Filling Ginger Simpson's Shoes by Connie Vines

Ginger Simpson may be stepping down as the Queen of "Spunk, Sass, and Inspiration" here at Dishin' It Out, the blog she created; but she won't be absent.  I will still be posting snippets of her writing and reposts many of her wonderfully delightful takes on her eventful life!  (Remember her books are available online at Amazon.com).

Ginger has been a dear friend and mentor of mine for many years.  I was so excited when I was asked to post each Thursday and to be included in "Sunday Snippets" weekly blog hop. (And I was also so fearful that I simply wouldn't measure-up.)  

I know Ginger is only be an email away if I have any questions, or need assistance--because that's the kind of caring person she is!

Well Ginger, wish me luck.  I have a very famous pair of cowgirl boots to fill.

Connie Vines

Here are the links to Sunday's Blog hop:

http://yesterrdayrevisitedhere.blogspot.com/

http://connievines.blogspot.com/

http://triciamg.blogspot.com/

The Wild West Meets the Gingerbread Man!

Chances are, if you use the Internet, you have heard about at least one food holiday. You see everyone posting about it on social media, stores advertise special offers and people flip out about whatever particular food is basking in its day the spotlight.

There is no rhyme or reason to the majority of food holidays out there. Most are announced a holiday by the marketing team of a brand, or declared by the popular food day website Foodimentary. There are days that do have a history behind them like National Doughnut Day, which takes place on the first Friday of June. Women volunteering for the Salvation Army would bring doughnuts to the soldiers during World War I to raise their spirits. The day was created by the Salvation Army as a way to raise funds and awareness for the volunteers.

I was delighted to find out that there is a random, fun and quirky food holiday for every day of June. On top of that, they are mostly desserts and we aren't complaining.

June 1

National Hazelnut Cake Day

June 2

National Rocky Road Day

June 3

National Doughnut Day

June 4

National Cheese Day

June 5

National Gingerbread Day  

National Gingerbread Day!  Wow!

Everyone one who knows me or reads my novels, knows I love gingerbread!  

I bake gingerbread cookies, cakes, trifles, fudge. . .well, you get the idea.  I even have my kitchen 

and dining room (tastefully) decorated in cranberry and cream with gingerbread boys and girls 

decorating the walls.  

When I read that Gingerbread has it's own National 'Food' Day.  

I began thinking and researching.

While we all know about the history of gingerbread in Europe,

 what do we know about the history

of gingerbread in the Wild West?

Then I located a recipe in an old cookbook.

Old West Cowboy Recipe for: Gingerbread:

Grandma's ginger and spice and everything nice.

- 1-1/2 lbs flour

- 1/2 lb. real butter

- 1/2 lb. brown sugar

- 1/2 pt. molassas

- 2 tbls cream

- 1 tsp baking soda

- ginger (to taste)

Mix all ingredients together. Make in into a stiff paste, and roll it out thin.

 Put it on buttered tins, and bake in a moderate oven till done, approximately 30-40 minutes.

And from an 1800's Pioneer Cookbook I located another reference to a gingerbread cake.

By-Guess By-Gosh Gingerbread

Pioneer recipes were seldom as specific as recipes today but this one has me puzzled. 

She wrote, 

“I always take some flour, just enough for the size of the cake I want to bake.

 I mix it up with some buttermilk if I happen to have any around, just enough for the flour. 

Then I take some ginger; some like more, some like less. I put in a little salt and pearl ash, and then

 I tell one of my children to pour in molasses until I tell him to stop. Then the children bring in wood 

to build up a good fire and we have gingerbread for company."  No doubt Grandma got better

 results from this recipe than I would.

While I wasn't able to locate very much information on the subject, I believe it is safe to assume, that 

gingerbread was consumed and enjoyed in the American West. 

Of course, spices were expensive, so these tasty desserts were probably limited to special occasions 

and, or, holiday celebrations.

Happy June, everyone!

Feel free to indulge in your 'favorite' food during this month.

Connie

Sunday Snippets with Ginger Simpson #sundaysnips

This week I'm sharing a little more of my WIP, Sarah's Hope, which I hope to finish this month.  I hope you enjoy it, but remember this is the first, unedited draft:

While she waited for Daniel, she wandered down the hallway..“Mr. Crane?”  Sarah stood in the doorway of her supervisor’s office.  Uneasiness trembled in her voice.

“Yes.”  He turned, brows raised.

“I-I’d like to reconsider my earlier decision if you don’t mind.”

“About taking time off?”  His mouth pulled into a frown.

“Yes.  I’d like to get away for a while, and I’m considering a trip to another country.”

“Another country?”  His voice climbed an octave.  “How long would you be gone?”  He dropped a file onto his desk and crossed his arms across his bulging stomach.

Sarah squared her shoulders. “Since you mentioned hiring someone to fill in for me, I’d like to request a month away.”

The sun shining through the window behind him cast what looked like a halo around his head.  Sarah almost laughed since he was anything but angelic.  “What do you think,” she asked, feigning bravery she didn’t feel.  The man had an intimidating presence—always did.

He cleared his throat and adjusted his tie. “I suppose if you need time off, you need time off.  I’ll put in a call and arrange a temporary person.  When do you plan to leave?”

“At once...i-if that’s okay.  I received another threat here at work today, and I’d really like to just disappear for a while.  I don’t plan to let anyone know my destination, so if you don’t mind, I’m not even going to tell you.”

He stiffened.  “Surely you don’t suspect me?”

Sarah shook her head.  “Oh, it's not that, sir.  Not at all, but I figure the fewer people who know my whereabouts, the better.”

Mr. Crane cleared his throat again.  “Well, then enjoy your time away, and I hope the police find whoever is behind all your woes.  I’m sure I’ll get someone in to read while you’re gone.  If not right away, I’ll still have Marie.”  He stared into space and massaged his chin. “Hmmm, maybe I’ll have an assistant editor step into your place.  That would save me some money”

“Right.”  Poor Marie.  She certainly wouldn't be happy to learn she was the sole senior editor, but given the circumstances, she’d understand.  Plus, she knew how cheap the boss was when it came to running the business.

  Sarah wanted to scream at him, but forced kindness to surface.  “Thank you, Mr. Crane. I’ll apprise you of any progress made, and I’ll see you in a month.”

Sarah slunk out of the office before her boss had a chance to reconsider his moment of niceness.  She glanced at her wristwatch—quitting time. Marie must surely be wondering where Sarah was.

Watch for the completed novel coming from Books We Love and appearing on my Amazon page.

Now hop on over to the following blogs and check out their offerings:

http://connievines.blogspot.com (Connie Vines)

http://yesterrdayrevisitedhere.blogspot.com/ (Juliet Waldron)

http://triciamg.blogspot.com (Tricia McGill)