Molasses Cake - cooking recipe

Ingredients

1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup butter or 1/2 cup shortening
1 cup blackstrap molasses
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 cups flour
1 teaspoon allspice
1 cup hot water
1 egg (optional)

Preparation

Cream together brown sugar and butter.
Add molasses and baking soda disolved in hot water.
Add dry ingredients to mixture. Beat well.
Put into greased, floured 9x9x2 inch pan,
Bake at 350 F for 35 minutes.
The following may also be added to this recipe- rasins, chopped nuts or candied fruit for fruit cake.