Souling Cakes

 Today is All Soul's Day , a time in the Christian calendar where people honor their relatives and ancestors long past. Ir was a common practice in Britain and Ireland to beg for little cakes and pies for a song or prayer for your gone loved ones. The tradition turned into Halloween but soul cakes remain the same. The recipes haven't changed in centuries.

Everyone may remember Sting's "Soul Cakes"  from his 2009 album "If On A Winter's Night". It was his version of a Peter , Paul and Mary song from 1965 which was based on the traditional British version. .Most "soulers" were poor and hungry. The wealthier townspeople gave them whatever fruit was lying around, apples pears, and  cherries,  However some were lucky enough to receive a small cake cookie or a tart filled with dried fruit. soul cakes then and now.Sheffield and Cheshire in England's northwest and central north respectively still carry on this tradition.It is also popular in Portugal where it's called Pao por deus and The Phillipines  where locals celebrate it as Panangaluwa. The soul cakes are blessed by a local priest and leftovers are either given to the poor or distributed amongst the families.  Here children promise to pray for the souls of the giver's dead relatives. Every cake eaten also freed the souls trapped in purgatory.This is done in Catholic and  even Lutheran parishes. The souling isn't limited to just today.It stretches out through the entire month of November.

There are four very good soul cake recipes if you're interested in souling (or you can distribute them at your local soup kitchen or food pantry) One of the easier is a shortbread style recipe. It's just one stick of softened butter mixed with four tablespoons of sugar and a cup and a half of flour.They're baked in rounds and decorated with fork marks, usually in a cross shape. Another soul cake recipe is a bit more substantial and somewhat zingy thanks to the addition of malt vinegar. Again this is buttery recipe, using two sticks of softened butter along with three and a half cups of flour .Nutmeg , saffron, cinnamon and and all spice spice it in a kind of medieval fashion. Two eggs bind it together . It's rolled out and then cut out with a glass. Powdered sugar is dusted on them while they're still warm.There are also Irish soul cakes which are more like small breads. These have yeast which produces a nice rise. Lemon zest and golden raisins give them color and flavor. For a heartier version make then with already made pie crusts, cut in circles and placed in muffin tins then fill with a mix of one cup of dried fruit,  two tablespoons of melted butter and two tablespoons of honey. These are just baked for fifteen minutes. You can get creative with these and use dried apricots, currents, cherries, raisins and Craisins - dried cranberries for the fillings.

This entire month can be dedicated to souling. Reward those with  these soul cakes, with their special flavors and symbolism, Remember those who have gone and celebrate their lives with these cakes and tarts.