#1838 - Molasses Cake

5 cups flour
2 1/2 cups white sugar
1 1/4 cups Crisco shortening
1 1/4 tsp. salt
1 cup Brer Rabbit green label molasses
2 cups warm water
1 tsp. baking soda

In a bowl add flour, white sugar, salt and Crisco--mix with a pastry blender or with your hands until it makes crumbs. Remove 2 cups of the crumb mixture--reserve them for later. In a separate bowl add molasses, water and baking soda--stir with a spoon until mixed. Add remaining crumbs to the molasses--stir with a spoon (batter will be lumpy). Pour the batter into a greased 9 x 13 cake pan. Sprinkle the reserved 2 cups of crumbs evenly over the top. Bake at 325 degrees for 1 hour--test with a toothpick for doneness.