Happy 70th Anniversary

Tastes & Treasures II, A Storytelling Cookbook of Historic Arizona will share the story of Rancho de Los Caballeros and it's recipes when the book is published this fall. Congratulations to 70 years.

From Rancho de Los Caballeros:

 The Year Was 1948...

The United States was still recovering from World War II.

The first Polaroid Land Camera goes on sale in US department stores (No, you couldn’t pre-order the camera on Amazon Prime!). 

The independent state of Israel was created, the musical South Pacific opened on Broadway and James Taylor, Ozzy Osbourne and Al Gore were born.

At the same time, Rancho de los Caballeros was preparing to open for its first inaugural season.

Today, we prepare for our 70th anniversary season here at the ranch. Much has changed in the world but the ranch remains true to its roots; we still offer our special brand of Southwestern hospitality in an environment largely unchanged by the decades which have passed.

Friends and good food

Besides making sure the recipes were accurate and enjoying the good food, the Tasting Parties are more . . . getting to know everyone on the cookbook committee and becoming friends is an added bonus!

Bonnie Newhoff and Jan Murray sample the delicious foods

Donna Esposito and Jan Murray sign up for more recipe testings

Margaret Baker and Ruth McLeod have their plates ready

September 21 Tour of Roswell Bookbinding and lunch

Learn about the fascinating book binding business  at 9:45 am on September 21 when the Historical League tours Roswell Bookbinding. Mike Roswell has plenty of history in the Phoenix area beginning when his parents moved here from back east to help their younger son recover from asthma and to start a new business. It is especially meaningful for the League because Roswell Bookbinding is doing the work on Tastes and Treasures cookbook Volume II that we plan on publishing this fall.

Our lunch after the tour is at St. Mary's Food Bank Catering Kitchen, which is 1/2 mile away. St. Mary's Food Bank is celebrating 50 years of service this year. They will be featured in our new cookbook with several recipes from their Catering Kitchen students. The students had a contest to see whose recipe would be published and they are anxious to find out the winners!

Space is limited to 30 on the tour. Contact RuthMcleod@earthlink.net to be included. Cost for tour and lunch $25 for League members.  Cost for Non-League members is $30.

Mouth-watering Ribs!

Sampling delicious foods at the Tasting Party are part of the perks of being on the Cookbook Committee. The party at Cathy Shumard's home was filled with amazing dishes. One of the most popular was the Short Ribs from St. Mary's Food Bank Community Kitchen. YUMMMM. Recipe will definitely be in Tastes & Treasures cookbook, Volume II.

Linda Corderman samples while Cathy Shumard assists Margaret Baker

L to R:Donna Esposito, Leslie Christiansen, Sharron McKinney, Cathy Shumard,
Margaret Baker, Linda Corderman, Mariamne Moore (top of her head)

Recipe Testing is FUN

A new Tribute Page from Zona Lorig honoring her grandmother Edith Cowan Davis brought this wonderful Cranberry Pudding to our attention. The recipe calls for no sugar in the pudding.  Molasses is used instead. In combination with the tart cranberries . . . your taste buds are rocking! The wonderful sugary, buttery sauce more than makes up for the tart fruit!
Cathy Shumard tested this recipe, not covering it while baking and it turned out delicious. Ruth McLeod was the lucky recipient of the testing. Now Cathy is experimenting to see if covering it will make it even better.
Zona mentioned this recipe has been served at every special occasion by all her eleven cousins for years. What a wonderful tradition.

Looking forward to making it myself when Tastes & Treasures cookbook, Volume II comes out this fall.

Time for Historymaker 2019 Nominations

Here is your chance to nominate that outstanding individual to be honored as a Historymaker in 2019.

Qualifications: you must be a member of the Historical League or Arizona Historical Society. Join at www.HistoricalLeague.org/membership.aspx

 

Tasting Party Desserts

When we talk about Tasting Parties, the desserts are often left out of the conversation. Not so at Cathy Shumard's home June 30. This was a feast for the eyes, mouthwatering for the taste buds and yummy in the tummy. Enough of those silly sayings - the desserts were outstanding.  All these recipes have been assembled for Tastes & Treasures cookbook Volume II. Historymaker Eddie Basha's widow, Nadine, sent us his favorite Chocolate Cake. Bonnie Newhoff baked it to perfection! Historymaker Mark Wilmer's daughters sent us a decadent Raspberry Torte. Cathy Shumard did a fabulous job re-creating it. The buttery rich shortbread is from The Spicery in Our 1895 Home. A big Thank You to Jan Murray for baking it.

Leslie Christiansen and Cathy Shumard serve up desserts