Alaska's Acquisition Inspires a Famous Dessert by Linda Hoover

                                            

                                                                                                                                                     Emperor Alexander II               

 

Emperor Alexander II of Russia was in a difficult financial and logistical position. The Crimean War left the country in debt, and their enemy, Great Britian had troops in Canada, just on the other side of Russian America, or what we now know as Alaska. In 1859, the logical thing to do was offer to sell Alaska to the United States. The matter was discussed, but when the Civil War started in 1861, it was put on hold. In 1867, Alexander told the Russian Minister to the United States, Eduard de Stoeckl, to open negotiations for the sale. Secretary of State William H. Seward was in favor of acquiring Alaska. The two men agreed to a price of $7.2 million, which amounted to 0.02 cents per acre, and signed the treaty ceding Russian America to the United States on March 30, 1867. The treaty was ratified on May 15, 1867. The United States officially took possession on October 16, 1867, in a Flag-Changing Ceremony. The small population of Russians living in Alaska moved back to Russia.

Alaska Timeline: Russian American 1733 -1867

Department of Alaska – 1867 – 1884

District of Alaska – 1844 – 1912

Territory of Alaska – 1912-1959

State of Alaska – 1959 - Present

    
                                 

                                                                  



Let’s travel back in time to Delmonico’s Steak House in New York City. It was known as the first fine dining restaurant in the country. Customers were actually able to order from a menu. Steaks were their specialty, but they created other unique culinary dishes as well. Chef de Cuisine Charles Ranhofer joined the Delmonico team in 1867 and was known for creating and naming dishes after famous or frequent diners. Some dishes commented on current events. The Alaskan purchase inspired a dessert made with banana ice cream, walnut spice cake with apricot jam covered with toasted meringue. He called it “Alaska Florida” because of the frozen ice cream and warm meringue. There is some debate about who officially created it, but most people agree it was to celebrate the purchase of Alaska. The most supported theory of the inventor is Ranhofer. He included it in a cookbook he published in 1893, still calling it “Alaska Florida.” In 1896, Fannie Farmer published it in her “Boston Cooking School Cook Book” with the title “Baked Alaska.” 

                                                                                                         Delmonico's 1890s
              

I, and other people I’ve talked to, have wondered why the ice cream doesn’t melt when the cake is heated. I found there is a scientific answer. When egg whites are whipped, they form air bubbles, which in turn insulate the ice cream from the heat. You can make Baked Alaska with any kind of ice cream, gelato, or sorbet, and any kind of cake. The writer of the recipe for the cake below makes it sound doable. Tap the link to see if you think so. The other picture is of the Baked Alaska served on the Alaskan cruise I took in June. It was delicious.

   

                                                                   Baked Alaska

  Linda, a retired librarian, lives in west central Ohio with her husband and grandson. An avid reader and writer since childhood, she began her publishing career writing columns and a middle-grade serial for the South Charleston Spectator. Her desire is to entertain, but more importantly, to encourage readers with God’s faithfulness.

You’re invited to visit her website. Browse the pages to learn more about her and her books. Stay in touch when you sign up for her newsletter. You’ll receive a free novella as a thank you.


https://lindahooverbooks.com

                                                                      JOEL & ELLA

1881 Boston. It’s been a year since Ella's fiancé left town on the eve of their wedding, and she still can’t bring herself to go to church or see her friends. To help her move past her hurt, her parents insist she get a job. In the process, she gets reacquainted with Joel, a neighbor who accompanies her on the trolley to and from the large department store where she finds work. They enjoy each other’s company, and Joel begins to think they might share a future.

Then, Ella’s ex-fiancé returns, asking for a second chance. He’s already broken her heart once. Can she trust him? Does she still love him? Her feelings for Joel pull her in another direction. Or maybe she should stay away from any man so she won’t get hurt again. Mama advises her to pray. Will Ella look to God for her answer or turn away from both men to avoid heartache?

From Ice Slide to Roller Coaster

16th Century Russian Ice Slides. Public Domain

by Anita Mae Draper

While researching for my posts on sledding, toboggan runs and playground slides, I discovered the fascinating world of Russian ice slides. Not for the faint-of-heart, these slides were built at a 50 degree angle which enabled people to reach speeds of 50 miles an hour from a height starting at 60-80 feet. It was all the more thrilling because they sat on a block of ice set on a wooden sleigh, with only a slip of burlap to warm their bottom and no way to steer their downward slide.

Although the ramps were first built in one direction, smart craftsmen soon built the ramps facing each other so participants wouldn't waste time and energy running back to the start.

17th Century Russian Ice Slides. Public Domain

The thrill of the ice slide spread into France where cities were quick to create ice mountains which they called "roller coasters". One of the first rides was in 1817, when the Promenade Aeriennes, Jardin Baujon (Folie Beaujon Aerial Walks Roller Coaster) opened for business. Riders would start at the central tower and coast down either side on a curved track before ascending back up the central incline. Locked onto the track, the cars reached speeds of 40 mph. 

Promenade Aeriennes, Jardin Baujon, Paris, c 1820. Public Domain, wikimedia

This 1817 illustration from the French periodical, Le Bon Genre shows a close up of the base of the Promenades Aeriennes. 

"Promenades Aeriennes",1817 illustration from the French periodical Le Bon Genre. Public Domain

Compared to the safety features of today's roller coasters, the carts of early roller coasters were dangerous and often spilled their occupants if they weren't on guard, but the thrill and romance of the sport was too heady to keep people of all ages away. 

Early Roller Coaster. Public Domain, wikimedia

From my research, Russians of all stations were fascinated by sliding, including Catherine the Great (1729-1796) who had a giant ice slide built on the River Neva near the Winter Palace. In 1788, the artist, Benjamin Patersson (1748-1815) signed this watercolour of Catherine the Great being led across the frozen River Neva.

Catherine the Great Visiting the Ice Mountain, Neva River. Public Domain

In fact, Catherine's love of sliding was so great that she built a roller coaster at Katalnaya Gorka, also known as Sliding Hill, on the Oranienbaum estate among the series of royal palaces and pavilions. A pavilion resembling a wedding cake was built at the pinnacle of her sliding ice hill. In this pavilion, the court and principal nobility could take rest and refreshment after amusing themselves on the slides and tracks, regardless of the season.

Katalnaya Gorka Pavilion, Oranienbaum, Russia. Public Domain wikimedia

The slides, called the 'flying mountain' was dismantled in the mid-19th century after it fell into disrepair and was deemed too dangerous to leave standing. With an eye to beauty, the grounds were cleared and planted with fir trees, but leaving the impression of where the slides had once stood. 

Katalnaya Gorka Pavilion, Oranienbaum, Russia. Public Domain wikimedia

However, the pavilion has been preserved and today's visitors can tour the elaborate building and catch a glimpse of Catherine's world from the interior where they'll also find a scale model of what the switchback roller coaster looked like in its glory days. 

Katalnaya Gorka Pavilion, Oranienbaum, Russia. Public Domain wikimedia

If you had a chance to see Catherine II's ice mountain pavilion, would you be more interested in the decorated interior, or the scale model of the slide?

If you're interested in sliding sports, check out my post, Romance on a Toboggan.

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Anita Mae Draper's historical romances are written under the western skies of the Saskatchewan prairie where her love of research and genealogy yield fascinating truths that layer her stories with rich historical details.  Anita's short story, Here We Come A-Wassailing, was a finalist for the Word Guild's 2015 Word Awards. Her novellas are included in Austen in Austin Volume 1, The American Heiress Brides Collection, and The Secret Admirer Romance Collection. Readers can check out Anita's Pinterest boards for a visual idea of her stories to enrich their reading experience.  Discover more at:

Website - www.anitamaedraper.com, Pinterest - www.pinterest.com/anitamaedraper/