Jan said:
Bonnie what is Brunswick Stew ?
Ann this Red Velvet Cake sounds wonderful but what is it?
Hope you both had a great day
Love
Jan
Melissa, I love your Christmas feasts.
Jan - brunswick stew is a very old southern U.S. dish, made with whole kernel corn, pulled pork/chicken, lima beans, and Bonnie will have to supply the rest of the list. The blend of vegs and meat gives it a particularly good flavor. When made it turns out to be enough to feed at least one army, maybe two. It can, these days, be made from frozen and canned ingredients, except the meats, but long ago, the chicken had to be pulled into stringy pieces and the pork, too, so that nobody got chunks of meat; just bits. Very flavorful, very good. I have never made it, but eaten it all my life. My mother made it when I was very little. She was not a true southerner but learned it by living in the south for years. My dear Joe (New York city fellow) and I went to visit a Georgia cousin, she gave us a quart to bring home because Joe fell in love with it. I don't know why the name, but there is a city called Brunswick in the state of Georgia (deep U.S. south) and p'raps that is where the name started. It is a desired food for church suppers, family gatherings and anywhere that large quantities are needed.
Red velvet cake is very popular. It is a regular cake, with lots of red food color, enough almond flavoring to change the taste of a regular white or yellow cake. The icing is a special one, made with cream cheese, nuts added. This cake requires, I believe, a bit more time to prepare than a regular cake. I, again, never made one, but have eaten lots of them. Probably somebody will supply the missing parts that I left out. It is a beautiful cake for Christmas. It's a nationwide cake, not southern.
Maybe someone will supply these recipes and you can spread it around over the pond.
