All this food talk made me get out my old family recipes, so before we run out of our allotted 50 posts for today: POPOVERS 1c. flour 1/2 tsp. salt 1 c. whole milk 2 eggs Heat oven to 425. Grease well deep muffin cups or custard cups. Measure flour. Beat all ingredients together with rotary beater till just smooth. Overbeating will reduce volume. Fill muffin cups 3/4 full, or custard cups 1/2 full. Bake 40-45 minutes. Serve immediately. [this was a favorite of my father] ******* SOUTHERN BISCUIT RECIPE 2 c flour 2/3 tsp. salt 1/2 tsp soda 3 Tblsp. shortening 3/4 c buttermilk Combine flour, salt, and soda. Cut in shortening until it resembles coarse crumbs (I use two table knives- it is important to get it crumbly, this adds to the light texture- this is also the secret to light pie crusts). Add buttermilk and stir till well blended. Turn onto floured board and knead lightly, 3 or 4 times. Roll to 1/2" thickness, cut with a 2" biscuit cutter, drinking glass, or small juice glass. Place on lightly greased baking sheet and bake at 450 for 12-15 minutes. Makes 1 dozen. ************** UNCLE MIKE'S FUDGE 2 c sugar 1 c. canned, condensed milk 2 sq. unsweetened baking chocolate butter the size of a walnut 1 tsp. vanilla This is best cooked in an iron skillet. Place all ingredients in a pan [except vanilla], mix well, boil till a bit of it forms a ball when dropped in cold water. Remove from heat and add vanilla, beat with a large spoon till thick. Pour into buttered pan and chill. If unhard, reheat, add more sugar, and chill. This beating takes a long time, we used to spell each other, but it's the best fudge ever. ************ Raleigh Tavern, Williamsburg, Gingerbread Men Preheat oven to 350. Warm together 1/2 lb. butter, 1 c. old-fashioned dark molasses, and 1 c evaporated milk, blending well. Add 1 tsp. each vanilla and lemon extracts, and 1/2 tsp. salt. Mix together 4 Tblsp ginger [yes, 4 Tblsp], 1 tsp. each cinnamon and nutmeg, 1 1/4 c sugar, and 1 tsp. baking soda. Combine with liquid mix. Sift in 9 cups of flour, one cup at a time, stirring after each. When it becomes stiff blend with hands till all flour is absorbed. Roll to 1/8" thick and cut out shapes. Bake 13-15 minutes or until dough springs back lightly in center when touched. Bake round shapes 8-10 minutes. To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe, please see the instructions at http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-hist.html