Published: · Modified: by Christina Lane · This post may contain affiliate links · 51 Comments
Mini gingerbread loaf in a mini loaf pan.
I’ve been thinking a lot about weeds. Well, I’ve been pulling a lot of weeds and therefore I’ve been pondering their existence.
Let me back up. I told y’all that I have a Master’s degree in horticultureand agronomy, yes? My specialty is weed management. Did you even know you can specialize in that? Did you know lots of people are weed scientists? Oh, the career options they don’t tell you about in high school never cease to amaze me! Before you even ask, I’ll tell you that studyingand eliminating weeds is important because theyare a major contributor to crop loss. You like to eat food, right? Then you should care about weeds. Farmers yielding food is important. Tell me you get this.
As I’ve been pulling copious amounts of amaranthand morning glory weeds out of my garden to make room for the onions and baby broccoli plants to survive, I’ve been asking God why the weed has the easier life. Why do weeds freely grow without much care, while the plants that we depend on for food need to be meticulously coddled? Doesn’t it seem like one of God’s mistakes?
Well, I think I discovered the reason behind it all. Manual labor clears my mind. I totally dig it. (Get it?) I decided that the tomato plant that struggles for existence is worth it because it yields delicious fruit, while a weed bears things of little importance. Doesn't it seem like another way of saying the best things in life are worth the struggle and the fight? Doesn't it always feel better to earn something you worked hard for, ratherthan accept something that dropped into your lap? Say yes.
I'm telling myself the struggle and mess required of baking homemade Christmas gifts are worth it because they mean so much more than a store-bought something or other. Someone please verify that this is true, and while you're at it, please send someone to deal with all of these dishes.
Yield: 6 servings
Mini Gingerbread Loaf
Makes 1 mini loaf in a 5" x 3" x 2" pan
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time35 minutes
Total Time50 minutes
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature
- ¼ cup + 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 large egg white
- ½ cup flour
- ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
- ¼ teaspoon ground ginger
- ¼ teaspoon baking soda
- 2 tablespoon molasses (not blackstrap)
- 2 tablespoons boiling water
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350, and grease a mini loaf pan (5? x 3? x 2?).
- In a medium bowl, stir together with a spatula the butter and brown sugar. Mash the butter into the sugar with the spatula until the mixture is incorporated. Add the egg white and stir to combine.
- Sprinkle on top the flour, spices, and baking soda. Stir it together lightly before adding a tablespoon of molasses. Add 1 tablespoon of boiling water after the molasses (do it in this order to help clean out your spoon so you ensure you get every drop of molasses). Add the remaining tablespoon of molasses followed by the last of the water.
- Scrape the batter into the mini loaf pan and place it onto a sheet pan. Bake for 33-40 minutes, until a toothpick inserted comes out with only moist crumbs clinging to it. Cool it slightly in the pan before tipping it out and letting it cool completely on a wire rack.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
6Serving Size:
1
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 112Total Fat: 5gSaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 41mgSodium: 69mgCarbohydrates: 15gFiber: 0gSugar: 7gProtein: 2g
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Reader Interactions
Comments
Deb says
I would like to know why one can not use blackstrap molasses.
Reply
Christina Lane says
Because it has a super bitter taste. Like ham. It's gross.
Reply
Deb says
How is this six servings? My husband and I easily eat a mini-loaf for dessert. Dessert for two, correct?
Reply
Fi says
4 to 6 slices seems reasonable.
Reply
Christa Zachary says
Hi, Your ginger bread muffins call for egg yolk but your ginger bread mini loaf calls for egg white. Can you explain why different part of egg is used for such similar item? I'm somewhat confused.
Reply
Sandra H Haddock says
This is delicious! I tried it first and now it's ongoing to be given to several limited seniors I know for Christmas.
I do have a comment on your weeds though. I only became a gardener in the past few years and there's so much to learn. I had good advice, but one lady from church told me that pulling weeds was therapeutic for her. After coming home from Bible Study, I began to walk around my yard just willie-nillie pulling weeds! I began to name them - as either sins or hindrances. I have no idea their exact names, but I can barely walk past a weed without recognizing it as one or the other. It's been very therapeutic as well as satisfying to pull one up and get the tap root and toss it into a bin and say "Be gone"!
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