Dinner with Dead Presidents

It's Election Week in our country, so our meal this month will consist of many of the favorite recipes of our American Presidents and the First Ladies.

George W. Bush's Guacamole - Jennifer C.

4 ripe avocadoes (preferably Haas)
2 jalapenos, seeded and diced
1 lime, juiced
1 clove garlic, finely minced
2 medium vine-ripened tomatoes, seeded and diced
1 medium yellow onion, diced
1/4 cup cilantro leaves, washed, dried, and finely chopped
Kosher salt to taste
Freshly ground pepper to taste
Tortilla chips

Halve and pit avocados and scoop flesh into a bow.  Mash avocado to desired consistency.  Using rubber gloves, seed and dice jalapenos.  Mix in remaining ingredients.  Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate about an hour before serving.  Serve with tortilla chips.

Hasty Pudding (John Adams) - double, please - Michelle

3 cups milk
4 tbs cornmeal
1/4 cup butter
4 eggs, lightly beaten
1 cup raisins
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/4 cup sugar
pinch of salt

Pour milk into saucepan and scald over medium heat.  Slowly stir in cornmeal.  Cook 5 minutes over low heat.  Mix well, then remove from heat.  Add butter and stir.  Cool, then mix in remaining ingredients.  Pour into large, greased rectangular pan.  Bake 2 hours at 300 degrees, and then put in individual serving cups.  Make well in center and put in butter or syrup.

  
Mrs. Kinley's Chicken Croquettes - Kristie

5 cups diced cooked chicken, cold
4 cups bread crumbs
1 tsp sage
salt
pepper
2 tsp mustard
1/2 cup butter, melted
2 eggs, beaten
5 tbs oil
parsley for garnish

Knead together chicken, 2 cups of bread crumbs, sage, salt, pepper, mustard, and butter until it resembles sausage meat.  Form the mixture into cakes and dip them in beaten egg. Press them into the remaining bread crumbs.  Fry in oil until they are light brown.  Serve hot, garnished with sprigs of parsley.

Nancy Reagan's Sweet Potato Souffle - (double, please) - Mary Beth

1 1/2 lbs sweet potatoes
1/2 cup heavy cream
3 egg yolks
1/8 tsp nutmeg
2 tsp brown sugar
4 egg whites, stiffly beaten

Prick potatoes with fork and place in buttered baking dish.  Put in oven at 400 degrees and bake 1 hour.  Remove and slice potatoes in half and scoop flesh into bowl.  Whip until smooth with wire whisk or electric mixer.  Transer 1 3/4 cups to a separate bowl.  Reserve remaining potatoes for another use.  Lower oven to 350 degrees. Blend potatoes and cream.  Add egg yolds, nutmeg, and brown sugar. Mix well.  Fold in egg whites.  Transfer fixture to a buttered 1-quart souffle baking dish.   Bake for 40 minutes or until a knife comes out clean.

Lady Bird Johnson's Spinach Parmesan - Kelli

4 1/2 pounds fresh spinach, cleaned
9 tbs grated Parmesan cheese
9 tbs minced onion
9 tbs heavy cream
7 1/2 tbs melted butter
3/4 cup cracker crumbs

Cook spinach until tender.  Drain thoroughly and add the cheese, onion, cream, and 6 tbs of the butter.  Arrange in a shallow 1 1/2 qt baking dish, and sprinkle with the crumbs mixed with remaining butter.  Bake for 15 minutes at 375 degrees.  Serves 12.

Mrs. Theodore Roosevelt's Pumpkin Biscuits - Terry

2 eggs
3/4 cup sugar
15-ounce can pumpkin
3 tbs butter, melted
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp allspice
1/2 tsp nutmeg
salt
12-ounce can evaporated milk
2 1/2 cups flour, sifted 1 cup raisins (optional)

Beat eggs lightly in medium-sized bowl.  Mix in sugar.  Stir in pumpkin, butter, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg, and salt.  Mix in half of the milk, then stir in half of the flour.  Mix in remaining milk and flour. Add raisins if you like.  Generously grease and flour muffin tins.  Don't use paper liners.  Fill each muffin tin almost to the top.  Bake at 400 degrees for 15 minutes.  Reduce heat to 350 degrees and bake for about 30 minuters or until done.  Serve hot.  Yields 18 muffins.

Petticoat Tails (James Madison) - Jennifer D.

5 cups flour
1 cup powdered sugar
2 cups butter, softened
1 tsp vanilla
pinch of salt

Sift together the flour and sugar.  Mix all ingredients thoroughly.  Shape dough into a roll about 2 inches in diameter.  Chill dough overnight.  Slice dough thinly and bake on greased cookie sheets at 350 degrees for 8-10 minutes.

Jackie Kennedy's Souffle Froid au Chocolat (double, please) - Missy

2 1-ounce squares unsweetened chocolate
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 cup milk
1 envelope unflavored gelatin
3 tbs cold water
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 tsp salt
2 cups heavy cream

Put chocolate in top of double boiler.  Melt over hot, not boiling, water.  Stir in powdered sugar.  Heat milk just until a thin film shows on the surface, then slowly add to chocolate and mix well.  Remove from double boiler and place on low heat. Stir constantly until just before mixture reaches the boiling point. Remove from stove.  Soften gelatin in cold water for 3-5 minutes.  Then stir into chocolate.  Add granulated sugar, vanilla, and salt.  Put in refrigerator until slightly thickened.  Remove from refrigerator and whip until light and fluffy.  Whip cream until it holds a shape, then fold it into the chocolate.  Pour into 2-quart mold or serving dish.  Chill 2-3 hours or until ready to serve.