Civil War Recipes

Thanks to every one who guessed my age.
 Most  of you were very close and others said what most people say: 15-17 years old.




My age is 25!

A lot of the recipes came from Afternoon Tea Parties
by Susannah Blake but I will use similar recipes, from old cookbooks published around the time of the Civil War.

Today's post is food I had on my birthday!
This is Raspberry "Shortcake" Pastry Puffs


A favorite old recipe is
Shortcake

2 cups flour sifted with 3 teaspoons baking powder and 1/2 teaspoon salt,
1/3 cup shortening (or use butter)
3/4 cup milk
raspberries ( sweetened to taste)

With a fork, blend the shortening into dry ingredients. 
Stir in milk to make a soft dough.
Turn onto a floured board and pat into one large layer.
Bake 15-28 minutes in a 425 oven.
Split carefully and butter halves.
Put fruit between layers.  Garnish with berries and lightly whipped cream.

Yummy candies

White chocolate truffles

 

Real Pound cake
A favorite Civil war recipe.

1 pound ( 2 cups) sugar
1 pound ( 4 cups) flour
1/2 pound ( 1 cup) butter
6 eggs beaten
3/4 cup  milk
2 teaspoons cream of tarter
1 teaspoon soda

Stir soda and cream of tarter into flour.
Rub the butter and sugar to a cream.
Add one quarter of eggs, next flour mixture, then milk.
Beat in the rest of the eggs.  Have a not too easy oven ready.*
(*this means 325 degrees F.)
Bake 1 1/4 hours.
From Blue and Grey Cookery by Hugh and Judy Gowa ( Authentic  recipes from the Civil war Years).

 

We also ate Creamy Pepper/Garlic tartlets garnished with Artichokes

A similar recipe from HOUSEKEEPING IN OLD VIRGINIA for Tomato toast follows:


Tomato toast
Filling can be used to fill tartlets made of pie crust.

Put some canned tomatoes  in a pan. 
Add a little butter and salt.
Cook lightly and put on toast or in pie crust.
[add pieces of marinated artichokes on top if desired]

ICED TEA

Tea Punch - an old drink

Three cups strong green tea [we used peach/apricot black tea] with 6  lemon rinds in it
1/2 pound sugar
juice of six lemons
1 quart rum or lemonade

Stir everything together but lemonade.
Strain and add lemonade.
Fill glasses with ice and pour drink on top.