Recipe: Indian Hoecakes
Celebrate Presidents' Day by making George Washington's favorite breakfast.
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George Washington's Indian Hoecakes |
1 egg
2 Tbsp. shortening, melted
3/4 cup milk
Preheat griddle (we don't recommend a hoe!). Grease lightly. Blend ingredients. Batter will be slightly lumpy. Cook on hot griddle, turning when bubbles appear and edges appear to dry. Add syrup before eating.
Mary Kline
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Making Hoecakes with "Button". [aka Mary Byrne Kline] Rachel Faith, Evyn and Tyler Kline |
General Washington's typical breakfast has been described by members of his immediate family and several guests. His step-granddaughter, Nelly Custis Lewis, who was raised at Mount Vernon, wrote "He rose before sunrise, always wrote or read until 7 in summer or half past seven in winter. His breakfast was then ready – he ate three small mush cakes (Indian meal) swimming in butter and honey, and drank three cups of tea without cream." She described the recipe in a letter as: "The bread business is as follows if you wish to make 2 1/2 quarts of flour up-take at night one quart of flour, five table spoonfuls of yeast & as much lukewarm water as will make it the consistency of pancake batter, mix it in a large stone pot & set it near a warm hearth (or a moderate fire) make it at candlelight & let it remain until the next morning then add the remaining quart & a half by degrees with a spoon when well mixed let it stand 15 or 20 minutes & then bake it – of this dough in the morning, beat up a white & half of the yolk of an egg – add as much lukewarm water as will make it like pancake batter, drop a spoonful at a time on a hoe or griddle (as we say in the south). When done on one side turn the other – the griddle must be rubbed in the first instance with a piece of beef suet or the fat of cold corned beef ..."
Labels: Recipes, Theme: Presidents
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