Woman Connected to Recipe: Mary Beth Whitbread
Submitted by Wynne Reece (Mary Beth’s granddaughter)
About Mary Beth:
Mary Beth, or MB as we fondly and jovially so often refer to her by, was my paternal grandmother.
MB was a fierce, southern woman, with nearly all Irish heritage, descending from a line of strong women. In looking through photos, I found images of the women who came before her, in pants and playing football in the early 1900s.
As a mother of three, MB lost her husband at a very young age, leaving her to raise (newly) teenagers in the '60s and transition from the life she'd always known - as a college educated, homemaker who took pride in keeping an immaculate space and supporting her children and husband in their adventures.
While a daunting endeavor for any person, living in any era, she harnessed her strength and became one of the early realtors at what is now one of the largest and most visible realty companies in Minnesota. The idea of her children suffering any further and not continuing to have the life she and her late husband had worked so hard to build, was just not something to be entertained. Her strength is to be revered.
Even while working full time as a realtor, she never let her homemaking and kitchen skills lapse. I recall from my youngest memories, and have heard time and again from my parents, MB had a way in the kitchen. Her cooking style was strongly Southern, riddling meals with cornmeal, fried mush and catfish.
But cooking aside, her baking is what is so often recalled as the best they have ever had to this day. As they've both recalled, there wasn't a day in MB's kitchen without a fresh tray of cookies, bars, cakes and pies. You never went hungry with MB at the helm, and in fact often had to unbutton that dastardly pant's closure.
MB passed in 2019 at the age of 99, two years to the day, after the passing of her daughter. Without question, her spirit lives on through us all.
About Mary Beth's Cranberry Cake:
This particular recipe was made around the holidays, but is a family favorite that has snuck into the year round "to-bake" list. It is heralded as "unbelievably delicious", with a fresh loaf barely making it more than a day or two before it is devoured.
INGREDIENTS
1/3 c light molasses
2 c flour
1 c sugar
1 c hot water
2 T soda (I'm presuming this is baking soda)
2 c cranberries (cut in half and put in last; or add 1/2 (1c) raisins, 1/2 (1c) cranberries)
INSTRUCTIONS
Mix all - adding cranberries last. Bake in shallow pan @ 375º for 15 min, then 350º for 20 min more, or when done by testing w/ toothpick
If used as a company dessert you might want to add hot sauce:
1 c sugar
1/2 c cream
scant 1/2 c butter
1 t vanilla
Heat thoroughly but do not boil