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Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Favorite Gingerbread for Birthdays

Come over the fence and join us for homemade chicken and noodles as the ‘star’ of a substantial meal including salads, vegetables and fresh bread.

The photos of views around Rocky Ridge Farm, dishes made from Laura’s recipes and rooms in Laura’s home are of the clearest quality in a favorite cookbook — The Laura Ingalls Wilder Country Cookbook. These recipes are indeed those of the ‘country’ — farm folks eating well from the efforts of their own labor.

As I enjoy these pages, presented on high quality polished paper, I just automatically drift away to the ‘good old days’ when dishes similar to these were served in neighborhoods of my childhood.

I got the book out again recently to try Laura’s famous Gingerbread recipe. It isn’t a huge recipe, but made 1 1/2 dozen cupcakes. Laura had recommended chocolate frosting, which I admit didn’t really sound right to me. I’ve never been able to claim cooking frosting to be my ‘long suit’! My white vanilla/butter frosting was pretty much a fiasco, but I was able to get a little frosting lid on most of the cupcakes so I could count on some photos. When they baked, their pretty tops cracked in an image of a good old-fashioned gingersnap — I knew that I wanted to leave some of the cupcakes ‘naked’ (That’s for you, Sherry V.) so I could photograph the tops.

I hope you agree with me that the texture and golden glow of the gingerbread cakes do the recipe proud. They presented on a vintage embossed plate with small bits of crochet.

I wanted to make the gingerbread this month to have the photos and story ready to commemorate significant dates for Laura and Almanzo.
Birthdays
Laura February 7 (1867)
Almanzo February 13 (1857)

Valentine’s Day on February 14.

Birthdays in Laura’s youth would probably have been quiet, family affairs. We know from the Little House books that there would have been birthdays when family would have been the only people around to celebrate. A Victorian birthday cake might have had ‘treasures’ baked in the cake to turn up in special, fortunate slices. Coins were the common treasure, but sometimes a precious item such as a thimble.
The Laura Ingalls Wilder Country Cookbook has recipes with related stories and photos for every course of a fine country meal, PLUS a section featuring household hints that were used in Laura’s house. The cookbook is available only at the book/gift shop at Rocky Ridge Farm or online at this link. LAURA’S Website (http://lauraingallswilderhome.com)

K.D. McCrite, Ozarks Author — A New Book in the Works

I hope you’ve been following April Grace Reilly’s adventures in ‘young womanhood’ and family as K.D. McCrite spins a charming, moving story for readers.
The current books in the series

“In Front of God and Everybody”
“Hicks, Cliques and Ugly Sticks” and
“Chocolate Covered Baloney”

have been entertaining young readers and the grown-ups who read with them. We’ve all been campaigning for additional books — trying to influence decisions from a publisher to sign on for more.

In late 2014, Thomas Nelson released the publishing rights for the books and Oghma Creative Media happily acquired those rights. Their children’s imprint, Lee Press will be offering the books from now on. K.D. tells me the wheels have been set in motion for the next novel in the April Grace series. Readers are following social media news of edits in the works and waiting impatiently for the book’s publication.

She says there is also a new mainstream nostalgia series planned with Foyle Press about the Cassidys..

When not keeping us laughing and shedding a few emotional tears over the antics of April Grace, K.D. tells mysteries for Annie’s Mysteries.

Her most recent books have been part of a series featuring crochet design as a platform for the crimes and mysteries. The latest, Unraveled Stalking, weaves cyber stalking into the story. I love these elegant books for their excellent story and Over the Top presentation. Gorgeous from all angles.

K.D. McCrite writes from her Arkansas home/studio. An Ozarks native, she used to be my next door neighbor here at Mansfield. Recently I pondered how her career has paralleled that of Laura Ingalls Wilder who also wrote at Mansfield — a path of journalistic writing leading toward more novels…and more novels.

Treat yourself to one of K.D.’s books and you’ll find yourself ‘hankering’ for another. K.D. McCrite on Amazon

Laura’s Rocky Ridge Farm and Arnie’s Barn | Peaches and Nectarines

When I compare peaches and nectarines, they are surely different, but not extremely so. Textures and skins are telling differences, but you have to admit both are really good and the differences are subtle.

Just so, the ‘likeness’ highly overcomes the ‘difference’ when we look at two celebrity destinations in the Ozarks.

Arnie’s Barn, the historic 150 yr old barn from Arnold Palmer‘s hometown, Labtrobe, PA, that has moved to the Ozarks at Top of the Rock par 3 golf course near Branson, MO. When one thinks of professional golf, Arnold Palmer‘s name is always near the top of a list of quality players. He’s accomplished amazing things during his life/career, much more than golf and tea!
Rocky Ridge Farm where Laura Ingalls Wilder wrote the Little House books and her daughter Rose wrote some of her works while both practiced their journalist careers. Rocky Ridge Farm made an impact on the Ozarks and the entire planet when Laura took time from her farm chores (even hiring a little help) to write the precious Little House books. Those ‘True-to-Life’ stories about a child’s growing up on the Prairies and more — growing up with our country have provided wholesome reading for children and families since 1932! Just think of it.

Even more impressive, the Wilder family’s homes and land are still available for visitors and fans to tour — to get a sense of the hardworking family that through the notoriety of the stories becomes the faces of millions of settlers who ‘tamed’ the prairies. Almanzo Wilder and Laura Ingalls Wilder and their daughter, Rose Wilder Lane made a mark that qualifies as ‘national icon’. They ‘people’ in and around Mansfield who are flat out, radical fans working to preserve the homes and restore some of the buildings so that generations to come can enjoy and learn about Rocky Ridge Farm in the ‘good old days’.

The Ozarks offer a special climate and scenic hospitality for people to come — to get out of their personal ‘rat race’ and find pleaurea and memories. Visitors take a break from TODAY to enjoy and learn about YESTERDAY.

I believe people who live and work in the Ozarks should be proud to have wholesome celebrities such as the Wilder family (Almanzo, Laura and Rose) and Arnold Palmer to attract visitors.

Arnie’s Barn at Top of the Rock offers a fine restaurant gracing the soaring, vaulted ceilings and lofts while Top of the Rock Pro Shop makes itself at home in the barn.

There is a sweet dream to rebuild buildings at Rocky Ridge Farm, giving visitors the experience of farming over 100 years ago. Some of the goals are in action —

Laura’s garden is onsite, planted with heirloom varieties by Baker Creek Seeds
Hens and a rooster are enjoying the chicken house built according to plans that Laura recommended.
The first trees in the apple orchard are beginning to bear fruit.
There are shovel-ready plans for a new building with room for the collection of memorabilia and the library as well as other artifacts which we all enjoy seeing and connecting to Laura and members of her family.

You are invited to be a part of the project. Your gift TODAY will keep YESTERDAY for TOMORROW.

Your Gift Today Keeps Yesterday For Tomorrow

You can make a gift of any amount you choose at this website for Laura: LauraIngallsWilderHome.com. The donation page or any purchases you wish to make from the website bookstore and gift shop are secure….you can use PayPal for an added layer of security. Or, if you prefer to send a check or money order, there is a mailing address on the web page.

Just think about it — if all of the people who love Laura Ingalls Wilder and Rose Wilder Lane gave $5 each, there would be ample funds to preserve their works and memorabilia for future generations.

Your Gift on $5 Will Make the Difference!

“Little Author in the Big Woods”, Author Yona Zeldis McDonough, | VERY Good.

“Laura was a plainspoken, forthright woman who had a lot to say about life and how to live it.” That quote from this newest biography is just one of the characteristics that I love about Laura.

Written in a style that resembles the books for children that Laura Ingalls Wilder gave to humanity, so that children and the adults who read with them can appreciate the book. Aimed at reading levels grade 3 to 7, the author writes that she noted so many children, girls in particular, just loved the Little House stories and were loyal fans of Laura and her sisters, but she felt they didn’t understand that these stories were true. They weren’t written ‘based on experience’ with a lot of fancy ‘editing’, but told the story of a pioneer family. She wanted to offer the children access to a biography that was written at their age level so they could ‘get the facts’ and enjoy them. Ms. McDonough did a great job. I really enjoyed this book…the author’s informed voice stands tall for Laura Ingalls Wilder, her pioneer experiences growing up and her family’s determination to give the women an education and the ability to think! The book is positive but sensible, so Laura’s story is told in a supportive manner without gushing.

The information about Laura’s mother’s education and family was one of my favorite parts of this book. I bought the book for my Kindle Fire, but plan to get print copies for my grandchildren’s libraries. I highly recommend the book. I was a Laura Fan before I read this new biography and am an even more excited fan now!

Just as Laura’s biography will join the books she wrote to offer education in a pleasant format to young readers, Rocky Ridge Farm, where Laura lived with her family while she wrote the books that are favorites all over the planet, has a plan to preserve the way life was when the Wilder family lived on the farm and worked the ground. Every year thousands of people tour Laura’s home and see where she sat to write the stories and where she answered letters from children who loved her stories. There is so much more planned for Rocky Ridge Farm and you can be a part. When everyone who loves Laura makes a gift of at least $5, the project can move forward.

You can be part of that community of giving today. This donation page makes it easy to make an online donation. Or, if you prefer to send a check or money order, the mailing address is right there on the page as well.

You’re invited to join the community that stays up-to-date on Rocky Ridge Farm and information about Laura. Please leave your information at this Wilder Home Updates page

Laura Ingalls Wilder Biography for Young Readers Released September 16, 2014

Little Author in the Big Woods: A Biography of Laura Ingalls Wilder , Yona Zeldis McDonough, author and illustrated by Jennifer Thermes was released on September 15, 2014.

I just purchased the book for my Kindle about five minutes ago. I will post a review in a few days, but the previews look really good The book description on Amazon speaks of the way young readers identify with and love Laura’s stories, but many of them do not understand the stories are autobiographical accounts of Laura’s pioneer childhood. The intention of this book is to offer a biography about Laura for younger readers which will point out the differences and many similarities between the fictional books and the true stories.

I peaked at my download and love parts that inform, but do not talk down to the reader. The author points out that Laura shared her name with the character, Laura Ingalls. Some names are changed — there was an unkind girl, but her last name wasn’t Oleson!

Beautifully illustrated with a print layout similar to those in Laura’s Little House books, Little Author in the Big Woods: A Biography of Laura Ingalls Wilder is available for e-readers like my Kindle Fire and in hardcover at your favorite online store. I’m sure your favorite bookstore will be able to get a copy for you.

This is not the first book of its type from author Yona Zeldis McDouough. She has several others that are also aimed at the younger reader. I learned about the book pre-release from a post on Twitter about this review from the Nonfiction Detectives .

A book like this can deepen the bond that readers have with Laura and the stories of her life. That bond has been the catalyst for several museums and events across the Midwest commemorating Laura and her writing. Because she wrote the books at Rocky Ridge Farm, the museum and well-cared for homes on the farm are a hub for the other locations. It was at the little desk in the farm house at Rocky Ridge Farm where the stories came forth from Laura’s heart to ours.

You can be a part of the restoration and preservation going on at Rocky Ridge Farm to provide an experience of a farm in the life and times of the Wilder family. Your gift Today Will Keep Yesterday For Tomorrow. I invite you to join the FIVE for Laura campaign with your gift of $5. You can conveniently make your gift online at the Wilder Home website or you can mail a check or money order to the address on the donation page. If you have issues or questions, please feel free to leave a comment for me here and I will try to help you.

Remember —

Bill Izard Writes About The Good Old Days at Rocky Ridge Farm

“The Famous Storytelling Housewife of Mansfield: Laura Ingalls Wilder” written by Bill Izard for Porter Briggs, the Voice of the South was published on PorterBriggs.com just in time for the 2014 Wilder Days celebrations in the town proper of Mansfield, Missouri and at The Laura Ingalls Wilder Historical Homes and Museum on September 19-20, 2014.

Events include the annual Laura’s Memories pageant presentations on Friday evening and Saturday at the Mansfield City Park, Little Laura Look-alike and Little Farmer Boy Look-alike costume contests, a bed rodeo/race and huge parade at the Town Square in Mansfield. There will be a Fiddle-off contest and a guest appearance by Lucy Lee Flippin, the actress who played the part of Eliza Jane Wilder on the TV program “Little House on the Prairie” at Rocky Ridge Farm. You can see a more complex schedule of events at the Mansfield Chamber of Commerce website.

Mr. Izard wrote an excellent comprehensive article about life at Rocky Ridge Farm with bits about the Wilder Family. Both Laura and daughter Rose were journalists in their own genre and were very good at it. As a timeless writer, Laura’s stories have appeal to people in nations all over the planet.

Because it all began at Rocky Ridge Farm, the community is committed to the preservation and restoration of the farm to represent a view of the life and times of the Wilder Family. You are invited to join that commitment with your gifts — think if it, if all of us who love Laura put in $5, how the gifts would grow for the project to preserve this ‘moment in history’ of America and this statement for a wholesome family lifestyle for all people.

Join the FIVE for Laura movement today. You can make an online donation at this link — You can even use PayPal. If you prefer to mail a check or money order, the snail mail address is right there on the right hand upper part of the page for your convenience.

Thank you again, Bill Izard for your insights and for PorterBriggs.com for publishing the article.