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501(c)3

 

Why are foodways important?

Foodways is the study of what people eat and why. Why we procure, prepare and serve the food we do has cultural, sociological, geographical, financial and political influences.

 

 

Why is recognition of diverse foodways valuable?

Preserving our past and present for the future by research, documentation and oral histories. It is culinary anthropology on the hoof, paw, root and leaf.

 

 

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2nd Prize, Indiana State Fair, 2015

 

Greater Midwest Foodways Alliance

FAMILY HEIRLOOM RECIPES

2015: Family Favorites Never Served to Guests 
(or whatever you want)


Indiana State Fair

August 13, 2015

 

persimmon pudding 2015 indiana state fair peter engler greater midwest foodways

(Image by Peter Engler)

 

 

Second Prize:

Grandma Rosenbaum’s Persimmon Pudding

Betsy Holtsclaw, Mooresville, Indiana

 

 

Grandma Lois Rosenbaum was my husband’s maternal grandmother. I first tasted this “pudding” in 1971 and was delighted by its rich texture and tart, fruity taste. I didn’t know a pudding could be baked into the form of a cake. I had never tasted anything like it! Since my only surviving grandmother had always lived so far from me, Lois was happy for me to adopt her as my grandma. Traditionally, she served this pudding each Thanksgiving and Christmas with sweetened whipped cream. My husband’s mother told me there never was a Thanksgiving or Christmas that she did not make it, as everyone looked forward to having some. When she passed away in 1991, my sister-in-law became the keeper of the recipe and she began to serve it to the family at our gatherings for Thanksgiving and Christmas to keep tradition going. She was honored to let me serve it here today. Grandma Rosenbaum was a firm, but loving, second generation, American-born of German immigrants named Baugh. She met her husband, Ralph Rosenbaum, in Bedford, Indiana. They got engaged within three days and married six weeks later. They remained married for over 69 years. He preceded her in death in October, 1990. On Mother’s day 1991, she leaned over to my husband as they posed for a photo and said, “I miss Ralph.” Within two weeks, she had gone to be with him in eternity. No matter what time of day someone would show up at her home for a visit, she rose and cooked them a meal. That was her way. We all miss her so.

 

 

Second Prize:

Grandma Rosenbaum’s Persimmon Pudding

Betsy Holtsclaw, Mooresville, Indiana

Ingredients:
2 cups persimmon pulp
2 cups granulated sugar
2 cups buttermilk with 2 teaspoons baking soda added (add soda to buttermilk over the mixing bowl as the soda will cause the buttermilk to bubble over the measuring cup.)
2 eggs
1/2 cup salted butter, melted & cooled
1-1/3 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1) Preheat oven to 350 0 F and grease a 11″ X13″  gIass baking pan.
2) Mix flour, ground cinnamon and nutmeg in a small bowl and set aside.
3) In large mixing bowl, mix pulp, sugar, buttermilk/soda mixture and eggs on medium until well blended.
4) Add cooled, melted butter and mix until well blended.
5) Add 1/2 of the flour mixture and blend on low speed until fully incorporated into batter. Add last half flour mixture and, again, blend on low speed until fully incorporated into batter. Increase to medium speed, and beat for 2 minutes.
6) Turn batter into 9″ X 13″ greased, glass baking pan.
7) Bake on middle rack for about 1 hour. Test middle of pudding with a toothpick. When it comes out clean, the pudding is done.
8) Remove from oven and place on cooling rack.
9) Cool completely: at least one hour.
10) Slice into 12 equal pieces.
Pudding can be served with fresh, whipped cream, or dusted with powdered sugar.