Colonial Days

A specialty item added to this year’s Crandall Historical Printing Museum Colonial Days is an “only-place-in-the-world” offering of uniquely created Colonial recipes.  Hal and Elaine Porter, owners of LandmarK II Catering in Provo, have spent a year developing a signature 18th Century Colonial American meal for visitors to the 2009 Crandall Museum celebration during America’s Freedom Festival in Provo.  The 18th Century food, “made for 20th Century palettes,” will be available for public eating during the July 2nd, 3rd, and 4th venue located between 200 and 300 East Center in Provo. Only at the museum’s location (nowhere else) will this cuisine be served (and only a limited number of food dishes will be available.)  The price and size for each dish is adjusted to enable families an affordable meal during their participation in the many activities at the event.  The menu includes the following foods which may be purchased separately (prices below) or as a $10 colonial meal (price includes all 3 dishes plus a 16 oz. Cran-Rasberry-Lemonade drink)

Colonial Cottage Pie, also known as “shepherd's pie”, refers to an English meat pie with a crust made from mashed potato and cubed beef sirloin tips.  The term “cottage pie” is known to have been in use in the late 1700s, when potato was being introduced as an edible crop affordable for the poor (cf. "cottage" meaning a modest dwelling for rural workers).  In early cookery books, the dish was a means of using leftover roasted meat of any kind, and the pie dish was lined with mashed potato as well as having a mashed potato crust on top.  There is now a popular tendency for "shepherd's pie" (the term did not appear until the 1870s) to be used when the meat is mutton or lamb, with the suggested origin being that shepherds are concerned with sheep and not cattle; however, today the term is used synonymously with "cottage pie", regardless of whether the principal ingredient was beef or mutton.  The serving size is a generous portion at $5 each.  (Some suggest “it is a healthy quantity for two.”)

Johnny Cakes. Cornbread was first discovered by Europeans from their contacts with Native Americans who used cornmeal to make their “Shawnee Cakes”.  In the 1700’s “Johnny Cakes” were common at every meal, not just for breakfast. Many believe the original colonial name was "Journey Cakes", because they were so portable and taken on so many journeys. Colonial pioneers frequently kept Johnny Cakes in their pockets. Try them with honey or apple butter.  One cake is about 1” thick with a 4” diameter and includes apple butter or honey butter topping for $2 each.

Carrot Pudding topped with Lemon Sauce.  Carrot pudding was a tasty desert in Europe before the discovery of America. Carrots were not found in the New World originally.  English carrots were the first to be introduced into the colonies, accompanying colonists to Jamestown in 1609 and early Pilgrims to Massachusetts no later than 1629, where they grew "bigger and sweeter" than anything found in England. Carrots were used to sweeten cakes and dishes. A healthy portion topped with lemon sauce is $3 each.

Cranberry-Raspberry Lemonade. Fruit drinks were the common beverage of Colonial Days and lemonade tinctured with cranberries or raspberries was always a refreshing delight if it could be cooled over ice.  Often drinks were spiced with rum or alcohol but our treat is alcohol free and a tasty delight for all ages. (A 16-ounce cup at $2 each or free with one $10 meal order.)

Bottled water is also available for $1 each.

http://www.landmarkiicatering.com/events.php