Libbie Custer was the wife of ill-fated General Custer of the Civil War. Libbie was unusually dedicated military spouse for her time. She followed her husband to every camp and almost every battle, never wanting to be left behind. These military wives were called Campfollowers or “Mollies” and together they shared sacred sisterhood.
The following recipe was said to have been designed around the rations of war. Sometimes items such as milk or butter were short supply for solider wives. It was Libbie’s wish that someone would write a cookbook that met the needs of the frontier military wife. The wish came true in when recipes were published in the Army Wife’s Cookbook written by Alice Kirk Grierson in early 19th century. The book is still available today!
War Cake
(Libbie’s Dream Cake)
2 cups firmly packed sugar
2 cups hot water
2 teaspoons of shortening
½ cups of raisins
1 teaspoons of salt
1 teaspoons of cinnamon
1 teaspoon of cloves
3 cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon of baking soda dissolved in 2 teaspoons of hot water
Grease and flour the Bundt or tube pan. In a medium sauce pan combine the brown sugar, hot water, shortening, raisins, salt, and spices. Bring to a boil and continue to boil for 5 minutes. Remove the mixture from the heat and allow it to cool completely. Add the flour and dissolved soda. Pour into the prepared pan and bake at 325 degrees for 1 hour.
Mamie Eisenhower was the wife (and first lady) to General Dwight Eisenhower our 34th President. Mamie met Eisenhower just after he graduated from West Point while he was stationed at his first assignment at Fort Sam Houston in Texas in 1916. They soon married in Colorado. It was said that in her life as a military wife and first lady, she moved 28 times, finally to settle into their very first home – the first one they ever owned- in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania in 1952. Mamie was known for several recipes, but her favorite was said to be her fudge, which was published in the 1955 spiral bound collections of recipes by Women’s National Press Club of Washington, D.C.
Million Dollar Fudge
4 ½ cups of sugar
Pinch of salt
2 Tablespoons of butter
1 tall can of evaporated milk
Combine and boil for 6 minutes.
Put in a large bowl:
12 ounces of semi-sweet chocolate
12 ounces of German sweet chocolate
1 pint of marshmallow cream
2 cups of nutmeats
Pour boiling syrup over ingredients in bowl: beat until chocolate is all melted and pour into a pain.
Let stand a few hours before cutting. Store in a tin box.
