Presidential candidates' wives cook up cookie competition

[kcvl]

Wed, Jun. 16, 2004

Presidential candidates' wives cook up cookie competition

BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

The presidential race is in high gear and its influence is being reflected even in the very specialized sphere of cookie baking.

For its 2004 Election Cookie Cook-Off, Family Circle magazine is publishing two recipes from candidates' wives in its July 13 issue.

The competing munchables are Laura Bush's oatmeal-chocolate chunk cookies, and Teresa Heinz Kerry's pumpkin spice cookies. Home bakers are invited to put them to the taste test and vote for their favorite. Recipes on 3C.

"We're delighted that Laura Bush and Teresa Heinz Kerry are putting their cookie recipes into the running for our fourth election competition," said Susan Ungaro, Family Circle's editor in chief.

The magazine first invited wives of presidential hopefuls to submit cookie recipes for publication in 1992, calling on readers to vote for their preferred recipe. The magazine says cookie cookoff results have predicted the presidential winners since then.

Family Circle says home cooks may cast their cookie ballots on a postcard postmarked by Aug. 1, addressed to: Family Circle Cookie Cook-Off, Dept. MJ, 375 Lexington Ave., New York, NY 10017.

Readers can also vote online at:

http://www.familycircle.com.

The magazine says results will be announced in the Nov. 9 issue.

[kcvl]

Mary Todd's Vanilla Almond Cake


Recipe Introduction

Created by Monsieur Geron in honor of Frenchman Lafayette on his visit to Lexington in 1825. The Todd family cherished this recipe as it was was one of President Lincoln’s favorites.


1 cup butter
2 cups sugar
3 cup flour
3 tsp. baking powder
1 cup milk
1 cup blanched almonds
6 egg whites
1 tsp. vanilla or almond extract


Recipe


Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cream butter and sugar in a large bowl. In a smaller bowl, sift flour 3 times and sift in the baking powder; add to the butter mixture alternately with milk.

Chop almonds until very fine (or process) and add to mixture. Beat the egg whites until stiff peaks and fold into batter. Add vanilla and pour into an ungreased angel cake pan. Bake 1 hour until an inserted toothpick comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack.

[texasflower]

Al and Tipper's Chinese Chicken sounds really good.

I'll bet Tipper is a really good cook. She seems very mom-like.

[kcvl]

Mamie Eisenhower's Million Dollar Fudge



4 1/2 pounds granulated sugar
Pinch of salt
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
12 ounces evaporated milk
12 ounces semisweet chocolate chips
12 ounces German sweet chocolate
14 oz marshmallow creme
2 cups chopped walnuts


Recipe


Combine sugar, salt, butter and evaporated milk in a large,
heavy-bottomed saucepan; bring to the boil over medium-high heat; boil for 6 minutes. Pour boiling syrup over chocolate chips, chocolate, marshmallow creme and nuts that have been put in a bowl. Beat until chocolate is all melted and pour in a 12-by-9-inch pan. Let stand a few hours before cutting into 1-inch squares. Store in airtight container.

[texasflower]

The Todd family cherished this recipe as it was was one of President Lincoln’s favorites.

So often we forget about food as being part of our history, I think.

It would be fun to make this cake on Lincoln's birthday.

[kcvl]

I really don't understand this one AT ALL!


Rosalynn Carter's Plains Cheese Ring



1lb. sharp Cheddar cheese, finely grated
1C. mayonnaise
1C. chopped pecans
1/2 C. finely chopped onion
6 twists freshly-ground black pepper
Dash of cayenne pepper
1 (12 oz.) jar strawberry preserves
Whole-grain crackers or Melba toast

Recipe


Combine cheese with mayonnaise, chopped nuts and onions. Mix in black pepper and cayenne, and blend thoroughly. Press into 3-cup ring mold. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours.

To serve, dip mold into a pan of hot water for 15 to 20 seconds before turning out onto a serving platter. Fill center with strawberry preserves and serve at once with whole-grain crackers or Melba toast.

Serves 6 to 8.

[texasflower]

Thank you. I had no idea what that stuff really was. (That's really disgusting, IMO)

It will definitely be Crisco for me.

[Don W]

It's a cheese pate'.

[kcvl]

President Eisenhower's Chili

8 med. sized onions, chopped (4 c.)
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 tbsp. bacon drippings
2 lb. ground beef
1 tbsp. salt
3-4 tbsp. chili powder
3 c. water


Recipe
Saute onions and garlic in bacon drippings in large frying pan or Dutch oven for 10 minutes; add ground beef; cook, breaking meat up with a fork until it loses its red color; stir in salt, chili powder and water; simmer 45 minutes. 2 tsp. ground cumin 2 tbsp. flour 2 tbsp. water

Stir in kidney beans and ground cumin; blend flour and water until smooth in a cup; stir into mixture; simmer 1 hour. Very good recipe (P.S. Recommended). (We put a triple recipe in a Revere Kettle.)

[Salamander]

Her cookies remind me of the "joys" of cleaning up calf pens....

[Don W]

Nothing wrong with lard. Most stuff that tastes really good is full of fat. Or sugar. Or both.

Crisco is just processed vegetable fat.

[texasflower]

Some sort of variation on a cheese log I guess?

[kcvl]

Thanks!


GEORGE BUSH'S PRALINES


1 lb Brown sugar
2/3 c Evaporated milk
1 c Pecans

Mix sugar and milk in large microwave-safe dish. Stir until sugar issolves. Add pecans. Cover with plastic wrap, making slits in the plastic to allow steam to escape. Cook in microwave for 6 minutes. Stir and return to microwave for 3 to 4 minutes. Candy should register 234 degreeson candy thermometer. Beat until thick. Drop by spoonfuls onto wax paper.

Let it become firm before removing from paper.

Makes 24.

[kcvl]

Laura Bush's Hot Chocolate


6 T. Unsweetened cocoa
6 T. Sugar
Pinch of Salt
2 1/2 cup Milk
2 1/2 cup Light Cream
1/2 t. Vanilla (or more)
Pinch of Cinnamon Powder (optional)
Whipped Cream
Orange Zest

Directions
Mix cocoa, salt, and sugar.

Add milk. Heat to dissolve.

Add light cream, cinnamon, vanilla. Heat to just under boiling.

Mix very well and pour into warm mug. R Top with whipped cream, cocoa powder, and fine orange zest.

[texasflower]

I suppose you're right, but vegetable fat just seems so much "cleaner" to me!

[kcvl]

Debbie Reynolds' Eggplant Casserole

1 (1 1/4 pound) eggplant
Salt
4 ounces Swiss cheese, shredded
1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
3 medium tomatoes, sliced
Pepper
1/4 cup butter
1 cup (8 ounces) tomato sauce
1 cup seasoned bread crumbs

Peel eggplant and slice in 1/4-inch thick rounds. Place in a bowl with about 2 tablespoons salt and enough water to cover. Let stand 20 minutes, then drain.

Meanwhile, preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease bottom and sides of a 13 x 9-inch baking dish.

Mix cheeses in a bowl. Remove and reserve 1/3 the cheese mixture. Layer 1/3 the eggplant and 1/2 the tomato slices in prepared baking dish. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Top with 1/2 the remaining cheese mixture. Repeat layers once. Top with remaining eggplant and dot with butter. Pour tomato sauce over top, sprinkle with bread crumbs, then the reserved cheese mixture. Cover with foil. Bake for 1 hour.

[texasflower]

I had no idea pralines were so easy to make. I love those things.

Doesn't this hot chocolate sound good with the cinnamon and orange zest in it?

[kcvl]

Dolly Parton's Five Layer Dinner
Servings: 8

2 cups sliced potatoes
2 cups extra lean ground beef
1 cup onions, sliced
2 cups cooked tomatoes
Salt and pepper
1 green bell pepper, sliced

Layer potatoes, beef, onions and tomatoes in a 2-quart casserole. Season each layer with salt and pepper to taste. Garnish with sliced green peppers. Cover and bake for 2 hours at 350 degrees F.

[kcvl]

Dolly Parton's Cowboy Beans

1 pound ground beef
2 medium onions, chopped fine
1 small bell pepper, chopped fine
2 (16 ounce) cans pork and beans
2 cups catsup
1 teaspoon vinegar
1/4 cup brown sugar, firmly packed
2 teaspoons prepared mustard
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon pepper

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Brown ground beef, onions, and pepper in a 10-inch skillet. Add remaining ingredients. Pour into baking dish and bake for about 15 to 20 minutes or until mixture is bubbly.

Serves 8 to 10.

[texasflower]

I'm going to put a link to this thread on the "Daily Dose" thread tonight.

It needs to get a wide viewing. These recipes are great.

Thank you for all of this work!

[kcvl]

You are welcome. Check out this recipe...


Dick Clark's Meatloaf


Yield: 4 servings

Meatloaf
1 1/4 pounds ground chuck
1 cup fresh onion, finely diced
3/4 cup fresh celery, finely diced
1 tablespoon fresh garlic, finely diced
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
3 eggs
2 1/4 teaspoons salt
1/3 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/2 cup stale sourdough bread cubes
3/4 cup milk
3 slices bacon

Southern Glaze
2 tablespoons brown sugar
3/4 cup ketchup
1 teaspoon dry mustard
1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar

Sautéed Vegetables
1 tablespoon butter
1/2 cup carrots, finely diced
1 cup onion, finely diced
1/2 cup celery, finely diced

Rosemary Gravy
1 package brown gravy mix
1 teaspoon fresh minced garlic
2 teaspoons fresh minced rosemary

Fried Shaved Onions
1 large onion, sliced paper thin
1/4 cup flour
1/2 teaspoon seasoned salt

Other ingredients
8 cups mashed potatoes (your favorite recipe)

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

Meatloaf: Place the ground chuck with the onions, celery, garlic, Worcestershire sauce, eggs and salt and pepper in a large bowl. Gently mix.

In a separate bowl, soak the bread cubes in milk until soft. Add cubes to the ground chuck mixture and again gently mix.

Line a large loaf pan with plastic wrap. Place meatloaf mixture in pan. Unmold onto a large baking tray. Remove plastic wrap. Drape the bacon slices over the top of the meatloaf. Bake for 30 minutes at 400 degrees F. Reduce heat to 350 degrees F and continue to bake for 40 minutes.

Southern Glaze: Combine all the ingredients. Brush the top and sides of the meatloaf with the mixture and bake an additional 5 minutes to set glaze. Remove from the oven and allow to set for 10 minutes before slicing.

Sautéed Vegetables: In a heated sauté pan, add the butter and diced vegetables and lightly sauté. Keep warm until assembling dish.

Rosemary Gravy: Prepare the brown gravy mix according to package directions. Add garlic and rosemary. Simmer to combine flavors.

Fried Shaved Onions: Toss onion shavings in a mixture of flour and seasoned salt. Deep fry until golden brown.

To serve, place 2 cups mashed potatoes in the center of each plate. Arrange the meatloaf on top of the mashed potatoes. Ladle the Rosemary Gravy over the slices of meatloaf. Top with the Sautéed Vegetables and the Fried Shaved Onions.