HOOSIER-STYLE MARDI GRAS PARTY CAKE

This recipe is from an old childhood friend.

2/3 cup butterscotch chips
1/4 cup water
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
1 1/4 cups sugar
1/2 cup butter
3 eggs, unbeaten
1 cup buttermilk

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Grease well and flour two round cake pans.

In a small saucepan melt the butterscotch chips in the water. Cool.

Sift the flour with the salt, baking soda, and baking powder; set aside.

Add the sugar gradually to the butter in large mixing bowl, creaming well. Add the eggs and beat well. Blend in the melted butterscotch chips. Add the dry ingredients alternately with the buttermilk, mixing well. Pour into the prepared pans, dividing evenly between the two pans. Lightly tap on countertop to remove any air pockets. Place in the oven and bake at 375 degrees for 25 to 30 minutes or until a wooden toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool in pan for a few minutes then remove to racks to cool.

BUTTERSCOTCH FILLING:
1/2 cup sugar
1 tbsp cornstarch
1/2 cup evaporated milk
1/3 cup water
1/3 cup butterscotch chips
1 beaten egg yolk (reserve white for frosting)
2 tbsp butter
1 cup coconut
1 cup chopped pecans

Combine the sugar and cornstarch in a saucepan. Stir in the evaporated milk, water, butterscotch chips, and egg yolk until blended. Cook over medium heat until thick, stirring continually. Remove from the heat and add the butter, coconut and pecans.
Place one of the cake layers on the cake plate. Spread the filling to 1/2" of the edge of the layer. Set the second cake layer over the filling. Frost the top and sides of the cake with the following:

SEAFOAM FROSTING:
2 cups brown sugar
1 cup water
2 egg whites
1 tsp vanilla

Boil the brown sugar and water until it makes a soft ball when you place a drop in cold water. Beat the egg whites until stiff; stir in the vanilla. Slowly pour the brown sugar mixture into the stiffly beaten egg whites, beating until stiff enough to spread. Frost the top and sides of the cake.

free clipart

NO EGG BANANA SPLIT CAKE

This is an old recipe from my hometown of Bedford, Indiana.

2 cups graham cracker crumbs
1/2 cup melted butter
1/2 cup chocolate syrup
2 cups powdered sugar
1/2 cup butter (not melted)
3 bananas
1 pint strawberries
1 cup crushed pineapple, drained & reserved
1 carton (9-oz) frozen whipped topping, thawed
1/2 cup chopped pecans
Marashino cherries for garnish

In a small mixing bowl, mix together the graham cracker crumbs and the melted butter until well mixed. Spread the mixture onto the bottom of a 9 x 2 x 13-inch pan or casserole dish. Drizzle the chocolate syrup over the crust. Combine the powdered sugar and the (not melted) butter together and beat until fluffy. Pour this sugar mixture over the chocolate syrup. Slice the bananas into the reserved pineapple juice, drain and add along with the strawberries over the sugar mixture. Top evenly with the pineapple. Spread the whipped topping overall. Sprinkle the chopped pecans over the whipped topping and add cherries, as desired, for garnish.

file photo

FRESH STRAWBERRY FROSTING

This is an old recipe from Huntsville, Alabama.

2 tbsp solid shortening

1 tbsp butter
1/4 tsp salt
4 cups confectioners' sugar
1/3 cup crushed strawberries
1 tsp lemon juice

Blend the shortening, butter, and salt together in a medium mixing bowl. Beat in one cup of the confectioners' sugar. Stir the lemon juice into the crushed strawberries. Add the strawberries and lemon mixture alternately with the remaining confectioners' sugar to the original mixture, stirring to blend well.

Yield: Enough to frost your favorite two-layer cake.

File photo from Annie's Baking Addiction, I believe.

MIXED VEGETABLE SALAD

Another old recipe from my Southern Indiana roots.

1 can green beans
1 can kidney beans
1 can peas
1 can lima beans
1/2 cup diced onion
2 cups diced celery
1 cup diced green bell pepper
3 tbsp pimento

Drain the green beans, kidney beans, peas, and lima beans; mix lightly together. Add the onion, celery, bell pepper, and pimento; toss to blend and set aside.

1 cup sugar
2 tbsp cornstarch
1/2 tsp salt
dash of freshly ground pepper
1 cup vinegar
1/2 cup water
2 tbsp mustard

In a medium saucepan combine the sugar, cornstarch, salt, and pepper. Stir in the vinegar, water, and mustard. Cook over medium heat until the mixture boils, stirring frequently. Pour dressing over the vegetable mixture until well coated. Store any leftover dressing in the refrigerator in a covered container. It will keep indefinitely.

file photo for reference only - not this exact recipe

INTERESTING INFORMATION FROM EARLY 1900s

I know most of my regular readers enjoy old bits of information as much as I do.  Today I came across the following information from the early 1900s (1900-1909): Thought you might be interested to know that in 1900 sugar was 4 cents a pound!  

Eggs were selling for 14 cents per dozen and butter was 25 cents a pound.

The Minnesota Valley Canning Company in Le Sueur began packing peas and corn in cans.  (Have you ever wondered how Le Sueur peas got their name?)

Auguste Escoffier of London's Carlton Hotel stated that coffee should only be served at the end of the meal.  In his wisdom he also added that fruit is the only appropriate food to serve after pastries.

Honeydew melons were introduced in the United States.

The United States' first pizzeria opened.  It was in New York City.

James Beard was born in 1904.

Very important timesavers for cooks debuted including the electric toaster and drip coffeemakers!

The first recipe for the now popular Devil's Food Cake appeared in print.

The United States Government enacted the first law to protect America's food supply.  It was known as The Pure Food and Drug Act.

An early, possibly first, toaster.

NORMA'S OLD FASHION CREAM PIE

Norma and my mom were best friends in the high school days. Later Norma's husband was my daughter's school bus driver.

1 cup white sugar

1 cup brown sugar

1 egg, beaten

4 level T. flour

1 1/2 cup milk

Pinch of salt

1 tsp. melted butter

1/4 tsp. nutmeg or cinnamon

Mix together and put in unbaked pie shell. Bake at 350 degrees until firm.

file photo for reference only

FOR A SUMMER DRAUGHT

(From the White House Cookbook, 1894)

The juice of one lemon, a tumblerful of cold water, pounded sugar to taste, half a small teaspoonful of carbonate of soda. Squeeze the juice from the lemon; strain and add it to the water, with sufficient pounded sugar to sweeten the whole nicely. When well mixed, put in the soda, stir well and drink while the mixture is in an effervescing state.

THE LATE PORTER WAGNER'S FUDGE RECIPE

According to the late country music great, his mother taught him this recipe when he was a youngster.

2 cups sugar
2 heaping tbsps cocoa
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 cup Log Cabin syrup
milk as needed
2 tbsp butter
1 tsp vanilla
2 tbsps peanut butter
1/2 cup chopped English walnuts

Mix sugar, cocoa, salt and syrup in a saucepan. Add enough milk to make it soupy, but very thick. Bring to a boil and boil until the sugar is dissolved (4 to 5 minutes). Test for doneness by dropping a spoonful into a cup of cold water until it forms a soft ball. Remove from the heat and add butter and vanilla. Stir until it begins to cool. Add the peanut butter and walnuts. Pour into a large platter until it cools then cut into squares.

Note: File Folder

1950s Palmer Candy Factory

I love this.

 

MRS. CLEVELAND'S WEDDING LUNCH

 The menu for the White House wedding lunch for Mrs. Cleveland June 4TH, 1886!