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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