February is a short month, and in spite of that, there are a few holidays to consider, and I have decided to say something for a few of them.
First, Lincoln's Birthday. Very tough one, this. However, Fresh Corn Pudding is a dish known to the pioneers, and so here it is.
Fresh Corn Pudding
- 3 cups fresh corn pulp or cream-style corn
- 1 egg or substitute, separated, if you use an egg
- 2 teaspoons sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 cup margarine
Combine corn pulp, egg yolk, sugar, salt, and 2 tablespoons melted margarine. Fold in stiffly beaten egg white. Pour into buttered shallow 1-quart baking dish and dot with margarine. Bake in pre-heated moderate oven (350 degrees F) for 45 minutes, until golden brown.
- Yields: 6 servings
- Preparation Time: 1 hour
For Washington's Birthday, I am resurrecting the cherry tree myth.
Fresh Cherry Pie
- 4 cups fresh or pitted tart cherries (20 ounces)
- 1 cup sugar
- 3 tablespoons quick-cooking tapioca
- 1 tablespoon cherry brandy
- 1 teaspoon finely shredded lemon peel
- Pastry for double crust pie
- 1 tablespoon margarine
In a large bowl, combine cherries, sugar, tapioca, brandy, lemon peel and 1/8 teaspoon salt. Let stand 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Fill a 9" pastry shell with the cherry mixture; dot with margarine. Adjust top crust. Seal and flute edge high. Cover edge of pie with foil. Bake in a 375 Degree F oven for 30 minutes. Remove foil; bake for 25 to 30 minutes more or until golden. Cool pie on a wire rack.
- Yields: 8 servings
- Preparation Time: About an hour and a half.
For Valentine's Day, I have something sweet. This is especially for my fellow chocoholics!
Old Time Fudge
- 2 cups water
- 3/4 cup milk
- 2 ounces unsweetened chocolate, cut up
- 1 teaspoon light corn syrup
- 2 tablespoons margarine
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1/2 cup coarsely chopped nuts
Butter the sides of a heavy 2-quart saucepan. In it combine sugar, milk, chocolate, and corn syrup. Cook and stir over medium-high heat till sugar dissolves and mixture comes to boiling. Continue cooking over medium-low heat to 234 degrees F (soft-ball stage), stirring frequently (mixture should boil gently over entire surface). Remove from the heat; add margarine and vanilla, but do not stir. Cool without stirring to lukewarm (110 degrees F), about 55 minutes. Add nuts. Beat vigorously about 7 minutes, or until fudge becomes very thick and just starts to lose its gloss. Immediately spread in a buttered 9x5x3 inch loaf pan. Score into squares while warm, cut when firm.
- Yields: 1 3/4 lbs
- Preparation Time: about 2 hours