REALLY TRADITIONAL FOURTH OF JULY FOOD

Today we traditionally celebrate the 4th of July with barbecues where we eat steak, chicken, hamburgers and hot dogs. But, the meals our forefathers ate in 1776 were vastly different. One of the food items likely to appear at any meal were Johnny Cakes, which were made of cornmeal, water, milk and salt.

You could have some fun with this idea and actually make some Johnny Cakes in celebration of the 4th of July holiday. Offer listeners the opportunity to taste your Johnny Cakes and tell you whether we should add them back to our 4th of July menus or they should remain only a historical memory.

Here is the recipe for colonial American Johnny Cakes:

1 cup yellow cornmeal

1/2 teaspoon of salt

1 cup of boiling water

1/2 cup of milk

Mix the cornmeal and salt. Add the boiling water, stirring until smooth. Add the milk. Stir well. Grease a heavy, 12-inch frying pan. Set over medium-low heat. Drop teaspoons of the batter onto the pan in batches. Cook until golden, about five minutes. Turn the cakes over carefully with a metal spatula. Cook the other side for five minutes. Serve the cakes hot with butter and maple syrup. Makes 12-15 cakes.

REALLY TRADITIONAL FOURTH OF JULY FOOD

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