Colonial Desserts By Isabella Costa 7A4-ID3

How did Colonists bake? Colonists used brick ovens, either in the kitchen or in a separate place outside. They were used only for bread, cake, and pastry. They often made Johnny Cakes, oatmeal biscuits (the word cookie was not used until much later when the Dutch settled), apple pies and gingerbread in these baking ovens.

What ingredients were used most often? Milk, Butter, Cream, Apples, Salt, Molasses, Nutmeg, Flour, Eggs, Cornmeal, Oats, Sugar, Honey, Cloves, Ginger, Cinnamon. These ingredients were often used because they were fairly easy to find nearby. Most ingredients were grown, found or purchased within walking distance of their home.

What tools were used?

Fire Spoon and the Sugar Cutter Fire spoon was used to carry hot coal back home from outside were it was kept. Sugar Cutter was used to cut off a piece of sugar from large cones

The Quern and the Spider The Quern was used to grind corn into cornmeal. The Spider was used for frying in the fireplace without having to stand and hold the pan.

Samp Mortar and the Butter Churn A Samp Mortar was another tool used to grind corn. The Butter Churn was used to mix cream continuously until it turned to butter.

The Waffle Iron and the Bread Toaster The Waffle Iron is an iron tool used make a waffle over a fire. The Bread Toaster was simply used to toast bread over or near a fire.

Johnny Cakes Ingredients 1 c. Rhode Island white Johnny Cake meal (white cornmeal) Pinch of salt 1 tsp. sugar 1 c. boiling water 1 egg Milk Lard (fat) Preparation Put johnny cake meal into mixing bowl. Add salt and sugar. Make a well in center of meal. Pour in water to scald mixture. Let stand for a few minutes. Beat in egg. Thin batter to consistency of pancakes by adding milk and beating well. Drop by large, kitchen spoonfuls in hot shortening or lard onto griddle. Cook thoroughly on one side before turning. Do not cook too fast or inside will not be done. Makes 8 "cakes."

Gingerbread Ingredients 1 Cup Sugar 2 Teaspoons Ginger 1 Teaspoon Nutmeg 1 Teaspoon Cinnamon ½ Teaspoon Salt 1 Cup Butter, Melted ½ Cup Milk 1 Cup Molasses 4 Cups Stone-Ground Flour, Unsifted Preparation Combine the sugar, ginger, nutmeg, cinnamon and salt. Mix well. Add the melted butter, milk, and molasses. Mix well. Add the flour 1 cup at a time, stirring constantly. The dough should be stiff enough to handle without sticking to fingers. Knead the dough for a smoother texture. Add up to ½ cup additional flour if needed to prevent sticking. When the dough is smooth, roll it out ¼ inch thick on a floured surface and cut it into cookies. Bake on floured or greased cookie sheets in a preheated 375 degree oven for minutes. The cookies are done if they spring back when touched.

Apple Pie Ingredients Sugar (2 cups) Cinnamon (4 teaspoons) Butter (2 sticks - 8 tablespoons) Apples (24 green - Granny Smith type, 6 apples per group) Lemons (4) Nutmeg (1 teaspoon) Ingredients to make pastry (2 crusts): 3/4 - 1 cup sugar - depends on apples 2 tbs flour 1 tsp cinnamon pinch salt Preparation Peel and core apples. Sprinkle with lemon juice. Combine sugar, flour, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt. Put sliced apples in bowl and toss gently until apples are coated. Put apples into pie crust. Dot apples with butter. Fit top crust over pie. Seal and flute. Cut a few slashes on top of pie. Bake in a hot oven (425 degrees) for minutes. This pie can be placed in Dutch Oven on the hearth and baked. Makes 2 pies.

Oatmeal Biscuits Ingredients 2 c. sugar 1 c. lard 2 eggs 1 1/2 c. flour 3 c. rolled oats 1 c. Raisins or nuts Preparation Cream lard. Add sugar gradually. Add well beaten eggs and vanilla. Sift flour. Add to mixture. Add oats, nuts or raisins (1 cup) and mix well. Shape into balls and flatten. Bake at 350 degrees for about 10 minutes.

Quiz Common Ingredients? Tools? What was the old English way of saying cookie?

Bibliography Information Resources: ial%20studies/colonisl%20times/baker.html GINGERBREAD-CAKES Photographic Resources: ucter/575.jp