Month: November 2024

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The Day after…and the Next

ellenparkerwrites

Yesterday, at the traditional United States Thanksgiving Day feast, a roasted turkey was served.

Today, millions of people are eating turkey sandwiches.

And tomorrow…

A hearty, homemade soup to warm your stomach. (And use more leftover meat.)

What shall we serve with our soup? Do we have any rolls left? Perhaps the fruit salad is still good. Dessert?

In the mid-19th century, people strived to not let food go to waste. Whether fruit, vegetable, or animal, the settlers and immigrants on farms and in small towns, used all the edible parts.

In the sweet historical romance, Stitching a Dream, Polly Black prepares simple meals for herself, her son, and any guest. Prepare to dine on beans with ham hock. Or meat simmered with potatoes, carrot, onion, and parsnip. For a finish — if she has gone to the bakery — expect pound cake or perhaps a fruit Kuchen. You will find more information about the book at the link: https://amzn.to/3VwoeFh

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Prepare the Bird

ellenparkerwrites

Do you celebration the US Thanksgiving Day?

Do you dine on roasted poultry? Turkey is the most popular. Don’t forget chicken for a smaller group of people. Or perhaps a duck or goose to stand out from the crowd.

Many years I’ve fixed a Cornish game hen for this small household.

If I’d omitted the six-inch ruler from the photo — this could pass for a larger bird.

I’m grateful for the farmers who raise the poultry and the meatpacker people who do the killing, plucking, dressing (cleaning), and freezing.

As a child, and for a short time as an adult, I was involved in all of the above steps for chickens. (My parents got involved with a duck once. I understand they are difficult to pluck (defeather).)

In the year the sweet historical romance, Stitching a Dream, is set — the Thanksgiving Holiday was not as set or established. It was a full decade later when President Abraham Lincoln fixed the date as the final Thursday in November. Many areas celebrated a day of Thanksgiving after the harvest, and sometimes a national day was proclaimed, but the date varied.

What do you think Illinois residents would have feasted on in the 1850’s? A goose? Venison? Fish?

Whatever your answer — sit down with a good book after the feast to aid your digestion. I suggest a sweet romance. Here’s a link to a sweet historical: https://amzn.to/3VwoeFh

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You want me to What???

ellenparkerwrites

The United States holiday of Thanksgiving is less that a week away. A major holiday, even a few popular songs have found their way into the culture.

But we may have a problem. Are you feasting and celebrating at a relative’s home? Do you have to cross a river? Drive through a wooded area?

Pull a sleigh? To your grandmother’s house? Are you out of your mind? Have you paid any attention to the weather?

Let’s get a few things settled. First: No sleighs–wheels work well on bare roads. Second: I’m not trained to harness for any vehicle–and time is too short for this year. Third: The hay in your grandmother’s barn is not fit for my fine palate. Therefore: Please use the automobile. I’ll be happy to spend the day alone in my familiar barn.

In the sweet romance, MORNING TRYST, photographer Serena Carter is away from family for an entire year of holidays. While a friend joins her for Christmas, as they attend another friend’s wedding, most of her special days are spent in Missouri State Parks — photographing the sights. Well, unless a certain male friend drops in to make a different sort of holiday. Follow the link for more book details. https://amzn.to/35gH37S

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A task for all ages.

ellenparkerwrites

There are several household tasks which boys, girls, men, and women have been asked to do across the centuries.

Take out the trash. Or the slop bucket. Or the dish water.

Until less than a century ago, you would have heard “Fetch a pail or water” or “Bring in stove wood” at regular intervals.

One that continues to this day is: “set the table.”

A plain plate. A butter knife. A three-tined fork.

One thing appears to be missing from this mid-19th century table setting. Or perhaps this is a household which kept the spoons in a separate container in the center of the table. The water glass, or perhaps it was filled with ale, is just hinted at in this photo.

In the sweet historical romance, STITCHING A DREAM, the young boy, Joseph, is often given the task of setting the table. His mother, a seamstress, insists that their apartment behind the dress shop remain neat.

For more information on this book, follow the link: https://amzn.to/3VwoeFh

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Quick — and Delicious

ellenparkerwrites

Not long ago, I was in the mood to bake a treat. I had a specific ingredient I wanted to use, so I went on a search through my cookbooks. (I have lots, but frequently only use a few.)

I settled on making a nut bread. And I followed a recipe — mostly.

One positive to making a quick bread (non-yeast), is the fact that you can usually mix it up and get it in the oven in a short time.

The finished nut bread contained black walnuts, cranberries, and a dash of orange juice to modify a basic recipe.

Quick breads conjure up warm and cozy. Think of their members: muffins, biscuits, pancakes. Add butter and you pretty much can make a meal.

When Louisa Mueller was baking in the fictional village of Elm Ridge, Illinois during 1851, she did not have the luxury of packaged baking powder and baking soda. So many of her treats used yeast. Or, in the case of certain cookies, much beating to incorporate more air into the batter.

Check out her story in the sweet historical romance, New Dreams. Follow the link for more information. https://amzn.to/3vWydWE

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Pretty and Useful

ellenparkerwrites

Every pioneer garden, plus many today, include herbs beside the vegetables. In a 21st century garden, the herbs are likely used for cooking — fresh basil and parsley come to mind.

In the 19th century, a wider variety of herbs were grown and used both in cooking and for medicine. They were used as a tea to calm stomach problems and treat fevers. Others were used as a poultice to ease pain or draw out an infection.

This sage plant, a beauty when blooming, has many uses in the kitchen. The leaves, dried and crushed add flavor to many meat dishes and poultry stuffing. I can also imagine sage combined with other herbs or dried flowers in a little sachet in the wardrobe among your finest clothes.

In the sweet historical romance, New Dreams, the owners of the bakery maintain a garden. Among the cabbage, carrots, and potatoes, I imagine sage, rosemary, and parsley. Check out the book for a look into immigrants adjusting to life in America. Here’s a link: https://amzn.to/3vWydWE

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Assembly Required

ellenparkerwrites

When beginning a project, or a recipe, I find it helpful to assemble all the necessary tools and ingredients together at the beginning.

Is anything missing? Do I have it in a different box, drawer, cupboard? Can I substitute? Does this require a trip to the store?

When chili is on the supper menu, the kitchen counter looks like this in the morning.

The baker, Louisa Mueller, in the sweet historical romance, New Dreams, checks her ingredients before mixing bread, cakes, pastries, or cookies. Check out the book for a story about new immigrants to 1851 Illinois. Follow the link: https://amzn.to/3vWydWE

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Favorite Curls

ellenparkerwrites

During this month of November, my blogs are going to be centered around food. Partly to get you ready for the US Thanksgiving holiday, and also because I enjoy eating.

So forget curls of hair. Actually, forget carrot curls also. While they are a pretty garnish, I’m thinking heartier fare.

Do you like the aroma of fresh baked bread? Cinnamon?

Smell or taste? Which do you prefer?

Baking day makes the entire house smell warm, and sweet, and cozy. Plan ahead when making yeast dough. You want to give it plenty of time to rise – twice. These rolls, made with a sweet dough are finished off with lots of butter and cinnamon sugar. Pairs well with friendly conversation and a hot beverage. (Or with post-voting celebrations.)

In the sweet historical romance, New Dreams, the heroine is a baker. Cinnamon buns, wheat bread, rye bread, and ginger cookies are some of the things she makes often. Check out this story of Deutsch immigrants in 1851 here: https://amzn.to/3vWydWE

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Crafty — with Companions

ellenparkerwrites

November is here!

During these final two months of the year, many people turn their thoughts to the holidays. Yes, these weeks will be filled with feasting, gift exchanging, parties, special music and foods.

It is also the prime season for craft shows. This is an excellent place to find unique decor and gifts for the events mentioned above.

Would you buy a new book from the author?

Among the crafters who have cut, sewn, glued, and poured items for sale, occasionally you find an author selling their books. Be sure to stop and chat a minute. Do you enjoy reading the genre they write? Do you immerse yourself in another genre? Have you written, or started, to write a book? Are you looking for a gift? (Books are both quiet and easy to wrap.)

So the next time you visit a craft show — look past the displays of candles and cutting boards, and doggie treats — maybe you’ll find an author selling and autographing their books.