Mansfield Mo.

October 19th 1953

Dear Miss Lindquist,

Mrs. Nordstrom has told me of your plan for the Christmas Horn Book. I am thrilled and in a hurry for Christmas time to come that I may see it.

You may use my letter to Clarence E. Kilburn, copy of which you enclosed, if you wish.

You must know that Almanzo died in 1949, October 23d.

I enclose my old gingerbread recipe and wish you good luck if you should try it.

Sincerely Laura Ingalls Wilder

LAURA'S GINGERBREAD

1 cup brown sugar blended with
1/2 cup lard or other shortening.
1 cup molasses mixed well with this.
2 teaspoons baking soda in 1 cup boiling water
(Be sure cup is full of water after foam is run off into cake mixture).

Mix all well.

To 3 cups of flour have added one teaspoon each of the following spices: ginger, cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg, cloves; and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Sift all into cake mixture and mix well.

Add lastly 2 well-beaten eggs.

The mixture should be quite thin.

Bake in a moderate oven for thirty minutes.

Raisins and, or, candied fruit may be added and a chocolate frosting adds to the goodness.

Letter reproduced and quoted with permission of the Estate of Roger Lea MacBride.

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