Carving Pumpkins and Joe Froggers

John's family has a tradition of carving pumpkins and eating Joe Froggers. Since we aren't close to family to carry on the tradition with them, we invited some people over and had our own pumpkin carving party. John's classmates Mike and Tiffany, my classmate Bessie and her husband Jon, and the missionaries, Elder Brunson and Jenson came. We had a lot of fun and everyone said that they liked the Joe Froggers.

Joe Froggers fresh out of the oven, eaten with lots of icing!

The pumpkins! John showed his surgery skills by carving a witch, Bessie and Jon made a cat, Mike carved a ghost, and the missionaries carved the angel Moroni.

John's family always carves pumpkins and makes Joe Froggers on Halloween. The Joe Froggers are a molasses cookie with a strong taste that takes some getting used to! John's mom kept the Colver tradition alive from when John's dad was young and now we are going to try to keep it too. Last year John's mom stumbled across the story behind the Joe Froggers.

* The Legend of Joe Froggers

A couple known as Aunt Crease and Black Joe lived at the edge of a pond in Marblehead, Massachusetts. Joe had fought in the Revolution as a young man. On election night, they would open their house, which on occasion was also a local tavern, and serve grog. Joe would play the fiddle and Aunt Crease would cook.

One of her specialties was a molasses cookie the size of a modern-day salad plate. She made them for fishermen, who found they stored well in barrels during long sea voyages.

In the early 1800s, the election took place at the end of May, a time when frogs were peeping in the pond, and by association the cookies were called Joe's Froggers. Over time the possessive was dropped, and the name today is Joe Froggers.

Here's the legendary recipe:

Joe Froggers

Combine in 4 different bowls first and then add each 1/2 at a time into the 4th bowl.

1. Sift 7 c. flour, 1 tsp. salt, 1 tsp. cloves, 1 tsp. nutmeg, 1/2 tsp. All Spice

2. Combine 3/4 c. water, 1/4 c. rum flavor

3. Combine 2 tsp baking soda, 2 c. dark molasses. Stir and let sit for about 15 minutes

4. Cream 1 c. shortening, 2 c. sugar

Add 1, 2, and 3 in with number 4 half at a time. Blend well chill dough over night. Roll and cut. Put on greased sheet. Bake 375 degrees 10-12 min. Makes about 2 dozen. Frost with butter cream frosting.