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soldiermedic · 06-18-2009, 11:09 PM

I wanted to let everyone know that forums member oldtrucksrul is donating some of his fine wares as prizes for the rally. His passion for all things old are what inspires his artwork. Please visit his website to see all his wares, and his gorgeous 1947 Liner that was recently restored.

Old Stuff Rules

76sovereign · 06-19-2009, 11:04 AM

Thanks for the update Steve....I think dishes that were popular in the 50's when the caravan was going on, or dishes that would have been seen on the African trip is a GREAT idea. I will look into it and see what i can find..(since I don't really have a life...lol). If anyone else knows of dishes from that era or from the African Caravan please post them.

I so excited and I just can't hide it..

Lily&Me · 06-19-2009, 11:29 AM

Steve, you are one Energizer Bunny! An impressive amount of quality effort you have put into this! Wish we could be there. Do have some old cookbooks, will go through them when we get home next week and see if there are any easily-recognizable recipes we could post which might be used by attendees.

overlander64 · 06-19-2009, 12:56 PM

Spicy Date Loaf Cake was a favorite at our family reunions. This recipe is one that my aunt used, and it was dated 1952.

Kevin

Spicy Date Loaf

Pour: 1 1/2 cups of boiling coffee over 1 1/4 cups, 8 ounce package, of dates which have been cut. Set aside.

Sift together: 3 cups of sifted all purpose flour, 1 teaspoon of double-acting baking powder, 1 teaspoon of soda, 1 teaspoon of salt and 1 teaspoon of cinnamon. Set aside.

Add: 3/4 cup of sugar, 1 cup of firmly packed brown sugar, gradually to 3/4 cup of shortening, creaming well.

Blend in 2 unbeaten eggs, one at a time, beating well after each.

Add: the dry ingredients alternately with the date mixture, beginning and ending with dry ingredients.
With electric mixer use low speed.

Stir in: 1 cup of nuts, chopped, and 2 teaspoons of vanilla.

Turn: into 14 x 10 x 2 inch pan or 13 x 9 x 2 inch pan well greased and lightly floured on the bottom. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 to 50 minutes.

Cool: Cut into squares. Serve with whipped cream.
Serve with whip cream. You may frost the cake with a browned butter frosting or sprinkle with powdered sugar.

gail · 06-19-2009, 01:08 PM

OK how did they get their rigs over there! How about someone planning the real thing again!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am game to help anyone interested.

overlander64 · 06-19-2009, 01:12 PM

The following two recipes are favorites of my family to make use of leftover mashed potatoes. Both of these recipes were probably developed in the 1930s, but are something that the caravanners may have utilized to make full use of any leftovers. One of these recipes came from my aunt’s recipe box with a date of 1951 (Potato Cake), and the other came from my grandmother’s recipe box dated 1938 (Potato Doughnuts):

Potato Cake.

2 cups sugar
1 cup mashed (potatoes - warm)
1 cup butter
1 cup raisins
1 cup chopped nuts
1 cup milk
2 cups flour
1/2 cup cocoa
4 eggs
2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. nutmeg
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. cloves
Bake at 350 degrees about 1 1/2 hours in iron skillet.

Old-Fashioned Mashed Potato Doughnuts

Ingredients:
4 cups flour
4 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup mashed potatoes
3 tablespoons shortening
1 cup sugar
2 eggs, well beaten
1 cup milk

Directions:
Sift first 5 ingredients together. Cream sugar and shortening, add potatoes and eggs. Add to flour mixture, with milk, to form a soft dough that you can handle. Roll out on floured board 1/2 inch thick; cut with doughnut cutter.

Cook in deep, hot fat till brown on both sides (turn when first crack appears) Drain on paper towels. Serve plain or coated with powdered sugar. Even better when served with extra-vanilla bean glaze.

PeeWee · 06-19-2009, 01:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gail

OK how did they get their rigs over there! How about someone planning the real thing again!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am game to help anyone interested.

Rigs went by freighters.

There were plans to go to Africa this year. A very ill-advised Caravan. They stopped their plans last year when they could't find a sponser for tow vehicles. Again Africa as was in 1959-1960 is gone forever. The Africa today is something to watch on PBS, History Channel, read about in National Geographics, or hear the latest on CNN or Fox.

Cape to Cario Caravan 2009, you go and tow your Airstreams over the bridge.

overlander64 · 06-19-2009, 01:17 PM

Greetings gail!

Quote:

Originally Posted by gail

OK how did they get their rigs over there! How about someone planning the real thing again!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am game to help anyone interested.

The Capetown to Cairo caravanners transported their Airstreams and tow vehicles via ocean going vessels. Wally Byam was credited with developing the cradle utilized to load the Airstreams. There is a movie chronicling their adventure that shows some of the Airstreams being loaded aboard ship.

There was a concerted effort to retrace this caravan, but the plan was abandoned for several reasons. Probably the most over-riding concern was safety as there has been extreme civil turmoil in several of the countries on the route raising questions about whether anyone could insure adequate security. Cost may have been a small part of the issue, but there were still a number of interested parties despite the rather steep estimated cost -- unlike the original caravan, the plan was to leave the trailers once the caravan was completed rather than binging them back to the US -- and tow vehicles were going to be sourced overseas rather than shipped.

Kevin

gail · 06-19-2009, 01:35 PM

yes i have been to Africa mostly to the southern countries and Cairo.
Too bad the times of yesterday can not be repeated today. It may be possible but not sure how long it would take and of course certain countries would have to be avoided.

thanks for the quick responses!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WE now have a 56 and not sure hubby would take a chance taking her to Africa however I am always game for adventure. I would think shipping car and trailer would be quite costly. A few thousand dollars and then in alexandria who knows about the port controls. Oh well !!!!!!!!!!!
we can always dream and perhaps it may in fact become a reality.

76sovereign · 06-20-2009, 10:40 AM

Thank you for posting some recipes from the 50s. Very interesting making donuts with potato.....I remember we were still eating depression food at grandmas through the 50s...Mac and cheese, Cabbage and winners, beans and cornbread, Beans and rice, Hungarian Goulash, etc. Come to think of it we still eat these foods once in a while.

Quote:

Originally Posted by overlander64

The following two recipes are favorites of my family to make use of leftover mashed potatoes. Both of these recipes were probably developed in the 1930s, but are something that the caravanners may have utilized to make full use of any leftovers. One of these recipes came from my aunt’s recipe box with a date of 1951 (Potato Cake), and the other came from my grandmother’s recipe box dated 1938 (Potato Doughnuts):

Potato Cake.

2 cups sugar
1 cup mashed (potatoes - warm)
1 cup butter
1 cup raisins
1 cup chopped nuts
1 cup milk
2 cups flour
1/2 cup cocoa
4 eggs
2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. nutmeg
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. cloves
Bake at 350 degrees about 1 1/2 hours in iron skillet.

Old-Fashioned Mashed Potato Doughnuts

Ingredients:
4 cups flour
4 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup mashed potatoes
3 tablespoons shortening
1 cup sugar
2 eggs, well beaten
1 cup milk

Directions:
Sift first 5 ingredients together. Cream sugar and shortening, add potatoes and eggs. Add to flour mixture, with milk, to form a soft dough that you can handle. Roll out on floured board 1/2 inch thick; cut with doughnut cutter.

Cook in deep, hot fat till brown on both sides (turn when first crack appears) Drain on paper towels. Serve plain or coated with powdered sugar. Even better when served with extra-vanilla bean glaze.

76sovereign · 06-20-2009, 10:43 AM

Mayonnaise cake has been a favorite in our family for many many generations. I guess because you didn't have to have eggs to make it. Very moist Very good. My Aunt Ruby was the one that always made the Cake. She would make a homemade fudge icing for it topped with whole pecans...WONDERFUL!

76sovereign · 06-20-2009, 11:31 AM

I found this link to a site that has a timeline for foods. Check it out....You might want to add it to your favorites.

The Food Timeline: popular American decade foods, menus, products & party planning tips

soldiermedic · 06-20-2009, 02:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 76sovereign

I found this link to a site that has a timeline for foods. Check it out....You might want to add it to your favorites.

The Food Timeline: popular American decade foods, menus, products & party planning tips

This is a nice resource. I have bookmarked it.

Thanks Kani.

Steve

oldtrucksrul · 06-21-2009, 03:34 PM

Anyone interested in a shirt with a Cape to Cairo logo on it? I was tweaking my art a little. I was leaning toward a plain white shirt with this design small on the pocket. Anyone interested?

soldiermedic · 06-21-2009, 05:16 PM

Or have several trucks pulling trailers in a caravan. They would have to be smaller though

Steve

oldtrucksrul · 06-21-2009, 07:27 PM

I might can make that work!

oldtrucksrul · 06-21-2009, 09:11 PM

How do you like this with Pee Wee's rig

soldiermedic · 06-21-2009, 09:47 PM

Amy and I are here laughing with LOVE.

I think we should offer both shirts for this rally.

The shirts I am having made are three color silk screens pictured exactly like below and will cost $15.00.

OTR...can you let us know what those cute tee's will run?

Steve

Sugarfoot · 06-23-2009, 06:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oldtrucksrul

How do you like this with Pee Wee's rig

OOooh, there's a scout truck!

It's so cute!

I want BOTH T-s. Where do I put in my order?

soldiermedic · 06-23-2009, 07:02 PM

T-Shirt Orders

Following the example from Sugarfoot, I am going to keep an updated posting on this thread for T-shirts. I have contacted oldtrucksrul about a price for his shirts. I can also order coffee mugs with either logo. I don't know how Cory will want to do his shirts, but I will bring the Navy shirts to the rally, and collect the payment there. If you order a shirt then please remember to pay for it at the rally! T-shirt deadline to order your shirt will be 21 August.

Navy Colored Cape to Cairo, Africa Shirt

Soldiermedic 1 x LG
Pee Wee 1 x XL
Sugarfoot 1 x XL
Tinloaf 1 x XXL

White Cape to Cairo Caravan shirt

Soldiermedic 1 x LG
Sugarfoot 1 x XL
Tinloaf 1 x XXL

Cape to Cairo Africa Mug
Soldiermedic 1
Tinloaf 1

Cape to Cairo Caravan Mug
Soldiermedic 1
Tinloaf 1