b'H I S T O RY B I T E SBY HEATHER MACDONALDLuzena Stanley Wilson climbed down fromwas established right there in the mud.her wagon into two feet of mud. She and herSoon they would build and run a new hotel, husband were new arrivals in Nevada City justThe El Dorado.after Christmas 1849. They had been floodedIt was once said that the definition of a Grass out in the valley after the levees broke in heavyValley gold mine was a hole in the ground with rains. Now they would begin again in this newa miner eating a pasty at the bottom. Cornish busy city. miners were imported to work in the great As they looked up the hill at all the newEmpire Mine in Grass Valley. The greatest construction going on, her husband said hehardrock mine in California and where most would be going to buy some boards to makeof the gold came forth. The miners had to be a table. When he came back a few hours later,lowered hundreds of feet into the huge mine on miners were crowded around his wagon eatinga type of sleigh. The only thing that fit in their whatever Luzena could whip up. And paying her as much aslaps was a tin bucket which contained a candle, flint and a pasty. $10 for food "made by a woman\'s hand." Women were scarce.The pasty was a cooked pastry of meat and vegetables enclosed Good cooks really scarce. Some of the miners had precious eggsin a flour crust. It had to be a one-trick substantial dinner. The in their hands for her to cook. miner lit the candle and "heated" his bucket containing the She took her husband\'s newly purchased boards, they madepasty. Pasties today are of great variety of meats and even all a table, and the first woman-owned restaurant in Nevada Cityvegetables. You can find them in local pasty shops.CORNISH PASTIES 1.Preheat oven to 425* F.2.Combine potato, onion, meat, seasonings; mix well.3. Ingredients: Cut butter and shortening into flour in a bowl until mixture 1 medium potato, peeled and resembles fine crumbs. Add about 2 tablespoons cold watercut into 1/4 inch dice and mix with a fork to form a firm dough (add more water 1 medium onion, finely chopped if necessary, until mixture just holds together).12 lb. chuck or round steak,4.Turn dough out onto a floured surface and knead lightly a cut into 1/2 inch cubes few times. Cut into quarters, and roll each quarter out into salt & pepper a 6-7 inch circle. Trim by using a small plate placed over 1 pinch dried thyme (optional) pastry and cutting around edge with a small, sharp knife.5.Divide filling between each circle of pastry. Wet edges with 8 oz. flour (scant 2 cups)2 oz. cold butter, diced water and fold pastry into a semi-circle, pressing edges 2 oz. vegetable shortening or 2 oz. lard, chilled and diced together. Flute edges with fingers to form a tight seal.6. cold water (add ice cubes to keep very cold) n Place pasties onto a baking sheet and brush with egg or n e r milk. Bake at 425* F for 40-45 minutes, or until golden and u1 egg, beaten (to glac) or 1 milk (to glaze)Gs heated through. May be served hot or cold.FULL SERVICE MORTUARY & CREMATORYComplete Service CrematoryCaring Funeral HomePre-planning ServicesAvailable 24 Hours CIGARSTOBACCOGLASSGIFTSNOVELTIESDISC GOLFAPPARELGOLFVAPINGFAMILY OWNEDFD#1588AND OPERATED CR#109AUBURN (530) 273-2446250 RACE STREET, GRASS VALLEY MON-FRI 9-6 ( 530 )432-9957SAT 9-5chapeloftheangels.cominfo@chapeloftheangels.com SUN 10-4 17551 Penn Valley Dr, Penn Valley18SENIOR DIRECTORYWestern Nevada County Edition 2024'