We are reading Little House in the Big Woods right now, and doing a lapbook to go along with it. Also, my mom got Noah a Civil War, and a Pioneer project book for Christmas last year, and we are pulling some things out of there. The book mentioned cooking Johnny Cakes, and then also the process of making their own butter. Those were 2 projects in our book, so we tried them. We had a recipe in each book for the Johnny cakes, I chose the one out of the Civil War book b/c they could be baked, and the other one had to be fried, but I think they would have tasted better. These that we made, were just gross. That is the best way to describe them. They had no taste...but it was good to see, and really sympathize with the Civil War soldiers. The book said that something they ate all the time, and rarely even had butter or molasses to go on them. Poor guys!
For the butter, we got Heavy Whipping cream, and let it sit out until it was room temperature, and then poured it in a glass jar.
Then, you had to shake the jar for 10 minutes....you see that shaking action going on?
After 10 minutes, the milk had seperated from the curd, so we strained it out....then you have to rinse the butter until it runs clean
Add some salt to it for flavor, and there you go! It really just tasted like plain whipping cream to me, but with the salt added to it, it tasted o.k.
So neat!! I love the Little House books, and we have the cookbook to go along with it... yet we've never made either the Johnny cakes or homemade butter. You are inspiring me... like you said, even if the "cakes" are bland, it's a great learning/ empathizing experience for the kids.
ReplyDeleteHi Maury
ReplyDeleteI have been reading but having trouble commenting recently. Today the comment box opened for me. Yipppee. Don't know what's been going on but I am sure the problem has been at my end because I have the same thing with a couple of other blogs too. Weird.
Anyway, I am sorry that the Johnny Cakes did not taste great. You sound to have had fun making them though. The halloween cupcakes looked delicious.
Lindsay
x
loving this unit you're doing - living vicariously!
ReplyDeletei have a civil war book (chapter book) that my oldest started reading, but hasn't finished. it's about their age level and about a boy about their age. noah may like it, remind me to give it to you with all the other stuff!