Day 8: 12 days of #HopeforHeidiAllen

​Me and my Gram at my wedding,  August 21, 1993.

Today's recipe is a Molasses Crumb Cake on page 55 in the Heidi Allen Cookbook, submitted by Carol A. Fabian.

My Gram's ability to see the good in the world, regardless of what happened combined with the words of wisdom you shared with me while growing were major influences in shaping me into the woman I grew into.

When deciding what photos  or memory to share today, my first thought was "So goes Monday,  so goes the week." And as quick as I thought it, I knew today had to be something involving my Gramma Searles. This quote is one she shared with us every Sunday when we'd leave after the weekly Sunday supper. 

If I complained on a Monday, she'd remind me to make the most off it because it was setting the tone for my week. This is one of many legacies this strong woman left with me, and our entire family. She led by example and in love, 24/7/365. 

I mentioned my Gram's  "words of wisdom" earlier. Some of these were Irish Proverbs, Old Wives Tales, and last and most importantly...she quoted Scripture verses to me and I never knew it. Well, at least not until after 2004 when I started reading the Bible. 

My Gram new how to reach me and knew what would push me further from having a relationship with God. I accepted and enjoyed the Irish Proverbs and Old Wives Tales and looked forward to a hearing new ones, and some of them repeated often I was, and still am, a slow study at times.

The reason I share this is because my Gram was the next most important person to me when I grew up, outside of my parents. She was this important to our entire family, my sister included. While Heidi was completing her second year at Onondaga Community College,

​Heidi moved in with my Aunt Nancy and  Gramma to help care for Gramma while also going to school full-time and working. Heidi chose this because Gram and Nancy gave 110% to our family all the time and the least any of us could do was help when she accepted it. She was a stubborn Irish woman, I pray to be half the woman she was. She left so many legacies and one of those is my enjoyment to be in the kitchen. Thank you for joining me in the kitchen this month.

---

​Molasses

Crumb

Cake
​

Ingredients

1/2 cup dark molasses
1/2 cup Karo Syrup
2 1/4 cup boiling water
1 tsp. baking soda
4 cups flour
3/4 cup shortening
1/2 tsp salt
1 lb. light brown sugar

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

​Directions

1. Mix well with a spoon - molasses, Karo syrup, water & baking soda then set aside
2. Mix following until crumbly: flour, shortening, salt, and brown sugar
3. Save 1 cup of crumble mixture for the topping
4. Add liquid to remaining crumble mixture
5. Grease a 9 x 13 pan and pour batter into pan. Add the 1 cup of reserved crumble to the top and bake for 40 - 45 minutes

Video making this recipe on my YouTube channel

Do you have a molasses recipe you want to share?