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
Northern News 