This section is from the book "Philadelphia Cook Book: A Manual Of Home Economies", by Sarah Tyson Heston Rorer. Also available from Amazon: Philadelphia Cook Book.
1 cup of New Orleans molasses
2 tablespoonfuls of butter, melted 1 cup of boiling water
1 teaspoonful of soda or saleratus
3 cups of flour
1 tablespoonful of ginger
Dissolve the soda or saleratus in a tablespoonful of boiling water, and add it to the molasses, then add the melted butter, boiling water, ginger and flour. Beat until smooth, and bake in a moderate oven about thirty minutes.
1/2 cup of New Orleans molasses 1/2 cup of sour cream Butter the size of an egg (2 ounces)
1/2 cup of brown sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoonful of soda or saleratus
2 cups of flour
Dissolve the soda or saleratus in a tablespoonful of boiling water, and add it to the molasses. Beat the egg and sugar together until light, then add the molasses, cream and flour; beat until smooth; and, if you like, add a tablespoonful of ginger or a teaspoonful of cinnamon. Bake in a shallow pan in a moderate oven for about thirty minutes.
 
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