Coal Region Bundookies Recipes

COOK ALONG WITH A COALCRACKER IN THE KITCHEN - COAL REGION BUNDOOKIES

Steps:

• Fry the very finely chopped onions in some bacon grease over medium-low heat until soft and golden, about 15 minutes. Set aside to cool slightly.
• In a mixing bowl, place crushed crackers and add a splash of evaporated milk, enough to moisten the crackers and make a "mush" the consistency of cooked oatmeal. About 5 or 6 Tablespoons -- amount will vary with brand of crackers used. Stir and allow to set for 2 or 3 minutes.
• In the same bowl, add the remainder of ingredients except the all-purpose flour and bacon grease and mix well until thoroughly blended. Mixture should be soft.
• Form into approximately 1 inch thick, 2 inch long shapes (oblong, not round); about 1/4 cup of the mixture. Dredge in the all-purpose flour, shake off excess. Quickly pan fry in some bacon grease, oil or lard until browned on all sides, gently turning while browning - two forks work well to help turn and shape the bundookies as they brown. (You are just browning the surface, not cooking them through at this step. You will finish cooking these in the oven.)
• Place the browned bundookies in a 13 x 9 casserole dish or baking pan, pour 1/4 cup water in the bottom of the pan, cover tightly with aluminum foil and bake at 350F degrees for 45 minutes or until cooked through (depends on the size of the bundookies).
• Remove from oven and serve hot.

PENNSYLVANIA COAL REGION BARBECUE

Steps:

• Crumble the ground beef in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion; cook and stir until meat is no longer pink. Drain excess grease, and stir in the vinegar, brown sugar, mustard, ketchup, salt and pepper. Simmer over medium heat for about 15 minutes. Serve on buns.

COAL REGION BOILO

Steps:

• In a large pot over medium heat, mix the water with honey, and stir to combine. Stir in the orange and lemon quarters, raisins, cinnamon sticks, caraway seeds, allspice berries, and cloves, and bring mixture to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer, and cook, stirring occasionally, for 30 minutes. Remove from heat, and strain the liquid into a large pot. Allow to cool for a few minutes.
• Slowly pour the grain alcohol into the honey mixture, and stir to combine. Pour into bottles, and cap; refrigerate until use. Serve gently warmed in shot glasses.

CANDY COAL

Steps:

• Line an 8-inch square baking pan with a piece of aluminum foil large enough to overhang the sides by about 2 inches. Set aside.
• Bring sugar, 3/4 cup water, and corn syrup to a boil in a medium saucepan over medium high heat. Stir to dissolve sugar, and wash down sides of pan with a pastry brush dipped in water to prevent crystals from forming. Once mixture comes to a boil and all the sugar has dissolved, clip a candy thermometer to pan, and raise heat to high. Continue cooking without stirring until mixture registers 300 degrees. Remove from heat.
• Carefully add food coloring, extract, and baking soda; stir slowly with a clean wooden spoon until thoroughly combined and mixture no longer bubbles, about 2 minutes. Pour into prepared pan, and let cool completely. Lift foil to remove candy from pan, and transfer candy to a large plastic bag. Crush with a kitchen mallet into chunks.