Episode 33: Christmas on the Frontier

<p>Sherry and Marshall share traditions and stories from pioneers on how they celebrated Chirstmas.</p> <p><strong>This show's bonus:</strong></p> <p><strong>Fruit Cake</strong></p> <p>Makes 1 cake</p> <p> </p> <p>1 cup butter</p> <p>1 cup brown sugar</p> <p>1 cup molasses</p> <p>4 eggs, beaten</p> <p>3 cups flour</p> <p>1 teaspoon cinnamon</p> <p>Pinch of salt</p> <p>1 1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar*</p> <p>1 teaspoon baking soda*</p> <p>½ teaspoon nutmeg, grated</p> <p>1 cup milk</p> <p>2 teaspoon brandy</p> <p>2 lb. raisins</p> <p>Rum flavoring, optional</p> <p>*substitute 2 teaspoons baking powder</p> <p> </p> <p>In a large bowl, cream the butter and sugar together. Add the eggs one at a time and then the molasses and mix until blended. In a separate bowl, combine the dry ingredients and stir.</p> <p> </p> <p>Alternately, beginning and ending with the flour, add the flour and milk; stirring after each addition. Beat for an additional two minutes.</p> <p> </p> <p>Pour into a greased and floured loaf or ring pan and bake at 350 for about one hour and 20 minutes. Check with a toothpick. Soak with some rum flavoring if desired.</p> <p> </p> <p>Recipe adapted from the <em>San Francisco Bulletin</em>, 1879</p> <p><strong>Fruit Cake</strong></p> <p>Makes 1 cake</p> <p> </p> <p>1 cup butter</p> <p>1 cup brown sugar</p> <p>1 cup molasses</p> <p>4 eggs, beaten</p> <p>3 cups flour</p> <p>1 teaspoon cinnamon</p> <p>Pinch of salt</p> <p>1 1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar*</p> <p>1 teaspoon baking soda*</p> <p>½ teaspoon nutmeg, grated</p> <p>1 cup milk</p> <p>2 teaspoon brandy</p> <p>2 lb. raisins</p> <p>Rum flavoring, optional</p> <p>*substitute 2 teaspoons baking powder</p> <p> </p> <p>In a large bowl, cream the butter and sugar together. Add the eggs one at a time and then the molasses and mix until blended. In a separate bowl, combine the dry ingredients and stir.</p> <p> </p> <p>Alternately, beginning and ending with the flour, add the flour and milk; stirring after each addition. Beat for an additional two minutes.</p> <p