Mamie’s Million Dollar Fudge and more recipes for Presidents Day

Happy Presidents Day. Regardless of our political differences, there’s always food to bring us together. Because, well, nothing bridges the divide quite like chocolate.

George W. Bush’s fillet of beef with three-peppercorn sauce

Recipe: George W. Bush’s filet of beef with three-peppercorn sauce, 2001

(Bob Chamberlin / Los Angeles Times)

At President George W. Bush’s second inaugural dinner, in 2005, guests enjoyed lobster medallions with orange and grapefruit sections, filet of beef tenderloin with asparagus, baby carrots, potatoes au gratin and Georgia peach crumble with vanilla ice cream. Now you, too, can try the beef with three-peppercorn sauce.

Jacqueline Kennedy’s waffles

Recipe: Jacqueline Kennedy’s waffles

(Robert Lachman / Los Angeles Times)

Start your Presidents Day the right way with waffles from Jacqueline Kennedy. The former first lady’s recipe can be found in the “Many Happy Returns: The Democrats’ Cook Book, or How to Cook a G.O.P. Goose,” compiled and edited by Ethel Longstreet and Olga Marcus.

James A. Garfield’s pickled oysters, 1881

Recipe: James A. Garfield’s pickled oysters

(Bob Chamberlin / Los Angeles Times)

For a bit of trivia, James A. Garfield’s inauguration dinner in 1881 was supplied with 15,000 “assorted cakes,” 3,000 rolls, 350 loaves of bread, 100 gallons of pickled oysters and 250 gallons of coffee.

William H. Harrison’s poundcake, 1841

Recipe: William H. Harrison’s poundcake

(Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times)

This recipe took more than a little adaptation to make it work for the modern kitchen, but the results are delicious. This poundcake is light, yet rich, with a great crumb, and while you may at first be intrigued by the combination of flavors including generous amounts of cinnamon, mace, nutmeg, wine, brandy and rose water, you’d be pleasantly surprised with how well they work together.

Nixon Chicken

Recipe: Nixon’s chicken

(Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

This recipe has been credited to First Lady Pat Nixon, as well as daughters Julie and Pat, and it is old-school comfort as casserole. with the cream of mushroom soup, cheddar cheese, mayonnaise, frozen broccoli and chicken all cooked up in a baking dish.

Mamie’s Million-Dollar Fudge

Recipe: Mamie’s million dollar fudge

(Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times)

Make this recipe from former First Lady Mamie Eisenhower for the choclaholic in your life. Rich and with a ton of marshmallow cream, this is one dish that’s sure to find its way to someone’s heart, president or not.

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