Tuesday, October 26th, 2010

Cookbook serves up history, information and recipes

By Margie Wuebker
Photo by Margie Wuebker/The Daily Standard

Minster Historical Society member Mary Oldiges holds a copy of the newly released "Minster Heart & Heritage Cookbook." Proceeds from the sale of the books will be used to purchase needed preservation equipment for old newspapers, village ledgers and maps.

MINSTER - Minster Historical Society has cooked up a tasty fundraising project to ensure the preservation of local documents for future generations.
Minster's Heart & Heritage Cookbook combines more than 300 recipes, along with historical information and old photographs, into a spiral-bound volume.
"This book is so much fun," committee member Mary Oldiges said. "You get a cooking lesson and a history lesson in one sitting."
Each of the nine chapters has a theme - German Favorites, Appetizers/Snacks and Beverages, Bread and Rolls, Soups and Salads, Vegetable Dishes/Canning and Freezing, Casseroles and Main Courses, Pies and Cakes, Cookies and Confections and History Making Days.
Although the latter chapter contains no recipes, it shares information about the community's German heritage, including sons and daughters called to military or religious service, the digging of the first well, life in the canal era and the evolution of the school system. Photos from bygone days appear throughout the 233-page book.
In January The committee, comprised of Mag Dues, Kathy Watercutter, Ann Gossman, Ronnie Raible and Oldiges, laid the groundwork for the ambitious project. The request for recipes went out as spring arrived.
"There are new recipes as well as oldie goldies," Oldiges said. "We have amassed some real gems like Katie Cozad's bean soup, a Friday lunch favorite at The Dutch Mill."
Other gems include chicken fried steak from the Townhouse Restaurant, Date-Nut Loaf from Kuehner's Bakery and Goetta (grits) from Woehrmyer's Meat Market. The businesses are no longer in operation.
"There are not many cookbooks where you can find directions for Dandelion Greens as well as information regarding the first village ordinances (such as no galloping horses and no obscene language or fighting)," Oldiges said with a laugh. "This book even includes tips on the proper dunking of zwiebach compliments of Kuehner's Bakery."
With the first batch of 550 books nearly gone, more books have been ordered. They are on sale for $20 at the historical society museum, Wagner's IGA, Wooden Shoe Inn, Stallo Library, Minster Bank (main office), Schwieterman's Pharmacy, Jenni's Hallmark, Western Ohio True-Value and Minster Flowers & Gifts.
Revenue is earmarked for transforming microfilm into computer-generated discs. The society also wants to preserve old village ledgers and maps and the local newspapers, so they can be viewed by the public without threatening their condition.
"It would cost us more than $80,000 to do just the newspapers," Oldiges said. "We can purchase the equipment for $15,000 to $20,000 and save the organization buckets of money."

Recipes from book:
Springerle
Note: Historical Society members make these cookies for their Christmas at the Museum celebration.
4 eggs
2 1/4 cups sugar
1 1/2 tablespoons anise extract (vanilla may be substituted)
2 teaspoons lemon peel
3 1/2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
Beat together eggs and sugar; add extract and lemon peel. Sift together flour and baking powder, and add to sugar mixture.
On floured surface, roll dough to 3/8 inch thickness with a smooth rolling pin. To prevent the dough from sticking, mix 2 tablespoons flour and 2 tablespoons confectioner's sugar and rub into Springerle rolling pin. Roll firmly over rolled-out dough. Cut squares apart.
Grease cookie sheet. Place squares 1 1/2 inches apart on cookie sheet. Cover with paper towel and let sit for 12 to 24 hours to set design. Bake at 300 degrees for approximately 10 to 12 minutes, or until tops are pale and bottoms are lightly browned. Cool; store in airtight container up to 2 weeks. Makes approximately 60 cookies.

Dorothy Wolf's German Oatmeal Cake
1 cup quick oats
1 cup boiling water
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup granulated sugar
1 stick butter
1 1/2 cups flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cinnamon
2 eggs
1 cup raisins
For icing:
10 tablespoons brown sugar
4 tablespoons cream
6 tablespoons melted butter
1 cup coconut or nuts
Combine oats and boiling water; set aside. Cream together brown sugar, granulated sugar and butter. Mix flour, salt, baking soda and cinnamon, and combine with creamed mixture. Add oats. Beat in eggs and raisins. Pour into greased 9 x 13-inch cake pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.
For icing: Mix ingredients and spread on baked cake. Put under broiler for a few minutes.
Additional online story on this date
It's likely that wind turbines will invade the landscape in southern Mercer County in the next few years, officials say.
Although no wind farm projects have been approved for the area, the possibility of their towering presence and economic impact has some people skeptical of their arrival. [More]
Subscriber and paid stories on this date
Tax breaks can be the icing on the cake for companies seeking to build wind farms in Ohio.
Without tax exemptions - like those given in recently-passed Senate Bill 232 - wind turbines might remain scarce in the Buckeye State, said Dayna Baird, a lobbyist for the wind energy industry.
CELINA - Some citizens wonder if the money generated from a proposed income tax increase would be set aside just for the fire and police departments, city firefighter and levy campaign member Brian Anderson told city council during a Monday night meeting.
Celina council
CELINA - City council members Monday evening passed first reading of an ordinance to obtain an additional 2.5 megawatts of electricity through American Municipal Power (AMP) over the objection of Mayor Sharon LaRue.
Election 2010: U.S. House 8th District
Three political newcomers are challenging Republican Congressman John Boehner for his seat with the U.S. House of Representatives.
Democrat Justin
ST. HENRY - Village council members continued action Monday night to give a 40 percent tax abatement to a new business complex on North Eastern Avenue.
COLDWATER - Village council's finance committee is proposing a 25-cent hourly raise (approximately 1 percent) for village employees next year.
"This will be equal to a $10 a week raise for salaried employees," finance committee chairman Joe Knapschaefer told council during a meeting Monday.
ST. MARYS - City council members Monday heard second reading for the installation of a water backflow prevention device to prevent contamination, in accordance with the Ohio EPA. The third and final reading will be done at the council's next meeting Nov. 8.
All-Western Buckeye League Volleyball
The Western Buckeye League volleyball coaches honored Celina standout hitter Erin Dorsten with the WBL Player of the Year award in helping the Bulldogs win their third straight WBL title this season.
Computer Points
Just one week remains in the high school football regular season, and several teams either earned or lost their chance at a playoff berth last weekend.
A soil health workshop for Grand Lake Watershed farmers and other ag officials will be held Nov. 9 at the Knights of St. John hall in Maria Stein from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.