Since it was a gorgeous Saturday afternoon, we decided to take a drive out to historic Harpers Ferry, West Virginia. All of the parking was closed off due to the need to quarantine we still drove through the quaint and historic town to take in a few of the sights nestled by the Shenandoah River. Harpers Ferry is best known as being the site of John Brown’s famous raid in 1859 and his attempt to gather a band of slaves to attack the town and gather all that he could from the local arsenal. It didn’t end well when they were met by US troops and violence occurred. Killing a few of John Brown’s sons and others in his group. John Brown was wounded and apprehended and would stand trial in December 1859 and sentenced to death. He was hung in nearby Charles Town soon after. Some say this was the actual beginning of the Civil War – the war drums were banging and no less than over a year later our country would be in a Civil War.

President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated 155 years ago tonight at Ford’s Theater in Washington, DC. He would pass away from his wounds early the next morning at a home across the street from the theater (The Peterson House). Secretary of War Edwin Stanton was at his bedside and said “he now belongs to the ages.”

Today in American history…George Washington was born in 1732

Today in American history…Susan B. Anthony was born in 1820. Read more about her impact on American history right here.

Today in American history…Abraham Lincoln was born in 1809 🇺🇸

Louisa Adams was born February 12, 1775. Did you know that she was the very first First Lady to be born in a foreign country? She was born and raised in London. She met her husband, John Quincy Adams, while he was serving as a U.S. Minister in London and they were married in London July 26, 1797.

(Picture courtesy of The Historical Homemaker Bakery & Cafe)

On the eve of Abraham Lincoln’s birthday we would like to share with you one of President Lincoln’s favorite desserts.

(Recipe from Lincoln’s Table by Donna D. McCreary was adapted by Janice Cooke Newman)

1 cup blanched almonds, chopped in a food processor until they resemble a coarse flour
1 cup butter
2 cups sugar
3 cups flour
3 teaspoons baking powder
1 cup milk
6 egg whites
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
confectionary sugar 

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour a Bundt cake pan. 
• Cream butter and sugar. Sift flour and baking powder 3 times. Add to creamed butter and sugar, alternating with milk. Stir in almonds and beat well.
• Beat egg whites until stiff and fold into the batter. Stir in vanilla extract. 
• Pour into prepared pan and bake for 1 hour, or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Turn out on a wire rack and cool. When cool, sift confectionary sugar over top

A basic white frosting sprinkled with almonds was also popular. 

Today in American history…William Henry Harrison was born in 1773. He was our 9th US President and unfortunately had the shortest Presidency (March 4 – April 4, 1841) due to becoming ill and passing away shortly after his inauguration. Unfortunately, he was the very first President to die in office. He also holds the record of having the longest inauguration speech (8,445 words which took nearly 2 hours to read!)

I am going to post a historical recipe a few days a week. Something you could make in your own kitchen! If you make the recipe take a picture and share with us 🍪

Here is the recipe for Laura Bush’s Cowboy Cookies.

(Photo Credit: The Historical Homemaker Bakery & Cafe)

Millard and Abigail Fillmore were married today in 1826. Did you know that Abigail was once President Fillmore’s teacher? They both had a lifelong passion for learning. By all accounts, they had a loving marriage and were happily married until she passed away in 1853.