Sunday, February 22, 2026

ONION SOUP DEVILED EGGS

This recipe is from a cookbook that is over 50 years old.

8 hard-boiled eggs
1/4 cup finely chopped celery
1/2 tsp lemon juice
1 cup soup mixture (see below)
paprika for garnish

Soup Mixture: In a small bowl combine 1 pkg Dry Onion Soup Mix and 2 cups sour cream.
Use 1 cup for this recipe and use the remainder as a dip for chips or fresh cut vegetables. Store leftover mixture in the refrigerator.

Slice the boiled eggs in half lengthwise and scoop the yellows out into a small bowl. Using a fork, mash the yolks. Add the celery, lemon juice and cup of soup mixture to the yolks. Stir to blend together well. Refill the whites by evenly dividing the mixture among them. Sprinkle yolk mixture with paprika to garnish. Chill in the refrigerator before serving.

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Saturday, February 21, 2026

ORANGE FLAVORED PARTY PUNCH

This recipe is from a girl I went to school with back in the '50s.

1 qt orange juice
1 qt pineapple juice
1 qt ginger ale
1 qt orange sherbet

Mix the orange and pineapple juices together. Add the ginger ale. Stir in the orange sherbet and serve immediately.
file photo for reference


Friday, February 20, 2026

BAKED HAMBURGERS FOR A CROWD

This is another old recipe from my Southern Indiana heritage.

4 cups catsup
1 cup chopped onion
1 tbsp pepper
1/4 cup vinegar
2 cups tomato juice
1 tbsp garlic powder
1/2 cup prepared mustard
1/4 cup brown sugar
10 lb lean hamburger

Make the hamburger into about 40 quarter pound patties. Brown in skillet but do not cook thoroughly.

In a large saucepan combine the catsup, onion, pepper, vinegar, tomato juice, garlic powder, prepared mustard, and brown sugar. Bring to a boil while stirring occasionally. Add a little water if the mixture gets too thick.

In a large baking dish or pan put a layer of the meat patties over the bottom. Pour some of the sauce over each of the patties. Make another layer of patties, pour sauce over them. Repeat until you have all the patties in the pan and covered with the sauce. Pour any remaining sauce overall. Place in a 325-degree oven and bake about an hour.

Serve on your favorite buns with everyone's favorite condiments.

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Thursday, February 19, 2026

EASY BEEF SHORT RIBS

Are you old enough to remember cooking with lard? I am and I still think lard makes the best pie crusts.
3 lb beef short ribs
3 tbsp lard
salt to suit taste
pepper to taste
1 onion, quartered
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 tsp dry mustard
1 tbsp flour
2 tbsp vinegar
2 tbsp lemon juice
1 bay leaf
2 cup water

Melt lard in large saucepan or Dutch oven. Brown meat and drain off excess drippings. Season ribs with salt and pepper. Mix remaining ingredients, except flour, together and pour over ribs; heat to boiling. Cover and simmer for two hours. Remove ribs and thicken sauce with the flour.

file photo

Wednesday, February 18, 2026

PERSIMMON BREAD WITH RAISINS

3 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp salt
2 tsp baking powder
2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp nutmeg
1 cup sugar
1 1/2 cups oil 
2 cups persimmon pulp
1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans
1/2 cups raisins
2 eggs

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease two loaf pans well and set aside.

Into a medium bowl sift the flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Stir in the sugar. Set mixture aside.

Beat the eggs in a large mixing bowl. Add the oil and the persimmon pulp, mixing together well. Add the flour mixture into the persimmon mixture, beating together until well blended. Stir in the nuts and raisins. Pour the batter into the prepared pans. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour.

Cool completely before slicing.

 


Tuesday, February 17, 2026

OLD FASHION HOMEMADE LEMON PIE

This recipe for lemon pie is from an old Iowa church dinner.

1 prebaked 9-inch pie crust
2/3 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup sugar
1/8 tsp salt
2 cups hot water
2 egg yolks, beaten (save whites to make meringue)
1 tbsp butter
1/3 cup bottled lemon juice or the juice of one lemon with the rind grated

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Mix the flour, salt, and sugar together in the top part of a double boiler pan. Add the butter and 1/3 cup of the water. Stir to blend. Add the egg yolks and mix in well. Set the pan on top of the bottom which has hot water. Add the remaining water and the lemon juice. Cook, stirring constantly, over the hot water until the mixture is thickened. Pour the filling into the prepared pie crust. Top with meringue and bake until the meringue is browned. Cool completely before cutting.

file photo

Saturday, February 14, 2026

TANGY VEGETABLE SALAD

Since I am a gal who loves her vegetables, this has been one of my favorite salads for many years.  I think one of the reasons I love vegetables so much is because I was raised in the country where we grew most of our vegetables.  I loved helping plant the seeds, watching the plants grow, and waiting with great anticipation to enjoying the vegetables when they were ready.  I also loved helping my mother and grandmother can the vegetables then enjoying them on cold snowy days in the wintertime.  I believe my love of vegetables was planted early and I know it runs deep. 

1 can baby peas
1 can Shoe Peg corn
1 can French-cut green beans
1/2 cup chopped celery
1 chopped onion
1 bell pepper, chopped
1/4 cup oil
1/4 cup vinegar
1/4 cup sugar

Drain all the canned vegetables then mix all the ingredients together in a bowl with a lid.  Place lid on bowl and refrigerate several hours or overnight.

This makes a great 'make ahead' dish for busy cooks.

Friday, February 13, 2026

WAFFLES FROM 1942

 I saw this online and thought you might enjoy this recipe. I love recipes that are older than me. I was born in the 40s but the late 40s.



BARLEY VEGETABLE SOUP

This old-fashioned recipe is also a healthy one. Give it a try for an old-fashioned healthy, tasty meal. Just add a crusty whole-grain bread or muffin and you have a meal!

In a stock pot, heat 2 tbsp oil and saute 2 medium chopped onions until transparent. Add: 2 cloves garlic, pressed or minced and 1/3 cup barley. Saute a for a few minutes.
Add to the stock pot: 1 cup diced carrots, 1 cup diced celery, 3 cups sliced mushrooms, 1 potato, scrubbed clean and diced with peeling left on, 8 cups water or beef or chicken stock--your preference, 1/2 tsp dried basil, 1/4 tsp dried thyme, 3 tbsp soy sauce, and 3/4 tsp seasoned salt. Bring mixture to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 45 minutes.
Add to soup: 2 small zucchini, cut in half lenthwise then cut into slices. Continue to cook until zucchini is tender. Season with salt, if desired, pepper, and cayenne pepper to suit your taste. After dishing soup into serving bowl, garnish with a dollop of sour cream, if desired.

Yield: 8 servings
file photo for reference only - not this exact recipe


   

Thursday, February 12, 2026

BRASILEIRAS (COCONUT COOKIE DROPS)

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For several years I lived next door to an American citizen who came from Brazil.  Her mother would visit often from Brazil and loved to cook.  Even though her mother and I could not speak each other's languages, we learned to communicate effectively often over food.  This is an old Brazilian recipe in honor of my friends.

1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
1/2 cup water
1 tablesp. butter OR margarine
1 fresh coconut, grated OR 2 cups flaked coconut
4 egg yolks, beaten
1 tablesp. flour

In saucepan, boil sugar and water until mixture spins thread when dropped from spoon (about 240 degrees F. on candy thermometer).  Add butter and remaining ingredients, one at a time, mixing well after each addition.  Cook, stirring, until mixture thickens--about 5 minutes.  Cool.  Meanwhile, start heating oven to 350 degrees F. When mixture is cool, shape into small balls.  Bake on greased cookie sheets 12 min. or until golden.
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Wednesday, February 11, 2026

JIFFY BLACK WALNUT CAKE

This is a very old recipe from a little town in Missouri. My uncle married a gal from Missouri when he was stationed at Ft. Leonard Wood during the Korean War. She brought a lot of her family's recipes to our family. 2 cups sugar 2 sticks butter, softened 2 cups sifted all-purpose flour 5 large eggs 1/4 tsp salt 1 cup black walnut halves 1 tsp lemon extract 1 tsp vanilla extract Combine all the ingredients into a large mixing bowl and beat at high speed of an electric mixer for 5 minutes. Pour the batter into a well-greased tube pan (10-inch size) and bake for 1 hour and 15 minutes at 350 degrees.

file photo for reference



Tuesday, February 10, 2026

CREAM CHEESE-LIME JELLO SALAD

This recipe is from the community where I went to school. (Yes, I didn't say what type of school and that's because I went from first grade through twelfth grade in the same building! My parents went there and so did my oldest child!) 1 regular can of milnot, chilled until ice crystals start to form 8-oz pkg cream cheese, softened 1 cup sugar 2 tsp vanilla 3-oz pkg lime jello 1 cup boiling water Add the sugar and vanilla to the softened cream cheese. Dissolve the jello in the boiling water, stirring to completely dissolve the jello. Cool until syrupy. Combined the cooled jello and the cream cheese mixture. Whip the milnot until stiff and fold into the other mixture being gentle. Pour into a jello mold that has been wiped with a vegetable oiled paper towel. Chill until firm. Note: You can use your choice of Jello flavors.

file photo for reference

Monday, February 9, 2026

JIFFY KENTUCKY SPOON BREAD

Growing up in Southern Indiana we often visited friends and relatives in Kentucky. I don't know which ones had this recipe but it makes a good "corn" bread. 8-oz creamed-style corn 8-oz whole-kernel corn 8-oz sour cream 1 egg 1 stick butter, softened 1 pkg (box) Jiffy cornbread mix Preheat oven to 350 degrees and grease a glass baking pan. Mix all the ingredients together in a bowl using a spoon (not a mixer!). Pour into the baking pan and bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

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Saturday, February 7, 2026

STRAWBERRY LEMONADE PUNCH

This is a punch recipe we enjoyed in the Spring and Summer when I was a child. 

12-oz can frozen pink lemonade 
6-oz can frozen orange juice 
3 cups water 
10-oz package sliced frozen sliced strawberries, mostly thawed 
2-liter bottle of chilled ginger ale 

 In a large bowl or container combine the pink lemonade with the orange juice, water and strawberries. Mix until strawberries are completely thawed. Place the mixture in the refrigerator until serving time. To serve, remove from the refrigerator and pour into a punch bowl. Slowly add the ginger ale into the punch bowl, stirring to mix. Garnish with lemon slices and/or fresh strawberries, if desired.

file photo for reference

Friday, February 6, 2026

ZUCCHINI-CARROT CASSEROLE

This recipe is from a great cook in the community where I grew up. She has been gone for years now, but her recipes live on.

4 medium zucchini
3/4 cup shredded carrots
1/2 cup chopped yellow onion
6 tbsp butter
2 1/4 cups herbed stuffing cubes
1 can condensed cream of chicken soup, undiluted
1 cup sour cream

Cook the zucchini in salted water until tender; drain. Cook the carrots and onions in two tablespoons of the butter until tender; add the cooked zucchini and set aside.

Mix the stuffing cubes with the remaining four tablespoons of butter; set aside. Mix the cream of chicken soup with the sour cream in a large bowl until well blended. Add the cooked vegetables to the soup mixture. In a buttered casserole dish layer half the stuffing mixture, all the vegetable mixture, remaining half of the stuffing mixture. Bake at 350 degrees for 35 minutes. 

Mr Food's photo for reference only - not this exact recipe.


Monday, February 2, 2026

BEEF AND PORK STUFFED CABBAGE ROLLS

1 medium to large head of cabbage 
1 lb lean ground beef 
1 lb lean ground pork 
3/4 cup rice, uncooked 
salt to taste 
pepper to taste 
2 small onions or 1 medium onion, chopped 
1 tbsp dill 
1/2-pint sour cream 
3 tbsp flour 
 1 small can tomato paste 
1 tsp salt 
2 tbsp sugar 
Remove the core of the cabbage; place the cabbage in a large pot of boiling water. Parboil the cabbage until you can peel the leaves off one at a time. Lay the leaves on a paper towel or clean tea towel to drain.

Mix together the ground beef, ground pork, rice, onions, salt and pepper. Place some of the mixture onto each of the cabbage leaves, leaving enough cabbage leaf to roll it over the mixture, envelope fashion, secure with toothpicks. Place the cabbage rolls in a large pan and cover with boiling water. Add the dill to the water and bring water back to a boil. Cook rolls for 1 hour

Remove the rolls from the pan using a slotted spoon. In a medium bowl stir together the sour cream, flour, tomato paste, 1 tsp salt, and the sugar. Stir this mixture into the pan you removed the cabbage rolls from. After the mixture is mixed in well, add the cabbage rolls back to the pan and heat for about 10 minutes. 
file photo for reference