adapted from January/February 1999 Issue - 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry

One of the quick and filling foods that Civil War soldiers ate was Journey Cakes, also known as "johnnycakes." Actual cooking utensils were simple, consisting often only of bowls, pans, and a blazing campfire.

Make your own Journey Cakes!

1. MAKE SURE AN ADULT HELPS YOU. Mix 1 cup cornmeal and 1/2 teaspoon salt together in a mixing bowl.
2. Bring 1 cup of water to a boil in a small sauce pan and add it to the cornmeal mixture. Mix until smooth.
3. Stir in 1/2 cup milk (optional).
4. On the stove, warm a frying pan with 1 tablespoon butter or margarine in it, until the butter melts. Drop a tablespoon of batter onto the frying pan. Drop two to three more spoonfuls - the number depends on the size of the pan. Make sure they do not touch each other.
5. Let one side of the batter cook for a few minutes - until golden brown. With a spatula, turn each "cake" over and let it cook until golden brown.
6. Place a sheet of wax paper on the serving platter. Remove the cakes from the pan onto the wax paper. Drop another batch into the pan. This recipe makes approximately 15 "journey cakes."