Sunday Morning Brunch

Last Edit December 23, 1999

I will do just about anything to keep from going through old tax records - last year's - to see if I actually get any of the $$$$ I paid in advance - back. Probably not. So I am not very motivated.
And my regency costume's neck ruffle is making me run for the hills. I hate to make those things! It may very well end up unpleated and just gathered. So there.
Knowing I was being a brat, I dressed up in a nice short and shirt set, trying not to look like the frump I always look like around the house on the weekends, and went out to work on the yard.
Like mow the grass (it's been 5 weeks) and run the edger (its been longer) and find the back yard - because the dog loves to run in short grass. And border collies should run.
I mowed.
I dragged flowerpots out front. This task having been on my to-do list for months.
I picked up discarded pots and brambles that fell out of my gloved and denimed arms yesterday, because I was out here then too. (I hate bookkeeping. I need a personal assistant! Would that I could afford one!)
I neatened the back yard. First time all summer. I have a band of sanity ion the front yard.
With 12' windows that look out at the back yard and a new addition that looks at the front, it seemed a reasonable thing to do. The backyard had reached depressing stage. It wasn't even nice to look at while sitting in the Jacuzzi.
It was the first time since the hernia surgery that I had the strength to drag stuff around. So I dragged stuff around.
I edged.
And, because the face doctor says I have to, I had on sun block and a floppy straw hat.
The hat kept getting caught in low branches of the trees and the bougainvillea and was a nuisance.
But I wore it.
I was being at least that good.
Tired at last, I was finishing the last tree ring and about to call it quits, when my hat caught in a tree branch and I had enough force behind my forward motion that I was knocked backward. As this happens, you clutch at things so you don't fall over (a broken hip is not on my wish list) and I clutched. The handle of the weed-whip.
I weed whipped my foot pretty good before I connected my brain and hand enough to let loose of the handle.
I carefully coiled up the cord and put the equipment away.
I was splattered from cleaning under the rabbit hutch and bloody and grass stained from the weed whip I used to edge.
I went in, washed off arms and face and feet and changed my clothes. I am now in a caftan and looking like a frump. I am limping because my son used up all the bandages.
So I did the only sensible thing.
I got out a 1917 cookbook and made a seedcake.

Caraway Seed Cake

1/2 Cup butter (use Crisco or a butter -substitute)
3/4 Cup sugar
3 eggs (or 3/4 Cup whole egg substitute)
1/4 Cup milk (skim works)
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/3 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons whole caraway seeds (I use 3)
1/2 Cup citron (optional; I used 1 teaspoon lemon juice from a Real Lemon squirt bottle.)
1 1/2 Cup pastry flour (what we now call white flour)

Cream the shortening and sugar until light (i.e., whip with a hand mixer); add the eggs, well beaten, one at a time and whip (I put all three in at once, unbeaten, shows what I know). Next add the milk and caraway seeds (and any citron or lemon flavoring). Last, mix in the flour and salt and baking powder. You are supposed to sift the dry ingrediants together. I haven't done that for years. Doing it assures an even distribution of the baking powder. I've never seen the difference. (Doing it also kept the flour-weevils out of your cooking.) Whip it some more for good measure and place into a loaf pan (non-stick on which you sprayed a light coating of Pam). Bake at 350 for 30-40 minutes, until the top is dry and the top crust is light brown. A tooth pick in the center is dry. Loaf is about 2 1/2 to 3" deep. Over-baking will get you a very crusty bottom. On the cake.

Use 1/2 teaspoon lemon flavoring if you must. Or use 1 teaspoon lemon juice and 1/2 teaspoon lemon rind from a real lemon if you have one. You can add 1/2 Cup golden raisins with the lemon juice or flavoring instead of the citron. Play!

Seed cakes are like a nut loaf, you don't ice them. You slice with a bread knife in 1/2 inch thick slices and arrange on a tea-tray (a drafted dinner plate will do). This is great with an omelet and coffee for Sunday brunch. Looks like you knocked yourself out. Nope.

The loaf can cook while you whip up an egg-substitute omelet with extra egg whites (to be served with Pace Picante Hot sauce).

I will now attempt to get the teenager out of bed.
He likes hot sauce.