Washington Apple Country Recipes
Great Northern Secrets
see also-
The history of the Great Northern
The Empire Builder
Great Northern Secrets is a look at the chefs and their recipes used on Great Northern dining cars from the 1920's. The Great Northern was the dream of James Hill and was instrumental in the development of agriculture in Washington. The railroad ran several world-class luxury trains between Chicago and Washington state up until the advent of Amtrak in 1971, including the Western Star, the Oriental Limited, and the Empire Builder. A marvel of long distance rail travel in those days was the dining car service, which required a full staff working long hours to feed the passengers three meals in shifts from dawn to dusk. Fine dining was a selling point to lure travelers and the railroads were famous for their cuisine. The train could not carry sufficient food for the entire trip, so the staff would purchase local produce along the route, which afforded the diners a fresh and varied fare. Washington apple dishes were always an important part of the great Northern menu. Bread, rolls, pastry and pies were baked fresh daily, every day as the train rolled along.
Wenatchee Apple Marmalade
6 lbs shredded apples
6 lbs granulated sugar
3 1/2 cups water
grated rind of two oeanges
jucie and grated rind of 3 1/2 lemons
2 level teaspoons ground ginger
Bring to a boil the water and sugar and add orange, lemon, and ginger. Let this simmer a few minutes, then, and only then, add the shredded apples. Allow these ingredients to simmer on back of range for one hour. Omit stirring and chill thoroughly before serving.
French Toast - a Great Northern Special
1 egg
2 slices bread
1 Teaspoon Currant Jelly
2 Rashers Bacon
Few Grains Ground Cinnamon
Have the egg beaten to a fluff. Cut the bread down to the crust, but do not cut off on one side-- trim the remainung three crusts off. Shape square and put jelly between the two slices of bread, dip all in egg in the usual manner. Drop in hot. clean fat and brown. Dip toast in sugar and cinnamon as soon as browned. Serve hot with bacon.
Great Northern Doughnuts
1 ½ lbs. sugar
3 lbs. flour
2 teaspoonfuls nutmeg
1 teaspoonful cinnamon
½ oz salt
1 qt. milk
1 oz. baking powder
3 oz. lard (melted)
6 eggs
Mix all to a stiff dough, roll out one-half inch thick-- cut to shape, fry in deep hot fat.
Strawberry Shortcake
To each cupful flour add:
1 teaspoonful baking powder
½ cupful milk
½ teaspoonful salt
1 egg
1 tablespoonful lard
2 tablespoonfuls sugar
Roll about three-quarters of an inch thick, score in 4-inch squares, bake in quick oven. When done, break in half, fill and cover bottom half with crushed strawberries, top half with whole perfect strawberries and cover all with whipped cream. Make cake fresh for each meal.
more Great Northern recipes on the next page
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