I've been reading about American Pioneers and learning more new things. The latest? Corn cob soda. This was used in place of baking soda.
Corncob "soda" A substitute for bicarbonate of soda, used in the South
during the blockade. It was discovered that corncob ashes, especially
from red cobs, possessed the alkaline needed to raise bread. After they
were burned and the ashes collected in jars, water was added. A
teaspoonful or tablespoonful of this mixture was then used in
bread-making,
From The Language of the Civil War by John D. Wright page 72.
Something new to try this summer. Anyone else ever tried this?
Um . . . no. And I can't say the thought of some old ashes in my bread sounds truly appealing either. But then I've never been in a situation where I had to make do with what I had . . . to that extent. Actually, very interesting what one can come up with in times of need, isn't it?
ReplyDeleteOdiie, I will definitely give this a try! Thanks for the heads up. I will have to get that book too.
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