Dinner to raise money for Iowa battle flags

It's authentic home-cooked dishes from the Civil War era that will be served at the Civil War Battle Flags Benefit Dinner at the State Historical Building, Des Moines. The dinner is a special fundraiser sponsored by the State Historical Society of Iowa to aid in the preservation and conservation of Iowa's Civil War battle flags, corresponding to the opening of the new exhibit at the State Historical Building, Honor the Colors: Iowa's Civil War Battle Flags.

Soldiers who fought in the Civil War not only had to contend with the harsh conditions of a nation at war, but also had to survive on limited food rations. Standard issue was hard tack, a cracker made only of flour, water and salt that soldiers soaked in grease for nourishment. Only when they returned home would they be treated to hearty dishes of meat and potatoes.

The benefit dinner includes ham simmered in a water and wine broth (1867); smothered chicken (1877), chicken pieces browned in bacon fat and then braised with bacon cracklings and seasoned with mace; a vegetarian recipe for old New England baked beans (1850s); cabbage slaw (1860s); corn bread; Emancipation Pie (1864), a raisin-lemon filling served in tarts; Southern Rights Cake (1867), a molasses-spice cake with bourbon; and more. All of the recipes are adapted from 1860s sources that would have been available to Iowa home and farm cooks.

Also see: American Flags

About The Author:

Don French is a successful author and regular contributor to http://www.1st-in-flags.com. The flags of the world are symbols of recognition full of beauty and color for each country.