FOOD NEWS
The Classic Holiday Bread Emily Dickinson Loved To Bake
BY JENNA WOS
Unlike her poetry skills, Emily Dickinson's bakery skills were much appreciated during her life, and one of her most cherished recipes was a holiday special — gingerbread.
She became known in her town for making these spiced, sweet loaves and would even lower a basket containing the gingerbread from a window to neighborhood children waiting below.
Her recipe was made of a stiff dough with flour, ginger, salt, butter, cream, soda, and molasses, baked into a loaf in whichever pan was available.
The recipe is even available in "Emily Dickinson: Profile of the Poet as Cook," a recipe book transcribed from Dickinson's letters and other papers.