HOMEMADE PUMPERNICKEL BREAD

3 pkgs active dry yeast
1 1/2 cups warm (105-115 degrees) water
1/2 cup molasses
3 1/2 tsp salt
2 tbsp solid shortening
2 tbsp caraway seed
2 3/4 cups rye flour
2 3/4 - 3 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
cornmeal

In a large mixing bowl dissolve the yeast in warm water.  When yeast is dissolved, stir in the molasses, salt, shortening, caraway seed, and rye flour.  Beat mixture until smooth.  Mix in enough of the all-purpose flour to make the dough easy to handle. 

Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface, cover and let rest 10 to 15 minutes.  Knead dough about 5 minutes until smooth.  Place dough in a greased bowl, turn once so the greased side is up.  Cover dough and let rise in a warm place until double in size, about an hour.  Punch down the dough; re-ball, cover, and let rise again until double.  This will take around 40 to 45 minutes.

Grease a baking sheet and sprinkle with cornmeal.  Punch down the dough again, then divide into two equal parts and shape into loaves.  Place loaves in the opposite corners of baking sheet.  Cover and let rise for 1 hour.

After about 45 minutes, heat the oven to 375 degrees.  Bake at 375 degrees for 30 to 35 minutes until lightly browned.

Yield: 2 bread loaves.

GREAT NORTHERN BEANS SOUP

1 lb Great Northern beans, soak overnight in 8 qts water; rinse and drain
1/2 cup finely chopped celery
1 cup finely chopped carrots
1/2 cup finely chopped onion
1/2 to 3/4 lb diced ham
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon basil
freshly ground black pepper

Add 6 cups water to the beans and add the remaining ingredients.  Cover and bring to a boil.  Reduce heat to simmer and cook 1 to 2 hours until the beans are tender.  Add more water during cooking, if needed.

SOUR CREAM RAISIN DROPS with ORANGE FROSTING

1/2 cup butter
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1 egg
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup sour cream
1 cup raisins
Orange Frosting (recipe follows)

In a large mixing bowl beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy; blend in the egg and vanilla extract.  Combine the flour, baking soda, and salt; add to the dry ingredients alternately with the sour cream.  Mix well after each addition.  Stir in the raisins.  Drop dough by rounded teaspoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheets. 

Bake at 375 degrees for 8 to 10 minutes or until set.  Cool on wire rack until completely cool and frost with the Orange Frosting below:

1/4 cup butter, softened
1 tsp grated orange peel
2 cups sifted confectioners' sugar
4 tsp milk

Beat the butter; blend in the orange peel.  Add sugar alternately with the milk until light and fluffy. 

Yield: Approximately 5 dozen cookies

Note: File Photo

OLD TIME THREE CHEESE ENCHILADAS

8-oz Monterey Jack cheese, grated
8-oz Cheddar cheese, grated
1 lb Velveeta cheese, cut-up
1 can cream of chicken soup
2 cans chopped green chilies
1 can (12-oz) evaporated milk
1 lb hamburger
1 chopped onion
1 tbsp chili powder
1/2 tsp cumin
8-oz tomato sauce
22 flour or corn tortillas, your choice

In a skillet cook the hamburger and onion until meat is crumbled and browned and onion is transparent.  Drain and return to skillet.  Add the chili powder, cumin, and tomato sauce; cover and cook for 10 minutes over medium heat.  Remove from the heat and stir in the grated cheeses.  Set aside.

In a medium saucepan combine the evaporated milk, green chilies, undiluted cream of chicken soup, and Velveeta cheese.  Heat over low heat, stirring constantly until the cheese is melted.  Set aside.

Heat oven to 350 degrees.

Lightly grease a long casserole dish.  Spoon about 3 tablespoons of the meat mixture down the center of each tortilla; roll to form the enchiladas.  Place side by side in the prepared casserole dish.  Spoon the cheese/soup mixture over the enchiladas.

Cover with foil and bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes.

CAN-CAN STIFFNER

Does anyone else remember the days when we girls wore the stiff mesh slips that made our dresses stand out like crazy? I remember being caught up in that craze as a preteen and hating myself everytime I sat down in one of those crazy things! In going through a box of my mother's old hand-written recipes, I found her recipe for the rinse she used to dip these "petticoats" in when she laundered them for me and my sister. Her notes say she copied this from a caller on a local radio show called, "The Backyard Fence," where friends and neighbors called in to share recipes, items they wanted to sell, giveaway, etc. Here is the famous recipe:

3/4 cup cornstarch
2 tablespoons turpentine
2 tablespoons borax
1 quart cold water
Stir up.
Dip in & iron dry

Lord, have mercy. We must have been crazy!!

OYSTER STEW

1/4 cup butter
1 pint fresh oysters
2 cups milk
1/2 cup light cream
1 tsp salt
dash of freshly ground black pepper

Melt the butter in a small saucepan. Add the oysters including the liquor and cook while stirring over low heat just until edges start to boil.

In another saucepan, heat the milk and cream. Stir in the salt, pepper, and oysters.

Yield: 4 cups

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.

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.

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

SALMON-POTATO CHIP CASSEROLE

This is an old recipe cut from a brand of potato chips that were popular in Indiana when I was a kid. The brand was CHESTY and we loved our CHESTY chips. Couldn't believe it when I ran across this 50 something year old recipe!

1 pkg CHESTY potato chips (I would say a regular family-size bag of today's chips.)
1 can (7-oz) salmon
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 cup milk
2 hard-boiled eggs, sliced

Break up the potato chips, flake salmon. Alternate layers in a well-greased baking dish, starting and ending with potato chips. Combine the soup and milk and pour over the layers. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes, or until the top is browned. Garnish with the hard-boiled eggs.

file photo