Soul Cakes: An Ancient Halloween Tradition
On Halloween in parts of ancient Britain, soul cakes were
distributed to the poor. The soul cake’s origins date at least back to Medieval
times. In a 14th century manuscript an author refers to ‘olden times’ stating
“… wherefore in olden time good men and women would this day buy bread and deal
(give) it for the souls that they loved, hoping with each loaf to get a soul
out of purgatory.” The cross on the each cake indicates the religious
significance of releasing a soul from Purgatory. “Cake” is used in the sense of
British biscuits which are cookies to Americans.
A song survives that the poor (called ‘soulers’ during
the celebration) sang about the need to help souls out of Purgatory by prayer
and alms-giving as they went door to door collecting their cakes.
“Soul soul for a souling cake
I pray you, missis, for a souling cake
Apple or pear, plum or cherry
Anything to make us merry …”
I pray you, missis, for a souling cake
Apple or pear, plum or cherry
Anything to make us merry …”
The song addresses fruit filling but the recipe below is
plain with the simplicity of the ingredients supporting the claim that the recipe
is very old. The recipe for Soul Cakes is converted from English measures.
SOUL CAKES
2 2/3 C plain flour (sifted)
1 C sugar
1 1/2 sticks of butter (softened & diced)
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground mixed spice
1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
1 egg (beaten)
2 tsp of white wine vinegar
2 2/3 C plain flour (sifted)
1 C sugar
1 1/2 sticks of butter (softened & diced)
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground mixed spice
1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
1 egg (beaten)
2 tsp of white wine vinegar
Directions: Preheat the oven to 425° and grease two
cookie sheets. Thoroughly mix all the dry ingredients - sifted flour, spices,
and sugar - in a bowl. Rub in the diced butter until the mixture resembles fine
breadcrumbs. Add in the beaten egg and white wine vinegar and mix with a wooden
spoon until dough is firm. (I ended up using my hands.) Cover it and put it in
the fridge for 20 minutes. Flour a working surface and roll out the dough to a
bit over ¼” thick and using a large round pastry cutter cut into rounds.
Make a cross on each cookie. Place the cookies on the greased cookie
sheets and bake in the oven for 15 to 20 minutes at 425° until slightly colored.
Serve warm or cold. Yield – about three dozen 3″ cookies.
(Check out the pic of my soul cakes.)
Ex-Green Beret Ely Locklear is a master chef who loves to
cook for his partner Todd Anderson and their ward, Lexie Carter. He tolerates
the love of her life, Army Ranger Captain Taylor Jackson. Follow the
non-traditional family as they pursue their happily-ever-afters in the steamy
contemporary military romance Search & Rescue and the
scorching hot M/M romance Ely’s Epiphany from Secret Cravings
Publishing.
Search & Rescue. One look at Captain Taylor Jackson at a
Career Day at Spring Hill College and wealthy coed Lexie Carter knew he was The
One. In six months they’re engaged and the wedding set for after
graduation. When Taylor is reported killed in action in Afghanistan two months
before their wedding, Lexie is devastated, her hopes for a family of her own
crushed. Can she survive a future without Taylor or will she succumb to
her grief?
Army Ranger Taylor
Jackson falls in love at first sight with young Lexie Carter. While on a
mission in Afghanistan, he is captured by insurgents after taking his brother’s
place on patrol. When Taylor escapes and returns home on what should have been
their wedding day, Lexie has disappeared under suspicious circumstances. Can he
find her in time to rescue her from her fate?
Ely’s Epiphany . For Todd Anderson, a West Point
graduate from a wealthy family, it was love at first sight. Living with Ely
wasn’t easy, but it was the only life for him. When Ely plays too nice, Todd
fears his partner—his first and only lover who introduced him to the gay
lifestyle and sizzling hot sex—is preparing him for a Christmas breakup. Will
this Christmas be their last together?
Ex-Green Beret Ely
Locklear survived a childhood filled with poverty and abuse by building a wall
around his heart. Although the millionaire mercenary and entrepreneur has a
family and partner who love him, the wall and rough edges remain. When his
ward’s new Army Ranger husband shows him that loving someone isn’t a weakness,
he wonders if it’s too late for a fresh start with his partner of two decades.
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Rita Bay
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