-=> Ruth Haffly wrote to Dave Drum <=-

 DD> I have very few actual cookbooks any longer. I still have "The Taste
 DD> of Gloucester" cookbook I picked up at one of Michael Loo's "clam
 DD> crawl" picnics. Not done pounding recipes into the confuser yet.
 DD> Close, but not done. When I finish I'll find a deserving soul to
 DD> become the new owner of a fine collection of recipes.

 RH> I still have a good collection of them and do like to pick up regional
 RH> ones when we travel. Probably should thin my collection but not yet
 RH> give the girls an inheritance. (G)

 DD> Or let them have what *you* want them to have rather than cause
 DD> acrimony when they split things up after you're gone. When my wife's
 DD> grandmother fell off her perch we were visiting her granfather's house
 DD> after the
 DD> funeral and a bunch of the relatives were discussing who got what
 DD> plunder. And poor grandpa was sitting, stunned, in his chair. Still
 DD> numb from the passiong and funeral. I went off on those old biddies
 DD> for their lack of couth while in front of the poor guy. Made some
 DD> enemies of the old trouts but friends with their husbands.  Bv)=  And
 DD> my mother-in-law since she was in agreement with me.

 RH> Sometimes some people need to be put in their place, no matter where or
 RH> when the occaision. Anyway, know one daughter doesn't have cook books,
 RH> other one has a limited collection. They both rely on the internet for
 RH> a lot of their recipies.

As do I - I get feeds from New York Times, Simply Recipes, Serious Eats
and Taste of Home.

 DD> I have my Two Fat Ladies "Obsessions" cookbook already gift-wrapped
 DD> as a holiday season present for my sister-in-law.

 RH> Don't forget where you stashed it. (G)

 DD> Oh, I won't. It's in the pile (already wrapped) with the rest of the
 DD> gifts I have grabbed over the intervl since last gifting season. It's
 DD> my usual practice to buy that sort of thing when I spot it and think
 DD> to myself "I'll bet (insert recipient) would like that". Saves
 DD> thrashing about at the last minute.  Bv)=

 RH> Good idea there.

 RH> ... Books are better than TV; they exercise your imagination.

 DD> True dat! Especially around election time.

 RH> That's where the mute button on the remote gets a work out. TV is only
 RH> on for a couple of hours (week days), an hour on week ends but they
 RH> sure cram a lot of political ads in that time.

It's amazing to me that peoploe are (and contine to be) swayed by the
30 second "spots" on TeeVee. I've always done my own research using my
finely honed B.S. detector. And with an eye toward what/who will be
best for my way of life and values. When I voted this year (early) my
ballot had votes for both sides on it.  Bv)=

I have three versions of this recipe - all different, just like politica;
positions ..... here's one f them:

MMMMM----- Recipe via Meal-Master (tm) v8.06
 
      Title: Election Cake
 Categories: Cakes, Desserts, Citrus, Booze
      Yield: 16 Servings
 
  1 1/2 c  Raisins
    1/2 c  Brandy
    1/4 oz Pkg active dry yeast
      1 c  Warm water:105-115ºF/40-46ºC
      1 tb Sugar
      4 c  A-P flour
    3/4 c  Butter; softened
      1 c  Packed dark brown sugar
      1 tb Grated lemon peel
      1 ts Ground cinnamon
      1 ts Ground nutmeg
    1/2 ts Salt
    1/4 ts Ground cloves
      2 lg Eggs
 
  In small bowl, cover raisins with brandy, set aside.
  
  In medium bowl, sprinkle yeast over warm water, stir to
  dissolve. Stir into the dissolved yeast 1 tablespoon sugar
  and 1 cup flour until smooth. Cover with towel; let rise
  in warm place free from draft, until doubled, about an
  hour.
  
  Grease 10" tube pan. In large bowl with mixer at medium
  speed, cream butter until fluffy. Beat in brown sugar,
  lemon peel, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt and cloves until well
  combined. Beat in eggs until mixture is light and fluffy.
  
  Stir in raisin mixture, yeast mixture and remaining 3 cups
  flour; mix well. Turn dough into prepared pan. Cover with
  towel; let rise in warm place until doubled, about 1 1/2
  hours.
  
  Bake at 350ºF/175ºC about 45 minutes or until golden. Cool
  in pan on wire rack 20 minutes. remove from pan; cool
  completely.
  
  Election Cake came to be associated with election-day
  celebrations.
  
  Makes 16 servings.
  
  Sent by: Natalia Winnipeg, 12-Feb-2002
  
  From: http://www.recipelink.com
  
  Uncle Dirty Dave's Archives
 
MMMMM

... Make it as simple as possible, but no simpler.
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