Gracious host Renee Donnelly

Renee Donnelly has Tastes & Treasures prominently displayed in her kitchen, opened to page 176. Wonder which dish she is creating today? Al McLeod and Ruth are enjoying time with this gracious host and excellent cook.

Great Fair of Fine Arts and Crafts in Fountain Hills

Cathy Shumard and Ruth Mcleod

Great Fair of Fine Arts and Crafts of Ft. Hills goes on rain or shine. Cathy Shumard and Ruth McLeod braved the cold and rain to set up Thursday, Feb 21. But with snow and freezing rain during the night, very few booths were open Friday morning Feb 22. The Historical League booth will be open on Sat. and Sun. Feb. 23-24 from 10 am - 5 pm with Tastes and Treasures II for sale, granola sampling, and lots of stories of Arizona history. 

damaged tents nearby

Can you see the fountain blowing tall in all the rain and mist??!!

Cathy Shumard

Can you see the damaged tents that collapsed from the weight of the snow and rain? Including the one right next to us! We are so grateful that our tent survived the storm.
We are also extremely grateful for our wonderful volunteers who were full of enthusiasm talking to customers who came out to enjoy the sun and the many booths on Saturday and Sunday. Stories of Arizona, history of our state, people and places and food were shared.

Pushing snow off the tent roof

Collapsed tent filled with snow and ice

Cathy Shumard, Ruth McLeod, Karen Overton, Lee Rogers

Helping customers with sales

Al and Ruth Mcleod are warm and dry after setting up tent

Turqoise at Historymakers Gala XII

Historymakers Recognition Program Chair Pat Faur,
President Anne Lupica

Love this comment about the Historymakers Gala XII from League member Lisa Schnebly Heidinger, "It was devastatingly elegant last night… What a grand event.  I’ve never seen so much wonderful jewelry in one place."

Historymakers Gala chair Deb Hester and son, Jonathon

Tom and Cathy Shumard

Tom Shumard, Susie Brinegar

Georgia Desmarais, Jim and Liz Boyd, Tom Desmarais

Tom and Zona Lorig, Lisa Schnebly Heidinger

Ruth and Al McLeod

Ruth McLeod, Liz Boyd, Elaine Kapach

Blane and Kathleen Lochridge, Elaine Kapach, Alec McDonald

Fabulous Fudge

Kay and Rex Holcombe with gift of fudge

Kay and Rex Holcombe have a tradition of giving out their amazing fudge at Christmas time. How wonderful to be the recipient!

Do you have a favorite fudge recipe?

Ruth and Al McLeod happy to consume fudge

Chocolate Peanut treats on page 162 in Tastes & Treasures cookbook are equally as decadent!


Always struggling to make fudge in my teen years, I came upon this Easy Fudge recipe. Never fails!
Ingredients:
2 and 1/2 cups white granulated sugar
3/4 cup butter
2/3 cup evaporated milk
12 ounce package (2 cups) semi-sweet chocolate chips
7 ounce jar marshmallow cream (also called marshmallow fluff)
1 teaspoon vanilla

Directions:
Line an 8 or 9 inch square pan with aluminum foil or parchment paper. Coat with nonstick spray. Set aside.
In a 3 quart HEAVY saucepan over high heat, combine sugar, butter, and evaporated milk. Use a wooden spoon to stir slowly until butter melts, scraping sides of pan to get all the sugar crystals.
Bring to a full rolling boil, stirring constantly with a long wooden spoon. Once it starts boiling, set a timer for 5 minutes and turn the heat down to medium so that you don't burn your fingers off--it should be boiling the full 5 minutes. Stir constantly.
When the timer goes off, remove from heat and add chocolate chips. Stir until all chips are melted and mixture is smooth. Add marshmallow creme and beat with a wooden spoon until well blended. Add vanilla and mix well. Immediately pour into the prepared pan.
Let cool to room temperature.
Slice and serve.

Happy to pose for the camera at Family Holiday Party

Tammy Frazier with mom, Delores Tomasek,
Chair Carolyn Mendoza, Norman Jean Coulter with granddaughter

Carol Vie brought 9 friends to enjoy Wizard of Oz

Patti Goss, Pat Christopherson, Aaron and Jackie Berkowitz

Ruth and Al McLeod

Smiling faces at Family Holiday Party "The Wizard of Oz"

Joan Galloway, Ruth Ann Hogan and Mary Parker

Susan Dale and grandchildren

Kay Holcombe with Sarah and Emma,
Jackie and Aaron Berkowitz

Andrea Evans and daughter

Jeannine Moyle, Pam den Draak, Stan and Nancy Evans

Ruth and Al McLeod with Abby Ulrich and girls, Zoe, Sophie, Julia

More Spring Party Pictures

Ben Davis, Kay Holcombe, Ruth McLeod,
Betsy Davis and Leslie Christiansen enjoy marshmallows

Deb Hester, Jack and Renee Donnelly

Ben Davis, Patt and Chris Walker, Betsy Davis,
Ruth McLeod and Sharron McKinney

Bartenders Al McLeod and Roger Swanson enjoying their jobs

1929 Estate at Phoenix Country Club

Derby Pie for Birthdays

       Traditionally served at the annual Kentucky Derby Horse race, Kentucky bourbon chocolate walnut pie was delicious as a birthday dessert. Jim Boyd and Al McLeod were not at the Kentucky Derby but they enjoyed (along with wives Liz and Ruth) this pie.

The recipe is similar to the Melrose Inn's famous version which has been served at the race for over 50 years. We also love Chocolate Lover's Delight Pie on page of 152 of Tastes & Treasures cookbook.

 Kentucky Bourbon Chocolate Walnut Pie
 Ingredients:
1/2 cup flour
1 cup sugar
2 eggs, beaten
1/2 cup melted butter
2 tablespoons Kentucky bourbon
1 cup chopped walnuts
1 1/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
pinch of salt
1 ready-made piecrust

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Combine flour and sugar in a mixing bowl. Add the eggs and butter; mix to combine. Stir in the bourbon, walnuts, chocolate chips, vanilla, and salt. Pour the mixture into the unbaked piecrust.
Bake for 40 to 45 minutes. Let cool before slicing.

Makes 1 Kentucky Bourbon Chocolate Walnut Pie
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Total Time: 50 minutes

Happy 100th Birthday Arizona at BestFest

Sharing the history of Arizona was fun at BestFest February 11-12 at the Capitol Celebration. Rex and Kay Holcombe, and Ruth and Al McLeod helped Carolyn Mendoza set up the booth. Then the crowds started coming Saturday morning even though it did not officially open until noon.

The biplane fly-over and Motorcycle rally with the Copper Chopper were two of the many highlights.

AHS had the booth right next to ours and drew lots of people to see the original pen that President Taft used to sign the declaration making AZ the 48th state.

Thanks to Carolyn Mendoza for working the entire weekend with help from Sharron McKinney, Zona Lorig, Mariamne Moore, Susan Dale, Pat Faur, Margaret Baker, Nina Fillippi, Ruth McLeod and Pam Ryan. These Historical League members met people and told the story of the League and AHS. Lots of cookbooks, Centennial books, hats and aprons were sold. Thanks also to Larry Baker and Tom and Mark Lorig for help packing up.

Fandago Celebrates AZ Centennial with Style

The Sold Out party at Phoenix Convention Center enjoyed a wonderful evening. Beautiful backdrops, entertainment, speeches, dignitaries and everyone dressed in Arizona Black Tie (lots of turquoise jewelry, cowboy boots and hats). Each guest received First Day of Issue Arizona Forever Stamp designed by Historymaker Ed Mell, Gold Arizona Coins and a wonderful display of patriotism and pride in our state.

Historymakers Stevie and Karl Eller spent the last two years working on the Centennial which will continue throughout the year. They are greatly appreciated.

The Historical League had 5 tables filled with League members at the event. We were entertained by the Phoenix Symphony, Esteban, Marshall Tremble, Rex Allen Jr., Robin Sewell, Sandra Day O'Connor, Hugh Downs, Luis Gonzales, Dave Pratt, Hopi dancers and so much more. What a wonderful evening to honor Arizona's history while looking forward to the next 100 years.