Page 18 Hometown Holidays • Thursday, November 28, 2024 pressnews. com
Gingerbread takes the cake
Plenty of foods are associated with Christmastime, but none perhaps as familiar as gingerbread.
Although the slightly spicy and warming tang of gingerbread often is enjoyed in cookie form or baked into panels used to create gingerbread houses, the spice combination of ginger, cloves and cinnamon can impart a delicious flavor to cakes as well.
This holiday season, whip up this recipe for Tender Gingerbread Cake from“ Butter, Flour, Sugar, Joy”( Sourcebooks) by Danielle Kartes.
Tender Gingerbread Cake
Yield: 1 cake
1 cup packed muscovado sugar( dark brown works great)
1 / 2 cup plus 2 tablespoons butter, softened 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 2 eggs, room temperature 1 / 4 cup plain full-fat Greek or plain yogurt 1 3 / 4 cups all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon baking powder 1 / 2 teaspoon kosher salt 1 / 2 teaspoon cinnamon 1 / 4 teaspoon ground cloves 1 / 4 teaspoon ground ginger 1 / 4 teaspoon apple pie spice 1 cup hot water 3 / 4 cup molasses
Garnishes 1 / 2 cup confectioners’ sugar 1 cup pomegranate arils
1. Preheat oven to 350 F. Line a 9-by-9-inch cake pan with parchment paper.
2. Cream the sugar, butter, and vanilla on low speed, 3 minutes. Add the eggs one at a time and mix until just incorporated, then scrape down the sides of the bowl and gently fold the yogurt into the batter.
3. In a separate bowl, whisk the flour, baking powder, salt, and spices together.
4. In a third bowl, mix the hot water and molasses together.
5. Now mix the dry ingredients into the batter in 3 additions, alternating with the hot molasses water. Do not over-mix.
6. Pour the batter into your lined pan and bake 25 to 30 minutes until the cake is well baked. Allow the gingerbread to cool, then dust with confectioners’ sugar and pomegranate arils. This cake is also lovely with cream cheese icing! Serve and enjoy.
WinterFest
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8
( PHOTO BY JESSICA CHARPENTIER)
Inside City Hall and the library are many activities such as Winter Bingo, a selfie booth, crafts, music from 3 to 4 p. m. and more. Pictured is the Santa hunt in the library from last year. This year, there will be a snowman hunt. hidden at 2 p. m. and clues will be announced about its whereabouts at the main stage at 2, 2:30 and 3 p. m.
Find the medallion, and you win $ 100. Travel outdoors to the fire pits to warm up and heat the marshmallows for s’ mores.
Meet and snap a picture with a real dog sled team and reindeers.
Gaze upon all the holiday lights provided by SOAR Regional Arts, known as Illuminate the Night. Cookies and hot beverages provided by the Lions Club and St. Michael American Legion will be available while supplies last.
Head on over to the main stage for a performance by SOAR Regional Arts at 3:30 p. m. and the announcement of the Mini Golf Hole Design contest, Snowmen Hunt, Winter Bingo and medallion hunt winners at 4:30 p. m.
The event will end near the main stage when community members will behold the holiday tree lighting ceremony, participate in the holiday sing-along and learn who was awarded the 2024 Cheermeister award.
Visit shopstma. com for more information.
( PHOTO COURTESY OF CITY OF CORCORAN)
Corcoran’ s Holiday Toy and Food Drive will take place on Dec. 10. Festive city and community vehicles, such as the one pictured here, will drive through neighborhoods collecting food and toys.
Corcoran
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 5
An alternate date of Wednesday, Dec. 11, has been scheduled if inclement weather occurs. Arrival times are estimated and could vary based on weather. Residents should check Corcoran’ s Facebook page for route updates. Food will be donated to CROSS Services and toys will be donated to Toys for Tots.