Abigail Adams Coffee Ginger Cakes

Step 1: Sift together three times:

Step 2: 5 cups of flour and 2 cups of sugar ,1 teaspoon salt ,1 teaspoon Jamaica Ginger and 1 teaspoon soda.

Step 3: By hand, work in 1 egg.(I would add with liquids)(if cutting recipe in 1/2 use small egg)

Step 4: In a double boiler

Step 5: Combine 1 cup New Orleans Molasses, 1 cup hot strong coffee, 1 cup butter (2 sticks) and 3 teaspoons Madagascar Vanilla Liquor. (the old New England "Blackbirds" or slavers used to put halved vanilla beans into jugs of whiskey or rum it was an early form of vanilla extract).

Step 6: Heat until butter is completely melted.

Step 7: Add the liquid into the flour mixture a little at a time and shape into a soft dough.

Step 8: Roll thick and cut into large round cakes. Bake at 400° (Abigail's recipe says "a hot oven") for 10 to 15 minutes.

Step 9: Serve with coffee and conversation.