June Foodie Holidays: Week 3

June 15: Lobster Day, Cannoli Day, Gin Day
June 16: Fudge Day
June 17: Eat-All-Your-Veggies Day, Apple Strudel Day
June 18: Cherry Tart Day, Sushi Day, Picnic Day
June 19: Dry Martini Day
June 20: Vanilla Milkshake Day
June 21: Peaches & Cream Day, Smoothie Day

Father's Day is the 15th! Chat up your dad if you can. Ask him about the things he likes to cook!

Fudge is one of those things that I associate with Christmastime, because that's when my mother makes it. It's odd to think of it in June, but here's the recipe she always uses for chocolate fudge.

Phudge

4 oz. unsweetened chocolate

6 oz. cream cheese, room temp.

1/2 tsp. vanilla

1/8 tsp. salt

1 lb. sifted powdered sugar

1 C. chopped nuts

Directions: Melt chocolate in a double boiler or in the microwave. Set aside. Stir cream cheese until soft and smooth. Add vanilla and salt. Gradually beat in sugar; add chocolate and beat until smooth. Mix in nuts. Line a 8” square pan with waxed paper and press fudge into the pan. Wrap and refrigerate until firm. Cut into square and store airtight.

June Foodie Holidays: Week 1

June is National Candy Month, Dairy Month, Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Month, Iced Tea Month, Papaya Month, Mango Month, Seafood Month, Turkey Lover's Month (?!), and Steakhouse Month.

June 1: Olive Day, Hazelnut Cake Day
June 2: Rocky Road Ice Cream Day
June 3: Egg Day
June 4: Cheese Day, Frozen Yogurt Day, Cognac Day
June 5: Moonshine Day, Gingerbread Day
June 6: Applesauce Cake Day
June 7: Chocolate Ice Cream Day, Doughnut Day (first Friday)

Father's Day is June 15th this year. Don't forget to include Dad, if you can, when you're compiling recipes for the cookbook. Maybe your father is the primary cook, or maybe he's just a pinch hitter, either way, you don't want to leave him out. (And if he cooks like my dad does, you'll probably need to stand with him while he's cooking to measure things as he goes or at least guestimate how much of that ingredient he just threw in the pot...)

I have a particular fondness for Applesauce Cake. This recipe is my maternal grandmother's.

Applesauce Cake                                                                

1/2 C. shortening

1 1/2 C. sugar

2 beaten eggs

1 C. applesauce

1 C. chopped raisins

2 C. flour

1/4 tsp. salt

1 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. cinnamon

1/2 tsp. ground cloves

Directions: Thoroughly cream shortening with sugar. Add eggs and beat well. Add applesauce, then sift dry ingredients together and add gradually. Beat until smooth; add raisins. Bake in a greased and floured 13x9” pan at 350ºF for 30-45 minutes. Frost with easy penuche frosting.

Easy Penuche Frosting

1/2 C. butter or margarine

1 C. brown sugar, packed

1/4 C. milk

2 C. powdered sugar

Directions: Melt butter in a saucepan. Stir in brown sugar and heat to boiling, stirring constantly. Reduce heat; stir and boil over low heat for 2 minutes. Stir in milk, return to boil and remove from heat. Cool to lukewarm and gradually stir in powdered sugar. Let cool; beat to spreading consistency. If the frosting gets too stiff, heat, stirring constantly. Frosts 1 13x9” cake or 2 9” layers.