Recipes from the Past Frank Daniels Most people do not realize that December has many days of celebration associated with it, and not surprisingly, quite a few of them are connected with food. While we could choose to spotlight National Noodle Ring Day (Dec. 11), National Fritters Day (Dec. 2), or even National Oatmeal Muffin Day (Dec. 19), space restricts us from spotlighting them all. We begin with the somewhat controversial National Pie Day on Dec. 1. How, one might ask, would a day devoted to delicious pies come to spark controversy? Because the American Pie Council has decided to “move” the day to Jan. 23. If you would prefer to avoid the controversy, please make an apple pie instead of the one below: Dec. 1 is also Eat a Red Apple Day. Since the recipe below would also serve well on Dec. 17 – Maple Syrup Day - and since it is quite unusual, we have chosen to present “Golden Surprise.” Golden Surprise [value in NM, $25] 1 pint milk ¼ teaspoon ginger ¼ cup Minute Tapioca 1/3 cup maple syrup ¼ cup sugar 1 cup raw grated carrots 1 teaspoon salt 1 egg ½ teaspoon cinnamon Scald milk in double boiler. Add Minute Tapioca, sugar, salt, cinnamon, ginger, maple syrup and carrots. Cook 35 minutes, stirring frequently. Pour small amount of mixture slowly over slightly beaten egg yolk, stirring vigorously. Return to double boiler and cook until mixture thickens like custard. Cool. Fill previously baked small pie shell. Cover with meringue made of stiffly beaten egg white sweetened with one tablespoon sugar, and brown in moderate oven. (Excerpt from Prize-Winning Recipes to Vary Your Menus, 1927, p. 29, contributed by Bertha Boss) Tapioca itself has an interesting history. A starch taken from the cassava root was extracted and shaped into whatever form the locals desired. Rectangular blocks and round “pearls” caught on, and pearl tapioca became the common form in which to obtain it. Although the plant appears to have been cultivated first in Brazil, tapioca came to be used worldwide, particularly in Southeast Asia. If you’re ready for more sweets, National Pastry Day is celebrated on Dec. 9. It has been celebrated for several years, but like many of the lesser-known holidays, no one really knows where it came from. One celebrates it by baking (and eating!) delectable pastries, so let’s get started: Chocolate Roll [value in NM $5] ¾ cup Occidental Flour (sifted) 4 tablespoons cocoa, measured after sifting 1 teaspoon baking powder ¼ teaspoon salt 1 cup sugar 3 eggs 3 tablespoons cold water ½ teaspoon vanilla Quantity: 12 servings Temperature: 350oF. Pan: 9” x 13” x ¾” Time: 20 minutes Sift flour, baking powder and cocoa six times. Put remaining ingredients into mixing bowl and beat with rotary egg beater until light and foamy and until sugar is thoroughly dissolved. Fold sifted dry ingredients in gradually. Pour into shallow pan, lined with waxed paper and bake in moderate oven. When baked, trim edges with sharp knife, loosen from pan with spatula and turn onto cloth sprinkled lightly with powdered sugar. Roll slowly, holding cloth close to cake. Place on cake rack to cool. Before serving, unroll cake and fill with whipped cream, ice cream, chocolate fudge or marshmallow filling. Serve with or without chocolate sauce (Excerpt from Occident Flour Tested Recipes, 1936, p. 44) With those two tasty morsels, another year of Recipes from the Past comes to a close. May you find many fine and collectible cookbooks, and many new recipes, in 2010. Good eating, and save me some! Frank Daniels is the author of Collector’s Guide to Cookbooks, and has an extensive collection of the same. He may be reached at antiquesjournal@rogers.com. Put RECIPES in the subject line. The Milford Antiques Show at Hampshire Hills Sports and Fitness Club at Hampshire Hills Sports and Fitness Club 50 Emerson Road, Milford, NH 50 Emerson Road, Milford, NH Intersection of Rtes. 101 & 13 REOPENS Oct. 18th, 2009 75 quality exhibitors every New England’s weekly Sunday through Aprilshow2008 winter antiques 27, Early Admission: $8 8:30 to 9:30 noon General Admission $3 9:30 toam Sunday through April 27, 2008 General Admission (Early buying $6$3at9:30 to a.m.) 8:30 noon Directions: 3 miles East of Atlanta Airport on I-285 at Exit 55 (Jonesboro Rd.) DECEMBER 11, 12 & 13 JANUARY 8, 9 & 10 FEBRUARY 12, 13 & 14 MARCH 12, 13 & 14 Fri ay & atur ay 9 00am - 6 00 m un ay 10 00am - 4 00 m how Hours Heate & A C Facilities able & Chair Rentals u ury huttle Buses howcase Rentals atur ay 9 00am - 6 00 m un ay 10 00am - 4 00 m how Hours ✦ Early Admission: $8 8:30 to 9:30 am For further information, please contact: General Admission $3 9:30 to noon Jack Donigian, manager 781-329-1192 Heate & A C Facilities able & Chair Rentals milfordantiqueshow.com www.northeastantiques.com Our 34th Year of Qualityplease contact: For further information, Antiques Shows Jack Donigian, manager 781-329-1192 or visit www.milfordantiqueshow.com Directions: I-71 Exit 111 (17th Ave.) To the Ohio Expo Center (Ohio State Fairgrounds) December 19 & 20 January 23 & 24 February 20 & 21 March 27 & 28 BEE TM For more information, call or visit our website at www.scottantiquemarket.com 740-569-2800 Northeast Antiques, December 2009, Page 11