoes,
parkin and toffee. Saint Peter's school
in York, which he attended, does not take
part in these celebrations saying that they
do not burn effigies of past pupils.
1 tsp. baking powder or baking soda
3 tsp. ground ginger
2 c. plain flour
1 c. brown sugar
1 c. molasses (Grandma's)
4 oz. butter or margarine
1 lg. egg
1 c. milk
Sift the flour, baking powder and ginger
together, then add the oatmeal. Put the
molasses, butter and sugar into a saucepan;
melt together slowly. Beat the egg with
the milk. Add the molasses mixture to the
flour mixture and beat well together.
Finally add the egg and mix. Mix
thoroughly and pour into a deep
rectangular cake tin (10 x 6 x 3 inches deep)
which has been lined with waxed paper
and well greased. The mixture should
be very soft before cooking in a
325 degree oven for 30 minutes then at
300 degrees for another 30 minutes.
Test with a skewer in the center before
removing from the oven. Make parkin a
few days before eating it as it has a
sticky texture and it is easier to cut
into squares. Makes about 12 pieces.