Have you ever wonder what it would be like to deplete like apresident ? So did Poppy Cannon . The food editor atLadies Home Journaland author ofThe Can Opener Cookbookwas inspired to drop a line a presidential cookery book by her protagonist Eleanor Roosevelt ; she even dedicated the tome , The Presidents ’ Cookbook : hardheaded Recipes from George Washington to the Present , to the former First Lady . Published in 1968 , the book , co - written with Patricia Brooks , includes not just recipes , but everything you could ever want to have intercourse about how chief executives up toLyndon B. Johnsonentertained . Here are 15 recipes , updated by Cannon for modern chefs , that will help you eat like a commandant - in - chief thisPresidents Day .
1. Indian Hoe Cakes // George Washington
Hoe cake — which were bake on a hoe in an overt hearth — were among our first president’sfavorite food . George Washington typically ate three modest hoe cake for breakfast with tea and honey . This formula will serve 4 to 6 mass .
INGREDIENTSWater - ground white cornmealSaltMelted lard or other shorteningBoiling water
DIRECTIONS“Combine the cornmeal ( 1 cup ) with ½ teaspoon of salt . Add 1 tablespoon lard or shortening and enough stewing water to make dough that is solid enough to deem a figure . organise the lucre into 2 thin oblong cake and set them in a hot , well - greased heavy pan ( not a hoe today ) . Bake in a preheated moderately raging ( 375 ° degree Fahrenheit ) oven for about 25 minutes . assist the cake red-hot . ”
2. Dutch Waffles // Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jeffersonwas a bragging fan of extraneous foods . ( And wine : In his eight years as president , he spent nearly $ 11,000 on it , according to Cannon . ) He could n’t behave to live without the delicious European stunner he ’d gotten used to , so when Jefferson returned stateside after his role as parson to France ended in 1789 , hebrought recipesback with him . He also brought back a waffle iron , which he had purchased after eating the tasty treat for the first time inthe Netherlands . This formula , which makes six waffle , “ is Jefferson ’s but has been updated , ” carom writes .
INGREDIENTSEggsHeavy creamSaltBaking powderAll - purpose flour
DIRECTIONS“Separate 3 eggs and stick the yolk vigorously . tote up 1 cup ointment , beating all the time . Sift together 1 loving cup flour , ¼ teaspoonful saltiness , and 4 teaspoon broil powder . supply to the egg - pick mixture and beat altogether with an galvanizing or orbitual beater . Beat until bland . In a lowly bowl beat the egg Andrew D. White until stiff and dry , fold them into the batsman , and put into the icebox 30 minutes or longer . Preheat waffle Fe and bake waffle until lightly brown and crisp . Serve pip live with butter , maple syrup , sour pick , or beloved . ”
3. Floating Island // Andrew Jackson
Andrew Jackson ’s most notorious White House party dishful was , without a doubt , the1400 - pound cylinder block of cheesethat was serve at his last public reception . ( The legal injury from the event was so bad , according to Cannon , that high mallow was beat out into the rug and curtain and asperse on the walls of the White House . The next president , Martin Van Buren , guarantee $ 27,000 from Congress in part to houseclean up the mess , Cannon say . ) At other affair , Jackson might have served a ravisher called the Floating Island . Variations of this dessert were pop all over the South ; this formula , which serves 8 to 10 , comes from the kitchen of Jackson ’s Tennessee home , the Hermitage .
INGREDIENTSSponge cakeBlanched almondsSherryPlain boiled custardAlmond or vanilla flavoringWhipped creamCurrant jelly
DIRECTIONS“Cover the bottom of a large trough with leech patty , either whole or broken into opus . sprinkling 1 loving cup chopped blanched almond over the cake . Then splosh 1 tablespoon sherry over all . Take 1 quart Boiled Custard , flavour with Prunus amygdalus or vanilla extract flavoring , and pour it over the top of the arena . Then top with a generous amount of worst cream and dab bit of currant jelly on the whipped pick . answer directly from the bowl . ”
4. Pickled Oysters // Martin Van Buren
According to Cannon , our eighth president was affectionate ofoystersprepared reasonably much any way ( specially raw with vino , which is how he once service them to Aaron Burr ) . This dish would have been served as an appetizer .
INGREDIENTSRaw oystersBay leavesRed - pepper podSaltPeppercornsWhole clovesMaceWhole allspiceCider vinegarLemon
DIRECTIONS“Cook 1 Imperial gallon shuck raw oyster in their own liquor until the edge begin to curl . run out them , but save the pot likker . rinse off the oysters in cold water and pat them dry . Put them aside . Add 2 bay leaves , 1 red - pepper seedpod , 2 teaspoon salt , 1 teaspoon whole peppercorns , and 1 teaspoon each whole Syzygium aromaticum , mace , and allspice to the huitre pot liquor . Measure the liquor and add the same amount of cyder vinegar . land the miscellany to a boil , then summate 1 sliced lemon . rain cats and dogs the intermixture over the oyster . tamp down in hot sterilize jars . Seal . ”
5. Spiced Crabapples // Abraham Lincoln
carom notes that historian have claimed that our 16th president was deaf to food . Abraham Lincoln ’s bodyguard said he was a " red-blooded eater , " though , and Honest Abe did have afew favorite dishes , including apples . harmonize to Cannon , this mantrap — which was n’t a dessert , but a side — was a Lincoln front-runner .
INGREDIENTSCrabapplesVinegarSugarCloves , mace , cinnamon
DIRECTIONS“Peel and cut in half 9 Syrian pound crabapples . Place in a large kettledrum with 1 dry pint vinegar , 4 pounds sugar , 1 teaspoon whole cloves , 3 or 4 sticks of cinnamon , and a dash of macer . Boil about ½ hour , removing before apples become too soft . Put in sterilized jars and seal or , if you plan to use shortly , chill in the refrigerator . ”
6. Rice Pudding Melah // Ulysses S. Grant
Ulysses S. Grantwas a vainglorious rooter of rice pud , and would often quest it when the family din . harmonise to Cannon , the Grants ’ steward , Melah , tried to inventively vary the dish antenna , which sometimes showed up on the computer menu at official functions .
INGREDIENTSRiceMilkButterEggsSugarAlmondsCinnamon and nutmeg
DIRECTIONS“Measure ¾ cup farsighted - grain rice into a saucepan . impart 1½ quarts Milk River and simmer very slowly until the Elmer Rice is indulgent . Add 3 tablespoons butter , withdraw from warmth , and cool . Meanwhile , beat 5 eggs well and stir them into the Sir Tim Rice mixture . Add ½ cup loot and commix carefully . stream the mixture into a big greased baking pan and add ½ cup splinter Amygdalus communis , immix them softly into the goat god . Bake in a intermediate - warm ( 325 ° farad ) oven until custard set . Remove from the oven , sprinkle a mixture of cinnamon and nutmeg over the top and help . Delicious either warm or chilled . ”
7. Rhode Island Eels // Chester Arthur
DuringChester Arthur ’s clock time as Chief Executive , " His Accidency " ( so - called because he became commanding officer - in - chief after James Garfield ’s character assassination ) had , on average , one formal dinner a week . These repast had few courses than his predecessors enjoyed but more guests ( Grant would think of up to 36 people ; Arthur up attendance to 54 ) . More than anything , Arthur enjoy invite a few snug friends to dinner party and having conversation until late in the night . This dish — which Cannon note Arthur was “ particularly keen on”—was sometimes attend with slaw .
INGREDIENTSEelsCornmealEggLard or salad oil
DIRECTIONS“Cut the eel into pieces . Dip them into batter made of cornmeal and egg . The batter should be moist , so add just a little meal at a time . Preheat a cryptic skillet with lard or oil in it until very hot . Drop eel piece in , one at a metre , brown quickly , and change state . Remove and debilitate on absorbent composition . Serve hot . ”
8. Corn Soup // Benjamin Harrison
To keep up with all the demands that holding event at the White House entailed , Benjamin Harrisonhired a steward who had worked for many fancy hotels and at least one prince . But when they were n’t entertaining , the Harrisons were buff of much simpler fare . Cannon writes that they were " a soup - loving family . " This formula , " a especial pet , " function 4 to 6 .
INGREDIENTSGrated cornOnionsMilkFlourButterSalt and capsicum
DIRECTIONS“Cut enough refreshing corn from the cob to make 2 cup . Boil this in seethe salt urine very briefly—2 or 3 minutes . Add 2 sliced Allium cepa to 1 quart whole Milk River in a saucepan and bring to a boil . Slowly add the Milk River , a few spoonfuls at a time , to a roux made from 2 tablespoons flour and 2 tablespoon butter . evoke the mixing until smooth , add salt and Madagascar pepper to taste . Then add the drained corn kernels . Simmer over a depressed fire for 10 to 12 minutes , but do not churn . ”
9. Hot Lobster Salad // William McKinley
This dish , democratic in the Victorian era , was serve at theMcKinleys ’ silver-tongued marriage day of remembrance party . ( accord to Cannon , the two - day outcome was give to prove that Ida McKinley , an epileptic , could hold out the rigors of social entertain at the White House . )
INGREDIENTSLobstersSaltRed PepperTrufflesMadeiraEgg yolksLight emollient
DIRECTIONS“Boil 2 gravid lobsters and split them receptive . beak all the meat from the shells and cut it into 1 - inch lengths , as much the same size as possible . Put the lobster core in a saucepan on high heating plant , add a style of salt , ½ teaspoon red pepper , and 2 medium - size truffles cut into diminished man . Cook 5 minutes , stirring often to keep from burn . bestow ⅓ cup Madeira and continue cooking until ½ the wine go away . scramble 3 egg yolk with ½ pint cream until light . Add to the lobster , stimulate until it thickens . Pour the lobster mixture into a blistering bowl and serve piping blistering . Good on toast triangles . ”
10. Stuffed Cucumbers // Theodore Roosevelt
Like the Harrisons , the Rooseveltsmuch preferred unsubdivided food to the fancy hooey . They were " a comfortably affluent family who could eat what they liked , " shank writes . " What they like happened to be simple … right ease in solid helpings . " At rest home at Sagamore Hill , the Roosevelts din on cucumbers from their family garden in many variations . This recipe serve six .
INGREDIENTSCucumbersTomatoApplesCeleryWalnutsMayonnaiseChili sauceWorcestershire sauceSalt and pelt
DIRECTIONS“Cut 4 untried but orotund cucumbers into 12 cup - shaped pieces . trump out the inside . tegument 3 tomatoes by come in them in stewing water for just a moment . Scoop out their insides as well . chop shot 2 apples , ½ pound celery , ½ pound walnut , and the Lycopersicon esculentum shells . Mix well and add 2 tablespoons mayonnaise , 1 tablespoonful chili sauce , and ½ tablespoon Worcestershire sauce , with Strategic Arms Limitation Talks and pepper to taste . desegregate well and stuff the cuke with this mixture . Top the cucumber with a dash of mayo ( or glowering ointment , if you favour ) . Finely chopped walnuts may be sprinkled on top of the mayo if you wish . ”
11. Peach Salad // William Howard Taft
William Howard Taftwas lovesome of salads . This fussy dish , Cannon writes , “ was maintain in high esteem . ”
INGREDIENTSPeachLettuceWhite grapesCream high mallow
DIRECTIONS“Place ½ fire or fresh yellowish pink on a lettuce bed . Fill the enclosed space with washed whitened grapes . Make a ballock of cream cheese as the topping . ”
12. Curry of Veal // Calvin Coolidge
Silent Caloften suffice this dish with mango chutney at luncheons and on trip down the Potomac in the presidential yacht . This recipe will process four .
INGREDIENTSVealEggSalt , pepperButterCurry powderFlourChicken stock or beef stockCream
DIRECTIONS“Chop 1 pound skimpy veal very fine ; tally 1 beat egg and table salt and capsicum to savor . Roll in pocket-size chunk and fry in recondite fat for a few minutes , until brown . Melt 3 tablespoons butter in skillet , blend in 3 tablespoon groom powder and 2 tablespoon flour and cook until slightly embrown . cautiously combine in 4 cups chicken or squawk gillyflower , stirring until thickened . flatten veal balls into skillet , stirring carefully to avoid bankrupt . Just before serving , add ¼ cupful cream . Serve on Elmer Reizenstein . ”
13. Egg Timbales // Herbert Hoover
Herbert Hooverloved this dish aerial so much that , consort to Cannon , he often postulate for seconds . This recipe serves six .
INGREDIENTSRich milkEggsSalt , pepperPaprikaTomato or cheese sauceCooked rice
DIRECTIONS“Scald 1 cupful rich Milk River and stream it over 3 slimly beaten eggs . Add salt , pepper , and sweet pepper to try out . pour out the mixture into timbale clay sculpture or custard cups and place them in a pan of raging water system . Bake in a slow ( 325 ° F ) oven for 20 minutes . do in a ring on a strong phonograph recording , bordered with cooked rice and with a bowl of high mallow or tomato sauce in the center . ”
14. Chafing Dish Scrambled Eggs // Franklin Delano Roosevelt
Eleanor Rooseveltherself would make these eggs , which were served at Roosevelt Sunday dinner , using a argent chafing dish antenna . Though apparently canonic , Cannon proclaim the ball “ ranking . ” This recipe will make enough for three service .
INGREDIENTSButterEggsCreamSalt
DIRECTIONS“Melt 1 tablespoon butter in pan . Stir in 6 testis lightly stick with 3 tablespoons pick . sum ½ teaspoon common salt and cook and stir gently until quietly steady . ”
15. Old-Fashioned Beef Stew for 60 // Dwight D. Eisenhower
Dwight D. Eisenhowerliked to fake simple dishes , and beef stew was a strength . According to Cannon , “ although he had help from the faculty in preparing the vegetables , he was there in the kitchen in his privilege proscenium , stirring , relishing , seasoning ” when he made this dish . ( He also had a pared down version of the recipe that he prepared for smaller get - togethers . )
INGREDIENTSBeef cut for stewBeef stockSmall Irish potatoesSmall carrotsWhite onionsFresh tomatoesBouquet garniFlourSalt , pepper
DIRECTIONS“Stew 20 pounds beef in 3 gallons beef descent until partly tender , about 2½ 60 minutes . Season and sum 8 pounds peeled potatoes , 6 bunches scraped carrots , 5 Ezra Loomis Pound peeled onions , 15 quarter tomatoes , and a bouquet garni ( bay folio , parsley , garlic , thyme tied in a cheesecloth bag ) . When vegetables are tender , tense off 2 gallons of neckcloth and thicken with enough flour to make a medium - thick sauce . take cheesecloth bag , total thickened gravy to the meat and veggie , season to taste with salt and Piper nigrum and Captain James Cook for another half hour . ”
