Great Grandmother Gilette's Election Cake

Great Grandmother Gilette's Election Cake
[this yeast cake was invented by Julia Gilette around 1820 for Election Night suppers in Suffield, Conn. It's flavored with nutmeg-symbol of the great state of Conneticut]

2 envelopes active dry yeast
1/2 cup very warm water
1/2 cup warm water
1 teaspoon salt
2 1/2 cups sifted all-purpose flour
1/2 cup margarine
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
3/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 cup chopped citron
1/3 cup raisins, chopped

1. Sprinkle yeast and a pinch of sugar over the very warm water in a medium sized bowl. Stir until bubbly, about 10 minutes. Stir in milk and salt. Beat in 1 1/2 cups of the flour. Cover; let rise in a wrm place, awy from draft, until almost double in volume, about 45 minutes to 1 hour.

2. Grease and flour a 9 inch angel food tube pan.

3. Beat margarine, sugar and eggs in a large bowl with electric mixer, until fluffy. Stir in yeast mixture, remaining flour and nutmeg; beat until smooth. Sti in citron and raisins. Turn mixture into prepared pan. Cover; let rise in a warm place, away from draft, until double in volume.

4. Bake at 375 degrees for 35 minutes or until browned and cake sounds hollow when thumped with fingers. Remvoe from pan, cool on wire rack. Serve plain or drizle with confectioner's sugar icing.

BJ's personal recipe file
Source: old magazine clipping
From "How America Eat," copyright by Clementine Paddleford