Graham Crackers

July 5: Birthdate of Reverend Sylvester Graham, inventor of the graham cracker

One of Highlander’s favorite childhood cookies, graham crackers, are actually healthy and wholesome. Originally marketed as “Dr. Graham’s honey biskets,” these wheat wafers were created to curb lust! Graham crackers are named after an American Presbyterian minister of Scottish descent, Reverend Sylvester Graham (July 5, 1794 – September 11, 1851). The key ingredient of these classic cookies is the coarsely ground whole wheat graham flour (not to be confused with finely ground chickpea gram flour). Graham also founded the American Vegetarian Society in 1850. Although his Graham Diet was controversial during his time, he is credited as an early advocate of healthy eating. Nowadays, graham crackers are used to make sinful sweets like s’mores and are popular as pie crusts in other unhealthy desserts! But we had the urge to go back to the basics for our blog to celebrate the birthday of Graham by baking his honey biscuits using graham flour.

Recipe

(Adapted from The Fannie Farmer Cookbook by Marion Cunningham)

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups graham flour
• 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 3/4 teaspoons of salt
• 1/2 stick (4 tablespoons) of butter, softened
• 1 egg
• 6 tablespoons of sugar
• 4 tablespoons of honey
• 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda
• 2 teaspoons of water
• cinnamon-sugar (optional) (we used McCormick’s brand)

Directions

Combine the flours and salt in a medium bowl. In a large bowl, mix the butter, egg and sugar. Stir in the honey. Dissolve the baking soda with the water, then add to the butter mixture. Gradually add the flour mixture and blend until a dough is formed. Add more graham flour if it is too sticky. Dust a clean surface with graham flour. Roll out the dough in small sections to 1/8-inch thick.

Slice into squares or rectangles or use cookie cutters for decorative shapes. Prick holes with the tines of a fork. Use a spatula to place on an ungreased baking sheet. Sprinkle the tops with cinnamon-sugar (optional). Bake in a preheated oven at 350 degrees F for 10-15 minutes or until brown (the graham crackers will puff up slightly). Remove from the oven and cool to a crisp on wire racks.  Yield: About 3 – 3 ½ dozen.

Notes

• When referenced, both the crackers and flour use the lower case letter “g” in Graham.
• Graham flour may be found in the specialty baking section at some health food stores or purchased online. If it is unavailable, make an equivalent by substituting one cup of graham flour for 2/3 cup white flour, 1/3 cup wheat bran and 1 1/2 teaspoon of wheat germ.
• The dough for this graham cracker recipe is quite sticky. To remedy this into a more manageable dough, refrigerate it for at least 30 minutes and sprinkle the work surface generously with graham flour.
• The background fabric in the photo above is of the Graham tartan in the Modern Montrose colors.
• Use graham crackers to make s’mores on August 10, National S’mores Day.

Baby Back Ribs with Honey BBQ Sauce

July 4: American Independence Day; National Barbecued Spareribs Day

Happy birthday, United States! Many Americans traditionally celebrate this holiday by watching patriotic parades and fireworks and barbecuing burgers or hot dogs. Since today coincides with National Barbecued Spareribs Day, another option is to barbecue some spareribs!  We have tried dry rubs and wet saucy ribs during our travels across the country, but we personally prefer the sweet and sticky style pork baby back ribs, like the ones served at Tony Roma’s restaurants.  Instead of buying their BBQ sauce at the gift shop, we decided to make our own “Carolina Honeys” sauce at home. We don’t have a grill—yet—so we baked the ribs in the oven.  But they were just as flavorful—and fabulous for the Fourth of July!

Recipe

(Adapted from Recipe Zaar)

Ingredients

• 1 rack of pork baby back spareribs
• salt and pepper
• ½ cup ketchup
• ½ cup white vinegar
• ¼ cup honey
• ¼ cup molasses
• ½ teaspoon liquid smoke
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon each of garlic powder, onion powder and Tabasco sauce

Directions

In a small saucepan, combine all ingredients and mix well over medium heat. Reduce heat to simmer for 30 minutes or until the sauce thickens. Reserve some for basting and some for dipping.

Season ribs with salt and pepper. Grill or bake the ribs until cooked. Half an hour before they are done, baste with the sauce. Cut the ribs between the bones before plating. Serve with extra dipping sauce.

Notes

• The correct spelling for barbecue is with a C, not a Q! Check the dictionary and writing style manuals (Associated Press and Chicago Manual of Style) for proof!

Edamame (Soybeans)

July 3: Eat Beans Day

Islander had just turned 31 when she needed to undergo an unexpected bilateral salpingo-oopherectomy (total abdominal hysterectomy) for possible ovarian cancer. Praise God for surviving the cysts (big but benign), but she still faces some issues after her sudden surgical menopause many years ago. The doctors put her on hormone replacement therapy. However, they also advised her to increase her source of estrogen naturally. Although she does not care for eating legumes in general, she does like snacking on soybeans, particularly edamame. Since she has been raised with Asian-Pacific influences, soybeans (soy milk, shoyu, tofu, etc.) are already part of the cultural diet. Edamame is often served as an appetizer at some Asian restaurants, but now we all can cook it easily at home. Find edamame in the frozen vegetables section at the grocery or health food store.  Just boil it right out of the bag and enjoy something nutritious any day and on Eat Beans Day.

Recipe

Ingredients

• 2 cups of edamame
• 2 cups of water
• coarse salt to taste (we used Hawaiian sea salt)

Directions

In a large pot, bring water to a rolling boil.  Add the edamame to the pot. Boil for 5-10 minutes. Drain. Sprinkle with salt. Serve hot or cold.

Notes

• Edamame and soybeans are nutritious. Learn more about the health benefits at Soybean.org, a site sponsored by the United Soybean Board. A “Soyfoods Guide” is downloadable for free!
• Islander recommends the woman-to-woman hysterectomy support site, HysterSisters, and associate sites, MisterHysterSisters and The Hormone Jungle.
• The color for ovarian cancer awareness is teal. May God bless the women affected by ovarian cancer and their families and friends who support and care for them. Please continue to pray for a cure for all cancers and contribute to any research efforts.