The Hawkins Reunion (Part Two): The Food and Fun

The food!

At the Hawkins Reunion last Sunday not only did we reunite with a lot of cousins, but we enjoyed a scrumptious dinner prepare by cousin Jerry Scruggs with the help of cousin Shelva Jean and the D's. (Donna, Debbie, and Deedee).

The food ready to eat.

The main dish was grilled turkey.  Jerry sliced, marinated, and grilled 49 pounds of turkey breasts.  Delicious.  I must get Jerry's marinade recipe.

Jerry's grilled turkey breasts.

Side dishes included:  sweet potato casseroles (Jerry's two and Shelva's one).

Sweet potato casseroles.

Slaw, green beans and macaroni.

Green beans.

Jerry's yeast rolls made in advance, frozen and reheated.  So yummy!

Jerry's rolls ready to heat.

Sliced tomatoes, Shelva's pear relish---must get this recipe too. 

Sliced tomatoes.

Shelva Jean's pear relish.

And of course, dessert, Jerry's peach cobbler.

Peach cobbler.

Enjoying the dinner.

After lunch Bingo was enjoyed by young and old. 

One of my winning bingo cards.

My prize.

 But no, we weren't through.  Finally, the pièce de résistance---old fashioned homemade ice cream. There were five freezers (the hand-cranked type) of ice cream---each a different flavor. This really took me back to my childhood. 

I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream!

Old-fashioned home made ice cream.

Oh I do hope we will be on the invitation list for next year's 25th Hawkins Reunion. I'm already looking forward to it.  

The Hawkins Reunion (Part One): The People

A photo displayed in 2013 of the Hawkins Reunion of 2007.

Dan and I had so much fun at the Hawkins Reunion in Cleveland County this past weekend that I will need TWO posts to cover it.  It would be too long for one post.  The Reunion was the 24th such reunion for descendants of Preston Hawkins. Jerry Scruggs and Shelva Jean Hawkins Wilson, grandchildren of Preston and organizers of the Reunion, invited me and my sister Martha to this because our grandmother, Dora Hawkins Greene, was a sister of Preston.  Jerry's mother and Shelva Jean's father were first cousins to my father, hence my sister and I are second cousins to Jerry and Shelva.  I reconnected with a number of my second cousins and met for the first time a number of second cousins, once removed.

The Reunion was hosted by Bill and Shelva Jean Hawkins Wilson at their home and farm in Cleveland County, near Shelby, NC.

Shelva Jean Hawkins Wilson.

 The Wilsons have four lovely daughter: Donna, Denise, Deedee, and Debbie.  (Donna said that when they were young they were often referred to as the four D's.)  Denise was not at the reunion this year, but the other three D's were there to help. 

Donna.

Debbie with her Mom.

Deedee (Photo by Donna Wilson.)

There must have been fifty or more in attendance from the elders to the youngsters. 

The elders: Clockwise from left to right Dan Livingstone (my husband), L.R. Hawkins and Jimmy Hawkins (my second cousins.)

The youngsters: Cheyenne (left) and Savannah Carpenter, grandchildren of Eddie and Debbie Wilson Bridges.

Jerry, Shelva Jean, Martha, and  I share the same great grandfather, J.B. Hawkins (the white- bearded gentleman in the photo below.)

Hawkins family photo circa late 1800's.  J.B. Hawkins, white bearded man.  My grandmother (left of J.B.) and Preston Hawkins directly behind my grandmother. 

 My father inherited a pocket watch from J. B. Hawkins, I inherited it from Dad, and now I have given it to my younger son Patrick.  I took the watch with me to the Reunion for others to see.

Our great grandfather Hawkins' pocket watch.

Second cousin, Jimmy Hawkins, with Great Grandfather Hawkins' pocket watch.

Dan Livingstone and Jerry Scruggs.

Jerry Scruggs and my sister, Martha Greene Cabaniss.

It's an inspiration to see such a close-knit family that reunites each year.

I haven't mentioned the wonderful food---most of it prepared by Jerry with help from Shelva Jean and the D's---nor the fun and games enjoyed by all.  The Hawkins Reunion (Part Two): The Food will be the topic of my next blog.  Stay tuned. 

"Accidental" Lingonberry Ice Cream

Lingonberry ice cream. (Photo by Wendy MacDonald.)

Last week in Marble Mountain I used some of the lingonberries (also known as partridge berries or fox berries ) that we froze last year and made a dessert to take to the potluck at Wendy's. I googled and found a recipe for lingonberry squares that used lingonberry jam.



First I made the jam which is very easy.  I used 2 cups of frozen berries and 2 tablespoons of sugar and 1/4 cup water.  I simmered this for about 20 minutes.  Lingonberry jam has a long shelf life, because in addition to the sugar acting as a preservative lingonberries contain benzoic acid which is a preservative too.  The jam will last for several months in the fridge.

Lingonberries ready to make jam.

Lingonberry jam.

The jam is used as a filling for lingonberry squares.

For the lingonberry squares use 2 cups each of flour, brown sugar, rolled oats and 1 cup of butter.  Mix well and press half of the mixture in a 9 x 13 inches pan.  Spread the jam over this, and top with the remaining half pressed over the jam.  Bake in a 350 degree oven until golden brown on top.  Cool and cut into squares.

When I had everything mixed for the crust, it looked as if there was not enough to spread in a 9 x 13 pan, so I thought that was a mistake in the recipe.  I used a 9 x 9 pan instead.  After it was in the oven, I realized that the reason the amount seemed too small for a 9 x 13 pan was that I had FORGOTTEN TO ADD THE FLOUR.

Spread jam over bottom crust.

Add remaining half of mixture on top of jam.

Press crumbles to make a top crust. 

The squares came out looking more like candy or cookies.  Not to waste it, I tried crumbling it over vanilla ice cream.  That was so good, I decided to take a whole carton of vanilla ice cream, add the crumbled mixture and make lingonberry ice cream.  I worked quickly using a hand mixer to blend in the crumbles and a bit of lingonberry syrup so that the ice cream did not melt.  I placed the mixture back into the carton and refroze it, and it turned out beautifully.

Lingonberry ice cream (Photo by Wendy MacDonald.)

I served it at the potluck dinner, and when asked about my recipe, I confessed that it was an "accidental" recipe.  However, I will probably make this again (leaving out the flour) and use it to make lingonberry ice cream.  

 

Potluck at Wendy's

Wendy's gazebo by the Bras'd'Or Lake.

When I was in Marble Mountain recently, Wendy and I got together and planned a potluck supper for the "girls".  Wendy hosted it at her lovely home, and we had a good turnout--about twenty or so if I remember correctly.

Wendy's pretty and unusual bench.  Hanging basket of petunias.

View of the lake from Wendy's deck.

 And what a wonderful selection of dishes!!! Everything from appetizers to desserts.

Shauna's smoked salmon and endive appetizers.  So pretty and so yummy.

Dessert: Lingonberry ice cream* topped with lingonberry syrup. (Photo by Wendy MacDonald.)

The food was delicious, but the camaraderie with friends that I see only once a year was best. 

Fiona and Iris and in the background, Catherine.

Margie enjoying the deck.

Shirley and Shauna having a chat.

Vicky who likes grits and shrimp, but not together. (I had taken a shrimp and grits casserole to the potluck.)

Wendy and Janet.

Iris helping Maggie look for something!!!

Thank you Wendy for hosting this.

Wendy

Yes indeed a fun evening. 

Even one of Wendy's cats seemed to be enjoying herself. 

*Recipe for lingonberry ice cream will be the topic for my next blog.  Stay tuned.

My New Gadget is Terrific

I usually do not endorse products on my blog, but I am so happy with my new Super-Fast Thermapen that I will make an exception.  Over the years I've tried several different food thermometers with little satisfaction,  but this new "toy" is the best ever.  I heartily recommend it.  (And no I'm not profiting in any way from this endorsement)!  It is so fast, reads temperature in 3 seconds.  When you open the probe it comes on and is off when you close it. 

It does everything that is claimed.  Very quick response and very accurate.  You can check its accuracy by checking the temperature of ice water or of boiling water.

It's measuring the ambient temp in the kitchen.

I'm particularly looking forward to using it in making candy.  I find that most candy thermometers are difficult to use.  Oh now I have an excuse to make toffee, and it isn't even Christmastime. 

Candy making (Photo by heavenlycakeplace blog)

Yes, this is without a doubt my favorite kitchen tool.