CUT DUMPLINGS

This is an old recipe that belonged to my late grandmother.

2 cups sifted all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup lard or shortening
2/3 cup milk

Sift flour, baking powder, and salt together.  Cut in shortening with 2 knives or pastry blender.  Add milk, using more if necessary to make a soft dough.

Pat out 1/2-inch thick and cut into 1-inch squares, strips or diamonds.  Drop into boiling chicken stock.  Cover and simmer 15 minutes.

file photo for reference only

HOLIDAY NOODLES

This is an old recipe from Reames Frozen Noodles. Mr. Reames was a personal friend of mine and he and his wife shared many recipes with me. Unfortunately, we lost Bill in 2008. But we will continue to enjoy his noodles forever. Thanks, Bill and Betty!

1/3 cup butter
1 cup thinly sliced celery
1/2 cup chopped onion
8 cups ready-to-serve chicken broth
1 pkg (16 oz) Reames Frozen Egg Noodles
1/2 tsp salt, if desired
1/4 tsp pepper
2 cups cubed cooked turkey (or chicken)
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
Parsley sprigs for garnish, if desired
1 tsp ground sage, optional

Heat butter in a Dutch oven over medium heat until melted. Add celery and onion; cook about 3 to 5 minutes or until tender; stirring occasionally. Add broth and bring to a boil. Stir in noodles, salt, and pepper. Simmer, uncovered, about 35 minutes or until the noodles are tender. Stir mixture occasionally during cooking. Stir in turkey and parsley; heat through. Garnish with parsley sprigs, if desired.
Add sage with salt and pepper, if desired.

Note: To thicken slightly, stir together 1 tablespoon flour and 1/4 cup cold water until smooth. Stir into turkey and noodles. Bring to a boil and cook about two minutes or until smooth and thickened, stirring constantly.

DOROTHY MENGERING'S (DAVID LETTERMAN'S MOM) CHICKEN NOODLE SOUP WITH HOMEMADE NOODLES

Posting this recipe today in honor of Dorothy, a proud Hoosier cook, who died yesterday at the age of 95.
She said the soup recipe was her own but that she learned how to make the noodles from her mother. RIP Dorothy.

Stock
4 pounds chicken backs, necks, and wings, or a 3- to 4-pound whole frying chicken, cut up
4 quarts cold water
3 ribs celery with leaves, chopped
1 large onion, chopped

In a large stockpot, add chicken and water. Bring to a boil on medium-low heat, then cook for 15 minutes; skim. Add vegetables, cover, and simmer for 2 hours. Discard chicken parts. (If using whole chicken parts, remove and refrigerate to use in another dish.) Strain stock and chill for 6 hours, or up to 2 days. Skim fat and simmer for 30 minutes. Can be cooled and frozen if not used immediately.

Makes about 8 cups of stock.

Noodles
2 eggs
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup all purpose or bread flour (bread flour is best)
1/4 cup water

In a small bowl, beat eggs with salt. In a large bowl, pour flour and make a well in center. Mix in eggs gradually. Add water 1 teaspoon at a time. Knead until smooth and elastic, adding more flour or water if necessary. Divide dough into thirds. Roll out one part at a time on pastry cloth into a thin rectangle and let dry a bit. Fold dough lengthwise into thirds and cut into noodles with a sharp knife. Separate noodles and place on tea towels. Let dry completely. Freeze in airtight container or plastic bags if not to be used immediately.

Makes 4 servings.*

While noodles are drying, cook 2-3 chicken breasts until tender; remove meat from bones. Add noodles and chicken to boiling stock. Cook for 20-25 minutes or until tender.

*If you wish to double the noodle recipe, do not simple double in ingredients. For a larger batch of noodles, use 3 egg yolks and 1 whole egg plus 1 teaspoon salt, 2 cups flour, and 1/2 cup water. Makes 8 servings.

Note: Noodles can be broken into smaller pieces, if desired.

Note: File Photo

HOMEMADE NOODLES

This is another recipe from my old Marshall Township PTA cookbook from the 1950s. This recipe is from Mrs. Phyllis Fry who was married to our beloved high school math teacher, Ray Fry.

7/8 cup sifted all purpose flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/8 tsp poultry seasoning
1 large egg, beaten

Sift flour, measure, and sift with the dry ingredients. Add gradually to beaten egg, mixing until thoroughly blended. Roll paper thin on a floured board keeping the shape rectangular as much as possible.  Allow to stand 20 minutes. Roll up and slice 1/8 inch wide for fine noodles. Toss lightly to separate strands and spread out to dry for several hours. Makes 1/2 pound of dried noodles.

GOLDEN NOODLE BAKE

This recipe was from an Indianapolis, Indiana department store restaurant when I was young.  

1 lb egg noodles 

4 tbsp butter 

1/2 cup cottage cheese

1 /2 cup sour cream 

1 egg, beaten 

2 tbsp sugar 

1/2 tsp salt 

pepper to suit taste 

1/2 cup cornflakes

 8 strips bacon, fried  

Cook the noodles in boiling salted water just until tender. Meanwhile, saute the onion in the butter until the onion turns clear; remove from the heat. 

Butter a 2-quart casserole dish and preheat the oven to 350 degrees. 

Drain the cooked noodles and toss in a large bowl with the sauteed onions and butter. 

In separate bowl mix cottage cheese, sour cream, and the egg. Stir in the sugar, salt, and pepper. Mix into the noodles, mixing until well blended. 

Put the mixture into the prepared casserole dish and bake at 350 degrees, uncovered, for 20 minutes. Sprinkle the cornflakes over the top and bake 5 minutes more or until the cornflakes are toasty brown. To serve, divide into four servings and top each serving with 2 strips of the bacon.

clipart