Going Back In Time

Literally, we're going to go back in time for our Thanksgiving dinner.

Literally, in the sense that our Pioneer Unit ended last week. And literally, in the sense that we're going to be Pioneers for Thanksgiving.

We're going to try to do as much of our dinner as though we were Pioneers (with some cheating, of course...)

We finished reading Sarah, Plain and Tall and Little House in the Big Woods.  Now we're reading Little House on the Prairie. The boys love the Little House books! (It's our bedtime book and they actually beg to go to bed early to listen to a chapter!)

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Anyway, here's what we're going to make for dinner:

HOMEMADE BUTTER - Butter (link to a different recipe)
and yet another recipe:  Homemade Butter

1/2 cup whipping cream

1 tablespoon sour cream
pinch of salt, optional

Put both creams into a jar with a tight-fitting lid; shake vigorously. After a lump of butter forms (about 15 minutes), pour off the remaining liquid (whey - buttermilk). Place the butter on a plate and press it gently with a spoon to remove the remaining liquid. If desired, sprinkle with salt.

SUNDAY CORN PUDDINGMix together

2 tablespoons melted butter
1 beaten egg
3 tablespoons flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon sugar
1 1/2 cups milk

To this mixture, add 2 cups corn. Pour into buttered baking dish. Bake at 350 degrees, about 30 minutes (until firm).

If only we had some snow...

SNOW CREAM Snow cream was a winter treat, enjoyed in many areas of America long before the recipe for Ice Cream was brought from France (about 1800).

1 cup cream (or milk)
1/2 cup sugar
1 beaten egg
1 teaspoon vanilla

Mix well together in a large bowl. Stir in soft, fresh snow until you have an icy sherbet consistency.

JOHNNY CAKE (We just read about these in Little House in the Big Woods)

1 cup cornmeal

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon cream of tartar

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 egg, beaten

1 cup milk

1/4 cup honey

1 tablespoon molasses

1 tablespoon butter or margarine, melted

Combine the dry ingredients in a large bowl. In a separate bowl, mix together the remaining ingredients. Blend this mixture into the dry ingredients, mixing just enough to combine. Put the batter into a greased 8 inch square pan. Bake at 425 degrees for 25-30 minutes. Serve hot with Homemade Butter.

 

Another Johnny Cake recipe:

JOHNNYCAKE

3 cups cornmeal

1 cup flour

2 teaspoons baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

2 tablespoons molasses

3 cups buttermilk

2 well-beaten eggs

 

Sift together dry ingredients. Slowly stir in molasses and buttermilk and mix well. Add beaten eggs and beat hard for two minutes. Pour into shallow, well-greased pans and bake at 400° for 30 minutes.

 

NAVOO GINGER COOKIES

 

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 cup molasses

1/3 cup oil

1/3 cup water

1 egg

3-1/2 cups flour

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon ginger

1/4 teaspoon salt

 

In a large bowl, mix together the sugar, molasses, oil, and water. Beat in the egg. In a separate bowl, combine the dry ingredients. Add the dry mixture in three parts to the wet mixture, stirring well after each addition. Shape the dough into 1 inch balls and place them on a greased cookie sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 8-12 minutes.

 

We'll maybe add to this. But for today, this is the goal for tomorrow!