Tuesday 5 March 2013

THE OLD WAYS


 Is it a boy or a girl?

I never had a “Birth Plan”.  No one asked what position I preferred for delivery. I just went to the hospital and climbed into a bed.   

Here's Nicole!

With her dad

With her sister

With her grandmother

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The editors of The Norton Anthology of Literature by Women tell us that it was in the 18th century that male physicians banished birthing stools. 

Now I’m told that lying in bed is the worst possible position.  

So the old ways were the best!  Well . . .  maybe not the notion that you should put a knife under the mattress “to cut the pain.” 

         But you might want to try some Groaning Cake.   J

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GROANING CAKE

        Based on Ami McKay’s book The Birth House

1 cup molasses
½ cup milk
½ cup softened butter
2 eggs
½ cup raisins

1 ¾ cups flour
1 ½ tsp baking powder
1 ½ tsp ginger
¼ tsp cinnamon
¼ tsp ground cloves

·        Preheat oven to 375.
·        Butter an 8x8 inch pan.
·        In a small mixing bowl, stir together the flour, baking powder, and spices.
·         Cream the butter in a large mixing bowl and beat in the eggs.
·        Beat in the molasses and milk.
·        Stir raisins into the mixture.  (I tried grated apples but they didn't contribute anything to the flavour so I'm recommending the other version in the book -- raisins.)
·        Add the dry ingredients to the wet ones and mix well.
·        Transfer the batter to the baking pan and bake for 35 to 45 minutes.
·        Top with Cream Cheese Icing.

CREAM CHEESE ICING

1 8 oz pkg softened cream cheese
¼ cup softened butter
1 cup icing sugar
½ tsp vanilla

·        Beat cream cheese with butter.
·        Beat in the sugar and vanilla.



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P. S.  Marilyn found another and very different version of Groaning Cake on birthbliss.wordpress.com.  

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