Recipe: Rosa Parks' Featherlite Pancakes
Shortly after she died in 2005, Guernsey's Auction House took inventory of Rosa Parks' Detroit homes and found a treasure trove of personal papers/correspondence, clothing, furniture, family bibles, school books, tributes from world leaders and presidents, etc. "The only thing missing," said Guernsey's President, Arlan Ettinger, "is the bus itself (which is housed in The Henry Ford museum in Dearborn, MI).
Recently, Guernsey's Auction House began looking for an institution to buy Ms. Parks' sizeable archive. Among the slew of personal papers and correspondence, Rosa Parks' recipe for "Featherlite Pancakes" was unearthed, written on the back of an envelope from the 1st National Bank of Detroit.
How freaking cool is that?
Photo: Associated Press
I can hardly wait to try this recipe at home and get to sample an edible piece of Ms. Parks' more intimate history. Plus, with peanut butter acting as one of the key "wet" ingredients, how can these hot cakes not be absolutely incredible?
I've taken the liberty of rewriting Ms. Parks' recipe, below, in a more legible, user-friendly format. Enjoy!
Ingredients:
1 cup flour
2 tablespoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons sugar
1 egg
1 1/4 cup milk
1/3 cup peanut butter
1 tablespoon shortening (melted - at least I think this is what it says per the photo) or vegetable oil
Method:
Sift together dry ingredients (flour, baking powder, salt, sugar).
In a separate bowl, whisk egg before combining remaining "wet" ingredients (milk, peanut butter, shortening).
Now, combine the wet and dry ingredients together. Stir to blend.
Cook on buttered griddle at medium-high heat (275 degrees).
…
Until we eat again,
Lindsay, The Lunch Belle