Revolutionary War Recipes

I. Cornbread

1 cup cornmeal
4 cups water
1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
1tsp. salt

Place the cornmeal and water in a pot, and bring to a boil. Lower the heat to a simmer and cook, stirring occasionally, until very thick (1/2 hour.) Preheat the oven to 375. Blend the whole-wheat flour and salt into the cooked cornmeal until well mixed. Place 1/2-cup size mounds, shaped like biscuits, on ungreased cookie sheet and press down slightly. Bake for 15 minutes, turn cornbreads over (brown side up) and bake another ten minutes. Yield, 2 1/2 dozen.

II. Gingerbread

1 cup sugar
2 teaspoons ginger
1 teaspoon nutmeg
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup melted margarine
1/2 cup evaporated milk
1 cup unsulfered molasses
3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
3/4 teaspoon lemon extract
4 cups stone-ground or unbleached flour, unsifted

Combine the sugar, ginger, nutmeg, cinnamon, salt, and baking soda. Mix well. Add the melted margarine, evaporated milk and molasses. Add the extracts. Mix well. Add the flour 1 cup at a time, stirring constantly. The dough should be stiff enough to handle without sticking to fingers. Knead the dough for a smoother texture. Add up to 1 cup additional flour if necessary to prevent sticking. When the dough is smooth, roll it out 1 inch think on a floured surface and cut it into cookies. Bake on floured or greased cookie sheets in a preheated 375 F oven for 10 to 12 minutes. The gingerbread is done when they spring back when touched.


III. Apple Pie

Sugar (2 cups)
Cinnamon (4 teaspoons)
Butter (2 sticks - 8 tablespoons)
Apples (24 green - Granny Smith type, 6 apples per group)
Lemons (4)
Nutmeg (1 teaspoon)
Deep dish pie crusts (4 - preferably Pillsbury pie crusts sold in orange box, or orchard pie crusts in tins)

Ingredients to make pastry (2 crusts)
3/4 - 1 cup sugar - depends on apples
2 tbs flour
1 tsp cinnamon
pinch salt

Directions-Peel and core apples. Sprinkle with lemon juice. Combine sugar, flour, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt. Put sliced apples in bowl and toss gently until apples are coated. Put apples into pie crust. Dot apples with butter. Fit top crust over pie. Seal and flute. Cut a few slashes on top of pie. Bake in a hot oven (425 degrees) for 30-40 minutes. This pie can be placed in Dutch Oven on the hearth and baked. Makes 2 pies.

 

IV. Applesauce

4 medium apples
¼ honey

Wash, pare, quarter and core cooking apples. Simmer, covered, in a small amount of water until tender. Press apples through a sieve or food mill. Reheat to a boil. Pour boiling hot into hot jars, leaving half-inch headspace. Remove air bubbles. Adjust caps. Process pints and quarts 20 minutes in a boiling water bath.

 

V. Bannock Cakes

1 cup water
1 cup stone-ground cornmeal
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup milk
1 egg
2 tablespoons butter


Bring one cup of water to a boil. Mix the cornmeal and salt with a fork. Add the boiling water. Stir until smooth. Stir in the milk. Let the batter sit for five minutes. Beat in egg. Melt two tablespoons butter in a heavy frying pan over medium heat. Drop the batter from a tablespoon to make little round cakes. Cook the cakes until golden (about two minutes). Turn each cake with a spatula and cook the other side about one minute. Place the finished cakes on a serving platter. May be served either hot or cold.


VI. Johnny Cakes

1 cup yellow cornmeal
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup boiling water
1/2 cup milk


Mix the cornmeal and salt. Add the boiling water, stirring until smooth. Add the milk. Stir well. Grease a heavy, 12-inch frying pan. Set over medium-low heat. Drop teaspoons of the batter onto the pan. Cook until golden, about five minutes. Turn the cakes carefully with a metal spatula. Cook the other side five minutes. Serve the first cakes hot with butter and maple syrup with you cook the rest of the batter. Makes 12-15 cakes.


Return to E-zine
Table of Contents!