Gâteau Sirop

Happy Birthday Clo Clo! My wonderful, lovely mother is another year wiser today, and unfortunately I can't be there to celebrate. Instead, I'll have to settle for making Granny's famous gâteau sirop (cane syrup cake) in her honor.

This rustic Cajun dessert is dense and a little spicy. It gets its sweetness and texture from the rich, dark Louisiana cane syrup. And, my grandmother's recipe is the best around.

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 cup vegetable oil
• 1 cup 100 percent pure cane syrup (preferred: Steen's Syrup Mill)
• 2 eggs, beaten
• pinch of salt
• 1 cup boiling water
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg
• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup raisins (optional)
• 1/4 cup chopped pecans (optional)

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Whisk all of the ingredients together in a large boil.
3. Pour batter into a greased rectangular cake pan.
4. Bake at 350 degrees F until set and firm, about 40 minutes.

Mom and Granny