Old-fashioned Gingerbread

Ingredients:

• 2 sticks butter, at room temperature
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 cup molasses
• 2 1/2 cups bleached all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1 tsp ground ginger
• 1 cup hot water

Steps:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Beat the butter at medium speed with an electric mixer. Gradually add the sugar, beating well. Add the egg and molasses, mixing well. In another bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon and ginger. Add to the creamed mixture, alternately with the water, beginning and ending with the flour mixture. Mix well after each addition. Pour the batter into a lightly greased and floured 13-x9-x-2-inch baking pan. Bake until a wooden pick inserted in the center comes out clean, 35 to 40 minutes. Remove and let cool before slicing to serve. Or, let cool completely, wrap first in plastic wrap, then in foil and put into a freezer storage bag before putting it in the freezer. When ready to serve, remove from the freezer, unwrap and let come to room temperature. Then wrap in foil and bake at 250 degrees until warm through. Slice to serve. Makes about 15 servings.