RECIPE: HOME-MADE JERKY

  Jan Anderson offers this month’s recipe, a treat she says her family has enjoyed for years “just like the pioneers.”

Serves: 6

Ingredients

·       2 pounds beef, top round, thinly sliced

·       ¾ cup Worcestershire sauce

·       ¾ cup soy sauce

·       1 tablespoon smoked paprika

·       1 tablespoon honey

·       2 teaspoons ground black pepper

·       1 teaspoon red pepper flakes

·       1 teaspoon garlic powder

·       1 teaspoon onion powder

Directions

  Mix sauces and dry ingredients together in a bowl. Add beef to bowl and turn to coat beef completely. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and marinate overnight in the refrigerator.  Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and place a wire rack over the foil. Dry the beef slices on paper towels, then arrange them in a single layer on the wire rack. Bake for 3-4 hours at 175 degrees F. Cut into bite-size pieces and serve.

HOME REMEDY: MOSQUITO BITES

  From the Home Medicinals, 1881: “To avoid mosquito bites, mix lavender oil with rosemary and rub it on your exposed skin.”

WORDS TO LIVE BY: 1875

  From the Western Almanac, attributed to Ulysses S. Grant: “The most confident critics are generally those who know the least about the matter criticized.”

GARDENING: SUMMER CROPS

  From Texas Grower, 1892: “After the summer harvest is complete, plant okra, corn, black-eyed peas, winter squash.”

RECIPE: HOME-MADE ICE CREAM

  Our recipe this month comes from Buda grandmother Dell Dollinger, who says the recipe has been in her family for “just eons.”

Serves: 6

Ingredients

·       ¾ cup white sugar

·       1 cup heavy whipping cream

·       2 ¼ cups milk

·       2 teaspoons Watkins vanilla extract

Directions

  Stir sugar, cream, and milk into a saucepan over low heat until sugar has dissolved. Heat just until mix is hot and a small ring of foam appears around the edge.

  Transfer cream mixture to a pourable container such as a large measuring cup. Stir in vanilla extract and chill mix thoroughly, at least 2 hours. (Overnight is best.)

  Pour cold ice cream mix into an ice cream maker, turn on or hand crank the machine, and churn for 20 to 30 minutes.

  When ice cream is softly frozen, serve immediately or place a piece of plastic wrap directly on the ice cream and place in freezer to harden for 2 to 3 hours.

REMEDY: SUNBURN

  From the Home Medicinals, 1881: “For sunburn, add a cup of apple cider vinegar to cooling bath water or two cups of baking soda.”

WORDS TO LIVE BY: 1858

  From the Baker’s Texas Almanac, attributed to Daniel Boone: “All you need for happiness is a good gun, a good horse and a good wife.”

GARDENING: SUMMER CROPS

  From Texas Grower, 1892: “Plant most varieties of okra, summer corn, black-eyed peas, winter squash, pumpkin, cantaloupes and local melons early in the month.”

RECIPE: GRILLED TRAIL STEAK

  Our recipe this month comes from Austin native Donna Klingsted, who got this recipe from her mother and believes it came from the Chisholm Trail.

Serves: 4

Ingredients

·       1 ½ teaspoons granulated sugar

·       1 ½ teaspoons ground coriander

·       1 ½ teaspoons salt

·       1 teaspoon chili powder

·       1 teaspoon garlic powder

·       1 teaspoon ground pepper

·       ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

·       4 boneless top sirloin steaks

Directions

  Mix the dry seasonings together thoroughly in a bowl. Please each steak on a large plate and cover each side with the mixture, rubbing the seasoning in thoroughly, then turning the meat over and repeating the process. Let the steaks sit for about an hour in a cool place (refrigerator).  

  Place the steaks on a grill over medium heat. Cook for 10-15 minutes on each side, to desired level of cooking. Serve immediately with salad, summer corn or potatoes and mint iced tea.

REMEDY: RHEUMATISM

  From the Home Remedies, 1886, via Tennessee Pioneers: “Boil and blossoms from red clover into a tea, let steep and drink one cup to ease rheumatism and arthritis.”

WORDS TO LIVE BY: 1861

  From the Frontier Almanac, attributed to Abraham Lincoln: “Be sure you put your feet in the right place, then stand firm.”

GARDENING: SUMMER VEGETABLES

  From Texas Grower, date unknown: “Plant most varieties of okra, black-eyed peas, winter squash, pumpkin, cantaloupes and local melons early in the month.”

RECIPE: SUMMER SALAD

  Austinite Carol Peterson sends this month’s recipe for a summer pea salad that she is “just like the one that was passed down through my family, from frontier times.”

Serves: 12

Ingredients

·       1/3 cup sour cream

·       1 Tablespoon mayonnaise

·       1 Tablespoon white vinegar

·       4 cups fresh green peas

·       8 slices bacon, cooked and chopped

·       1/2 small red onion, cut in half and sliced thin

·       6 ounces, cubed cheddar cheese

·       3 Tablespoons minced parsley

·       Salt and pepper to taste

Directions

  Mix sour cream, mayonnaise, salt, pepper, and vinegar together to make the dressing. Stir 2/3 of the dressing into the peas until they are coated. Gently stir in the bacon, onion, cheese, and parsley. Taste and adjust seasonings. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate with extra dressing for 2-4 hours before serving.  

  Remove from the fridge, stir in the rest of the dressing to taste and sprinkle with parsley before serving.

HOME REMEDY: BUG BITES

  From the Home Remedies, 1888, via Missouri Pioneers: “To stop itching from minor bug bites, wash with cloth dipped in fresh water. Mix 1 spoonful each of baking soda and water. Dab resultant paste onto the bite.”

WORDS TO LIVE BY: 1848

  From the Homesteaders’ Almanac, attributed to Davy Crockett: “Let your tongue speak what your heart thinks.”

GARDENING: PLANTING ROSES

  From Texas Grower, date unknown: “Plant most varieties of beans, okra, peas, squash, corn, peppers, pumpkin and local melon fruits early in the month or after the last rain of April.”

RECIPE: SMASHED POTATOES

  Austinite Dede Larson sends this month’s recipe for yummy red potatoes that her grandmother made for her when she was a little girl. “Grandpop was a rancher and she used to feed this for dinner (lunch).”

Serves: 6

Ingredients

·       24 ounces yellow or red baby potatoes

·       2 tablespoons olive oil

·       3 cloves pressed garlic

·       1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves

·       Kosher salt and ground black pepper

Directions

  Preheat oven to 450 degrees F. Lightly oil a baking sheet or coat with nonstick spray.

  In a large pot of boiling water, cook potatoes until tender and drain. Place potatoes on the baking sheet. Using a serving fork, smash the potatoes until flattened but still in one piece. Top with olive oil, garlic and thyme.

  Place into oven and bake for 18-20 minutes, or until golden brown and crisp. Serve immediately.

HOME REMEDY: SPRAINS

  From the Home Remedies, 1888, via Alabama Pioneers: “Pound some gum camphor and fill a wide-necked pint bottle one-third full. Fill with olive oil and set away until the camphor is absorbed. Excellent lotion for sore chest, sore throat, aching limbs.”

WORDS TO LIVE BY: 1848

  From the Homsteaders’ Almanac, attributed to Davy Crockett: “We must not permit our respect for the dead or our sympathy for the living to lead us into an act of injustice to the balance of the living.”

APRIL PLANTING GUIDE

  From the Texas Farmer's Digest, 1899: “Plant tomatoes, peppers, squash, bush and pole beans, peppers, watermelons early in the month; okra, peas and other summer vegetables late in the month . . . Apply manure in side rows when plants are one hand high.”