MAGIC CHOCOLATE ICE CREAM: Vintage 1941 Recipe still works today!

Today is National Chocolate Ice Cream Day. Chocolate Ice Cream is the # flavor in the U.S. No surprise to me! Want to make your own Chocolate Ice Cream, but don't have an ice cream maker? No Problem! Here's a Vintage Advertisement with recipe from Borden's Eagle Brand from August 8, 1941 for Magic Chocolate Ice Cream. I love Elsie the Cow, and luckily, I have an automatic refrigerator! Gotta love these 'story' ads. "If it's Borden's, it's got to be good."

NATIONAL DOUGHNUT DAY //NATIONAL DONUT DAY: History and Salvation Army original donut recipe!

National Doughnut (Donut) Day is the first Friday in June. This year it falls on Friday, June 6. Doughnut Day was created by The Salvation Army in 1938 to honor the women who served doughnuts to soldiers during World War I.

Many American doughnut shops offer free doughnuts on National Doughnut Day. In 2009, both independent doughnut shops and large national franchises offered free doughnuts in the United States. National Doughnut Day started as a fund raiser for Chicago's The Salvation Army. Their goal was to help the needy during the Great Depression, and to honor The Salvation Army "Lassies" of World War I, who served doughnuts to soldiers.

National Doughnut Day celebrates the doughnut, an edible, ring shaped piece of dough which is deep-fried and sweetened. This holiday event began in 1938 as a Chicago Salvation Army fundraiser for much needed funds during the depression. The day also recognized special women known as "Doughnut Lassies" who made and served doughnuts to homesick WWI soldiers in France, since doughnuts were thought to be the quintessential American food. Here's a song from a 1918 songbook celebrating doughnuts in WWI.

A doughnut’s just a doughnut, boys, ’til you are “over there,”
And day and night you’re in a trench away in France somewhere;
You get a fresh-made doughnut, seems it comes from heaven above,
That doughnut, boys, reminds you of a slice of mother’s love.”

Doughnuts are popular in many countries and prepared in various forms as a sweet snack that can be homemade or purchased in bakeries, supermarkets, food stalls, and franchised specialty outlets. They are usually deep-fried from flour dough, and shaped in rings or flattened spheres that sometimes contain fillings. Other types of batters can also be used, and various toppings and flavorings are used for different types.

And, there are a lot of free doughnuts today! Check your local. Things change. My donut shop was not giving out free donuts, but I bought several anyway!

Krispie Kreme is giving out one free doughnut of any kind, no purchase necessary. (at participating stores)

LaMar's Donuts in Colorado and the Midwest is offering one free doughnut per customer (at participating stores)

Dunkin' Donuts: Buy any beverage and they'll throw in a complimentary doughnut (while supplies last) 

Tim Horton's has a coupon on their Facebook page for a free doughnut with any purchase in U.S. lcoations. Like Tim Horton's and print coupon.

Entenmann's Bakery is donating $1 to the Salvation Army for each person who "likes" the Entemann's Facebook page (up to $30,000). And right now, in celebration of the day, Entenmann's is rewarding lucky winners with 'Free Donuts for a Year' in a sweepstakes on their Facebook Page.

Look for other free donuts and celebrations in your town!

Here's the original  SALVATION ARMY LASSIES’ DOUGHNUT RECIPE . Not sure about the lard, but it's the original recipe, after all, so historical.


SALVATION ARMY LASSIES' DOUGHNUT RECIPE
Yield: 4 doz. doughnuts

Ingredients
5 cups flour
2 cups sugar
5 tsp baking powder
1 ‘saltspoon’ salt
2 eggs
1 3/4 cup milk
1 Tub lard (!!)

DIRECTIONS
Combine all ingredients (except for lard) to make dough.
Thoroughly knead dough, roll smooth, and cut into rings that are less than 1/4 inch thick. (When finding items to cut out doughnut circles, be creative! Salvation Army doughnut girls used whatever they could find, from baking powder cans to coffee percolator tubes.)
Drop the rings into the lard, making sure the fat is hot enough to brown the doughnuts gradually.
Turn the doughnuts slowly several times.
When browned, remove doughnuts and allow excess fat to drip off.
Dust with powdered sugar. Let cool and enjoy.

CHOCOLATE CHIP APPLESAUCE BUNDT CAKE: National Applesauce Cake Day

Today is National Applesauce Cake Day, and my favorite recipe for Chocolate Applesauce Cake comes from Kristin Donnelly in Food and Wine (2007). I love it because it's a one bowl cake, and when it's made in a bundt pan, it's pretty, as well as easy. Applesauce cakes are usually spice cakes, so this recipe may remind you of the holidays. Nevertheless, it's great all year round, but especially today on National Applesauce Cake Day!

I used to make my own applesauce from my Gravenstein apple trees, but my golden retrievers 'retrieve' the apples before they get ripe. Some years, I've picked up a flat or bushel along the road in Sebastopol in Sonoma county, famous for its Gravenstein Apples. Lately I've been buying my applesauce from Trader Joe's. They sell First Press Gravenstein applesauce. How great is that?

CHOCOLATE CHIP APPLESAUCE BUNDT CAKE

Ingredients
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
2 tsp baking soda
2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp ground cardamom
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp ground cloves
1/2 tsp freshly ground pepper
2 cups unsweetened applesauce  
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 stick unsalted butter, melted
12-ounces semisweet chocolate chips
Powdered sugar, for dusting
Optional: Crème fraîche or whipped cream, for serving

Directions
Preheat oven to 350°. Butter and flour 12-cup Bundt pan.
In large bowl, whisk flour with granulated sugar, baking soda, cinnamon, cardamom, salt, cloves, and pepper. Whisk in applesauce, eggs, oil, and melted butter. Fold in chocolate chunks or chips.
Scrape batter into prepared pan. Bake for 1 hour and 15 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in center comes out with a few crumbs attached.
Transfer pan to a rack and let cool for 10 minutes, then invert onto rack and cool completely, about 20 minutes. Sift powdered sugar over cake, slice and serve with crème fraîche or whipped cream--or plain.
This cake also tastes great toasted for breakfast with unsalted butter or cream cheese!

Hurricane Cake: Hurricane Season

June 1 marked the start of Hurricane Season in the U.S. Most people in the U.S. know that, especially those who live in hurricane affected states. Unfortunately the new head of FEMA did not know there was a hurricane season. A very sad state of affairs on so many levels. Hurricanes seem to be getting worse, both in number and strength. Global warming? My heart goes out to all who are affected by these disastrous storms. Sending positive thoughts that the only hurricane in your future is this Retro Hurricane Cake! 

This recipe for Retro Hurricane Cake has been around for ages. It gets its name from its appearance. It's not a pretty cake, but it's very flavorful and super moist. You can make it with a German Chocolate Cake Mix or a Devil's Food Cake Mix. 

Hurricane Cake

Ingredients
1/2 cup unsalted butter
1 cup chopped pecans
1 cup flaked coconut
1 (18.25 ounce) package German Chocolate Cake Mix or Devil's Food Cake Mix
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese
1/2 cup unsalted butter
3 3/4 cups confectioners sugar

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Melt and spread 1/2 cup butter in bottom of 9x13 inch pan.
Sprinkle coconut and pecans evenly over bottom of pan; set aside.
Prepare cake mix as directed on package.
Pour batter over coconut and pecans in pan.
In saucepan over low heat, melt cream cheese and 1/2 cup butter. Stir in confectioners sugar until mixture is smooth.
Spoon cream cheese mixture randomly over top of cake batter.
Pour batter into prepared pan.
Bake in preheated oven for 35 to 40 minutes, or until toothpick inserted into center comes out clean.
Cool and serve from pan.

Tip: For extra flavor, substitute strong brewed coffee for water in the cake mix directions.