Doctor Brid Cake (1969) and Hummingbird Cake (1972)

Sat Aug 5 05:22:31 UTC 2006

I was looking at "Hummingbird Cake" for my Texas web  page. The digitized
Daily Gleaner (Kingston, Jamaica) has "Doctor Bird" cake  from 1969. I had
previously posted on "Hummingbird Cake" on August 25, 2003.  Doctor Bird=Hummingbird.
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29 March 1969, Kingston (Jamaica) Daily Gleaner, pg. 7:
Press kits presented included Jamaican menu modified  for American kitchens,
and featured recipes like the Doctor Bird cake, made from  bananas.
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16 June 1976, The News (Port Arthur, TX), pg.  30:
Mrs. Herrin's recipe for Hummingbird Cake already  proved its "prize
worthiness" around The News offices as one employee baked her  recipe and brought it
for everyone to taste.
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_Anne's  Reader Exchange; OLD-FASHIONED IRISH STEW RECIPE REQUESTS _
(http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?index=0&did=137642542&SrchMode=1&sid=1&Fmt=10&VInst=PRO
D&VType=PQD&RQT=309&VName=HNP&TS=1154752679&clientId=65882)
RIMS.E.W.K.N.O.R. ArlingtonJ.S.U., Hyattsville. The Washington Post
(1974-Current file). Washington, D.C.: Apr  28, 1977. p. F2 (1 page)
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RECIPE REQUESTS
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I would like a recipe for "Hummingbird Cake." a dessert that includes
crushed pineapple and pureed bananas, among other ingredients.
M.H.
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_Anne's  Reader Exchange; HUMMINGBIRD CAKE CREAM CHEESE ICING RECIPE REQUESTS
TIPS ON  BAKING BREAD CHEWY BROWNIES _
(http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?index=1&did=137708662&SrchMode=1&sid=1&Fmt=10&VInst=PROD&VType=PQD&RQT=309&VName=HNP&
TS=1154752679&clientId=65882)
L.J.H., Vienna.  The Washington Post (1974-Current file). Washington,  D.C.:
May 19, 1977. p. F15 (1 page)
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Hummingbird Cake has a delicate name but its derivation is baffling. Some
readers know it as Doctor Bird Cake, and no matter what name you prefer, the
batter must be mixed by hand--no beaters of mixers. N.A.L. reports that it's
easy to make and delicious, and always raises eyebrows when the name is  given:
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HUMMINGBIRD CAKE
(Serves 10 to 12)
3 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
1 1/2 cups oil
2 cups mashed bananas
3 eggs
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon soda
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 cup nuts
1 can (8 ounces) crushed pineapple, not drained
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Mix all ingredients together by hand. Bake in a greased and floured tube or
Bundt pan at 300 degrees for 1 hour and 30 minutes. Cake will crack slightly
on  top. Cool in pan for 1 hour before removing.
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For the icing, use a cream cheese-type topping, or none at all.
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CREAM CHEESE ICING
8 ounces softened cream cheese
1 stick butter or margarine
1 pound box confectioners' sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
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Cream butter an cheese, add sugar and vanilla and mix until smooth.
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--J.A.C. Alexandria.
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_Anne's  Reader Exchange; MILE HIGH ICE CREAM PIE CUCUMBER SOUP HUMMINGBIRD
CAKE CREAM  CHEESE ICING _
(http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?index=2&did=143342692&SrchMode=1&sid=1&Fmt=10&VInst=PROD&VType=PQD&RQT=309&VName=HNP&TS=1154752679&
clientId=65882)
The Washington Post (1974-Current  file). Washington, D.C.: Oct 20, 1977. p.
92 (1 page)
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HUMMINGBIRD CAKE
(10 to 12 servings)
The banana cake requested by a reader is called Hummingbird Cake. It should
be stored in the refrigerator or even in the freezer before serving.
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(AUGUST 15, 2003 ADS-L POST)
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HUMMINGBIRD CAKE

HUMMING BIRD CAKE--119 Google hits
HUMMINGBIRD  CAKE--1,540 Google hits

"Hummingbird Cake" is not in John  Mariani's ENCYCLOPEDIA OF AMERICAN FOOD
AND DRINK (1999).  It's widely  mentioned that it was featured in the February
1978 SOUTHERN LIVING, but that  wasn't the first citation.

(GOOGLE GROUPS)
From: <A
HREF="_http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&q=author:liloladylu%40aol.com+"_
(http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&q=author:liloladylu@aol.com+) >LilOLadyLu</A>  (<A
HREF="mailto:liloladylu%40aol.com">[log in to unmask]</A>)
Subject:  Hummingbird Cake
Newsgroups: <A
HREF="_http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&group=sanet.flame"_
(http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&group=sanet.flame) >sanet.flame</A>
Date:  2000-10-04 14:32:28 PST

The Hummingbird Cake appeared in Southern Living  Magazine in February,
1978,and in the 1990 annual cookbook for their Silver  Jubilee, this cake was
votedby
the readers as their all-time favorite recipe  , and most requested recipe
from Southern Living.

(GOOGLE  GROUPS)
From: <A
HREF="_http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&q=author:capnhuck%40charleston.quik.com+"_
(http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&q=author:capnhuck@charleston.quik.com+) >Mike  Clark</A> (<A
HREF="mailto:capnhuck%40charleston.quik.com">[log in to unmask]</A>)
Subject:  Re: HELP Hummingbird Cake from OZ
Newsgroups: <A
HREF="_http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&group=rec.food.baking"_
(http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&group=rec.food.baking) >rec.food.baking</A>
Date:  1998/03/23

Hi Wendy. I can help you out with the "Hummingbird  Cake".  I do not think
this cake is Australian.  I am a Southerner  and this cake has been a
favorite in
most Southern homes for many  generations.  It is also known as a"Granny Cake"
because everyone's  Southern Granny used to make it for special days and as a
"Dr. Bird Cake". Do  not ask about the latter, because I haven't a clue. The
Hummingbird Cake and  the Dr. Bird Cake use cinnamon and cream cheese
frosting.
The Granny cake has  nutmeg and cloves instead of the cinnamon, pecans are in
the
cake batter and  no frosting is used: just dust the cake with powered sugar
over a paper  doily.

(GOOGLE GROUPS)(next message)
It is called a Doctor Bird cake  in Jamaica, because there in Jamaica, humming
birds are called Dr.  Birds.

(ANCESTRY.COM)
1 March 1972, EDWARDSVILLE  INTELLIGENCER (Edwardsville, Illinois), pg. 10,
col. 2:
Humming  Bird
CAKE...$2.85
Miss Hulling's
9th and Olive   11th and  Locust

(ANCESTRY.COM)
3 March 1974, COSHOCTON TRIBUNE  (Coshocton, Ohio), pg.5, col. 4:
...granny cake with whipped  topping;...

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