food history

All Hallow’s Eve

/ Jeanne Lemmon Skinner / 3 Comments

Soul Cakes anyone?

Don’t these look good? Soul cakes were given to children who went souling on All Hallow’s Eve. They were given in exchange for the promise of prayers for the deceased. It was believed that souls went to purgatory when a person died and prayers were needed to get them out. The Soulers carried hallowed out turnips with candles in them that supposedly represented a soul trapped in purgatory. It was also a good lantern!

The Irish immigrants brought this custom with them when they came to America in the mid 1800’s due to the potato famine. Like many customs, it changed to a night of song and treats. It took awhile for Americans to adopt the idea but they did. Trick or treating became popular throughout America in the 1950’s. Since costumes had been worn by the early Soulers to ward off spirits, that custom was borrowed too. Of course it was Americanized!

I don’t know why the veil between heaven and earth is thought to be thin during this time of year, but if you believe this, then it’s a good time for fortune telling. The early settlers celebrated the harvest with hard cider and fortune telling. My uncles told me stories of upsetting outhouses and buggies on Halloween. For these farm boys, it was a night of mischief which drove my grandmother crazy! I think they were letting off steam after working so hard to get the crops in.

I wish you all a Happy Halloween! Lots of candy will be given to children in costumes, but there will be no Soulers. There are recipes online for soul cakes for you bakers! But I’m sticking to raisin oatmeal.

Apples Take Center Stage!

/ Jeanne Lemmon Skinner / 1 Comment

Fall is not all about pumpkins!

The stores and restaurants are all touting pumpkins. Apples aren’t as big and showy but they have more uses. And as for pumpkin pie, I’ll take apple every time!

I did a little research and found that 2500 varieties are grown in the United States and 7500 are grown worldwide. The crabapple is the only apple tree native to North America. The Pilgrims brought the first apple trees and planted them in Massachusetts. Unfortunately, Eve gave apples a bad rap in the Garden of Eden. Adam didn’t need to take it!

For me, apples are sheer delight. I love hot or cold cider and besides pie I make cake, crisp, and cobbler. Apples can also wear faces like pumpkins do, but pumpkins win in that category. I salute the apple for all it uses and great taste. Enjoy an apple or two and don’t forget ice cream for the pie!

Why was Dracula Afraid of Garlic?

/ Jeanne Lemmon Skinner / 3 Comments

Garlic can be deadly!

Bram Stoker was the first to write about garlic as a way to ward off vampires. I think it was because garlic made this Irish author sick. Garlic can cause nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. It also can make one’s throat itch and constrict. That’s what happens to me because I’m allergic to it.

Garlic was used by the Greeks and Egyptians for medicinal purposes and to ward off evil spirits. Stoker would have drawn upon this information when he decided that it could be used against vampires. I like to think he had a more personal experience with the smelly herb. Hey! It’s possible!

To me, garlic is scary. I react even to the smell of it. I was buying fresh produce at an outdoor stand this summer and there was a small basket of garlic by the cash register. My throat started to itch and I began to cough. The stuff is deadly! I can understand Dracula fleeing from the smell.

I know most people love garlic. I’m aligning myself with Dracula and avoiding it!

Oily Cakes (olykoeks)

/ Jeanne Lemmon Skinner / 4 Comments

Doughnuts! A box of sugary goodness!

Weekends frequently mean doughnuts. Someone who has dieted all week long will succumb to the sight and smell of a doughnut. My husband loves doughnuts, so he is a bad influence on me.

I did a little research this week and learned that doughnuts were brought to America by Dutch settlers. The center of the fried dough goodies didn’t get done, so nuts or dried fruit were put in the center to solve the problem. A 16 year old named Hanson Gregory said he punched a hole in the cake with a tin box in 1847 while steering a trading ship. He later showed his mother how to eliminate the gooey center and the doughnut was born!

Doughnuts didn’t become popular in the United States until after WWI. Soldiers had been given them while overseas, and when they came home they wanted doughnuts. Shops began selling them, but it wasn’t until 1920 that a doughnut machine was invented. Adolph Levitt owned a pastry shop in New York City and had difficulty keeping up with the theater goers desire for doughnuts. So out of necessity, Levitt invented a machine that would speed up the process.

If I’ve made you want a doughnut, remember to buy extra because they freeze really well. Glazed are my favorite and I heat them for ten seconds in the microwave. For me, a doughnut is worth the calories!