Tuesday, October 29, 2013

Scripture Cake for Harriet Powers' Birthday

Birthday Cake Quilt Block
 
If you've been reading State Fair by Earlene Fowler along with the Quilters' Book Club, you know about the famous quilter, Harriet Powers.  An African-American slave, she was born in rural Georgia 176 years ago on October 29, 1837.  In honor of her Bible Quilt, which today hangs in the Smithsonian, I thought we'd celebrate her birthday with a Scripture Cake!  Enjoy!
 

SCRIPTURE CAKE
1½ cups Judges 5:25 
3 cups Jeremiah 6:20
6 Jeremiah 17:11
3½ cups Exodus 29:2
2 teaspoons Amos 4:5
2 Chronicles 9:9 to taste
A pinch of Leviticus 2:13
1 cup Genesis 24:17
1 tablespoon 1 Samuel 14:25
2 cups 1 Samuel 30:12
2 cups chopped dried Song of Solomon 2:13
2 cups slivered or chopped Numbers 17:8

Follow Solomon’s advice for making good boys, Proverbs 23:14

TRADITIONAL RECIPE
1½ cups butter
3 cups sugar
6 eggs
3½ cups flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 teaspoon ground cloves
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1 teaspoon allspice
A pinch of salt
1 cup water
1 tablespoon honey
2 cups raisins
2 cups chopped dried figs
2 cups slivered or chopped almonds

1.  Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
2.  Cream together butter and sugar.  Beat in eggs one at a time, beating well after each one.                                                                                              3.  Sift together flour, baking power, salt and spices. Add alternately with water to creamed mixture.                                                         
4.  Stir in honey; fold in raisins, figs and almonds. Mix well. Turn into two well greased 9 x 5 x 3 inch loaf pans.                                                                     5.  Bake about 60 - 65 minutes, making sure not to overbake, until loaves test done by the toothpick test. Let cool for 30 minutes in pans before turning out onto rack.

This is your last chance to make any comments on the October Quilters' Book Club selection, State Fair by Earlene Fowler.  What did you enjoy about the book?  Inquiring minds want to know!  Answer in the comment section below.  If you are reading via email, you must first click on the blog title to be able to comment and read the comments of others.  By commenting, you are entering your name in a giveaway for a $20 gift certificate to Fat Quarter Shop!  The more times you comment throughout the month, the greater your chances of winning!  A big thank you to Fat Quarter Shop for this wonderful giveaway!

You might also enjoy reading a previous post about Harriet Powers here.

9 comments:

  1. I was slowly getting into it then all of a sudden what happened at the fair stopped me from putting it down until 2 in the morning. I fell asleep.
    I haven't got much to read so tonight will be a late one I am sure

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  2. I've enjoyed comparing the fair in the story to other fairs that I've been able to visit. I've never been to one that had a cattle drive, though. That's certainly unique!

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  3. I have to admit that the cattle drive was a surprise. I love state fairs and actually live close to the Oldest state fair in Illinois (established 1888). I can't imagine what would have happened to have something stolen from the craft booth etc...LOL.

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  4. What I enjoyed about the book was the mention of Harriet Powers. I enjoyed more the link you found us that shared some history about her.

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  5. I enjoyed learning about Harriet Powers and the quilt--as well as the hand made black dolls. I enjoy history, so the historical aspect of those fascinates me.

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  6. I enjoyed the interaction of the characters as they struggled with the societal issues that had an effect on all of them, specifically race and cultural differences. It was interesting how quilting provided a common ground that allowed them to share about their work as well as their differences. I think that the common bond of quilting provides many of us with the opportunity to learn from and appreciate one another.

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  7. I like your Scripture Cake recipe. I hope you don't mind, but, I copied it to send to a friend who doesn't have a computer. I mail her funnies, and things like the Scripture Cake above, since I can't email them to her.

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  8. My mum makes what we call, golliwog dolls. They are very popular. But she doesn't sew them, she knits them.

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  9. I always love a mystery. The setting brought back memories of our county fair in many ways.
    I, too like the historical connection of Harriet Power's quilt.

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