SCALLOPED CORN SUPREME

1 can (1 lb) cream-style corn
1 cup milk
1 egg, well beaten
1 cup fine cracker crumbs
1/4 cup onion, finely chopped
3 tablespoons chopped green bell pepper
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup buttered cracker crumbs

In a saucepan, heat the corn and milk together, stirring to blend. Gradually add the beaten egg. Add the next four ingredients and a dash of pepper. Mix well. Pour into greased 8-inch round baking dish. Top with the buttered cracker crumbs. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes.

CHERRY CRUMB COFFEE CAKE

1/4 cup solid shortening 

3/4 cup granulated sugar 

1 large egg 

1/2 cup milk or cream 

1 and 1/2 cups sifted all-purpose flour 

2 teaspoons baking powder 

1/2 teaspoon salt  

Cream together shortening and granulated sugar. Add egg and beat. Blend in milk or cream. Sift together the 1 and 1/2 cups of sifted all-purpose flour, the baking powder, and the salt. Add to the shortening mixture and blend. Spread the batter in a 9-inch square baking pan which has been rubbed with shortening.  

TOPPING: 1 can (1 lb) unsweetened cherries 1/2 stick butter, melted 1/2 cup all-purpose flour 1/2 cup packed brown sugar 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon Drain the cherries. Mix together the 1/2 cup flour, brown sugar, and cinnamon. Add the melted butter and blend. Place the drained cherries on top of the cake. Sprinkle crumb topping over the cherries. Bake cake in a preheated 375 degree oven for 30 to 35 minutes or until done.

OLD FASHION CARAMEL CORN

1 cup sugar
1/2 cup water
1 1/2 tbsp vinegar
3 tbsp butter
2 tbsp molasses
1/2 tsp salt
unsalted popcorn

Combine the sugar, water, and vinegar in a small saucepan; bring to a boil and boil to the soft ball stage. Add the butter, molasses, and salt and boil to the hard crack stage. Remove from heat and pour immediately over the unsalted popcorn in a large heat-proof bowl. Stir to coat all the popcorn.

BAKED HAMBURGERS WITH SAUCE

This is another old recipe from my childhood. My cousin used to make these and I though they were the best hamburgers ever!

2 lbs ground beef
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
4 tbsp brown sugar
1 tsp dry mustard
4 tbsp vinegar
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup ketchup
1/2 cup chopped onion

Combine the salt and pepper with the ground beef in a large bowl, mixing in well. Form the mixture into patties and place in a large baking pan or dish.
In a small bowl, combine the brown sugar, mustard, vinegar, water, ketchup, and onion. Stir with a whisk to combine well. Pour the mixture over the patties.

Bake in a 350 degree oven for 45 minutes.

CITRUS LATTICE RAISIN-WALNUT PIE

Another old pie recipe probably about my age! Ooops. Did I just say I am old? I have never tasted this pie as I do not like raisins. But it was an old family favorite from my childhood. There was an old country church across from my grandparent's house and I lived next door to my grandparents. There was a huge black walnut tree in front of the church. My grandparents had an agreement with the church leaders that they would keep the walnuts picked up. If you have never helped to gather black walnuts or to crack them and pick out the nut meats, you have no idea what you have missed. Yuck, is the best way to describe the chore. The black outer shell of the nuts does rub right off on your hands. My sister and I hated that job but we sure did enjoy eating those nuts in cakes, candies, and pies thoughout the year.

1 cup brown sugar, packed tight
2 tablespoons cornstarch
2 cups raisins
1 1/3 cups cold water
1/2 teaspoon finely grated orange peel
1/2 cup fresh orange juice
1/2 teaspoon finely grated lemon peel
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
Pastry enough for a two crust pie

In a medium saucepan combine the brown sugar with the cornstarch. When combined, stir in the raisins, water, orange juice, lemon juice, orange peel and lemon peel. Over a medium heat cook and stir until thickened and bubbly. Cook 1 more minute stirring the whole time. Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the walnuts.

Roll out about half of the pastry dough and use it to line a 9-inch pie pan. Trim to about a half of an inch over the edge. Pour the raisin mixture into the shell. Cut the last half of the dough into strips about a half in wide. Weave the strips over the top of the pie to make a lattice design. Seal and flute the edges. To prevent burning, cover the edge of pie with strips of aluminum boil or a pie shield.

Bake at 375 degrees for 20 minutes. Carefully remove the foil and bake another 20 minutes or until the crust is golden brown. Allow pie to cool before cutting. Serve pie wedges with homemade ice cream or whipped cream, if you choose.

OLD GERMAN GREEN BEAN SOUP

This recipe is older than my children and I am the grandmother of seven, one in college!

2 cups leftover ham + the ham bone
1 pound fresh green beans
2 large potatoes, cubed
3 quarts water
2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon pepper
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1 medium onion, minced
4 slices bacon, cubed
3 tablespoons flour
1 1/2 cups milk

Place the ham and the ham bone with the beans, potatoes, water, salt, pepper, and garlic powder in a Dutch oven. Boil covered for half an hour or until the potatoes are tender. Meanwhile fry the bacon and onion together; add to the Dutch oven. Mix the flour with the milk until smooth and stir into the soup, stirring constantly while adding. Simmer, covered, for 15 minutes. Serves 6 to 8 people.

Please note: This picture is a file photo.

BUTTER GRILLED CHICKEN BREASTS

1/2 cup butter
1/4 cup finely chopped green onions
1 tsp salt
1/8 tsp pepper
1/4 cup lemon juice
4 chicken breasts (about 3 lb), halved

Melt butter in saucepan. Add green onions, salt, and pepper; cook gently for about 3 minutes. Remove onions from heat and add the lemon juice. Place chicken in a bowl and cove with the sauce. Let stand, stirring occasionally while charcoal is heating up. When the coals are white-hot, brush the grill with fat and arrange 6-inches from the coals. Place chicken breast halves on grill, skin side up, and brush with the remaining sauce. Grill about 30 to 50 minutes, turning every 10 minutes until chicken is thoroughly done; after each turn, brush with remaining sauce. Makes 6 servings.

CORN-SQUASH CASSEROLE

2 cups yellow summer squash 

1/2 cup water 

1 egg 

2/3 cup milk 

1 can corn, cream style 

1/2 cup cracker crumbs 

1/2 tsp seasoned salt 

salt & pepper to taste 

2 tbsp sugar 

 2 tbsp butter 

 Wash and slice squash and cook in 1/2 cup water over medium heat until barely tender. Beat egg and add milk. Spread about 1/3 can of corn in bottom of greased casserole. Add a layer of 1/3 of the squash. Sprinkle on part of the crumbs, seasonings, sugar, and a few dots of butter. Add a few spoons of the egg-milk mixture. Repeat layers until are used. Pour remaining liquid overall. Bake at 375 degrees for about 30 minutes or until puffed and nicely brown. Makes 6 to 8 servings

file photo

GROUND BEEF, CORN, NOODLE CASSEROLE

Gotta love these old fashion recipe instructions! Personally, I like the noodles par boiled before putting them in the casserole. 

1 package (small) uncooked noodles 

1 grated onion, browned 

1 pound hamburger, browned 

1 can tomato soup 

1 can cream style corn 

Cheddar cheese, to taste, grated 

1 can ripe olives, sliced 

Place ingredients in a baking dish. Bake at 325 degrees until heated through.

clipart

HOMEMADE CONEY SAUCE

This is the recipe an old local family-owned restaurant in my childhood hometown used for their coney sauce. When I visited a couple of years ago, the restuarant had closed. I was saddened to see it go. I am in my 60s and remember hearing the story of how I grabbed my mother's vanilla coke when I was a baby and dumped it in her lap at said restaurant. hamburger meat (desired amount) lots of finely chopped celery and onion Brown the above together and add several dashes of soy sauce, 2 pinches of sugar, and 1 can of tomato soup, undiluted. Simmer mixture for at least 30 minutes Stir often to keep from burning. This mixture freezes well.

This file photo reminded me of that sauce.

SALMON LOAF

1 large can pink salmon 

3 egg whites 

2 tbs. lemon juice 

3 egg yolks 

1/2 cup cracker crumbs 

1/2 cup hot milk 

1/2 tsp. salt 

1/4 tsp. pepper 

1/4 tsp. paprika 

 Mix together the salmon, salt, pepper, lemon juice, beaten egg yolks, cracker crumbs, and hot milk. Fold in the stiffly beaten egg whites. Pour into greased loaf pan. Sprinkle with paprika. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 1/2 hours.

File photo

HOOSIER POOR MAN'S STEAK

1 lb ground beef 

1 cup milk 

1/4 tsp pepper 

1 cup fine saltine cracker crumbs 

1 tsp salt 

1 small onion, finely chopped 

1 can (10 3/4-oz) cream of mushroom soup 

flour 

butter

In a big bowl the morning your plan to use this recipe for supper/dinner, mix the ground beef, milk, pepper, cracker crumbs, salt and onion. Shape into a narrow loaf, cover or wrap and refrigerator for about 8 hours. Remove from refrigerator and slice into 1-inch-thick pieces. Roll pieces in flour and fry in butter until golden. Put the slices in layers in a baking pan and spread the mushroom soup over the top. Bake for 1 hour at 325 degrees.

Guidepost file photo used only for reference

OLD KENTUCKY PECAN CAKE

As the name implies, this is an old, very old, Kentucky recipe. Many who didn't like the traditional "fruitcake" made these cakes instead. 1 pound sugar (2 cups) 1 pound chopped pecans 1 1/2 pounds seedless raisins 1 pound regular flour 1 cup butter 6 eggs 1 pint wine Line a 3-quart tube pan with greased, heavy brown paper. Cream together the butter nd sugar. Add the egg yolks and combine thoroughly. Add the flour alternately with the wine. Fold in the stiffly beaten egg whites, the nuts, and raisins last. Bake 4 hours at 300 degrees. When cold pour more wine over the cake. If you prick the surface with a long pin the wine will penetrate the cake better. Pour wine over the cake each day for three days. Store away. Ready to serve in a month.

file photo

BARBECUE GREEN BEANS

This is another old recipe from my Southern Indiana childhood.

4 slices bacon, finely cut (chopped)
1/4 cup chopped onion
1/2 cup catsup
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
2 cans French style green beans, drained

Brown bacon and onions in skillet. Add the catsup, brown sugar and Worcestershire sauce. Simmer two minutes. Place beans in a casserole dish. Pour the bacon mixture over the top but do not stir! Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes.

BEULAH'S BAKED CORN

I love how these old recipes read. "Butter the size of a walnut;" some modern cooks may have no idea what that would be.

1 can corn
2 eggs, beaten
1/2 cup milk
butter size of a walnut
1 tablespoon sugar
1/2 tablespoon flour
1 scant teaspoon salt
pepper to taste

Cream butter with sugar, salt, flour, and pepper. Add beaten eggs and milk. Add corn. Bake in a buttered baking dish at 350 degrees about 1/2 hour or until set.

ORANGE CAKE WITH LARD AND FLUFFY ORANGE FROSTING

This recipe is from an article in an old farmer's magazine when I was a kid. It was in an article about making wonderful cakes with lard.

2 eggs, separated
1/2 cup sugar
1/3 cup lard
2 1/4 cups sifted cake flour
1 cup sugar
2 1/2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
1/4 tsp baking soda
3/4 cup milk
1/3 cup orange juice (fresh or reconstituted frozen)
1/4 tsp almond extract

Beat egg whites until frothy; graduy beat in the 1/2 cup sugar. Continue beating until stiff and glossy.

In another bowl, stir lard to soften. Add the sifted dry ingredients and the milk. Beat 1 minute at medium speed on electric mixer or 150 vigorous strokes by hand. Scrape sides and bottom of bowl. Add the juice, egg yolks, and the almond extract; beat 1 more minute, scraping bowl constantly. Fold in the egg white mixture.

Divide the batter evenly between two greased and floured 9-inch cake pans or one 9 x 13-inch cake pan. Bake in a moderate (350) oven for 25 to 30 minutes for the round cakes or 30 to 35 minutes for the 9 x 13-inch pan. Remove from oven and cool in pans for 10 minutes. Remove from pans and cool completely. Frost with the Fluffy Orange Frosting recipe below.

2 egg whites
1 1/2 cups sugar
1/4 cup frozen orange juice concentrate, thawed
1/4 cup water
dash of salt

In the top of a double boiler, combine the egg whites, sugar, orange juice concentrate, water, and salt. Beat 1 minute with an electric mixer or rotary beater. Place pan over the bottom pan with its boiling water and beat constantly 7 to 8 minutes or until stiff peaks form. Remove from the heat and beat until of spreading consistency. Frost the orange cake above or use on another favorite cake.

GUM DROP COOKIES

This is an old recipe that was served at club meetings in Southern Indiana where I was born and raised. Back in the day when ladies attended "club" meetings for everything from sewing to playing bridge, they took refreshments. These were popular cookies at those meetings.

2 cups brown sugar
3 eggs
3 cups flour
1 cup broken nut meats
1 tsp. vanilla
1 cup butter or shortening
1 tsp. soda
1 tsp. cream of tartar
1 cup gum drops, diced

Cream together the sugar and butter or shortening, add beaten eggs. Sift flour, soda, cream of tartar together and add to creamed mixture. Add the diced gum drop candies and vanilla and nut meats. Drop batter from teaspoon onto lightly greased baking sheet and bake about 10 minutes in a 375 degree oven.

Note: The spiced gum drops are really good in these cookies. Do not use the licorice ones.

PINEAPPLE DELICIOUS

This is another recipe from my Indiana childhood. We always called it Pineapple Delicious!

20 graham crackers
1 stick oleo
1 cup whipped cream
1 tsp cinnamon
1 cup confectioners' sugar
1 egg
8-oz can crushed pineapple, drained well

Roll crackers to fine crumbs. Put half of them in an ungreased pie pan. Cream butter, add sugar and cinnamon slowly. Add unbeaten egg. Beat mixture well. Whip cream and combine with well-drained pineapple. Add to butter and sugar mixture. Pour into the pie pan. Top with the remaining cracker crumbs. Cool in refrigerator for at least six hours before serving. May be made the day before your occasion.