We made Mary Todd Lincoln’s cake today at the bakery.  It’s a very simple recipe to make (compared to something like Martha Washigton’s Great Cake!) and our customers really enjoy it. It’s so neat to be able to “taste history” and especially taste something that Abraham Lincoln enjoyed eating.

Here is the recipe:

Mary Todd Lincoln’s White Cake
(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.

Recipe and more information can be found here

Today in American history…John F. Kennedy marries Jacqueline Bouvier on September 12, 1953 in Newport, RI #JFK #JBK #POTUS #FLOTUS #TodayInHistory

Having a wonderful time visiting Colonial Williamsburg. What a great way to celebrate our Nations independence 🇺🇸

Had a wonderful time in Gettysburg this weekend. My husband and I visit a few times a year and truly enjoy our visits every single time.  Each visit, we like to pay homage to the battlefield areas and pay our respects to those so bravely fought (and died) so so many years ago.  Today we spent a lot of time at Little Round Top (which has a spectacular view of the valley and Devils Den). Of course, it’s quite peaceful now with tourists clamoring for pictures and taking selfies and it’s almost hard to conceive that so much death occurred right under our feet and on the rocks we pose next to and sit on.  Such a hollowed place and it’s always nice to come back and remember those who had fallen in those first few days of July 1863.

After our Little Round Top visit, it was wonderful seeing Erik Dorr today at The Gettysburg Museum Of History. Really enjoyed our visit to his museum! Every time we visit we oooh and ahhhh over hid amazing collection. Truly the best museum in all of #gettysburg. If you ever get a chance to visit Gettysburg please stop by and see Erik at The Gettysburg Museum of History.

(Photo Credit: The Historical Traveler)

For my latest travels, I visited Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia. Arlington National Cemetery is a military cemetery that is on the opposite side of the Potomac River in our Nation’s capital, Washington D.C. Arlington National Cemetery is a site of many amazing military history exhibits including The Women in Military Service for America Memorial. It is also the home of the historic Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the burial place of two US Presidents: William Howard Taft and John F. Kennedy. I spent the majority of my visit at what is known as “Arlington House” or the “Custis-Lee” mansion which was once the home of General Robert E. Lee and family. It was a very interesting visit to the house and I learned first-hand the rich history of the house starting from the construction of the house many years ago.

(In front of Arlington House, Photo Credit: The Historical Traveler)

The property was originally owned by Martha Washington’s grandson, George Washington Parke Custis, and was built in 1802 and completed around 1818. When George Washington Parke Custis passed away in 1857, he left the estate to his only child, Mary Anna Custis Lee, who was married to Robert E. Lee.

In 1862 during the Civil War, the government took possession of the home due to the owners not being able to pay the property taxes in person. General Lee was away at war and Mrs. Lee had fled the property due to impending danger. She tried to have a relative pay the taxes for her in person but it was not allowed and so therefore, the federal government took possession. To most likely punish the Lee’s, who were thought of traitors for siding with the Confederacy, the grounds surrounding the home were converted by 1864 into a cemetery for the war dead with the first burial being in Mrs. Lee’s beloved rose garden – all done in spite to ensure the Lee’s never returned to the property.

In1882, twelve years after Robert E. Lee’s death, the family sued the U.S. government for illegally confiscating their land. United States v. Lee concluded with the Supreme Court ruling in favor of the Lee family. Since the years had passed and so many were now buried on the property, the family decided to sell the property to the US government.

In 1925, the US Congress passed a law to make Arlington House a memorial to Robert E. Lee. In the 1930’s, the National Park Service obtained the house where it has remained a staple for every history buffs enjoyment

The house maintains original furniture, which is predominantly showcased in my two favorite rooms of the house: the White Parlor and the Family Parlor. The White Parlor (which is located on the left upon entering the house) has Robert E. Lee’s famous red furniture and a bookcase that belonged to our first President himself, George Washington!

(The White Parlor, Photo Credit: The Historical Traveler)

(George Washington’s Bookcase, Photo Credit: The Historical Traveler)

The Family Parlor is directly across the hall of the White Parlor, and was used as a recreational room for the Lee children. There’s an easel with painting supplies which are original pieces including a self-portrait done by one of the Lee children. The desk on the far left is a piece I learned was recently donated by one of Lee’s descendants, as well as many other pieces in the house.

(The Family Parlor, Photo Credit: The Historical Traveler)

(The easel, Photo Credit: The Historical Traveler)

(The desk, Photo Credit: The Historical Traveler)

This coming August, Arlington House will be temporarily closed for two years due to upcoming updates to the museum including how visitors experience the house.

Fun fact: The updates are all being paid for by David Rubenstein, a philanthropist who demonstrated his passion for American history by paying for the Washington Monument to be restored following the 2011 earthquake.

You should definitely visit Arlington House before they’re closed for two years and make sure to go on one of the tours offered at the top of every hour. To plan your visit to Arlington House at Arlington National Cemetery, click here: http://www.nps.gov/arho/index.htm

(The view from the house, Photo Credit: The Historical Traveler)

Had a great day hanging out with The Historical Traveler discussing our next projects over pasta and warm bread (with yummy olive oil, of course!)  Hope you all have a fabulous weekend ❤️🇺🇸

Today has been the perfect day for baking. It’s a cold, snowy day and all in world (at least in my area) has come to a halt. It is quite peaceful and wonderful to get off of the “hamster wheel of life” and just hang out in pajamas, fireplace on…watch old movies on Netflix and of course for me…to bake!

Being that I am snowed in today, I had to rummage for things in the pantry that I could use for baking today and was excited that I had all to make gingerbread!

Gingerbread was a popular staple for the soldiers during the Civil War.  Molasses was so much cheaper to use than sugar and so a lot of gingerbread was consumed during this time.  Gingerbread was sent to the soldiers via care packages (along with socks) from their loved ones and I envision that they must have loved receiving this wonderful cake made with much love from home. It tastes better than hardtack that’s for sure!

I found a wonderful recipe from The Urban Homemaker which was quite easy to make – and I am all about simplicity.  No offense to Martha Stewart but…I need simple and uncomplicated recipes!

Happy Snow Day!

Coleen

I have had this vision for a long time now on how I could potentially express my love and appreciation for American history. Since childhood, I have been fascinated by the stories of our founding fathers and of course, our founding mothers.  Their stories fascinated me, visiting the homes where they once ate and slept were so intriguing.  I will never forget how excited I was as a child to see the bedroom that George Washington slept (and died) in at Mount Vernon or be in the same room at Arlington House where Robert E. Lee wrote his resignation letter to the U.S. Army because he did not want to take up arms against his homeland in Virginia.

Throughout the years, I have been incredibly blessed to share my joy of American history with my two sons – we spent many days visiting civil war battlefields (most recently Gettysburg!) historic homes and monuments. In 1999, my oldest son and I had the chance to be at Mount Vernon for the reenactment of George Washington’s funeral.  For us to share this historic experience together was amazing. As their mother, I have always felt it was very important to share these stories of our past with them so that they, in turn, will pass these stories down to their own children someday and these stories will continue to be shared with the generations to come.

I am incredibly excited to share my journey with you – of all things and all aspects of American history.

Sincerely,

Coleen, The Historical Homemaker