Well before my memory, Lincoln's Birthday (February 12) and Washington's Birthday (February 22) were celebrated widely, and separately. Alas for our historical knowledge, we've lost that in the shuffle of creating three-day weekends and Monday holidays. More's the pity. But that hasn't stopped us from maintaining one old tradition! Purportedly, George Washington was particularly enamored of gingerbread. It's served for the occasion at Washington's Crossing State Park in NJ. I always make a pan of it for our family.
Last year in a group of recipes a friend gave me was a different gingerbread recipe, and it has supplanted the one I'd used for many years. This recipe follows:
1 3/4 c flour
2 t ginger
1 t cinnamon
1/2 tsp cloves
1/2 t nutmeg
1/2 allspice
1 t cocoa powder
1/2 t baking soda
1/2 t salt
3/4 c molasses
3/4 c sugar
1 stick butter, melted and cooled
1 egg
1 c buttermilk, at room temperature.
Grease 9" square cake pan. Whisk together flour, spices, cocoa, baking soda, and salt; set aside.
Beat molasses, sugar, and melted butter together in a large bowl with an electric mixer on low speed until combined, about 2 minutes. Beat in egg, then beat in buttermilk, scraping down bowl and beaters as needed. Add dry ingredients, increase the speed to medium , and beat until batter is smooth and thick. Pour batter into prepared pan and sooth the top. Bake until skewer comes out clean, about forty minutes.
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