Interesting Recipes

Since Tammy and Judy often share the yummy foods, I thought I’d share some interesting recipes for other things.


In historic research I’m always coming across fun facts and since my sister bloggers write historical fiction and the blog readers seem to love it as well – I thought you might like to see what I found in the Home Cooking book – recipes compiled by the Waseca Co. Historical Society in Waseca, MN. If you want to purchase a copy – their phone number is 1-507-835-7700. It does mention that some of these recipes aren’t recommended for today’s use.

Panada (for Invalid’s Tray)
Place a cracker, fresh and dry, in a saucer. Fill with hot water and slightly salt. Let it stand in a warm place like the back of the stove or the hearth. The cracker will absorb water so add more and eventually the cracker will become clear and of the consistency of jelly. Drain any remaining water, add butter or cream, sugar if preferred. (From Miss Canfield, submitted by the Congregational Church Cookbook – 1899)
I know if I were sick I would definitely want this. NOT!


Cough Syrup
10 cents Lenkrich, 10 cents Tincture of Lobelea, and 10 cents Annis oil
Soak Lenkrich in 3 cups of water. Next morning add 2 cups of sugar and cook to a syrup. Let cool and add Lobelea and Annis Oil. (From Grandmother Friday submitted by Dianne Peterson)


Mom’s Homemade Salve
¼ lb. bees wax, ¼ lb. rosin and 1 lb. unsalted butter. Stir together and boil until it is dissolved. Pour in jars to harden. (from Marlys Keane)

Remedy for Ivy Poisoning
1 ounce tincture of iron mixed with 2 ounces of glycerine, applied a few times locally will cure the severest cases in 24 hours. (from Dianne Peterson – no relation to me)

And last but not least a much needed element for any household.

Linament
2 tbsp. mustard, 2 tbsp. turpentine, 2 pts. Vinegar. Shake well before using. Good for man or beast. (From Carol Hagen)

It’s hard sometimes to imagine not just being able to run down to the store for medicine and over the counter cures (although they had plenty of those in the 1800’s too). Most folks made and kept handy recipes like I’ve listed, however, because it was so much cheaper than buying someone else’s bottled remedy.



Besides, who knew better than grandma (or in this case my great, great,grandma Amanda Shane)how to cure the common cold?
Blessings to you

New Texas Series and Bethany House Book Banter

I'm so excited to let you know about my new series.
Land of the Lonestar is debuting with book #1 CHASING THE SUN. Should soon be available everywhere.

Chasing the Sun is set in Civil War Texas and shows some of the conflicts Texans dealt with while the Civil War raged. There were those who were staunch Confederates and this story deals with some of those, as well as those who supported the Union. Mostly, however, my experience has been that Texans supported Texas.




Book 2 will be out this June and is titled TOUCHING THE SKY. This story deals with different characters - strong Union supporters and the immediate aftermath of the Civil War in Corpus Christi, Texas. There will be a guest appearance of characters from book 1.



Book 3 will be out in September this year and is titled TAMING THE WIND. This story will tie books 1 and 2 together and deals with the reconstruction period and cattle drives as Texas recovers from the war. This is just a mockup of the cover - but I LOVE IT!!




I hope you get a chance to join me for all three.

And on February 29th - I'll be doing the Bethany House Book Banter and hope you'll join me for that as well. I'll put in additional reminders as well as directions for getting there.

God Bless You!

Happy February 2012

February is an awesome month. When I was a girl it was one of my favorites because there were so many holidays.
You had Ground Hog’s Day and Valentine’s Day, Lincoln’s birthday on the 12th and Washington’s on the 22nd.
There was Mardi Gras and Lent for those who celebrated and my grandmother tried to get peas planted around the same time.


Not only that but every once in a while the silly month had an extra day - like this year. I remember a girl in our school whose birthday was on the 29th of February. We thought it was a real rip off that she only got to officially celebrate every four years and actually thought about starting a petition that demanded February have 29 days every year.


But there are some February Holidays that you might not know about and I know you won’t want to miss out on. For example:


February 1st was Spunky Old Broad’s Day (but I missed celebrating it)
February 3rd is Bubble Gum Day – so chew up all you can today!
February 5th is Dump Your Significant Jerk Day, but also World Nutella Day.

February 7th is Wave All Your Fingers At Your Neighbor Day
February 8th is Laugh and Get Rich Day
February 11th is White Shirt Day
February 18th is Cow Milked While Flying in an Airplane Day



February 22nd is not only George Washington’s birthday, but it’s also Inconvenience Yourself Day.




February 23rd is Introduce A Girl to Engineering Day as well as National Chili Day

February 25th is International Sword Swallowers Day

February 26th is For Pete’s Sake Day and Levi Strauss Day
And February 29th is Inspirational Underlings Day.
And that’s not even all of the special days February hosts.


I hope you’ll celebrate all month long and enjoy the fun of Nutella, waving, getting rich and maybe even milking a cow while flying in an airplane (that sounds like something Judy Miller would do while researching a book).
God Bless You and Happy February 2012 (Remember – this is the only one we get so live it up!)