
A historical bread from Favorite tested recipes of the members of Humboldt Park Chapter O.E.S and their friends (1900).
Preserved exactly as written in the original source
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Scant one-half cup brown sugar, one-half teaspoonful salt, heaping tablespoonful lard
mix together and add one cup sour milk into which has been dissolved one teaspoonful soda
add a handful of white flour and enough graham flour to drop into gem tins
bake thirty or forty minutes
Modern guidance to help you succeed with this vintage recipe
The soda reacts with acidic sour milk to create carbon dioxide bubbles that leaven these quick breads without yeast. The lard coating the flour particles creates tender crumb by limiting gluten development. Graham flour's coarse wheat bran and germ add nutty flavor and structure, while the small amount of white flour provides just enough gluten to hold the gems together without making them tough.
The dry ingredients (sugar, salt, and flours) can be mixed together and stored in an airtight container for up to 1 week. However, once the soda is added to the wet ingredients, the leavening begins immediately, so bake the batter as soon as it's mixed for best rise and texture.
Store cooled gems in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days, or wrap individually and freeze for up to 1 month. Refresh leftover gems by warming in a 300°F oven for 5-7 minutes or toasting and buttering them. The graham flour's oils can turn rancid quickly, so these are best enjoyed fresh.
AI-generated tips from Chef Cecil's culinary database
The dry ingredients (sugar, salt, and flours) can be mixed together and stored in an airtight container for up to 1 week. However, once the soda is added to the wet ingredients, the leavening begins immediately, so bake the batter as soon as it's mixed for best rise and texture.
Store cooled gems in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days, or wrap individually and freeze for up to 1 month. Refresh leftover gems by warming in a 300°F oven for 5-7 minutes or toasting and buttering them. The graham flour's oils can turn rancid quickly, so these are best enjoyed fresh.