RECIPE: CHRISTMAS CAKE

Austinite Jean Thomas shares this month’s recipe for a yummy Christmas cake that she says her grandmother brought to Texas from Chicago.

Makes: 16 servings

Ingredients

• 2 (8 ounce) containers candied cherries

• 1 (8 ounce) container candied mixed citrus peel

• 2 cups raisins

• 1 cup dried currants

• 1 cup dates, pitted and chopped

• 2 (2.25 ounce) packages blanched slivered almonds

• ½ cup brandy

• ½ cup all-purpose flour

• 2 cups all-purpose flour

• ½ teaspoon baking soda

• 1 teaspoon ground cloves

• 1 teaspoon ground allspice

• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

• ½ teaspoon salt

• 1 cup butter

• 2 cups packed brown sugar

• 6 eggs

• ¾ cup molasses

• ¾ cup apple juice

Directions

In a medium bowl, combine cherries, citrus peel, raisins, currants, dates, and almonds. Stir in brandy, Let stand 2 hours, or overnight. Dredge soaked fruit with 1/2 cup flour.

Preheat oven to 275 degrees F. Grease an 8-inch fruit cake pan, line with parchment paper, and grease again. In a small bowl, mix together 2 cups flour, baking soda, cloves, allspice, cinnamon, and salt, then set aside.

In a large bowl, cream butter until light. Gradually blend in brown sugar and eggs. Mix together molasses and apple juice. Beat into butter mixture alternately with flour mixture, making 4 dry and 3 liquid additions. Fold in floured fruit. Turn batter into prepared pan.

Bake in preheated oven for 3 to 3 1/2 hours, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Remove from pan, and lift off paper. Cool cake completely, then wrap loosely in waxed paper. Store in an airtight container.

Slice and serve with whipped cream topped with a candied cherry.


IN THIS MONTH: 1845

On Nov. 16, 1845, the Republic of Texas concluded its last Indian treaty. The agreement marked the end of the Tehuacana Creek Councils, which began in the spring of 1843, when Jesse Chisholm, of later cattle-trail fame, helped convince a number of Indian groups, including the Caddos, Tawakonis, Delawares, Lipan Apaches and Tonkawas, to meet on Tehuacana Creek south of present-day Waco. President Sam Houston negotiated the final treaty with the Wacos, Tawakonis, Kichais and Wichitas.

RECIPE: TRAIL ROASTED TURKEY

Pflugerville resident Judy Garrison sends this month’s recipe for ta Thanksgiving turkey that she says tastes just like the ones her grandmother made when she was a young girl, a recipe from her great-grandfather .

Makes: 8 servings

Ingredients

• 1 stick unsalted butter

• 1 lemon, zested and juiced

• 1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme leaves

• 1 fresh turkey (10 to 12 pounds)

• Table salt

• Watkins black pepper

• 1 large bunch fresh thyme

• 1 whole lemon, halved

• 1 Spanish onion, quartered

• 1 head of garlic, halved crosswise

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Melt the butter in a small saucepan. Add the zest and juice of the lemon and 1 teaspoon of thyme leaves to the butter mixture. Set aside.

Remove the giblets from the turkey and wash the turkey inside and out. Remove any excess fat and pinfeathers, and pat the outside dry. Place the turkey in a large roasting pan.

Liberally salt and pepper the inside of the turkey cavity. Stuff the cavity with the bunch of thyme, halved lemon, quartered onion, and the garlic. Brush the outside of the turkey with the butter mixture and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Tie the legs together with string and tuck the wing tips under the body of the turkey.

Roast the turkey about 2 1/2 hours, or until the juices run clear when you cut between the leg and thigh. Remove the turkey to a cutting board and cover with aluminum foil for 20 minutes.

Then, slice and serve.


IN THIS MONTH: 1839

On Oct. 17, 1839, Mirabeau B. Lamar, the second president of the Republic of Texas, and his cabinet arrived in the new capital city of Austin. Lamar had appointed Edwin Waller to lay out the new capital at the site of the community of Waterloo, on what was then the Indian frontier, as the first step in a grand scheme to extend the republic all the way to the Pacific Ocean. Just a few years earlier, Lamar selected Waterloo to become the new capital while overlooking buffalo from a promontory on the Blackland Prairie — on land that is now part of Pioneer Farms.

RECIPE: PUMPKIN CHIFFON PIE

New Canaan Farms, our jams and jellies supplier, recommends this month’s recipe for a new type of pumpkin pie that is sure to become a family favorite.

Makes: 6-8 servings

Ingredients

• 1 jar (11 oz.) New Canaan Pumpkin Butter

• 1 (5.85 oz. pkg) instant vanilla pudding

• 1 pt. heavy whipping cream

• 1 graham cracker pie crust

• 1 tbsp ground nutmeg

• ½ cup chopped toasted pecans

• Pre-packaged whipped cream

Directions

In a two-quart bowl, mix the pumpkin butter with the vanilla pudding mix. Using an electric mixer, slowly add the whipping cream to the pumpkin-pudding mixture. Beat until the mixture forms stiff peaks.

Pour into the pie crust and chill at least one hour before serving. Garnish with whipped cream and toasted pecans.


IN THIS MONTH: 1829

On Sept. 15, 1829, the Guerrero Decree, which abolished slavery throughout the Republic of Mexico, was issued by President Vicente R. Guerrero. News of the decree alarmed Texans, who petitioned Guerrero to exempt Texas. On Dec. 2, Agustín Viesca, Mexican minister of relations, announced that no change would be made. Though the decree was never put into operation, it left a conviction in the minds of many Texas colonists that their interests were not safe under Mexican rule — and became an issue that led to the revolution for independence.

RECIPE: WONDER BROWNIES

Austinite Janet Thomas sends along this recipe for Wonder Brownies her “Grandie” used to make. “I just found this recipe and wanted to pass it along.”

Makes: 14 servings

Ingredients

• 1 cup unsalted butter, 2 sticks

• 1½ cups semi-sweet chocolate chips

• 1½ cups granulated sugar

• ¾ cup brown sugar

• 1 tablespoon Watkins vanilla extract

• 1 teaspoon salt

• 3 large eggs

• 1 ¼ cups all-purpose flour

• ⅓ cup dark cocoa powder

• Nonstick cooking spray, for greasing

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degree Fahrenheit. Add the butter and 1 cup of chocolate chips to a large microwave-safe bowl.

Microwave for 1½ minutes, then let sit for 3 minutes before whisking together. Add the granulated and brown sugars, vanilla, and salt, and combine. Whisk in the eggs.

Sift the flour and cocoa powder into the bowl and fold in. Then add the remaining chocolate chips.

Grease a 9-inch square baking pan with nonstick spray. Spread the batter evenly in the pan. Bake for 35-40 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with a few moist crumbs attached.

Cool, cut and serve.

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Contributions to this column are welcomed. Send them to info@pioneerfarms.org


IN THIS MONTH: 1832

On August 2, 1832, Texas settlers refused an order to surrender their arms to José de las Piedras, commander of the Mexican battalion at Nacogdoches. He evacuated his soldiers and headed for San Antonio, after the settlers captured the Old Stone Fort and other locations. A detachment of mounted Texans, including James Bowie, caught them the next day after a running fight along the Angelina River. The Battle of Nacogdoches is called the opening gun of the Texas Revolution.

RECIPE: GRAMMIE'S SHORTCAKE

Austinite Annie Wilson sends along this recipe for homemade shortcake that’s been in her family for generations. “It’s a summer favorite that my Grammie used to make, served with strawberries, peaches and other fruit desserts. Simple and quick.”

Makes: 9 servings

Ingredients

• 2/3 cup sugar

• ¼ cup shortening

• 1 large egg, room temperature

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

• ¼ teaspoon salt

• 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour

• 2 teaspoons baking powder

• ½ cup whole milk

• 1 cup heavy whipping cream, whipped

• 1 ½ quarts fresh or frozen strawberries, sliced

Directions

Cream sugar and shortening in a bowl. Add egg and vanilla, and beat well. Combine dry ingredients and add alternately with milk to the creamed mixture. Spread in a greased 9-inch square baking pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes, then cool on a wire rack.

Cut into nine servings. Split each horizontally and fill with whipped cream and strawberries or other fruit. Replace top of cake; garnish with a spoonful of whipped cream and more berries. Serve immediately.

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Contributions to this column are welcomed. Send them to info@pioneerfarms.org