Add One Egg (Birth of a Cake)
George Potor plays acoustic guitar and sings
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Story behind the song
This is the fourth in a series of Questionable Recipe Songs. This one tells the story of the invention of the instant cake mix. Much of the wording comes from the original patent applications.
Lyrics
1
December 10th, 1930, the application’s made;
P Duff and Sons patented an instant cake.
Perfect solution for supply and demand,
More than enough molasses on hand.
Simple economic path to success
Without the possibility of oven-baked mess.
CHORUS:
What were they thinking? Like a round hole with a square peg.
You’ll be baking from scratch if you add one egg.
You know you’re keeping it fresh when you add one egg,
2
P Duff’s mix for gingerbread calls for creating a powder:
Molasses, sugar, baking soda, shortening, salt and wheat flour,
Powdered whole egg, ginger and cinnamon.
Agitate, form a nice emulsion,
Heat the dough ‘til suitably dry,
Very last step is to pulverize.
CHORUS
3
Preparation of pastry products is often inconvenient
Requiring a complete stock of ingredients.
The time and expense consumed
Will certainly be improved.
Rehydrate with water, then bake;
The home cook’s perfect cake.
CHORUS
