Neighbor-to-Neighbor

Confederated Black Cake (of around 1862) an old fashioned recipe for the New Year. This recipe comes from Jennie Boone, Howard Boone’s 81 year old mother of Merry Oaks Farm, Sandy Ridge, Alabama.

Jennie explains, “As far back as I can remember, one of the special smells and tastes of Christmas was a Confederate Black Cake. My mother always told me the recipe was made by my Great Grandmother, Sarah Jane Hardy Robertson during the Civil War.
It was delicious, and at our house it takes the place of fruit cake.”

2 cups sugar 1 ½ cups chopped pecans
¾ cup cooking oil 1 cup currants
3 cups sifted plain flour 1 cup raisins
2 eggs 1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup buttermilk 2 teaspoons cinnamon
1 teaspoon baking soda 2 teaspoons allspice
2 teaspoons nutmeg

Use an electric mixer. In the mixing bowl add: 2 cups sugar, ¾ cup cooking oil and vanilla

Measure 1 rounded teaspoon soda and add to 1 cup buttermilk. Stir and add about ½ of this to sugar, oil and vanilla stirring well.

Sift together: 3 cups plain flour, 2 teaspoons cinnamon, 2 teaspoons nutmeg and 2 teaspoons allspice.

Set aside about 1/3 cup of above mixture to dredge fruits and nuts. Add flour and spice mixture to first mixture with 2 eggs and remainder of buttermilk. Mix well.

In another bowl dredge 1 cup raisins, 1 cup currants (found at Publix) 1 ½ cups chopped pecans. Fold into first mixture only stirring enough to blend well. Pour into greased Bundt pan. Bake in preheated oven for 1 hour and 10 minutes. (Be sure cake is done by piecing with a toothpick until it comes out clean.) Cook on wire rack.

Note: One year ago in the fall, I had the privilege of going to Merry Oaks Farm with Howard to meet and visit with his mother. A more gracious and hospitable lady you just won’t find! Thanks Jennie for this terrific recipe!

MOW/ Dec. ‘09

March 2009 - Snow in the Sanctuary

The Sanctuary Club, Inc. Progress Report & Invitation

Hello Good Neighbors! We invite you to renew your membership for 2010. New residents are also are encouraged to join! We believe membership and participation in The Sanctuary Club is a great way to make the Sanctuary at Caldwell Crossings an excellent place to live.

The Sanctuary Club was formed in the fall of 2007 and has as its purpose communication, information, friendship, security and social opportunities. It promotes co-operative work to enhance the beauty and preservation of the appearance, value and amenities of our community. We ask you to remit $10 per household by January 15 to The Sanctuary Club, Inc. 5181 Crossings Parkway Hoover, AL 35242.

The Sanctuary Club:
• Published a neighborhood telephone directory by resident name. It also contains a companion cross reference section that numerically identifies each lot and corresponding resident name. A new directory is planned for first quarter 2010.
• Distributes a quarterly newsletter with information about our neighborhood, community, city, and your favorite recipes.
• Implemented the Neighborhood Watch in concert with the Hoover Police Department for the security of residents by and through their participation in the program.
• Maintains a low-cost annual membership to cover basic expenses.
• Established a community internet access as a means to communicate items of interests on a regular basis. Log on to www.thesanctuaryclub.blogspot.com.
• Created a volunteer home assistance program to help residents diagnose/solve problems.
• Encourages participation of residents on standing and special committees.

The Sanctuary Club is reaching out to you with opportunities for your participation on the following committees that might be of interest to you: Neighborhood directory, Volunteer home assistance, Social activities, Quarterly newsletter, Neighborhood Watch, Membership, Publicity, Neighborhood esthetics, and special projects. We hope that you take advantage of and participate on a committee that is of interest to you.

The Sanctuary Club Articles of Incorporation and the Bylaws are available for your perusal at www.thesanctuaryclub.blogspot.com. Please contact any of the board members (listed below) with questions you may have. We truly believe that membership and participation in this club will enhance your enjoyment of our neighborhood, as well as provide opportunities to be more involved in our community.

The Board of Directors of The Sanctuary Club
Dan Murchison President
Buzz Williams Vice President
Ashby Watkins Treasurer
Area 1 - Marcus Lawrence (Lots 401-408, 499-513)
Area 2 - Robert Hull (Lots 409-417, 492-498)
Area 3 - Henry Hager (Lots 478-491)
Area 4 - Bill Panter (Lots 418-426, 468-477)
Area 5 - Ashley Tschudin (Lots 427-436, 458-467)
Area 6- Phillip Inman (Lots 437-457)

A Recipe for the Holidays!

Peppermint Cream Cheese Frosting
This recipe goes with Red Velvet Peppermint Cake

Yield: about 5 cups


Ingredients
1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1 cup butter or margarine, softened
1 (2-pound) package powdered sugar
2 teaspoons peppermint extract*
Preparation
Beat cream cheese and butter at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy. Gradually add sugar, beating at low speed until smooth. Add extract, beating until blended.

*2 teaspoons vanilla extract may be substituted.

For Quick Peppermint Frosting, stir together 3 (16-ounce) containers ready-to-spread cream cheese frosting and 2 teaspoons peppermint extract.

Southern Living, DECEMBER 1998