A Century Of Iowa Living

    Today is a very special day! It's Great B's 100th Birthday! I can't imagine the changes she has seen in her lifetime.  During her life there have been 10 popes, 17 presidents, the public introduction of the television, the wide-spread use of the automobile (and it's rather drastic evolution), the invention of the modern computer (which I don't think she even knows exists), the invention of the cell phone, and so much more. She was born only 6 years after the first electric washing machine was invented - perhaps that's why she used a wringer washer until she was nearly 80 years old!! The first electric refrigerator was sold only 1 year before she was born. 
    So, in tribute to her, today I am posting my grain-free chocolate cake recipe. Because everyone deserves cake for their birthday, especially if they make it to 100! And, because it makes an old lady extremely happy, I am also including the recipe for one of her very favorite dishes (which also happens to be a Bonnstetter family delicacy...) - Pickled Cow's Tongue. Yep, that's right folks! I'm tellin' ya, we fight over the stuff at family gatherings! And by "we" I mean everyone in the family except me and my mom... 

Grain-Free Chocolate Cake
4 eggs
1 c honey
1/2 c coconut sap sugar
1 c buttermilk
1 c melted coconut oil
1 c very hot water or brewed coffee
1 TBSP vanilla 
1 tsp salt
2 tsp baking soda 
3/4 c cocoa powder 
2/3 c coconut flour 
1/3 c tapioca flour 
2 TBSP arrowroot


Preheat oven to 325 degrees. In the bowl of a stand mixer (or a large bowl using a hand mixer) beat together the eggs, honey and coconut sap sugar until well combined. While the mixer is running, slowly add the oil. Mix thoroughly then add the buttermilk, water or coffee and vanilla. Add the cocoa powder and mix thoroughly. In a small bowl whisk together the last four ingredients before adding to the batter. Mix thoroughly until you don't have any lumps in the batter. (You may have to turn the mixer speed up for 30 seconds or so to get the lumps out.)
Pour into parchment-lined jelly roll pan and bake 35-45 min until toothpick comes out clean and cake springs back.

Pickled Cow's Tongue
1 cow's tongue
2 onions
white vinegar

salt and pepper

Place the tongue in a pan and cover with water.
Slice the onions. Set one aside and place the other in the pot along with 1 TBSP salt and 1 tsp pepper.
Bring to boil and simmer 4 hours.
Strain the broth and cool the tongue and broth. Remove the skin from the tongue and slice to desired thickness.
Place in glass jar/s, layering with RAW onion.
Cover with mixture of equal amounts of white vinegar and
the broth. Refrigerate for 24 hours before eating.

 The birthday girl!

Great B and her
great, great grandson,
Bryant

 And the Bible verse of the week!

"Be strong and take heart,
all who hope in the LORD."

Psalm 31:26

Great B's Potato Salad

Another one of Great B's staples is her potato salad. We don't eat potatoes anymore, so we've tried making it both with cauliflower and parsnips and it's really good! I think I like the cauliflower the best. I bet it would be really good made with celeriac (celery root) too! Anyway, without further ado!

Great B's Potato Salad
Dressing:
3 eggs
1/2 c white vinegar
1/2 c safflower oil 
1/3 c honey (or 1/2 c sugar for original recipe)
1/2 tsp salt
3/4 tsp dried mustard
1 TBSP arrowroot (or white flour for original recipe)
----------
2 TBSP mayo

Whisk together all of the ingredients except the mayo in a double boiler or in a glass bowl set over simmering water. Cook over medium heat whisking constantly until the mixture thickens. Remove from heat. Add the mayo and whisk thoroughly.

Cook your potatoes, cauliflower, parsnips, celeriac or what ever you're going to use and mix with as much dressing as you'd like. We usually add hard-boiled eggs and onions, so add as much of each as you'd like.

Note: One batch of dressing is just about right for 5 lbs. worth of potatoes according to our liking.

And the Bible verse of the week!

"God said: This is the sign of the covenant that I am making between me and you and every living creature with you for all ages to come: I set my bow in the clouds to serve as a sign of the covenant between me and the earth.
When I bring clouds over the earth, and the bow appears in the clouds, I will remember my covenant between me and you and every living creature—every mortal being—so that the waters will never again become a flood to destroy every mortal being."

Genesis 9:12-15