Homemade Gingerbread

      With the holidays coming up, we'll all be looking for yummy goodies to cook.  Since I just put in a hub on how to make hot cocoa I thought I should put in another for a treat to go with it.  Here is, for your cooking and eating pleasure Spicy Holiday Gingerbread.

 2 cups all purpose flour, sifted

1 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. salt

1 tsp. ginger

1/4 tsp. ground cloves

1 tsp. cinnamon

1/4 cup white sugar

1/4 cup packed dark brown sugar

3/4 cup dark molasses

1/2 cup shortening

2 eggs

2 Tbsp. vinegar and boiling water to make 1/2 cup

1/2 cup milk

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Sift together all dry ingredients in large bowl, set aside.  In another bowl, cream shortening, gradually add sugars.  Beat until light and fluffy.  Add eggs, beating well. Stir the molasses into the milk.  Add dry ingredients alternately with molasses mixture and vinegar water.  Beat until creamy.

Turn into large, greased loaf pan.  Bakes 35-45 minutes, until knife inserted in center comes out clean.  Remove from pan and let sit for 5 minutes before slicing.

This is very good served hot with lemon curd and butter.