Halloween

All Hallow’s Eve again this year.  We didn’t make soul cakes after all, since we just made the sugar cookies yesterday.

It was such a wet and miserable day today I was really worried about trick or treating tonight.  Ella was going to be a fairy princess, wearing her purple princess dress and her new wings.  But we decided to go with a shorter (and easier to be warmer) outfit and just be a regular fairy.  So Ella wore her skating dress and wings.  The evening turned out to be fairly decent, not as warm last year but much better than expected.

 

As usual we went to Grandma and Grandpa’s house first and then headed over to Grandma’s in Beachburg.

 

Wow, the people of Beachburg were generous this year!

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A Soulin’

A soul, a soul, a soul cake

Please good Missus a soul cake.

An apple, a pear, a plum, a cherry, Any good thing to make us all merry.

One for Peter, One for Paul, One for Him who made us all.

To hear Peter, Paul and Mary doing a lovely version, click here.

Today is All Soul’s day, the day we remember the dearly departed.  Traditionally this is where Trick or Treating comes from.  This year I thought I would try making Soul cakes.  This is an adaptation of an old recipe from the 1800’s.  It’s very simple ingredients lead me to think it’s a much older recipe.  It’s almost like a spiced shortbread/sugar cookie.  Traditionally they should be round with a cross cut into them, but I made them heart shaped since we are remembering our loved ones.

Soul Cakes -makes about 3 doz. 2 inch cookies

1 2/3 c flour                 1/2 t cinnamon

1/2 t allspice                 pinch of nutmeg

2/3 c white sugar        3/4 c butter

1 egg                                 1 1/2 t vinegar

Mix together dry ingredients.  Cut in butter.   Beat egg together with vinegar and combine with dry ingredients.  Dump out onto table and knead into a soft dough.  Roll out 1/3 inch thick.  Cut out cookies and place on lined cookie sheet.

Bake 350F for 15 minutes.

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