Spin-off: Molasses and other ingredients you don’t hear of much anymore

[Pea-n-Me]

I was thinking some of the dark beers might’ve had molasses in them. Am I right? (I remember my brother always saying they kept you “well regulated”!)

 

[easyas123]

I also used to search for this. Luckily my local farm shop butcher has a source and orders it for me. I only use it for spiced beef.

I'm going to be making my 4th one this holiday season. I've got a new recipe this year that I'm looking forward to trying, it's a bit simpler (but still need the saltpeter!)

 

[tvguy]

As for “margarine,” yes, it’s still sold, but most non-butter packages are now called “spread.” I think there may be a specific FDA definition for margarine that spreads don’t meet.

Yeah, I think that came with the whole trans fats controversy. Looking at the packaging the "vegetable oil" spread stuff all has "no-trans fats" on the label too.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

I'm going to be making my 4th one this holiday season. I've got a new recipe this year that I'm looking forward to trying, it's a bit simpler (but still need the saltpeter!)

I had to look up saltpeter, I didn’t know what it was.

For anyone else that doesn’t know:

What is Saltpeter? (with pictures)

 

[luvnwdwgal]

Would love this recipe if possible too please!

1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 cup butter
1 cup molasses
1 cup sour cream
2 tsp cinnamon
2 tsp ginger
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cream of tartar
3 1/2 cups flour
Blend first 5 ingredients, add dry to mixture. Mix well. Can add chocolate chips if desired. Bake on greased cookie sheet at 350 for 12-15 minutes.

 

[luvnwdwgal]

Will you share the recipe?

1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 cup butter
1 cup molasses
1 cup sour cream
2 tsp cinnamon
2 tsp ginger
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cream of tartar
3 1/2 cups flour
Blend first 5 ingredients, add dry to mixture. Mix well. Can add chocolate chips if desired. Bake on greased cookie sheet at 350 for 12-15 minutes.

 

[tvguy]

I didn’t know molasses had an expiration date. I thought it was like honey and lasted for millennia.

The only time I bought it, maybe 30 years ago, I used about half the jar. The rest was still in my pantry when I moved in 1998, so I heaved it.

Well, you may be right on lasting forever, the best buy date maybe just to get you to throw it out and buy a new one. I volunteered at the Food Bank and past expiration date foods are their core supply of foods. Even dairy products. As the manager put it, "those are still wholesome foods". But they work with what is donated by the stores and processors. I spend a morning making hot dog sandwiches on raisin bread there because that was the only meat and bread they had.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 cup butter
1 cup molasses
1 cup sour cream
2 tsp cinnamon
2 tsp ginger
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cream of tartar
3 1/2 cups flour
Blend first 5 ingredients, add dry to mixture. Mix well. Can add chocolate chips if desired. Bake on greased cookie sheet at 350 for 12-15 minutes.

Thank you!

 

[luvnwdwgal]

Thank you!

You’re welcome! Enjoy! They’re my husband’s favorite.

 

[Chokky]

1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 cup butter
1 cup molasses
1 cup sour cream
2 tsp cinnamon
2 tsp ginger
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cream of tartar
3 1/2 cups flour
Blend first 5 ingredients, add dry to mixture. Mix well. Can add chocolate chips if desired. Bake on greased cookie sheet at 350 for 12-15 minutes.

Thank you! I am definitely making these!

 

[luvnwdwgal]

Thank you! I am definitely making these!

I hope you like them! We do!

 

[notatallmagic]

Love this thread! I remember hearing that my grandpa (oldest of 8 farm kids; depression era) grew up with molasses on his oatmeal.

We have that same brand jar in our cupboard; I love making pumpkin molasses muffins, homemade gingerbread (very rich and brownie-like in a 9x9 pan with homemade whipped cream!!!); gingerbread cookies.

I've never tried it in baked beans or BBQ - but will now!

 

[PollyannaMom]

The ingredients that I have a hard time finding in-store are:
...
*Jarred Horseradish
...

I had trouble with that too, but finally found it!

As for molasses, I love things with molasses IN them - gingerbread cookies, hermits...
but I hate the smell of molasses by itself, so I don't like to bake with it. I make my Christmas gingerbread cookies by doctoring up a boxed mix (the secret is adding a little cocoa powder ) and I buy hermits from the bakery (which keeps me from getting them too often. )

I think I remember DS reading about the Boston molasses flood for school.

 

[ramee]

I’ve made oatmeal cookies with Grandma’s brand.

http://sallysbakingaddiction.com/homemade-little-debbie-oatmeal-creme-pies/
The filling is OK in this recipe. I like the cookies by themselves. But if I decide to do a filling again, I’ll try a marshmallow one.

 

[Meriweather]

We use horseradish a lot......no problem finding it here

 

[ronandannette]

I think I'm a cooking hoarder. If lard is unusual, what about the tallow, schmaltz, and duck fat in my freezer? I render lard every fall to go in tamales (I like it to get kind of porky flavored, so Im not too careful about cooking it too long), and I buy completely flavorless lard for baking. Where I am, lard is usually in the Mexican section of the store, though I've read that stores are going to do away with ethnic aisles. If they do, I think it would make most sense next to the Crisco in the baking aisle.

Lard is sold here in the baking aisle with the rest of the non-dairy shortenings. I would never have thought of it as an ethnic item. I use it for pastry just like generations of my family. Tallow and chicken fat aren't a thing for me but I do always have a jar of bacon drippings in my fridge. It's been lovingly curated for years and years and is the "secret ingredient" in lots of my recipes. ProTip: For those who make the chopped broccoli/red grape salad, try adding a couple of teaspoons of bacon grease along with the dressing and you can thank me later.

 

[scrhsa]

That’s what’s in Mary Janes - molasses taffy and peanut butter. Yum! (I know from previous candy threads here that many absolutely hate them! )

View attachment 596723

I forgot about Mary Janes. I did like them but no my go to

 

[chickapin parterre]

But what I do have trouble finding since the pandemic started is wax beans. I love wax beans. Frozen bags or canned. Frozen for a side with a steak or fish entree. Canned for my awesome bean salad.

I am inclined to think that it is an agriculture problem, in the 70s OREGON grew some wax beans, a novelty crop as oregon lead the world in green bean production in the 70s and some farmers were willing to try wax beans. it is not a meal or salad served in oregon, folks always wondered...wax beans??????

 

[chickapin parterre]

I had to look up saltpeter, I didn’t know what it was.

For anyone else that doesn’t know:

What is Saltpeter? (with pictures)

found in leafy greens

BUT THIS info below is false.....I know that stress in Basic Army training will take away sexual urges because stress is high level....but my wife and I went on a romantic weekend and took in a civil war enactment for hours of gunpowder plumes I can tell you there was nothing romantic about that weekend.....I put the two experince together and together..Basic Training on the firing ranges and saltpeter floating around the grassy civil war fields will not lead to CARNAL URGES....was not put in food, but the breathing of the poison.

What is saltpeter used for and is it true it reduces certain “carnal urges?”


he second part of the question is easy to answer. “Saltpetre,” (the term refers either to potassium or sodium nitrate) has no effect on carnal urges. The story that this chemical was put into soldiers’ food to decrease their sex drive is a total myth.

 

[RedAngie]

I had to look up saltpeter, I didn’t know what it was.

For anyone else that doesn’t know:

What is Saltpeter? (with pictures)

I’ve heard Old Wives Tales ( or rather Old Sailor’s Tales) about saltpeter. There are all kinds of misconceptions about it.

It’s pretty much like so-called aphrodisiacs, but in the opposite direction. Neither works for the intended purpose.