On Sat, 14 Feb 2009 13:02:04 -0800, Mark Thorson wrote:

> Kajikit wrote:
>>
>> We don't have any baking powder but I've got a giant container of
>> baking soda/bicarbonate of soda that I bought for cleaning (and then
>> never used!) Is there a way to use baking soda as the raising agent
>> for baking instead of baking powder?
>
> Many years ago, I was probably about 11 or 12,
> my mom got a book from the library on southern
> cooking, and it had a recipe for soda muffins
> which I believe used baking soda as the leavener.
> What I remember more clearly was that it required
> beating the dough with a hammer. That sounded
> interesting, so I made the recipe, and I sure
> gave that dough a sound beating.
>
> As I recall, the muffins were quite dense.
> I would not count it among my culinary successes.
>
> I believe it was from one of the Time-Life series
> of books. Great photography, good writing, but
> I'm skeptical whether the editors actually made
> any of the recipes.

sounds like 'beaten biscuits,' which some liken to hardtack:

<http://www.chefrick.com/beaten-biscuits/>

<http://www.dianasdesserts.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/recipes.recipeListing/filter/dianas/recipeID/1248/Recipe.cfm>

your pal,
blake