Quote:
Originally Posted by GtrsRGr8
To those two issues, I'll add a real oddity. I've got the book opened in the cake section at this moment. I happened to have noticed that the recipes for each one of the (three) cakes call for one teaspoon of ammonia. Yes, ammonia! (I suppose that if you dropped batter on the floor, it would be easier to clean up, that way, what with the cleaner already in it  ). So maybe you would find the book interesting, if nothing else. |
My best guess is that the ingredient called for was baker's ammonia (ammonium bicarbonate). When heated, it breaks into ammonia and carbon dioxide acting as a leavening agent. Commonly used before baking soda and baking powder came into common use.
Now if you really want to get worried about what's you are using in baking, try reading
1636: The Chronicles of Dr. Gribbleflotz by Kerryn Offord & Rick Boatright (part of the Ring of Fire series). Hey, they needed a source of ammonia for making the sodium bicarbonate...