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

TAILGATING?

In response to our recent poll question: Do you tailgate during football season? All the votes were no. So we evidently don't have any tailgaters in our group.

APPLES VS PEARS POLL

In our recent poll question, "Which of these Fall fruits do you prefer?", 86% of you chose apples over pears.

SPECIAL NOTE FROM LINDA

Thank you for continuing to visit my blog during my absence this summer. First I had computer problems then health problems. Thankfully I am now back to my blogging. I hope you have had a great summer with lots of summer's bounty of fresh fruits and vegetables!

PRESERVING FRUITS AND VEGETABLE POLL RESULTS

On our pole asking if you preserve fruits and vegetables found our readers to be evenly split. 50% said no while 50% said yes. Of the "yeses" all of you preserve vegetables from your own gardens.

MARSHMALLOW DESSERT TOPPING FOR JELLO

This is an old recipe from Ohio.

1/2 lb large marshmallows, cut-up
1 small can crushed pineapple
1 small can mandarin oranges
2 cups half and half cream
maraschino cherries

Drain the crushed pineapple and the madarin oranges. In a medium mixing bowl, combine the fruits and marshmallows into the half and half cream. Store overnight or at least 8 hours in the refrigerator, stirring occasionally. Serve over Jell-O or other gelatin desserts.