Dolley Madison’s Cheese Straws

The following recipe is credited to First Lady Dolley Madison.

First Lady Dolley Madison

Dolley Payne Todd Madison (May 20, 1768 – July 12, 1849) was the wife of James Madison, President of the United States from 1809 to 1817.

According to Wikipedia, she was noted for her social gifts, which boosted her husband’s popularity as President. In this way, she did much to define the role of the President’s spouse, known only much later by the title First Lady – a function she had sometimes performed earlier for the widowed Thomas Jefferson.

Dolley Madison also helped to furnish the newly constructed White House. When the British set fire to it in 1814, she was credited with saving the classic portrait of George Washington.

In widowhood, she often lived in poverty, partially relieved by the sale of her late husband’s papers.”

Ingredients: 

• 4 c. sharp Cheddar cheese, finely grated, room temperature
• 1 c. butter, room temperature
• 3 c. flour
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1 1/2 tsp. paprika
• 1/2 tsp. oregano
• 1/2 tsp. dried parsley
• 1 tsp. garlic powder
• 1/4 tsp. white pepper

Directions: In a bowl, cream cheese and butter together. Add remaining ingredients and mix thoroughly to form dough.

Roll out dough on a floured board to 1/4″ thickness.  Using a sharp knife, cut into strips about 1/2″ x 4″ wide.  Place strips on an un-greased baking sheet.

Bake 400°F for 8 minutes until golden brown.

Yield: 6 dozen

Calories:  70 calories per serving

Source: Famous White House Recipes, The American Collection Cookbooks, Volume 1

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Presidential Quiz – Answers

Do you know your United States History???

Click the photo for more on the Mt. Rushmore National Park located in South Dakota, United States.

Mt. Rushmore National Park in South Dakota features the faces of the following United States Presidents: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore “Teddy” Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln.

Here are the answers to the Presidential quiz.

1. Which of the 4 Presidents featured on Mount Rushmore was the only President elected unanimously… twice?    Answer:  George Washington

2. To date, which president is the tallest, standing at 6’4″?   Answer: Abe Lincoln

3. Which United States President spoke 6 languages?  Answer:  Thomas Jefferson

4. Which president is known for his achievements in conservation?  Answer: Teddy Roosevelt

Presidential Quiz

Do you know your United States History???

Take this fun quiz and find out.

Mt. Rushmore features the faces of the following United States Presidents: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore “Teddy” Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln. Find out more about this national monument.

1. Which of the 4 Presidents featured on Mount Rushmore was the only President elected unanimously… twice?

2. To date, which president is the tallest, standing at 6’4″?

3. Which United States President spoke 6 languages?

4.  Which president is known for his achievements in conservation?

(hint:  the answers can be found on Mount Rushmore, South Dakota)

President’s Day – Feb. 17

President’s Day is so named in honor of all the former United States Presidents.

Up until 1968, the birth anniversaries of Presidents Abraham Lincoln (Feb. 12) and George Washington (Feb. 22) were celebrated in various states as holidays.

President Lyndon B. Johnson established President’s Day in 1968.

On June 28, 1968, President Lyndon B. Johnson changed all that when he signed the Monday Holiday Law.  This law established Monday observances of Washington’s Birthday as well as various other holidays such as Columbus Day, regardless of the traditional dates.  The new law went into effect in January 1971.

The third Monday in February was chosen as Washington’s Birthday and a legal holiday.  It has since been renamed President’s Day.

President’s Day Cherry Squares

Celebrate the First U.S. President’s Birthday

Maybe he or maybe he didn’t… but could you blame young George Washington for chopping a Cherry Tree if he knew that he’d be eating these tasty cherry squares later in the day?

No lie, these cherry squares are delicious!

Yield: 16 Squares

Filling
Two 14.5-ounce cans pitted sour cherries (2 1/2 to 3 cups
drained, juice reserved, 20 ounces); or 6 cups (24 ounces) frozen pitted sour   cherries, thawed, drained, juice reserved
2/3 cup (5 3/8 ounces) reserved cherry juice
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup (3 1/2 ounces) sugar
3 tablespoons (3/4 ounce) cornstarch
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/8 teaspoon almond extract

Crust
1 1/2 cups (5 1/4 ounces) traditional rolled oats
1 1/2 cups (6 1/4 ounces) King Arthur Unbleached All-Purpose
Flour or King Arthur Organic White Whole Wheat Flour
1 cup (7 1/2 ounces) brown sugar, light or dark, packed
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks, 6 ounces) unsalted butter, melted
1/2 cup (2 ounces) sliced almonds

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Lightly grease a 9″ x 9″ pan.

To make the filling: Measure out 2/3 cup of the reserved cherry juice. In a small saucepan, combine the cherries, juice, and salt. Bring the mixture to a boil, reduce the heat to low, and simmer for 10 minutes. Whisk the sugar with the cornstarch, and stir into the cherries. Simmer the mixture, stirring frequently, for 5 minutes (if you’re using canned cherries); or for 20 minutes (if you’re using thawed frozen). It’ll thicken and look like canned cherry pie filling (but taste a WHOLE lot better). Remove the pan from the heat, stir in the vanilla and almond extracts, and set aside to cool slightly while you prepare the crust.

To make the crust: In a medium-sized mixing bowl, whisk together the oats or barley, flour, sugar, baking soda, and salt. Add the melted butter, stirring till everything is well combined.

To assemble the bars: Press 2 1/2 cups (about 14 ounces) of the crust mixture into the prepared pan, smoothing it out to completely cover the bottom of the pan, with no gaps showing. Top the crust with the filling. Add the almonds to the remaining crust mixture, and sprinkle it over the filling.

Bake the squares for 25 to 30 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown. Remove the squares from the oven, and allow them to cool before cutting into 2″ squares.

Recipe and photo from King Arthur Flour

 

Being Presidential

On Jan. 7, 2009, the current U. S. President George W. Bush (center) met with then President-elect Barack Obama (second-left), former President Bill Clinton (second-right), former President Jimmy Carter (right) and former President George H.W. Bush (left) in the Oval Office. (Photo by Mark Wilson, Getty Images)

Answers to the President’s Day Trivia Questions

Do you know…..?

1. What United States president reportedly swam nude in the Potomac River every day, weather-permitting?

Answer: John Quincy Adams

2. Who was the first President born in the United States?

Answer: Martin Van Buren, the 8th U.S. President

3. The United States was debt-free during this president’s term.  Who was he?

Answer: Andrew Jackson

4. Which President was a bachelor during his term?

Answer: James Buchanan

5. Which President died of pneumonia after just 31 days as President?

Answer: William Henry Harrison

6. Who was the shortest President at 5’4″?

Answer: James Madison

7. Name 3 Presidents who died on July 4?   Bonus Question:  Name the 2 out of the 3 Presidents that died the same day, same year within hours of each other.

Answer:  James Monroe died on July 4, 1831.  Both John Adams and Thomas Jefferson died on July 4, 1826.

8. Which President was offered a degree from a university but turned it down since he could not read Latin.  He was quoted as saying, “No one should have a degree they can’t read.”  Who was he?

Answer:  The 13th U.S. President Millard Fillmore

President’s Day Trivia

Do you know…..?

1. What United States president reportedly swam nude in the Potomac River every day, weather-permitting?

2. Who was the first President born in the United States?

3. The United States was debt-free during this president’s term.  Who was he?

4. Which President was a bachelor during his term?

5. Which President died of pneumonia after just 31 days as President?

6. Who was the shortest President at 5’4″?

7. Name 3 Presidents who died on July 4?   Bonus Question:  Name the 2 out of the 3 Presidents that died the same day, same year within hours of each other.

8. Which President was offered a degree from a university but turned it down since he could not read Latin.  He was quoted as saying, “No one should have a degree they can’t read.”  Who was he?

Happy Birthday, Abe!

Find more information about the 16th United States President at www.whitehouse.gov.

Presidential Favorite Appetizers

The 8th United States President, Martin Van Buren (term from 1837 to 1841), reportedly named the following appetizer as his favorite.

U.S. President Martin Van Buren

Midnight Edam Cheese Spread

Ingredients:

• 4 oz. Edam cheese
• 1/4 lb. sweet butter
• 2/3 c. beer
• 1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
• 1/2 tsp. dry mustard
• 1/2 c. plum tomatoes (peeled, seeded and chopped)
• 1/2 tsp. garlic salt
• 1 1/2 Tbsp. green onions, finely minced
• Toast slices

Directions: Cut a 2″ slice across the top of cheese and set aside. Scoop out the inside of the cheese. Using a blender or food processor, mix together the scooped-out cheese and butter. Slowly add beer.

Mix in Worcestershire sauce, dry mustard, tomatoes, garlic salt and onions. Fill the shell with the cheese mixture and cover with the reserved 2″ cheese piece.

Refrigerate for at least 2 hours and serve with toast slices.

Yield: 6 servings (approximately 1/4 c. spread)

 

The following recipe was considered a favorite of the 19th U.S.President, Rutherford B. Hayes (term from 1877 to 1881).

Curried Cucumbers & Crab Meat

Ingredients:

• 1 c. mayonnaise
• 1 1/2 Tbsp. curry powder
• 1/2 c. crab meat
• 2 cucumbers
• 6 thin slices of bread
• 1/2 c. black olives (pitted and chopped)

U.S. President Rutherford B. Hayes

Directions: In a bowl, combine mayonnaise, curry powder and crab meat. Peel cucumbers and cut them into thin slices.

Using a start circle-shaped cookie cutter, cut out small circles of bread. Spread bread circles with the curry-crab mixture. Place a cucumber slice on each bread circle and top with a small amount of curry-crab mixture. Top with chopped olives.

Yield: 24 slices