Indian Pudding

This is a recipe that my grandmother, Ellen Lincoln, brought with her from New England. It was always served as a winter dessert.

4 cups milk

⅓ cup cornmeal

¾ cup molasses

¼ cup (½ stick) butter

½ teaspoon salt

3 tablespoons granulated sugar

½ teaspoon ground ginger

½ teaspoon ground cinnamon

1 egg, well beaten

½ cup raisins

Hard sauce or cream for serving

Place the milk and cornmeal in the top of a double boiler over simmer water. Stir and cook for 15 minutes. Add the molasses. Stir and cook for 5 more minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the butter, salt, sugar, ginger, cinnamon, egg, and raisins. Preheat the oven to 325°. Pour the mixture into a greased 2-quart baking dish and bake for 1½ to 2 hours until set. Serve hot with hard sauce or cream.

Hint: You may substitute a scoop of vanilla ice cream for the hard sauce or cream when serving.

YIELD: 6 TO 8 SERVINGS

Jeanne Smith

Covington, Georgia