BANG'S SWEET PICKLE RELISH

This is another old recipe for making your own pickle relish. Homemade pickles and relishes are oh-so-good! 

1 gallon ground-up unpeeled cucumbers 

8 onions, ground 

1/2 cup pickling salt 

4 cups vinegar 

1 cup water 

5 cup sugar 

1/2 tsp turmeric 

2 tbsp celery seed 

1 tbsp mustard seed 

 2 red bell peppers, ground 

 2 green bell peppers, ground 

 Mix cucumbers, onions, and salt. Allow to set for a couple of hours; drain and rinse with cold water, drain again. Put mixture into a large stockpot and add the vinegar, water, sugar, spices, and bell peppers. Allow the mixture to come to a boil but do not actually boil. Put into clean hot canning jars and seal with hot lids. Be sure lids seal. When sealed, you will hear the lids pop and the centers will slightly indent. This may take a few minutes. Any jars that do not seal should be refrigerated.

file photo for reference. not this exact recipe

 

SEVEN LAYER CASSEROLE

This is another old recipe from one of the now defunct craft/recipe magazines my mother received in the mail when I was a child. I can still remember how anxiously she awaited the little magazine each month and how she and my grandmother would go over the crocheting patterns inside. Then the recipes came after checking out those patterns. I never mastered crocheting, but I sure did master a love for the wonderful dishes she made from the recipes!

1 cup rice, uncooked
1 cup corn, whole kernel
2 small cans tomato sauce
3/4 cup water (or liquid from the canned corn)
1/2 cup chopped onion
1/2 cup chopped green pepper*
1 lb ground beef
salt and pepper to your liking
4 strips bacon

Place the rice then the corn in layers in a greased 2-quart casserole dish. Pour one can of the tomato sauce over the corn with 1/2 cup of the water. Layer the onion then the green pepper, uncooked beef and seasonings. Add the second can of tomato sauce with the remaining 1/4 cup of water. Cut the bacon strips in half and lay over the top. Cover the casserole dish and place in the oven. Bake at 350 degrees for one hour. Uncover and bake 30 minutes more.
*This is a bell pepper. 

file photo of Workbasket Magazines

Vinegar Cake

MY FAVORITE CHILDHOOD DIVINITY

This recipe is from the 1930s and was a favorite of my childhood.

2 1/2 cups sugar
1/2 cup clear corn syrup
1/2 cup water
2 egg whites
1 tsp vanilla
1 or 2 drops food coloring, optional
whole pecans for garnish

In a heavy 2-quart saucepan combine the sugar, corn syrup, and water. Cook, stirring, over a medium-high heat until the mixture boils. Reduce the heat to medium and continue cooking, without stirring, until a candy thermometer registers 260 degrees or reaches the hard-ball stage. This will take about 10 to 15 minutes.

Remove the saucepan from heat and remove the thermometer.

In a large mixing bowl, beat the egg whites with an electric mixer on medium speed until the whites are stiff (peaks stand tall when beaters are removed). Gradually pour the hot syrup mixture in a thin stream over the egg whites, beating on high speed for about 3 minutes scraping the sides of the bowl occasionally. Add the vanilla and food coloring, if using. Continue to beat at high speed just until the candy starts to lose its glossy look (about 5 to 6 minutes). When beaters are lifted, mixture should fall in a ribbon that mounds on itself.

Place a drop of the candy onto a waxed paper surface; if it stays mounded, it has been beaten enough. If not, beat for another minute and try again. If the candy is too stiff to spoon out, add hot water a drop or two at a time until the candy is softer. Quickly drop by spoonfuls onto the waxed paper surface and place a pecan half atop each piece. Press down lightly to adhere to the candy.

Store in a tightly covered container.

Yield: approximately 40 pieces

CHICKEN VEGGIE STIR-FRY

3 skinless, boneless chicken breasts

1 tbsp canola oil
2 green onions, sliced
1 tbsp minced garlic
3/4 tsp salt
1 tsp ground ginger
1 pkg (16-oz) frozen Oriental mixed vegetables
1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
1 tbsp cornstarch
1 tbsp water

Slice the chicken breasts into 1-inch strips. Heat a large skillet or wok over medium heat until a drop of water sizzles when dropped onto pan. Add the oil. Place chicken in skillet and stir-fry about 5 minutes. Add the green onions and garlic; cook while stirring for 2 minutes. Stir in the salt and ginger. Add the mixed veggies and the chicken broth. Bring to a boil and cook until vegetables are heated through. This will take about 3 to 4 minutes.

Blend the cornstarch and water together until smooth. Add to the skillet and bring to a boil. Boil until the sauce is thickened. Remove from the heat and serve while hot. Serve over white rice.

file photo for reference only

SLOW COOKER NAVY BEAN SOUP

Do you remember getting your first crockpot? I remember my dad going to the local hardware store and getting one for my mom, my sister, and me. We were all so excited. As a young wife and mother, I loved mine. Now pushing 80 I still love my crockpot. I have used a few, broke one or two and still love them. I think the greatest invention has been the cooking bags for our crockpots/slow cookers.

Ingredients

1 lb of dry white beans soaked and drained (navy or northern)

2 lb of meat (ground beef, chicken, turkey, ham, sausage) I prefer ham! 

1/2 c chopped onion

10 c chicken stock or bullion

1 can cream of onion soup

1/2 c grated carrot

Season to taste

Instructions

Brown meat

Add all ingredients to a 7-8 qt slow cooker and cook on low for 6-8 hours.

 

HOMEMADE AU GRATIN POTATOES

4 cups thinly sliced potatoes
1/4 cup diced yellow onion
1 tbsp butter, cut into thin pats
1 cup grated cheese (cheddar or your favorite blend)
1 can (10 3/4-oz) cream of celery soup, undiluted
1/2 cup milk

In a casserole dish layer the potatoes, onion, cheese and butter.

Pour the soup into a small mixing bowl and whisk in the milk until smooth; pour over the ingredients in casserole dish. Cover and bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour. Uncover and bake another 15 minutes for the top to brown.
 

MIDWEST-STYLE PERSIMMON BREAD

1 1/3 cup sugar

1/3 cup butter
2 eggs
1 cup persimmon pulp
1/3 cup cold water
1 2/3 cups flour
1 tsp soda
3/4 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp baking powder
1/2 cup raisins
2/3 cup chopped pecans or hickory nuts

Cream sugar and butter. Add the eggs, persimmon pulp, and cold water. Sift the dry ingredients together an add to the persimmon mixture. Add the raisins and nuts. Pour into a well-greased loaf baking pan. Bake at 325 degrees for 1 hour. Cool and drizzle with glaze.

GLAZE: 3 tbsp powdered sugar, 1 tbsp water, 1 tsp lemon juice. Mix together.

file photo

 

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.

 

TOMATO NACHO CASSEROLE

Another recipe from my little old metal green recipe box.

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. 

file photo for reference