St David’s Day celebration
Thank you for joining us on Saturday, February 26th, 2022 for our ZOOM presentation!
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Basic Welsh cake recipe
(see below basic recipe for Ieuan’s recipe)
2 cups all purpose flour
2 1/4 tsp baking powder
1/2 cup cold unsalted butter (pinch of salt)
1/4 cup sugar
1/3 cup currants or raisins
1/2 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp of any of the following spices: cinnamon, allspice,
1 egg
Whisk together flour, baking powder and spices. Cube the butter and rub into the flour until it resembles coarse breadcrumbs. Stir in the sugar and dried fruit. Mix with beaten egg and vanilla to make a light dough that holds together well. Don’t over mix.
Roll out on floured surface to 1/2 ” thickness. Cut into rounds with 3″ cutter.
Lightly butter a griddle or large, heavy skillet. Heat until butter sizzles slightly (medium hot). Cook Welsh cakes in batches from 3 to 5 minutes on each side until golden brown.
Eat while still warm with a nice hot cup of good Welsh tea!
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Ieuan’s recipe as sent to me via WhatsApp
“8 oz flour, self rising or with baking powder added to plain
4oz unsalted butter, a small pinch of salt can be added if wished
2oz sugar
2oz raisins
a little vanilla (I use vanilla paste)
(In old Welsh recipes mixed spices are added but I don’t like them)
1 egg
Mix butter and flour lightly as for pastry but don’t overwork as the result will be leathery
Add sugar, raisins and flavours of your choice
Add beaten egg and mix lightly
Roll out to approx 5mm. Cut into rounds with 4″ cutter.
Preheat pan and add small amount of butter which should sizzle gently
If it turns brown quickly – too hot, no sizzle – too low.
Three minutes on each side should render them a light golden colour
Experience with baking them will improve the outcome.”
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Meet the Presenters of our February 26th event
Dilys Rana grew up on a sheep farm in Nannerch, North Wales. She has lived in the Chicago area for many years and has been active in local Welsh Societies since 2000. She is currently President of The Cambrian Benevolent Society of Chicago and on the Board of the Welsh North American Association.
Sue Stealey was born and raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She has lived and worked in the Chicago Area for many years where she has been active in local Welsh Societies. She is currently President of the Women’s Welsh Club of Illinois, Secretary of the Cambrian Benevolent Society and Secretary of the Welsh Gymanfa Ganu Association of Wisconsin.
Barbara Jones was born to Welsh immigrant parents in Youngstown, Ohio. She has spent most of her working life in Chicago. Since retirement she has devoted much time and energy to Welsh organizations. She is currently on the Boards of the Women’s Welsh Club of Illinois and the The Cambrian Benevolent Society (also its past President). She served for 6 years on the Board of the Welsh North American Association.
Bethan Morgan is a fluent Welsh speaker who grew up in Carmarthenshire, West Wales. During her career in the oil and gas industry, within which she ran her own consultancy company, she traveled extensively and lived in many parts of the world, including two years in Chicago. She currently enjoys retirement with her husband, Sam, in the picturesque village of Aberarth on the coast of mid-Wales.
Dr Megan Williams is the Executive Secretary of the Welsh North American Association and Editor of Ninnau, our Welsh-American newspaper. Megan works tirelessly to promote Wales and all things Welsh in North America. Born in New York state she was raised in a Welsh-centric household and spent many summers in North Wales, where she met her Welsh husband. She is a fluent Welsh speaker and earned her doctorate from the University of Bangor in North Wales.
Ieuan Gwynedd-Jones is a retired GP who lives in Talwrn, Anglesey. He grew up in a Welsh speaking household and is a fluent Welsh speaker. He has spent most of his working life in Wales. He is a member of two local Welsh choirs and has competed in the National Eisteddfod of Wales. In his active retirement he enjoys hiking, baking, gardening and many other activities.
Danny Proud comes from a long line of ‘proud’ Welsh Americans. Since his retirement he has devoted his time to many Welsh activities, including learning Welsh. He is an accomplished musician who sings, leads Gymanfa Ganu sessions, plays the guitar and is learning to play the harp. He will be the host coordinator for the Welsh Heritage Week course in Madison, Wisconsin from July 17 – 24, 2022.
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Our last St David’s Day Celebration
On Saturday, February 29th, 2020 we celebrated our 167th anniversary at the Carleton Hotel, Oak Park
Little did we know that this would be our last formal event for many, many months due to the COVID 19 pandemic which impacted every home, business and organization in the entire country and the world.
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Contact Dilys Rana at dilyswr@gmail.com, 847-702-1694
for more information
