With the upcoming holiday speeding towards it is time again to reflect on ..well...what it is....
Happy 4th!
Happy Independence Day!
No matter how you label it… It means
something special to us who not only live in this country but who have fallen
in love with a country and served even unto death for that connection to the
founding spirit that makes patriotism real.
We have shared the same faith walk of the founders of this country…and
found God in our Love and devotion to our country. Yes like politics they argued…that religion
and politics sometime meet and agree so we also
in our walk testifying and sharing the Good News…the same good news I
may say that the founders of this country came here to express…each group in
their own way But one thing…one thing remains from that day…what we have in
common is the journey and legacy of religious
freedom to worship, and a new beginning
…It would seem to be very hard to express what that means in one thought. After reading writings from the Founding
fathers it occurred to me that it’s all about one thing …a person named
Jesus. They were all called out to be Christians…and what they believe in is justification by faith -
that through their belief in Jesus as the Son of God, and in his death and
resurrection, they can have a
right relationship with God whose forgiveness was made once and for all through the death of Jesus Christ…as
revealed in the Bible and testimony of many followers who have gone before
us. They believed God in His Word and
when they read in Psalm 33:12 “Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, The people whom He has
chosen for His own inheritance.” They knew the key to success of this fledgling country was in founding it firmly on His
principles …they felt God had brought them here …that they were chosen for His
own inheritance… God So loved the world that He gave His only begotten
Son…Jesus so that whoever
believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
Now I was blessed to live for a season near
the Jamestown colony and got to visit and study the cuisine of those first
settlers. Also ate colonial inspired dishes in Williamsburg. So I humbly submit this recipe as it is one of my favorites. I hope eating
something like this could inspire dinner table conversations about such a time when people who made gigantic sacrifices to be free...and how God was there working His plans
for us, and seeing the Love for country begins with true Love …and we know God is
Love…Independence? Yes! but by Dependance on Our Father’s provision... “O taste and see that the LORD is good; How
blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!”
Psalm 34:8.
This colonial recipe is called
Apple Tansey. If you have cooked an
omelet this will be helpful. But I have
some tips to make this recipe more…user friendly? I quote from the original, The Compleat
Houfewife: Or, Accomplished Gentelwoman’s Companion,1742 ( the first cookbook
published in the US)
“Take three pippins,
slice them round in thin slices, and fry them with butter; then beat four eggs,
with six spoonfuls of cream, a little rosewater, nutmeg, and sugar; stir them
together, and pour it over the apples; let it fry a little, and turn it with a
pye-plate. Garnish with lemon and sugar strew'd over it.”
The tips being: 1) if no pippins are available any sweet apple with a little tartness. Core them before slicing. ;)
2)Over a Medium Hot burner in a large (10"inch) straight sided saute or cast iron pan
3) Use 3 tablespoons of
butter & heat till melted and starting to get to the "tan" stage... add apples and turn often till apples start
browning.
Now making a custard…beat eggs
and heavy cream. Don’t worry about the rosewater it is a delicate flavor if you
have some make sure it is CULINARY rosewater only about 1/2 teaspoon. About a third of a nutmeg or a good teaspoon
of already ground, and 2 Tablespoons sugar.
OK so now you are making an omelet or frittata... reduce heat to medium and stir it often till
it starts to come together, check for brownness on the underside. Flip it or turn it by putting a pie plate
over the Tansey and turning it over in one quick motion, then sliding it back
into the pan. Make sure it is very brown. You want this a little darker than Golden)
For a no flip option place it under your oven’s broiler until the top is
very brown. remove and slide off onto a plate.
Now personal tips...( If you are at home) since I had to get a ½ pt
minimum of cream for the 6 teaspoons for the Tansey, whip the rest of it as
sweet as you like and top the Tansey with that or powdered sugar and serve with small lemon
wedges to garnish.
Ask your guests to squeeze a little lemon over the Tansey…And remember the struggle where a well cooked meal or treat, dessert made your life special. Love food! Oh yeah...Don't forget the Fireworks! Oooooooooo Ahhhhhhhhhhhh
Thanks to Tori Avey and her blog/website "The History Kitchen" for the pic...
