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The pretty town of Ashburnham rests along the 
northern border of Massachusetts and New Hampshire, about an hour’s drive from Boston. Ashburnham was settled in 1736 then incorporated in 1765, eleven years before the colonies declared independence from Britain. Today it is home to about 5,500 residents, and to Cushing Academy, the oldest co-ed boarding school in the nation. Ivers Whitney Adams, founder of the Boston Red Stockings, Boston’s first baseball team, was Ashburnham’s most notable resident. Most notable, that is, until last Monday night.
For some time now, the senior citizens of the good town of Ashburnham have met at the town’s Senior Center to socialize over morning coffee. The elderly folk often pitch in and bring their own treats and baked goods. But recently a problem arose. Included in the annual budget for the local Council on Aging was the sum of $840 for the “morning coffee club.”
Enter Ashburnham’s Advisory Board Chairman Francis “Bill” Johnson. At last Monday’s meeting Chairman Johnson proclaimed that he does not want to see the town’s money spent on doughnuts for the seniors. He sees the action as encouraging poor eating habits. Then he spoke the words that made the seniors really see red.
“You keep putting pastries and doughnuts in front of them and they are going to eat them.”
The Worcester Telegram & Gazette News first broke the story. In today’s internet age it quickly passed along the AP wires to Chicago, Minneapolis, and Seattle, to National Public Radio, to ABC and CBC. Comments flooded the news. Soon, if not already, late night talk show hosts will speak of it.
Should the seniors be allowed to eat their doughnuts? After I quit chuckling over poor Chairman Johnson’s folly, the thought occurred to me – this is the generation that fought in World War II and in Korea. Our parents’ and grandparents’ peers. Doughnuts may not be the healthiest, and he may have meant well, but is it the town leader’s responsibility to micromanage what a senior citizen, a voting taxpayer, eats at a morning coffee?
In honor of these seniors, I offer up an old family recipe for Baked Apple Donuts. I hope a few of you it try it! And remember this morning to raise your coffee cup in a toast to Ashburnham’s elderly. They deserve your support.
BETTY’S BAKED APPLE DONUTS
- 1 1/2 cup flour
- 1 cup sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
- 1 3/4 teaspoon baking powder
Sift and cut in 1/3 cup shortening. Then mix:
- 1 egg
- 1/4 cup milk
- 1/2 cup shredded apple
With a large spoon, blend mixtures together. Fill mini-muffin tins 1/2 to 2/3 full. Bake at 350° for 20 to 25 minutes. While warm, roll in melted butter and then in mixture of 3/4 cup sugar and 1 teaspoon cinnamon.
Enjoy!
Sara
Spring is nearly here. The greening scent surrounds us. Birds flutter through budding trees and chirp at the coming warmth. Although cool showers are predicted for Sunday, today is a brilliant, blue-sky day 
with the temperature expected to reach 70°. At 2 AM, it will be time to set our clocks forward and spring into Daylight Savings Time, an idea first conceived of by Benjamin Franklin in the dawn of our nation’s history. All in all, an ideal morning to sample a fresh new restaurant.
Diner 248 opened recently on Highway 248 between Nazareth and Easton. It sits across the road from the Hampton Inn, and occupies the former Jack Creek Steakhouse. With fresh paint outdoors and in, varnished wood tables, tasteful floral carpeting and muted colors, the restaurant is both warm and inviting. As we stepped inside, a cheerful hostess greeted us and showed us to a booth near a back window.
Our waitress introduced herself with a smile and left us with two menus. 
She returned quickly with hot black coffee served in tall white mugs. The breakfast menu at Diner 248 features an interesting selection. From a meatlovers omelette to three types of Eggs Benedict to Peach Melba and Banana Nut pancakes, there’s something for all. I was delighted to see Stuffed French Toast on the menu, three versions. After first eating it at Morgan’s Restaurant a few weeks ago, I was tempted to order it again, as a comparison. Maybe next visit. Today my taste buds called for savory rather than sweet so I ordered a simple omelette.
As we waited, we flipped through pages of the local news. Of special note – Penn State-Lehigh Valley, now in Fogelsville, will move into the closing Lehigh Valley College in Center Valley. This doubles the space for Penn State-LV. It also puts it on public transportation routes. A good move for the Valley!
Within minutes our waitress brought our food. 
M. had ordered orange juice, traditional Eggs Benedict – toasted English muffins topped with Canadian bacon, poached eggs, and hollandaise sauce. His eggs were nicely cooked, not hard as can happen if the chef isn’t watchful. Not a problem here – 248′s chef is skilled. My omelette was flavorful with finely chopped broccoli and the right amount of melted cheddar. Both orders came with browned home fries. Only warmer plates might have improved the otherwise most satisfying meal. Service was great. Our waitress was friendly, attentive, and kept our coffee mugs filled.
Our bill came to just under $17 (plus tip) for Eggs Benedict with home fries, a broccoli cheddar omelette with home fries and toast, one glass of orange juice, and two coffees with ample refills.
Diner 248 is located at 3701 Easton Nazareth Highway (Route 248), Easton, Pennsylvania. Phone – 610-252-4300. The diner serves breakfast from 6 AM to 2 PM daily. While there, we glanced at their lunch and dinner menu. It shows an intriguing variety of sandwiches, gyros, salads, entrees, and other dishes. We plan to return soon!
Sara
Pancakes make me smile. 
Maybe it’s because I remember the many happy Sunday mornings when my children were young and we made pancakes for breakfast. Big or little, thick or thin, pancakes with chocolate chips, blueberries or bits of bacon. Or just plain. My kids loved it when I poured the batter to make special shapes. Fish or birds were easier to make than tigers but they ate them all. So good when spread with real butter and drizzled with maple syrup.
According to the Pancake Appreciation Society, pancakes first appeared in a cookbook around 1439, but they are probably much older, dating back to Roman Times or before. Using various recipes and methods, known by various names, they are eaten worldwide.
In the Lehigh Valley we celebrate Fastnacht Day on the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday. But it’s also known as Pancake Day, or Shrove Tuesday – the last feast day before Lent. It began in medieval times as a chance to use up eggs and fats before the 40 days of Lenten fasting.
IHOP, International House of Pancakes, has built an empire based on the simple pancake. With over 1,300 restaurants across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, they now serve over 700 million pancakes a year. When we were dating, my husband and I sometimes met at IHOP for pancakes and waffles. A few years later, we took our children there for special meals. Happy times.
Pancakes are a simple food. I once read a poignant story about a poor farmer whose wife had died. There was little in the house for him to cook for his hungry family so, they made pancakes. Their troubles were real but they found comfort by just mixing a bit of flour, milk, and eggs, and cooking it on a griddle. Funny how that scene stays with me.
Here’s a delicious old family recipe. It’s not exact but that’s how old family recipes are.
FARMHOUSE PANCAKES
- 1 cup flour
- milk (about 3/4 cup, but don’t add all at once)
- 1 tablespoon oil or melted butter
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoons salt
- 1 or 2 eggs (depending on size)
Add some milk gradually. The more milk, the thinner the batter. Beat in eggs. There may be some small lumps in the batter. Don’t worry about them. Make sure the skillet is always well greased and hot.
Recently I found this fun video on You Tube. Click the screen to watch it…then go mix up some pancake batter of your own.
Do you have a favorite pancake recipe, or restaurant that serves them? Please share your story by clicking comments at the top of the article.
Sara
