Little House/ Pioneer Dinner

Story:

I've always wanted to do a book review for dinner. We just finished The Little House in the Big Woods. Briz read the chapters just before bed. Pa came alive in Briz because he knew and understood love for the woods, for making your own way and the magic of watching deer and fawns gaze trustingly at you. My children fell in love with Laura and Mary just as I did many years ago as I lay in my pink checkered bed at dusk and listened to my mother's magical voice bring the little house alive.

In addition, we are celebrating Pioneer Day this week. July 24 is the day the pioneers entered the Salt Lake Valley, so besides parades and the like, our book review dinner will be an added piece in our celebration/ search for appreciation and understanding.

If you are not hungry when you begin the Little House Books, you certainly will be when you finish. Johny Cakes sizzle on the fire, bread carries Ma's signature hand print, cheese and butter production is described in detail, as is roasting the pig tail. Though I've never thought I wanted a pig's tail, I do while I read these books. In short, it is a perfect book to review during dinner.

Little Mother sat down to put on a video. "Sweetie, I thought we'd play a little game this evening and pretend we were pioneers like Laura and Mary. Would you like to play with me? Great. Then they didn't have DVD s did they. What would they be doing right now? Helping mom with dinner? Excellent. Come over here and we'll learn together how to do new things."

We started the cheese. Then she tried the pioneer secret of holding bread in her mouth while chopping onions. While I continued with some "boring stuff", she outfitted Sunshine and herself as best she could. She set the table with pie tins, tin cups, wild flowers, and our pioneer courting candle. The meal was surprisingly good. Everyone polished their plates. We tried buttermilk with our meal. Some liked it but most only took a couple of swallows. After dinner we made maple candy, the children did dances and performed songs for us and we played games around the table. Sunshine wants to be a pioneer because she could go on hikes all the time. Little Mother isn't quite so sure the wants to be a pioneer. Pizza is still a better option for her.

The Recipes:

"They all hurried to the kitchen for plates, and outdoors to fill the plates with snow. ..She and the other Laura, and all the other children, scooped up clean snow with their plates. Then they went back into the crowded kitchen. Grandma stood by the brass kettle and with the big wooden spoon she poured hot syrup on each plate of snow. It cooled into soft candy, and as fast as it cooled they ate it. They could eat all they wanted for maple sugar never hurt anybody."

Maple Candy

Supplies:

• 2 cups pure maple syrup

• 1 tsp vanilla extract

• saucepan (non-stick works best)

• candy thermometer recommended

Instructions:

1. Cook syrup until it begins to boil, stirring frequently.

2. Continue boil until it reaches 233°F on the candy thermometer.

3. Remove from heat and cool for approximately 60-70 minutes, or until the temperature on the candy thermometer reads about 110°F

4. Add the vanilla extract and heat until smooth and fluffy.

5. Shape this mixture into small patties, or while still warm you can pour onto pans of clean snow as Laura did. If you have no snow, you can blend ice cubes until they are crushed, then place crushed cubes into a pan before pouring the maple candy. You can also use candy molds.

6. Maple candy must be stored in airtight containers to prevent the candy from drying out.

From Little House in the Big Woods

1. 

"What would you like best to eat?" They talked about spareribs, and turkey with dressing, and baked beans, and crackling cornbread, and other good things. But Almanzo said that what he liked most in the world was fried apples 'n 'onions. When at last, they went into dinner there on the table was a big dish of them! Mother knew what he liked best, and she had cooked it for him. Almanzo ate four large helpings of apples 'n' onions fried together." - Farmer Boy pg. 73

Apples 'N' Onions

Servings: 6

Ingredients:

• 1/2 lb bacon or salt pork

• 2 lb yellow onions (about 6)

• 2 lb tart apples, chopped (about 6)

• 2 tbsp brown sugar

Directions:

Fry bacon slices in 12-inch skillet until brown and crisp. Set aside on a warm serving platter. While meat is frying, peel onions, leaving stems to hold for slicing. To prevent your eyes from watering, hold a slice of bread in your teeth while you slice the onions as thin as possible.

Core apples and cut crosswise in circles about 1/4-inch thick. Apple skins help the slices hold their shape and add color to the dish, so don’t peel unless skins are tough or scarred.

Drain all but 1 Tbsp fat from skillet, then add onion slices. Cook over medium-high heat about 3minutes.

1. 

Cover with apple slices in an even layer. Sprinkle brown sugar over all, cover skillet, and cook until tender, a few minutes more. Stir only to prevent scorching. Remove to warm plate with bacon slices.

"When the milk was heated enough, Ma squeezed eery drop of water from the rennet in the cloth, and then she poured the water into the milk. She stirred it well and left it in a warm place by the stove. In a little while it thickened into a smooth quivery mass. ..Ma cut it into little squares and let it stand while the curd separated from the whey. Then she poured it all into a cloth and let the thin, yellowish whey drain out." - Little House in the Big Woods pg. 188


Easy White Cheese: Great for breading and frying, stir-frying with vegetables, or by itself, this mild cheese will keep refrigerated for one week.

1 gallon milk
2 T. lemon juice
3 T. white vinegar
3 teaspoons chives

1 teaspoon dill weed

Pour milk into a large pot. Slowly bring the temperature up to 180F. This may take an hour. Stir frequently to prevent scorching, and hold the temperature at 180F for four minutes. Combine vinegar and lemon juice and add to the milk, stirring gently, until the curds separate form the whey. Line a colander with cheesecloth, and pour the contents of the pot. Tie the corners of the cheese cloth together to form a bag and let it hang to drain for three hours. The cheese will be solid when its ready. Place in bowl and salt to taste. Wrap and refrigerate. Yield: one pound. Variation: Herbed Easy White Cheese -- Add chives and dill to the curds before hanging.

Johnny Cakes were a staple of the Ingall's family as for many of that time period. The are mentioned particularly in On the Banks of Plum Creek. A Johnny cake is cornbread that could be made on a hoe. Originally called Journey Cakes for their ability to travel, the name was shortened to Johnny Cakes.

I found this recipe from 1796:

Scald 1 pint of milk and put 3 pints of Indian meal, and half pint of flower -- bake before the fire. Or scald with milk two thirds of the Indian meal, or wet two thirds with boiling water, add salt, molasses and shortening, work up with cold water pretty stiff, and bake as above.

Joseph Smith's Johnny Cakes

3 cups cornmeal

1 cup flour

2 teaspoons baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

2 tablespoons molasses

3 cups buttermilk

2 eggs – well beaten

Sift the dry ingredients, slowly stir in molasses and buttermilk and mix well. Add the eggs and beat hard for 2 minutes. Pour into shallow well greased pans and bake at 350 for 30 minutes. Eat with butter and honey.

Teamwork Dinner

The Story:

I found some amazing books on cooperative games, my favorite being Cooperative Games and Sports by Terry Orlick . . . I was interested in the author's assertion that aboriginal games were non competitive, non eliminating, easily played with a variety of ages, and simply fun. Our family has a problem with competition between themselves. "Who does it better Mom, me or her?" and "Look what she did. I behaved nicely."

Somehow, there is too much competition in our world, a belief that there is not enough love, approval, or whatever to go around. I knew I need to foster a spirit of "the team" with my family. I so want them to realize that what we can accomplish together is so much greater than what we can do alone. Now, I realize that this cannot be accomplished with one dinner, but, why waste a dinner when you can add a little learning opportunity with the time we share. Right?

So... this was our least organized and unplanned dinner, but there is a place for those because life is what it is and it doesn't have to be perfect to be worth it. We had some friends with older children join us and it really improved our activity. The bigger numbers made it funner, and my children idolize Trent and Erin who took such good care of them.

I had parts of the food pre-made; the fruit salad dressing, the chicken, the noodles, and the salad dressing. On two tables outside I placed a fruit basket, carrots and a grater, vegetables, knives, and cutting boards.

I began by pointing out the unappetizing look of the unprepared dinner in front of each person. Onions and a knife were in front of one, pine nuts in front of another, and so forth. I mentioned that as a team, they had a quest to fulfil in order to enjoy the feast to it's fullest potential.

I had several activities in mind, the books were full of so many great activities. But mindful of time, I picked a few.

1. First we made a sticky popcorn ball. Everyone scattered around the yard and Sunshine started popping like popcorn. When she popped next to another person, they stuck to her and the popped over to someone else until everyone was one large sticky ball. I would love to see 20 or so teenagers bouncing around together.
   
2. We formed teams and used blankets to throw and catch a ball. I required 20 successful throw/catches to fulfill the quest. I think this would be funner with a volleyball net and maybe more people around the blankets.
3. We played fruit cocktail. The fruit for our salad was in a basket across the yard. The group had to transport the fruit to the table without using their hands, feet, or mouths to touch the fruit.
4. Each individual picked a task that needed to be performed for dinner to be completed. They could ask anyone for help if needed. (slice the cucumber, grate the carrot, chop the pineapple, etc.) It was heartwarming to see Trent, a senior in high school help the little ones with tasks that were a little above them and to see help and encouragement given.

When tasks were complete, the separate dinner salad ingredients could be combined to create a whole that was greater than it's parts. While we ate, I asked for input on what our words had to do with our meal. I was lifted by the insights of the little and big ones. We discussed each individuals importance in the team effort. A team is made up of individuals working together for a common goal. Trent gave us a deep thought, "The name on the front of your shirt is more important than the name on the back of your shirt."

After our friends left, our girls chanted "Team ______!" as they carried in various items and assisted in clean up. "We're such a cool team Mom. We're _________." Sunshine stated. I'll need to do a lot of follow up, but it was a fine introduction to begin thinking as a team.

The recipes:

Asian Chicken Salad
This fresh tasting salad has an amazing mixture of flavors and textures and feels perfect for summer.

Dressing
1/4 cup sesame or olive oil (I use a bit less)
1/4 cup soy sauce
1/3 cup rice vinegar
1 T sugar
1/4 t hot sauce (I use chili paste)

Individual Ingredients
5 ounces angel hair pasta
3 chicken breast halves, cooked and chopped (I cooked a chicken in the crock pot, leftover rotisserie chicken works well too)
3 cups shredded cabbage
3 cups spinach or other dark greens
2 shredded carrots
3 green onions, sliced diagonally
1 peeled and sliced cucumber
1/2 cup chopped cilantro
1/2 cup fresh mint leaves

In a small bowl, combine the dressing ingredients and set aside. Cook pasta according to directions; drain, rinse and place in a bowl. You can combine the remainder of the ingredients in the salad, or let everyone make their own from the individual ingredients.

Cantaloupe Fruit Salad
Perfect sweet side for any BBQ. Does not, I repeat, does not need sweetener.

1 cantaloupe cut in chunks
1/2 pineapple cup in chunks
1 apple, cored and chunked
1/2 cup coconut
1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans
1 cup plain yogurt
1 t grated orange peel

Mix bottom 4 ingredients together and stir over fruit.

Summer Luau

The Story: There are times when a dinner is more than a dinner. These times leave me feeling that the dishes and prep time are more than worth it. Friendships and made, needs are met and kids feel like they've had a celebration. Tonight was such a night.

I have the unfortunate habit of discovering friends right before they leave. Tonight was a repeat of that experience. A dear friend and I planned our luau. She suggested we invite a young family in the neighborhood who were moving in a week. We went to a local pool, had wet and screaming fun with water balloons and found that we had much in common. I then am left to wonder why I didn't seek out their fun company earlier. I could have enjoyed months of good times and done some good. This is a lesson for me to reach out to those who don't immediately come to mind.

The Decor:
Grass Skirts on tables from the dollar store
leis for all from the dollar store
My large collection of seashells strewn about the tables
Tiki torches (a favorite entertaining staple)
A plant stuffed artfully with leis for color
A seashell shaped dish floating lilies from the garden

The Recipes:
My friend Karma went to college in Hawaii where she met and married Ben, a fun loving sweet Samoan. These are their recipes they use for Luaus.

Kalua Pork

Pork Roast
Liquid Smoke
Salt
Water

Place Pork Roast in Slow Cooker or Slow oven. Cover pork with water. For every 2 cups of water, add 2 T. Liquid Smoke and 1 t. salt. Slow cook for 8 hours on low, or 4 hours on high. shred with 2 forks and serve over rice.


Panipopo (Samoan Coconut Buns)

20 Rhodes rolls, thawed and raised
1 can coconut milk
1 1/2 c. sugar
4 T. flour
1 1/2 cup water

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place rolls in a pan. Bring remaining ingredients to a boil for 1 minute. Pour sauce over buns and bake for 15-20 minutes.

Pina Colado Punch

Bacardi frozen concentrate
3 litres lemon lime soda
tons of ice
floating fruit

Summer Solstice

Background:

June 21 is the longest day of the year and the most ancient and widespread holiday or celebration still in practice today. Anciently it was the most auspicious day for weddings. The term "honeymoon" comes from the moon phase at this time. It was believed to be the best time to harvest honey. Often solstice celebration food was made with honey. It was thought to bring fertility to the land and to the people. Herbs and flowers played a large roll in solstice celebrations. Many cultures wore flower wreaths in their hair or danced around flowered poles. Most cultures celebrated the evening around a huge bonfire, meant to give energy to the waning sun perhaps. Young men and women would leap over the flames, the higher the leap the better the crops. Late at night herbs were collected for the next year's medicines and use. On this night they were more potent than any other night. Young people placed certain herbs and flowers under their pillows to dream of their future spouse.

This year 35,000 gathered at Stonehenge, many across the globe participated in hike naked day, and others gathered to drink themselves into a stupor. In tribute to the sun and it's creator, we also celebrated Shakespeare's magical shortest night with a family dinner.

After a discussion of solstice, the power of the sun and our dependence on it we experimented to see if we could harness it's power. Inspired by Chef Tess, we created a miniature solar ovens out of pizza boxes, click here and here. Our Smore's tasted better to the girls because they cooked them in their OWN ovens.

Scene:
Bonfire or fire torches
Netting over our table
Double plates, white on bottom, flowers in the middle and glass plates on top
Edible Flower ice cubes (we used miniature roses and the water tasted magical)

Activity:
"Hunt" for candy bar qualities we would look for in a future spouse.
Flower garlands for hair
Picked herbs and flowers to place under their pillows to dream about future spouse.

Menu:
Honey Almond Balls
Honey Fruit Salad
Honey Dijon Crusted Salmon and Chicken
Honey Dill glazed carrots
Homemade Ice Cream


Honey Dijon Crusted Salmon and Chicken
1/4 cup butter, melted
3 T Dijon type mustard (the more flavorful the mustard, the better the dish)
1 1/2 T. honey
1/4 cup dry seasoned bread crumbs
1/4 cup finely chopped pecans
4 t chopped fresh parsley
4 fillets salmon or chicken (we used both, I prefer salmon, Briz prefers chicken)
salt and pepper to taste
1 lemon for garnish

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees
2. In a small bowl, stir together butter, mustard, and honey. In another bowl, mix bread crumbs, pecans, salt and pepper, and parsley.
3. Brush each salmon fillet lightly with honey mustard mixture, and sprinkle the tops of the fillets with crumb mixture.
4. Bake 12-15 minutes until it flakes easily with a fork.
5. Garnish each with a wedge of lemon.

Fruit Salad with Honey Dressing from Paula Deen
1/3 cup honey
1/4 cup orange juice
1/4 cup canola oil
1/2 t fresh lemon juice, plus the juice of 1 lemon
1 1/2 t poppy seeds
1/4 t salt
1/4 t prepared mustard
1 apple, cored and diced
1 banana, sliced
1 avacado, peeled and sliced
1 (11 ounce) can mandarin oranges, drained
1/4 cup chopped walnuts or pecans
red or green leaf lettuce

For the dressing, combine honey, orange juice, oil, 1/2 t lemon juice, poppy seeds, salt, and mustard in a jar with a tight lid; cover and shake well. Toss the apple, banana, and avocado with juice from 1 lemon to prevent the fruit from turning brown. combine all the fruit and nuts in a glass bowl. Add the dressing and stir gently. Serve on a bed of greens.

Honey Dill Glazed Carrots
1 lb baby carrots
2 T fresh dill
2 t orange juice
1 T honey
1/2 t lemon zest
1/4 t ground mustard
1/4 t salt
1/8 t ground black pepper

Steam carrots until tender-crisp, 8-10 minutes
In a small bowl, combine dill, orange juice, olive oil, lemon zest, mustard, salt, and pepper and whisk until blended.
In a larger bowl, combine the carrots and dill mixture and toss to mix well.

Honey Almond Date Balls: quick, easy, and healthy snacks for energy!!!

Adaptation Dinner (Walk in Another's Shoes)

The Story:

Today as we returned home from the pool, one of our favorite high school seniors was lying in our grass with a neighbor girl, Tessa. Tessa has many handicaps, and I am not certain exactly what they are but she has difficulty communicating,and will often use some sign language. "Why doesn't she talk?" my girls asked. "Why will she only walk with Steph?" I knew this was a discussion that merited more than a quick answer, though I gave them that.

At dinnertime, I sat the family in the family room. I talked about how we were each born with different physical and mental characteristics. Those of us with contacts raised their hands, those with anxiety raised their hands. Those with blue, brown, or green eyes raised their hands. Now, we are going to play a game. Let's pretend we were born with different traits. Let's each pick a quality that we will have to live with tonight. Each picked a slip of paper.

• Ladybug experienced my sister Ivy, whose elbow was fused in a horrific fall from a cliff. (tube wrapped up her right arm so it could not bend)

• Little Mother was blind (dark sock with a safety pin)

• I was deaf (earplugs)

• Sunshine walked in Tessa's shoes or someone who spoke a different language. All she could say for the evening was "moo goo".

• Russ tried to experience the basketball girl's life and could only move around on his behind.

Our meal was different. I screamed as people who can't hear usually do. Little Mother felt fearful of falling, so she scooted around the floor, and kept asking others to help her with her food. Ladybug switched to her left hand, and found it wasn't quite as handy. Sunshine took a long time to learn to communicate what she wanted. After dinner, we talked about our feelings. Ladybug was frustrated. Little Mother felt frightened. Sunshine was frustrated. Briz sat on his heiny and didn't want to move anywhere because it was convenient. I felt isolated from my family since I couldn't hear them.



We then went into the study where I pulled up stories of people with handicaps who had adapted with great success. We spoke of Helen Keller, Arthur Ashe, The basketball girl, and a young man with autism who was cheered on in basketball by his school. The girls were fascinated and wanted more and more.

Briz and I then explained that all these people didn't give up, and found ways to adapt and thrive despite things in their life that weren't "perfect". All of us felt a bit more understanding of those we knew, and some we didn't.

Recipe of the Day: This is such an simple main dish salad with fresh flavors for summer. We Love it!
Rylstone Chicken Salad

2 BBQ chicken breasts, sliced (You can use leftover, I LOVE Grill Mates Mesquite Marinate for 30 min.)1-2 chopped shallots or 1/2 red onion, finely sliced. (I saute the onions as it is better for my stomach)
1 mango, sliced
1 avacado, sliced
1 cucumber, sliced
grapes, halved
Mixed greens

Dressing:

Juice of 2 limes or 1 lemon
2 teaspoons grainy mustard
1 tablespoon warmed honey

1. On a bed of mixed greens, arrange chicken, avacodo, mango, onion, cucumber and grapes.
2. Place all dressing ingredients in a jar and shake till well mixed. Pour over salad 30 minutes before serving time.
3. Keep in the fridge.

Shopping Mystery Dinner

The Story:
After a week of surgery, a baptism, guests, and the mess that follows hostessing, we haven't much energy or imagination for fancy dinners. Yet, my crew still needs something out of the ordinary to break our monotony. I called them into the kitchen, gave them each $4.00, and drove to the store. Each picked out their own contribution to dinner. I wondered if we would dine on Trix and ice cream tonight. But if so, that was O.K. I wanted to stretch my little ones independence and give them the ultimate in choices.

We met at the front and purchased the goods. I admit, I went a bit over on my purchase... $4.87 for shrimp, but everyone else was under, so I feel o.k. about it.


At home, each person made their own dish to offer the family. Each item told a lot about the person who picked it. Meat loving Briz picked Maple Sausage and cooked it for us plain it patties. I always want to feel treated, so I made bacon wrapped shrimp with cocktail sauce. Ladybug is always concerned about health and brought home a cantaloupe.

Little Mother picked ice cream sandwiches, and our ever drinking Sunshine picked a frozen concentrate to mix with a carbonated beverage. Smiles of pride accompanied each meal donor as they offered the family their portion of the feast.

"This is a really good dinner." Ladybug commented, "but I guess it shows that everyone likes different things."

The Recipe:

Bacon Wrapped Shrimp
jumbo uncooked shrimp, peeled and deveined
1 pound uncooked bacon, cut into thirds
toothpicks
Wrap bacon around each shrimp, closing with a toothpick.

Broil for 3-4 minutes then turn. Broil for 3-4 more minutes. Serve with your favorite cocktail sauce. (Mine is Bookbinders). Simply Heaven!