Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-10-20
MRS. WILSON DESCRIBES AN
>OLDEN KANSAS BARBECUE
This Vas Formerly Cooked in the Open Over Huge Fire. but
81 Can Be Delicious Done in an Ouen
BY MRS. NJ. A. WILSON

tcopDriOht. 1890, BY AIRS. NJ. A. Wilson.
All rights rcScrvcd.)
A RECENT visit to Kansas City, Mo-,
while looking for good things for
this corner. led me out 10 the Shawnee
Missions. in the beautiful misty mis-
sion hills Of Kansas. which are in n
spur of the Ozarks. High upon the
Summit Of the hills stands the council
grove, or as IL is now called, Shawnee
+ Park. Here. shaded by magnificent cen.
fury old trees, are many relics and
monuments Of the Indians and warriors
of bygone days. In this little place par
ties and rallies have always been a
feature. for here was established the
first school for the Indian; the women
and girls were taught weaving, spru-
ming. sewing, cooking and other house
wifcly arts. while the boys and young
bucks were taught to till the soil. sbCr
making and other industrious occura
tions. This district Is now about in
the heart of the hard red winter wheat
fields.
The beautiful and soft old Spanish
name Escansa soon developed into
CANA or Kama. meaning south wind;
this soon became Kansas and today one
hears frequently the Indian word
--kaw--the name for Kansas. This is
ir reality the gateway of the West and
Southwest The Shawnee hills are
about ten miles. as the crow flies, from
Kansas City. Mo.
Mrs. Belle Robinson. now ahou,
eighty five years Of age. though she is
a straight a. n Sap'inG and has u very
merry twinkle in her eyes. recalls the
early pioneer days about the Shawnee
500. 1,1
because a group Of Indian missions
were located close together in these
hills. where one may stand today. Shad-
Ing the eyes with the hand, and watch
The sun sink amid the splendor of n
riotous color into the west.
The air in this section of the coun
try is wonderful rejuvenator. and few
of the people ever need either tonic
or physic. The country in those days
contained wild game. fish from Lne
nearby waters, moose, buffalo. and. as
Mrs. Robinson said. it came back TO
her, just as if ii was yesterday, the
most troublesome period when Gov
ernor Geary appointed November 20.
1856. rs day of THANKSGIVING for the
advent of peace. She was young
woman of sixteen in those days and. AZ
she remembers it. the celebration WAS
done in right hearty manner. As
you will imagine. the greatest attraction
of the day was the dinner. The carly
days had left their mark upon tho mum.
nerism anl taste Of the people of Kan.
sas, and true to those days a romhinu.
tion Of French. Spanish aud New Eng.
land cooking prevailed.
Here is an old 1886 Kansas City
Thanksgiving dinner:
Onion Soup
Barbecue Of Beef
Home made Rciishes
VANS SuccotaSh
Home made Relish aud Pickles
Roast Duck Pepper Cabbage
Mapsie Pudding Cream Pie
INDIAN Pudding Tea and Coffe,
OF course. the mon folk took care of
the barbecue. but with it all thov had
their hands full. for out at the mission
at that time they had about 100 poo.
pie to feed. and after dinner, when all
hands helped to clear things IN, the
afternoon and early evening werc spent
In dancing and games. and then most
OF the guests were in bed by Q o'clock.
IN order to riS" bctimeS next morning.
Ole Uncle Joe Robinson. who was
= master Of ceremonies for this and n
great many other barbecucs. lived again
those stirring Gavs. In davs gone by
the cooking was done over the open
fire because of the quantity of food that
was necessary. Today YOU cun have it
Just as delicious in your own kitchen.
Barbecue Of Beef
Use an fashioned iron cooking
pot or n Dutch oven and select a rr,1
and one half to five pound cut from
the neck, clod. shoulder or rolled
brisket. Wipe with n damp cloth. then
heat the iron cooking pot or tho Dutch
oven until very hot and put in the meat,
Brown. turning constantly. and then
cover closely and give the pot a shake
frequently to prevent the meat sticking
to the pot. Now. while the meat is
browning, prepare as follows:
One-haf cup Of bacon fat.
Eereu tablespoons Of rincgdr,