Trump signs historic $3.3T bill that cements 2017 tax cuts, strengthens border security
President Donald Trump signed his $3.3 trillion “big, beautiful bill” on Friday, after the House passed the final version of the measure Thursday to ensure it arrived at the president’s desk by his self-imposed July 4 deadline.
The bill includes key provisions that would permanently establish individual and business tax breaks included in Trump’s 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, and incorporates new tax deductions to cut duties on tips and overtime pay.
Before signing the bill, the president said the bill would “fuel massive economic growth” and “lift up the hard-working citizens who make this country run.”
“We have officially made the Trump tax cuts permanent,” Trump said. “That’s the largest tax cut in the history of our country. … After this kicks in, our country is going to be a rocket ship economically. We’ve delivered no tax on tips, no tax on overtime, and no tax on Social Security for our great seniors. … It makes the child tax credit permanent for 40 million American families. … The Golden Age of America is upon us.”
The measure also raises the debt limit by $5 trillion — a provision that has faced scrutiny from figures including SpaceX and Tesla CEO Elon Musk, who formerly led a war against wasteful government spending at the Department of Government Efficiency.
Furthermore, the bill rescinds certain Biden-era green energy tax credits, and allocates approximately $350 billion for defense and Trump’s mass deportation initiative to weed out illegal immigrants from the U.S.
“Wind. It doesn’t work,” Trump said. “I will tell you, aside from ruining our fields and our valleys, killing all the birds, [and] being very weak and very expensive, [they are] all made in China. You know, I noticed something … with all of the windmills that China sends us … I have never seen a wind farm in China.”
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The measure also institutes Medicaid reforms, including new 80-hour-a-month work requirements for Medicaid recipients, and expands work requirements for those on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP.
Republicans in the Senate were sent scrambling on June 26 to reform and pass the measure ahead of Trump’s July 4 deadline after Senate Parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough determined that several Medicaid reforms in the sweeping tax and domestic policy package did not follow Senate rules and must be removed.
Ultimately, the Senate barely passed the measure on Tuesday by a 51-50 margin. Republican Sens. Susan Collins of Maine, Thom Tillis of North Carolina, and Rand Paul of Kentucky all voted against the bill, requiring Vice President JD Vance to step in and cast the tie-breaking vote.
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The legislation then headed back to the House to hammer out a few differences in the versions passed in both chambers of Congress.
On Wednesday evening prior to the House’s passage, Vance turned up the heat on lawmakers to get the measure through the finish line, citing provisions in the measure that would bolster border security.
“The Big Beautiful Bill gives the president the resources and the power to undo the Biden border invasion,” Vance said in a Wednesday post on X. “It must pass.”
“Congrats to everyone. At times I even doubted we’d get it done by July 4! But now we’ve delivered big tax cuts and the resources necessary to secure the border. Promises made, promises kept!”
Trump also zeroed in on the measure’s border provisions when he urged lawmakers to get the legislation completed at a “One, Big, Beautiful Event” at the White House on June 26, labeling the bill the “single-most important piece of border legislation ever to cross the floor of Congress.”
“This is the ultimate codification of our agenda to — very simply, a phrase that’s been used pretty well by me over the past 10 years, but maybe even before that — make America great again,” Trump said at the event.
Other administration officials also cautioned that failure to pass the bill would wreak havoc on the economy. For example, the White House’s Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought told lawmakers in June that failure to pass the measure would result in a 60% tax hike for Americans and would trigger a recession.
SENATE PASSES TRUMP’S ‘BIG, BEAUTIFUL BILL’ AFTER MARATHON VOTE-A-RAMA
Meanwhile, no Democrats in either chamber of Congress backed the measure. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., labeled the bill “cruel” during floor remarks that lasted hours on Thursday, pointing to Medicaid and SNAP reforms that reports suggest would remove millions of beneficiaries from the programs.
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“What is contemplated in this one big, ugly bill is wrong. It’s dangerous, and it’s cruel, and cruelty should not be either the objective or the outcome of legislation that we consider here in the United States House of Representatives,” Jeffries said.
National Guard deployed as floods kill 13 and at least 20 children missing at Texas camp
The National Guard was deployed in Texas on Friday after a devastating river flood killed more than a dozen people and swept away dozens of children at a local Christian camp.
Heavy rain on Friday morning caused the Guadalupe River to rise nearly 30 feet in 45 minutes.
Officials confirmed at least 13 people are dead, including adults and children.
At least 20 children attending Camp Mystic remain missing, according to Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick. The camp, which had more than 750 attendees, is being evacuated via helicopter.
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Ellen Toranzo told Fox News Digital that her daughter, Greta Toranzo, is one of the campers who went missing during the flood.
Carrie Hanna also confirmed to Fox Digital that her daughter, Hadley, is unaccounted for.
Other nearby camps reported all children were accounted for, according to Patrick.
Kerrville Mayor Joe Herring Jr. issued a disaster declaration amid emergency evacuations.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott wrote in an X statement the state is surging all available resources to respond to the flood.
“That includes water rescue teams, sheltering centers, the National Guard, the Texas Department of Public Safety,” Abbott wrote. “The immediate priority is saving lives.”
Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, posted on X asking for prayers.
“Please pray right now for everyone in the Hill Country, especially Camp Mystic,” Cruz wrote on X. “Today, I’ve spoken with Gov Abbott, Lt. Gov Patrick, the head of TDEM & President Trump. Multiple helicopters are performing search & rescue. President [Donald] Trump committed ANYTHING Texas needs.”
Patrick urged parents of campers to avoid driving to the area, due to impassible roads.
“I know if it was one of my children, I would be tempted to want to drive there from Houston as well,” Patrick said. “Once we’re able to get some of those roads clear, when the rain stops, then we have 10 busses ready to go in and pick up the kids, and we’ll find a point … where you can be reunited with your child and hug them. Hug them hard, because you know they’re frightened.”
FLOODS KILL AT LEAST 111 AS NORTHERN NIGERIA BATTLES CLIMATE CHANGE, DRY SPELLS AND HEAVY RAINFALL
The Kerrville Public Utility Board outage map showed nearly 3,000 people were without power, as of 3 p.m. eastern time.
Local funeral homes told Fox News Digital they are completely overwhelmed.
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A local Walmart is being used as a temporary reunification center and shelters have been activated, according to the City of Kerrville Police Department.
The Red Cross is assisting, according to the Kerr County Sheriff’s Office.
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Kerr County spokesperson and county Judge Rob Kelley and the Kerr County Sheriff’s Office did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
Federal judge thwarts Trump admin’s holiday deportation plan for criminal migrants
Eight migrants were denied a request by a Massachusetts federal judge on Friday to have their deportation to South Sudan halted.
Justice Department lawyers said the men were scheduled to be flown to South Sudan on Friday at 7 p.m. ET after two courts considered their emergency request on July 4, a day when courts would otherwise be closed, Reuters reported.
The migrants, who are from Cuba, Laos, Mexico, Burma, Sudan and Vietnam, filed new claims on Thursday after the U.S. Supreme Court clarified that Boston federal Judge Brian Murphy couldn’t require the Department of Homeland Security to hold them.
Also on Friday, federal Judge Randolph Moss in Washington paused the Trump administration’s efforts to deport the eight migrants to South Sudan, the latest case testing the legality of the Trump administration’s push to ship illegal immigrants to third countries.
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Moss had briefly halted the deportation after lawyers for the migrants filed the new claims in his court and sent the case to Boston, where Murphy denied the claim.
The eight men argued their deportations to South Sudan would violate the Constitution, which prohibits “cruel and unusual” punishment, Reuters reported. They have been convicted of various crimes, with four of them convicted of murder, the Department of Homeland Security has said.
They were detained for six weeks on a military base in Djibouti instead of being brought back to the United States.
On Thursday, the migrants filed new claims after the Supreme Court said that a federal judge in Boston could no longer require the Department of Homeland Security to hold them, Reuters reported.
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Fox News Digital has reached out to the White House.
During Friday’s hearing with Moss, a government lawyer argued that court orders halting agreed-upon deportations pose a serious problem for U.S. diplomatic relations and would make foreign countries less likely to accept transfers of migrants in the future.
The case is the latest development over the legality of the Trump administration’s campaign to deter immigration by shipping migrants to locations other than their countries of origin pursuant to deals with other countries, according to Reuters.
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“It seems to me almost self-evident that the United States government cannot take human beings and send them to circumstances in which their physical well-being is at risk simply either to punish them or send a signal to others,” Moss said during the hearing.
Fever star defends comments on midwest cities: ‘I come from blue-collar people’
Indiana Fever star Sophie Cunningham faced criticism for comments about the WNBA choosing Cleveland and Detroit as two of its next markets for expansion.
The league announced that those two cities and Philadelphia will be getting WNBA teams by the end of 2030 in an announcement earlier this week, prompting Cunningham to question whether players wanted those cities to be chosen for expansion.
“I don’t know how excited people are to be going to Detroit or [Cleveland],” Cunningham told reporters on July 1.
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Cunningham clarified her comments while speaking to reporters on Thursday, and defended “blue-collar working people” associated with Cleveland and Detroit.
“First of all, I know the history of the WNBA. I know that both of those cities have had teams before, and they got us where we’re at, so I’m thankful for that,” she said. “All I was really getting at was Broadway, the off-court lifestyle and so I think that is really intriguing. I think Miami’s intriguing. That’s all I was getting at.”
“I think it would be fun to get some teams outside of the NBA market . . . . I think people totally misread the situation. I would never speak down upon middle-class, blue-collar working people. That’s where I come from. I’m from Missouri. I get I’m in Indiana, and that’s why I’m kind of hinting at Broadway sounds fun, Miami sounds fun. That’s all I was getting at.”
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Cunningham also addressed the backlash to her comments.
“The people that hype you up are going to be the same people pushing you down. And so for me, I always just kind of stay right here in the middle. I think that was my personal opinion,” she said.
Cunningham comes from a family of southern farmers.
A five-part feature series by Cunningham’s alma mater, the University of Missouri, recounted her family’s southern farm roots.
Cunningham learned to ride horses and drove four-wheelers to the family’s grain silos.
“So much of our success goes back to what we learned here,” Cunningham said of working on the farm. “We loved coming out to the farm to help. We found out how to work hard and work together. It made us farm strong.”
Cunningham even had a special name for her farmer grandparents: “Maw Maw and Paw Paw.”
However, Cunningham suggested glitzier markets for WNBA expansion in her initial criticisms, pointing to Miami and Kansas City.
“Like, where do they want to play? Where are they going to get excited to play and draw fans? I think Miami would have been a great one. Everyone loves Florida. Nashville is an amazing city. Kansas City — amazing opportunity. There’s a huge arena downtown that no one’s using,” Cunningham said. “I’m not so sure what the thought process is there.
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“At the end of the day, you don’t want to expand our league too fast. We don’t want teams to totally dominate and some that aren’t. It’s a hard situation, but, man, I don’t know how excited people are to be going to Detroit or [Cleveland].”
Mexico president wants boxer to serve jail sentence in home country after ICE arrest
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said on Friday she expects boxer Julio Cesar Chávez Jr. to be deported to Mexico to serve a sentence for alleged arms trafficking and organized crime, after he was arrested by ICE in Los Angeles on Thursday.
Chávez was found to be in the country illegally last week after he made fraudulent statements on a 2024 application for permanent residency based on his marriage to a U.S. citizen.
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“The hope is that he will be deported and serve the sentence in Mexico,” Sheinbaum said during her daily news briefing Friday, referring to charges that Chávez faces for arms and drug trafficking.
The 39-year-old boxer, according to his attorney Michael Goldstein, was picked up on Wednesday by a large number of federal agents while he was riding a scooter in front of a home where he resides in the upscale Los Angeles neighborhood of Studio City, near Hollywood.
The arrest came only days after the former middleweight champion lost a match against influencer-turned-boxer Jake Paul in Anaheim, California.
Chávez split his time between both countries. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers detained Chávez for overstaying a tourist visa that he entered the U.S. with in August 2023 and expired in February 2024, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security said.
According to the department, Chávez Jr. has been charged with several crimes while in the U.S.
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On Jan. 22, 2012, the California Highwaay Patrol arrested Chávez and charged him with DUI alcohol/drugs and driving without a license. On June 23, 2012, the Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles, convicted Chávez of the offense of driving under the influence of alcohol and sentenced him to 13 days in jail and 36 months’ probation.
On Jan. 14, 2023, a District Judge issued an arrest warrant for Chávez for the offense of organized crime for the purpose of committing crimes of weapons trafficking and manufacturing crimes, in the modality of those who participate in clandestinely bringing weapons, ammunition, cartridges, explosives into the country; and those who manufacture weapons, ammunition, cartridges and explosives without the corresponding permit.
On Jan. 7, 2024, the Los Angeles Police Department arrested Chávez and charged him with Illegal possession of an assault weapon and manufacture or import of a short-barreled rifle. The court convicted Chávez of these charges.’
DHS also suspects Chávez is allegedly believed to be an affiliate of the Sinaloa Cartel, a designated Foreign Terrorist Organization. Chávez’s application was based on his marriage to a U.S. citizen, who is connected to the Sinaloa Cartel through a prior relationship with the now-deceased son of the infamous cartel leader Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman, according to DHS.
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According to DHS, in December 2024, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services had made a referral to ICE that Chávez was an “egregious public safety threat,” but he was allowed to reenter the country on Jan. 4, 2025 after records indicated the Biden Administration had not made him an immigration enforcement priority.
The Biden administration allowed Chávez to re-enter the country and paroled him into the country at the San Ysidro port of entry, accorrding to DHS.
Florida official ‘shocked’ as city votes to defy immigration law despite warnings
A Florida city commissioner said she was shocked to find herself “standing alone” after her colleagues in the state’s southernmost municipality voted this week to end an agreement between the police department and federal immigration authorities.
Key West city Commissioner Lissette Carey told Fox News Digital that she considered the potential consequences of severing the 287(g) agreement, which allows police officers to stop, question and detain illegal immigrants.
“I did my research prior to the meeting,” Carey said. “I was the only member of the Commission who understood the consequences and respected our state and federal government enough to uphold the law.”
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In a 5-1 vote, the commission voted to void the agreement, a move that came amid the Trump administration’s crackdown on illegal immigration and nationwide mass deportation operations.
“I was deeply disturbed by the lack of understanding and the disregard for the safety, security, and long-term well-being of our city,” Carey said. “As the first to cast a vote on this matter, I was disheartened—and frankly shocked—to find myself standing alone in recognizing the importance of upholding this agreement.”
The move has already met opposition from leaders in the state capital of Tallahassee.
In a letter dated Wednesday to the commissioners, Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier said their vote violates state law and has essentially made Key West a “sanctuary city.”
“Florida law unequivocally forbids sanctuary cities,” Uthmeier wrote while demanding the city leaders reverse course. “Failure to take corrective action will result in the enforcement of all applicable civil and criminal penalties, including removal from office by the governor.”
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He added that they could face removal from office if they don’t reverse course.
Carey, whose mother and grandparents arrived in Key West from Cuba in the 1950s, said she supports legal immigration.
“I am proud of my heritage, and I honor the many contributions immigrants make to our communities,” she said. “But I also believe in following the law and ensuring public safety.”
“Key West is often seen as a carefree, liberal town, but it’s also home to conservatives like me who support law enforcement,” added Carey.
Earlier in the week, Gov. Ron DeSantis said the issue is a matter of following state law.
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“I think the attorney general has weighed in on that, and I’ll let him do the analysis and send them whatever warnings need to be sent,” DeSantis said at the opening of the new “Alligator Alcatraz” immigration detention center in the Everglades.
“But the reality is you have a responsibility for full participation,” he added. “And you can virtue signal and try to make political statements, but the reality is local governments have to abide by Florida law.”
Choosing not to cooperate with immigration authorities only puts residents in those municipalities at risk, a White House spokesperson told Fox News Digital.
“Local officials refusing to work with federal law enforcement will not stop the Trump Administration’s mission to remove dangerous, criminal illegal aliens from American communities,” the spokesperson said. “It will only put American citizens living in their jurisdiction at risk. Quickly and efficiently deporting violent aliens makes every American community safer.”
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Other Florida cities have done the opposite. In Miami, city commissioners there narrowly voted in favor last month to allow police officers to work with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) by entering into its own 287(g) partnership.
Former ‘Baywatch’ beauty turns heads with patriotic bikini snap on Fourth of July
Donna D’Errico is flaunting her bikini body on the Fourth of July.
The former “Baywatch” star took to Instagram to share a new photo of herself, decked out in a red bikini with white star details for the holiday.
In addition to the new picture, she shared two additional photos of herself in similar patriotic bikinis, captioning her post, “4th of July now, 3 yrs ago, & 6 yrs ago.”
‘BAYWATCH’ STAR DONNA D’ERRICO DEFENDS BIKINI PHOTOS AFTER HARASSMENT FROM ONLINE TROLLS: ‘I WON’T BE BULLIED’
“Happy Independence Day!” she added.
D’Errico is no stranger to sharing racy photos – she shares several with her Instagram followers, and is now a top model on OnlyFans.
But in December 2023, she told Fox News Digital that these kind of scantily clad photos aren’t what her followers request the most.
“You know, in the beginning, I got a lot of, or some requests, for feet,” she shared of starting her OnlyFans account. “I don’t really get that anymore. Now, they mostly want to see me, like in everyday life, just the real me and everyday life.”
The former Playboy Playmate added, “Maybe wearing a T-shirt, making coffee or, you know, just that kind of thing. That’s the biggest request.”
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D’Errico said she receives requests from followers asking her to “take a picture of you right now. I want to see what you look like right now.”
“I’m like, ‘Well, I don’t have any makeup on and my hair is in a ponytail, and I’m kind of in sweats,'” she said. “‘I don’t care. I want to see that.’ So, they like that because I think it gives them kind of what I call ‘the girlfriend experience.’ It may be.”
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D’Errico added, “I think I call it the girlfriend experience because I think they get the same thing out of it that I do. They get to log in and have fun kind of having an experience that they would have if they had a girlfriend. But then they log off, and then they’re gone. There’s nobody to check in with.”
In May, however, her fans were excited to see a particular swimsuit photo – one of her in her iconic red “Baywatch” one-piece.
“Guess who found her old swimsuit…” she captioned the post.
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Her followers filled her comment section with heart and fire emojis, with one writing, “Wow!!! Seeing this, feels like getting caught in a rip tide and need saving!”
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Another joked, “Umm I’m drowning,” to which D’Errico replied, “I still can’t swim haha so I can’t save you.”
Want to eat like George Washington this July 4th? Expert shares favorite foods
Grilling hot dogs and hamburgers on the Fourth of July holiday is the epitome of eating like an American — but have you ever wondered how to eat like a Founding Father?
In a recent interview with Fox News Digital, Michael Politz, founder of Food & Beverage Magazine, revealed the Founders’ favorite dishes – and how to incorporate them into your Independence Day feast.
George Washington’s favorite foods included hoecakes, cherries and fish, along with hazelnuts, hickory nuts and walnuts, Politz said.
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To indulge, the American Cincinnatus enjoyed Madeira wine.
“Washington preferred simple, hearty meals, often featuring local fish from his own fisheries, plantation-grown fruits and vegetables,” Politz shared.
“He was especially fond of hoecakes – soft, cornmeal griddle cakes – eaten daily for breakfast with butter and honey, partly due to his dental issues.”
Another Virginian, Thomas Jefferson, enjoyed such favorite foods as peas, fresh vegetables and French cuisine in general.
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“Jefferson was a passionate gardener, growing over 250 types of produce at Monticello,” Politz noted.
“He often used meat ‘as a condiment to the vegetables which constitute my principal diet.'”
“Rumor has it Ben Franklin had a soft spot for turtle soup, a Philadelphia staple of the era.”
“Jefferson is credited with popularizing macaroni and cheese, french fries and ice cream in America.”
Farther north in Pennsylvania, Benjamin Franklin’s favorite foods included oysters, turkey, cranberries, almonds and Indian corn.
The Boston-born Philadelphian also had a bit of a sweet tooth, enjoying apple tarts and maple syrup.
Politz described Franklin as an early “locavore,” which refers to a person who only eats food grown in a local area.
“He advocated for Native American foods and introducing new ingredients like rhubarb and kale to the colonies,” the history buff said. “He even published a recipe for tofu in 1770 and helped popularize potatoes while in France.”
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“And rumor has it Ben Franklin had a soft spot for turtle soup, a Philadelphia staple of the era,” Politz added.
As a born-and-bred New England resident, John Adams drank hard cider daily and enjoyed apple pandowdy, a cobber-like dessert, along with Indian pudding.
He also feasted on New England boiled dinners, which were primarily made with corned beef with root vegetables.
“Adams’ diet reflected New England’s apple-rich agriculture and cold climate, favoring root vegetables and preserved meats,” Politz said. “His wife Abigail made apple pandowdy, a rustic favorite.”
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All of their geographies contributed to their palates. In the Mid-Atlantic, Washington and Jefferson enjoyed abundant access to fish and shellfish while also having extensive gardens and orchards, Politz said.
“Recreating these historic dishes isn’t just a culinary exercise – it’s a way to connect with the roots of American hospitality and storytelling.”
In New England, Politz said, the cold climate “favored root vegetables, apples and preserved meats. Dishes like boiled dinners and apple desserts reflected the region’s agricultural realities.”
Want to cook like a Founding Father?
Politz has modernized some colonial classics to fit the kitchen of just about anyone.
But, he said, many Americans are eating like the Founding Fathers on Independence Day by default.
For example, Thomas Jefferson enjoyed creamy baked macaroni and cheese. Jefferson and Washington also devoured ice cream, Politz said.
“Jefferson wrote the first American [ice cream] recipe and Washington spent a fortune on it,” the hospitality expert said. “[Hosts can] offer classic vanilla or experiment with period flavors.”
But Politz noted that the recipes aren’t only an opportunity to impress house guests but a way to appreciate American heritage.
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“Recreating these historic dishes isn’t just a culinary exercise – it’s a way to connect with the roots of American hospitality and storytelling,” Politz said.
“These recipes offer opportunities for menu innovation, seasonal specials and educational dining experiences that resonate with guests seeking authenticity and a sense of history.”
George Washington’s Hoecakes
This recipe is a “simple, gluten-free cornmeal pancake,” according to Politz.
He said to serve it with butter and honey for a historic breakfast or brunch item.
Ingredients
2 cups cornmeal
1 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon sugar
Boiling water (enough to make a thick batter)
Butter or lard for frying
Honey or syrup for serving
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Directions
1. Mix cornmeal, salt and sugar in a bowl.
2. Add boiling water gradually, stirring, until you have a thick batter.
3. Heat butter or lard in a skillet or griddle.
4. Drop spoonfuls of batter onto the hot surface; flatten slightly.
5. Fry until golden on both sides.
6. Serve hot, drizzled with honey or syrup.
John Adams’ Apple Pandowdy
Politz described a pandowdy as a “rustic apple dessert, ideal for fall menus or as a farm-to-table special.”
Ingredients
8 medium baking apples (e.g., Granny Smith), peeled and cut into chunks
½ cup maple syrup
¾ cup brown sugar
2 tablespoons cornstarch
1 tablespoon lemon juice + 2 teaspoons for apples
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon cinnamon
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½ teaspoon nutmeg
¼ teaspoon ginger
¼ tsp salt
½ cup butter, cubed
2 pie crusts (store-bought or homemade)
2 tablespoons milk
2 tablespoons sugar + ½ teaspoon cinnamon for topping
½ cup maple syrup (for finishing)
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Toss peeled, chopped apples with 2 teaspoons lemon juice.
3. In a large bowl, mix maple syrup, brown sugar, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, cornstarch, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger and salt. Add apples and coat well.
4. Line a baking dish with one pie crust, pressing up the sides.
5. Pour in apple mixture; dot with butter.
6. Top with second crust; tuck edges in. Cut vents in the top.
7. Brush with milk; sprinkle with cinnamon + sugar.
8. Bake 35–40 minutes until golden and bubbly.
9. Remove from oven, break the crust into pieces and gently press into the apples.
10. Drizzle with ½ cup maple syrup and let sit 30 minutes before serving.
11. Serve warm, ideally with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.
Classic 18th Century Mushroom Catchup
The Founding Fathers, along with most early Americans, enjoyed a sauce called mushroom catchup, a precursor to modern ketchup, Politz said.
The shelf-stable sauce was considered a pantry essential in colonial times. It dates back to 17th century British and Chinese sauces.
“This dark, earthy and intensely flavorful sauce was prized for its ability to add depth and complexity to meats, stews and vegetables, much like Worcestershire sauce or soy sauce today,” Politz said.
Ingredients
2 pounds fresh mushrooms (brown or white)
A couple spoonfuls of salt
2 bay leaves
1 chopped onion
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Zest of 1 lemon
1 tablespoon finely grated horseradish
¼ teaspoon cloves
Pinch of cayenne pepper
½ teaspoon allspice
½ cup apple cider vinegar
Directions
1. Chop mushrooms and mix with salt and bay leaves. Let sit overnight to draw out the juices.
2. Add onion, lemon zest, horseradish, cloves, cayenne, allspice and vinegar.
3. Cook the mixture for 15–20 minutes.
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4. Cool, then strain through cheesecloth, squeezing out as much liquid as possible.
5. Save the solids as a seasoning; bottle the liquid catchup for use as a condiment.