Martha Dandridge Custis Washington was born in
Williamsburg, Virginia June 2, 1731 to John and Frances
Jones Dandridge. And although Martha never actually lived in
Dandridge, Tennessee, the town was named for her as a sign
of respect for her as first First Lady, and in fondness for her
as a native of Tennessee's neighboring state, Virginia.
The following recipe, taken from her eighteenth century
" A Booke of Cookery " which lies in the Division of
" A Booke of Cookery " which lies in the Division of
Manuscripts at The Historical Society of Pennsylvania, The
Martha Washington Cookbook has over two hundred and five
recipes.
One of Martha's favorite dinner desserts suitable in the
year 1792 would be as follows:
Apple Puffs
6 apples ( peeled and pared)
3/4 cup red wine
3/4 cup sugar
pinch grated nutmeg
3 whole cloves
1 tsp. grated lemon peel
1 tsp. grated orange peel
Pastry
Peel, pare and quarter apples. Mix the wine, sugar and spices, lemon and orange peel in sauce pan and bring to a boil. Add apples and stew slowly until clear and tender. Roll out the pastry and cut into 4 inch squares. Place a large amount of apple mixture in the middle of each square. Bring the corner of the pastry together at the top and press the edges. Place on a buttered baking sheet and bake in a moderate oven until light brown. Any remaining juice may be used as sauce. More wine and sugar may be added if needed.
" I have learned from experience that the greater part of our happiness or misery depends on our dispositions and not on our circumstances." ~ Martha Washington
*George Washington died at Mount Vernon December 14,
1799. Martha was widowed for two and one-half years until
she, too, died at Mount Vernon May 22, 1802.
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