I'm sure there are a few of us who remember a time when there was no "President's Day." Instead, we celebrated Lincoln's Birthday on February 12th and Washington's Birthday on February 22nd.
When you add Valentine's Day to the mix, February was a golden month for elementary school students.
I'm not sure our teachers were all that thrilled, though!
But back in those days, we learned all about Abe Lincoln growing up in a log cabin, and how George Washington chopped down the cherry tree. Do you remember how we were all taught that little George admitted the deed to his father, saying, "I cannot tell a lie"?
Whether that event actually happened or not, we all grew up knowing that honorable, trustworthy and truthful people could grow up to be president.
And, as a result of that little anecdote, cherries became the food of the day on Washington's Birthday.
I'm definitely one to help tradition along, so I scrounged around and found a recipe that is probably as old as George himself.
One way you can tell this is an oldie, but goodie, is it's simplicity. No fancy ingredients - just what a farmer's wife would have on her pantry shelves in the middle of winter.
Cherry Drop Dumplings with Fruit Juice
serves 6
Ingredients:
Sauce:
3 cups cherries, canned with water or juice
2 cups water
Dumplings:
1 1/2 cups flour
1/2 cup sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
2 Tablespoons butter
1/2 cup milk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
For the sauce, bring the cherries, sugar, juice and water to a boil in a large saucepan (mine is 3 quarts) over medium high heat.
Meanwhile, make the dumplings. Stir the flour, sugar and baking soda together. Cut in the butter until the mixture is crumbly. Add the milk and vanilla, stirring until the dough resembles a soft biscuit dough.
Drop the dough by spoonfuls into the boiling cherry mixture, then lower the heat to medium and continue cooking for 20 minutes, or until the dumplings are done.
Serve with milk or cream.
In spite of the odd name, this was a delicious dessert! You'll have to try it.
Let's celebrate President's Day with a fun game - what presidential trivia can you share with us?
