Happy Hallowe'en Eagle Tavern Corn Muffins

Yes, I do want you to spell it with the apostrophe....just like we used to do....

I am really blessed to be a member of the Henry Ford....it's a museum complex right across the street from my office that my company's founder started so we could remember our past.   Henry once famously said "History is bunk" but he also created what he called "The Edison Institute" (what we now call "The Henry Ford").   About it, he said "I am collecting the history of our people as written into things their hands made and used.... When we are through, we shall have reproduced American life as lived, and that, I think, is the best way of preserving at least a part of our history and tradition."

The Henry Ford has a great collection of vintage Hallowe'en art, such as the witch postcard above, complete with the smiling moon, or the one above showing a witch riding in a melon car.    Check out the witch plane:

This charming postcard from the 30's says "May Hallowe'en frolics engage you tonight and your future by witches predicted be bright".  I love the cats having all sorts of fun in this one.

Looking for some good recipes to make for a tasty Hallowe'en dinner?  Recently the Henry Ford published an online collection of recipes called the Historic Recipe Bank.    I also found an out of print cookbook from the Eagle Tavern, Henry Ford's historically correct restaurant that makes the best corn muffins I have ever tasted.   Here is the recipe:


Eagle Tavern Corn Muffins


3/4 c all purpose flour
2 1/2 t double acting baking powder
2 T sugar
3/4 t salt
1 1/4 c yellow stone ground cornmeal
1 egg
3 T melted butter on bacon drippings
1 c milk


Preheat oven to 425 F and grease muffin pan with butter, oil or bacon drippings.  Place muffin pan in the oven until it is sizzling hot.   Whisk together flour, baking powder, sugar and salt, then add cornmeal.   In a separate bowl, beat egg and add butter or drippings and milk.  Combine with the dry mixture with a  few rapid strokes. Put the batter in the hot pan and bake for 20-25 minutes.   Makes about 15 muffins.