Saturday, November 30, 2024

JEAN'S OLD FASHION CREAM PIE

Jean was a great cook and mother in the area where I grew up in the 1950s.

1 unbaked 9-inch pie shell
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup white sugar
1/2 cup flour
1 tsp cinnamon
pinch of salt
1/2 cup half-and-half cream
milk

Preheat oven to 450 degrees.

In a medium mixing bowl, mix together the brown sugar, white sugar, flour, cinnamon, and salt; gradually add the cream. When mixture is well blended pour into the pie shell. Add enough milk to fill the shell, if necessary. Bake at 450 degrees for 10 minutes then reduce the heat to 350 degrees and bake for another 30 minutes.

Note: To keep crust from becoming too brown, you can cover the crust edges with foil and remove the last 5 to 10 minutes of the baking time.

You can see how much I have used her cookbook, it has lost its cover!
 

Friday, November 29, 2024

HOMEMADE BUTTER CRUNCH POPCORN

This is an old recipe from my childhood.

1/4 cup butter
1/2 cup corn syrup
3/4 cup sugar
4 cups popped corn
1 cup unsalted peanuts

In a 2-quart heavy-duty saucepan, combine butter, syrup, and sugar. Cook mixture, stirring occasionally, until it comes to a boil. Reduce the high slightly and continue cooking to 260 degrees on a candy thermometer. Put popcorn and nuts in a large glass bowl and stir to mix well. Pour candy mixture over popcorn and nuts; mix well. Butter hands and form mixture into small bite-sized balls.

 This is a file photo for reference.

Thursday, November 28, 2024

PINEAPPLE-NUT BREAD

This is another old recipe from my childhood.

1 cup pecans, chopped fine
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/4 tsp lemon peel
3/4 cup sugar
1 egg, beaten
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
8.5-oz can crushed pineapple, undrained
1/4 cup milk

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Butter a 9-inch loaf pan; add 1/4 cup of the pecans and shake around in pan to coat. Lightly sprinkle these nuts with a pinch of sugar. Set pan aside.

In a medium bowl,blend together the butter and lemon peel; beat in sugar and add egg. Sift the flour, baking powder and baking soda into the sugar mixture alternately with the pineapple. Add the milk and mix well. Stir in the remaining nuts and pour batter into the prepared pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 50 minutes.

file photo


Wednesday, November 27, 2024

CHOCOLATE BRICKLE BARS

 This recipe is from an old newspaper clipping.


1 cup butter
3/4 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup brown sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
2 cups flour
1 bag (12-oz) semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 bag Bits O Brickle
1 cup shredded coconut
3/4 cup chopped pecans

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Lightly grease a 9 x 12-inch glass baking dish; set aside.

In a large bowl, cream butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar together. Add eggs and vanilla to the sugar mixture and mix until fluffy. In a small bowl, combine the salt, baking soda, and flour. Add chocolate chips, Bits O Brickle, coconut, and pecans. Bake at 400 degrees for 10 to 12 minutes. Do not over bake! Center of bars will look very soft. Allow to cool completely in the pan before cutting into squares.  
 I posted the picture below to keep from getting dozens of posts asking, "What is Bits O Brickle"!

Tuesday, November 26, 2024

STUFFED PEAR SALAD


18 gingersnaps, crushed
1/2 cup crushed pineapple, well drained
8-oz pkg cream cheese
2 tbsp mayonnaise
8 canned pear halves
8 lettuce leaves
1/2 cup sugar
3 tbsp lemon juice
1/2 cup orange juice
1 egg, beaten
1/2 cup whipping cream, whipped
1/3 cup finely chopped pecans, optional

In a medium mixing bowl, combine the gingersnaps, pineapple, cream cheese, and mayonnaise. Place each pear half on a lettuce leaf on the serving platter. Stuff the pear halves with the gingersnap mixture and chill while preparing the remaining ingredients.

In the top of a double boiler, mix together the sugar, lemon juice, orange juice, and egg. Cook over hot water until thickened. Remove from heat and allow to cool. When the mixture is cooled, mix with the whipped cream. Pour over the stuffed pears before serving. Sprinkle tops with the finely chopped pecans, if desired.

 I did not have a picture of this recipe so used this little cartoon "stuffed" pear.

Monday, November 25, 2024

HOMEMADE COOKED MAYONNAISE

This is another old recipe from my childhood in Southern Indiana.

2 cups sugar
1 tsp prepared mustard
2 tbsp flour
1 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper
3 eggs, lightly beaten
2 tbsp butter
1 cup vinegar
1 cup boiling water

In a large saucepan, stir together the sugar, salt, pepper, and flour; add mustard. Add the butter and vinegar; stir to moisten. Add 1/4 cup of the boiling water and stir. Turn heat to low and add the eggs. When eggs are mixed in well, slowly add the remaining boiling water and increase the heat to boiling. Boil for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Makes one quart of mayonnaise and may be kept in the refrigerator indefinitely.

file photo used for reference only.

Sunday, November 24, 2024

HAM LOAF WITH MARMALADE

This is a recipe from one of my mother's PTO friends when I was a kid in school (in the 1950s, but don't tell!) Both this lady and my mother have been gone for years but we still enjoy many of the foods they used to make.

1 1/2 cup herb seasoned stuffing
2 cups milk
1 1/2 lb ground pork
1 1/2 lb ground ham
1/2 cup chopped onion
1/4 tsp salt

Soak the stuffing in the milk for 5 minutes. Add the ground pork, ground ham, onion and salt. Pack lightly into a loaf pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour and 15 minutes. Spoon off the drippings.

TOPPING:
1 cup orange marmalade
2 tbsp cider vinegar
1 tsp dry mustard
1/4 tsp cinnamon

Combine all topping ingredients in a small bowl until well blended. Spread over the hot ham loaf and return loaf to the oven. Bake another 10 minutes. Let loaf stand for about 10 minutes before cutting.

file photo


Saturday, November 23, 2024

ZUCCHINI APPETIZERS

This is an old recipe from my Southern Indiana days many years ago.

3 cup shredded zucchini
1 cup Bisquick
1/2 cup chopped onion
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp oregano
dash of black pepper
1 clove of garlic, minced
1/2 cup oil
4 eggs, beaten

Mix all ingredients together in a large bowl. Spread mixture in a 9 X 13-inch baking pan that has been lightly greased. Bake at 325 degrees for 25 minutes or until golden brown. Cut into squares then cut each square in half diagonally.

Ready to be cut into triangles

Friday, November 22, 2024

HONEY MUSTARD COLESLAW

This recipe is from an old Southern Indiana newspaper clipping.

4 cups shredded cabbage
1 cup shredded carrots
1/4 cup sliced green onions
1/4 cup cider vinegar
3 tbsp honey mustard
1 cup mayonnaise
1 tsp poppy seeds
2 tsp sugar
salt to taste
pepper to taste

In a large mixing bowl, combine the shredded cabbage, carrots, and green onions; toss well to mix. In a small bowl, blend the vinegar, honey mustard, mayonnaise, poppy seeds, sugar, salt and pepper. Whisk until smooth. Pour the dressing over the cabbage mixture and season with salt and pepper. Chill several hours before serving.

file photo for reference only.

Thursday, November 21, 2024

CRANBERRY RELISH MOLD

This recipe was given to me by my late Aunt Oweedah (Sissy) Butcher who was a very good cook.

1 can (9-oz)  (crushed) pineapple

1 cup fresh ground cranberries

1 pkg (3-oz) cherry Jell-O

1 small unpeeled orange (seeds removed), ground

1/2 cup sugar

1 tbsp lemon juice

1 cup chopped celery

1/2 cup chopped nuts

Drain pineapple, reserve syrup and add water to make 1/2 cup. Dissolve jello and sugar in 1 cup hot water. Add syrup and lemon juice. Chill until partially set. Add fruits, celery, and nuts. (If you put cranberries, celery and orange in food processor it does better job.) Pour into a 5 cup ring mold and chill overnight. Dip in water and turn out on a plate to serve.

front cover of my family cookbook