Fourty Whacks...

     Living in the Northeast, every Halloween Lizzie Borden's story seems to make its rounds on the documentary channels. Living on this side of the United States, you become familiar with a towns lore. Being that I went to culinary school in Providence,Rhode Island, I was closer to the action than I thought.
     The story takes place in Fall River, Massachusetts(which is the same town that Emeril Legasse is from :D ) in the summer of 1892. Lizzie and Emma were sisters, and the daughters of an affluent businessman, Andrew Borden. The unfortunate thing about Mr. Borden was that is only interest in life was money and not his daughters. His first wife, the mother of his two daughters died in 1862, and in 1865, he married Abby Durfee Gray a spinster that rarely left home. Mr. Borden was so frugal that he did not have plumbing in his home. Obviously you see a stage being set here, The girls, Emma and Lizzie did not care for Abby, because the girls felt that their father was giving Abby their inheritance.

     There were stories of theft and locks being fashioned on doors. That fateful morning of August 4, 1892, was when all the tension boiled to the surface. Bridget Sullivan, the Irish housemaid had made breakfast, however she was ill, and Mrs. Abby Borden equally as unsympathetic as her husband ordered Bridget out to wash the windows. On that day, Abby was preparing to go the bank to sign the deed for ownership of the farm. This would anger any child of an affluent parent.
    From the beginning this would end badly.  At 11:15 am, Bridget who was washing windows outside heard Lizzie scream. Andrew Borden was found dead in the living room, and Abby was found upstairs in the guest bedroom.  Lizzie's story of her whereabouts raised flags with law enforcement and she was subsequently charged with the murder of her father and step-mother.   The nails in the coffin ,were Lizzie tried to burn a dress a week after the murder, testified by a friend. Lizzie also tried to buy poison just before the murders. 

     Lizzie went to trial on June 3, 1893, however the lack of sufficient evidence made Lizzie a free woman, and on June 20, 1893 just a mere seventeen days later Lizzie was acquitted.  She remained in Fall River, bought a bigger house named it "Maplecroft" and changed her name from Lizzie to Lizbeth.  In 2010, that crap would not fly.  Lizzie lived with her sister Emma until 1904 or 1905 when the two sisters had no more contact at all.  Lizzie died in 1927, still a murderess in quiet circles.  The home was turned into bed and breakfast in 1992. 
     If you are in the Fall River area for Halloween then the Asylum of Horror is the place to get the crap scared out of you. If you would much rather experience the terror first hand then the Lizzie Borden Bed and Breakfast/Museum is the haunt for you. When it is time for a midnight snack, head on over toThe Ugly American for the best burger that you'll ever eat.  Be sure to try The Cheese, which is 7.5 oz burger that has been baptized in cheese, or if that is not enough cheese, then try the Grilled Cheeseburger Deluxe, which is one fat 7.5 oz burger sandwiched between two grilled cheeses.  This burger joint comes highly recommended and if pigging out is in your vocabulary, then this "hole in the wall" is your spot.

 Portuguese Felog(Doughnuts)

1 quart of water
rind of one lemon
1 cinnamon stick
2 tbsps butter
4 tsp baking powder
4 tbsp sugar
4 cups flour
12 eggs
1 tsp salt
oil for frying
cinnamon sugar for dredging doughnuts in

Mix all dry ingredients together and stir with a whisk.  In a saucepan, boil the water with the lemon rind and cinnamon stick, add butter and remove the cinnamon and lemon when butter is melted. In a mixing bowl, fashioned with the paddle add the flour mixture, slowly incorporate the hot water mixture, then mix on high adding one egg at a time until all eggs are incorportated.  Drop by spoonfuls into the hot oil, and cook until browned evenly.  Carefully without piercing the puffs remove from oil, drain on paper towels and roll in cinnamon sugar .

Stressed spelled backwards is dessert. Coincidence? I think not!~Author Unknown