It's time to get back to my regional recipes of Tex - Mex.
Texas has it's own cuisine and if Texans move out of Texas, it's the food that we miss the most.
There's nothing like it anywhere in the States.
When we visit our friends in France...... it's food that we take and recipes that we share while we're there.
Over the years we've had the privilege of enjoying the recipes and the cuisine of our French friends and we have also shared recipes and cooked our Tex - Mex food for them. We all gather around a large table in the South of France and have great food and drink and share our life experiences with great friends and family! If you want to get to know someone in another country..... eat with them!
I've previously posted some of my favorites:
Tex - Mex Torte
Tex - Mex Tomato Soup
Papas con Chiles
Tex - Mex Pull Apart Bread
Tex - Mex Corn Cakes
Slow Cooker Mexican Casserole
Vegetarian Tamale Cobbler
Sweet Pepper and Jalapeno Relish
Tex - Mex Rice Casserole
Tex - Mex Corn Dip ( 3 versions)
Texas Cranberry Sauce
Tex - Mex Layered Salad
Cowboy Squash Casserole
Another Texas Bean Cheese Chiles and Stuff Dip
The following are some additional basics!
Nachos:
They are tortilla chips on a baking sheet and layered with our favorite toppings, baked in a 350 degree oven until the cheese melts.
Here are some of the options for Nachos:
Shredded Cheese ( plenty of layers)
Refried beans
Chorizo sausage ( I use Vegetarian Chorizo )
Hamburger , Fajita meat or Chicken ( pre - cooked ) I use a Vegetarian Burger or Chicken
Jalapeno slices
Chopped Tomato
Chopped Onion
Begin with Cheese and layer the ingredients you like and always end with a topping of the Cheese.
Bake at 350 degrees until the Cheese in completely melted.
Chile Con Queso Dip:
6 TBS Butter
3 TBS Flour
3 C Milk
1/2 tsp Salt
1/4 tsp Pepper
1/4 tsp Garlic Powder
3 C Shredded Cheddar or Monterey Jack Cheese
3 (4 oz. ) cans of Diced Green Chiles
4 Jalapeno Peppers, seeded and diced
Melt the butter in a saucepan
Whisk in the Flour
Gradually whisk in the Milk
Bring to a boil, stirring constantly
Add Salt, Pepper, Garlic Powder
Mix well
Reduce heat to a simmer
Add Cheese , Diced Green Chiles and Jalapenos
Cook until thick and all of the cheese has melted.
Serve with Tortilla Chips..... dip them in it and enjoy!
Jalapeno Bean Dip:
Also served with Tortilla Chips
I previously posted another version of Tex - Mex Bean Dip
2 TBS Vegetable Oil
2 15oz. cans of Refried Beans mixed with 1/4 C Water ( I use Vegetarian Beans)
2 TBS Diced Onion
Salt to taste
1/4 tsp Garlic Salt
1 C Shredded Cheddar Cheese
4 Jalapeno Peppers, seeded and diced
Heat the oil in a sauce pan over medium heat
Add the Beans , mix well
Add Onion, Salt, Garlic Salt
Add Cheese and cook until the Cheese is melted, stirring constantly
Add Jalapenos
Cook until the dip is slightly thickened.
Serve with Tortilla Chips
Guacamole Dip:
I previously posted my favorite recipe for Guacamole Dip
Pico de Gallo:
I previously posted my favorite recipe for Pico de Gallo
Both of these are served with Tortilla Chips
Corn Salad:
1 can of Corn
1 small Onion diced
1 Tomato, diced
1/2 C Chopped Green Onion
1 TBS Chopped Fresh Parsley
1/4 C Chopped Fresh Cilantro
Salt and Pepper to taste
4 TBS Red Wine Vinegar
1 Avocado, diced
Mix all ingredients together in a serving bowl
Refrigerate until Cold
Quesadillas:
These are simply Flour Tortillas filled with your favorite ingredients and cooked on a cast iron griddle , in a frying pan or even on a grill.
My favorite of course is a vegetarian version with Shredded Cheddar or Shredded Queso Quesadilla Cheese and Roasted Hatch Green Chiles, or you can use Canned Diced Green Chiles.
Place Cheese and strips of Chiles in the center of a Flour Tortilla, top it with another Tortilla and heat it until the cheese melts. Cut the Quesadilla into wedges and serve with Salsa or Pico de Gallo, Sour Cream and Guacamole.
Vegetarian Grilled Jalapeno Peppers
For this recipe you need a Jalapeno Grill Rack that is placed on a Barbecue Grill to cook the Jalapenos
These are absolutely delicious.
Here's what you need:
1 Jalapeno Grill Rack ( I'll post a picture later)
A Barbecue Grill
Large Jalapeno Peppers, cut off the top, remove the seeds. ( I have a tool for this)
Vegetarian Bacon Bits... or Soy Chorizo Sausage... you know what you can do for the non Vegetarians!
Cream Cheese, softened
Shredded Cheddar Cheese or Queso Quesadilla Cheese
Adobo Seasoning
Stuff the cavity of each Jalapeno with the ingredients in the following order, pressing each layer firmly.
Bacon Bits or Sausage
Cream Cheese
Shredded Cheese
Top it off with a thin layer of Cream Cheese
Sprinkle the top with Adobo Seasoning
Place the Peppers in the Jalapeno Grill Rack and put the rack on the Barbecue Grill at 350 to 400 degrees.
Grill them for about 30 minutes.
If there are hot spots on the grill, rotate the rack at least one time.
I haven't tried these in the oven, but I suppose you could bake them in a pre heated oven at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.
I would place the Grill Rack on a Baking Sheet in case the cheese drips.
Serve with my favorite Salsa or Pico de Gallo.
Salsa:
I haven't posted any recipes for Salsa because my Best of the Best Recipe was given to me by a friend that asked me not to share it. It's their family recipe that has been passed down through generations.
I've made it for our friends in France, but I have never shared the recipe.
If I ever get permission to share it, I will.
Until then, here is another recipe.
I happen to love fresh, non cooked, non roasted and very simple Salsa.
I think this one is very close to a traditional Mexican version.
30 Plum or Roma Tomatoes ( I prefer these to others because of the firm texture. I don't peel them) roughly chop them, they'll be processed in a food processor or blender.
6 - 8 Fresh Jalapeno Peppers, cut off the tops, I left the seeds in. You don't have to if you prefer a less spicy Salsa.
1 Large White Onion, peeled and roughly chopped
1 Green Bell Pepper, roughly chopped
1 Red Bell Pepper,roughly chopped
1 dozen garlic cloves , peeled and cut in half
1 C of packed chopped fresh Cilantro
1 TBS Salt
4 TBS Adobo Seasoning
2 tsp Sea Salt
2 TBS Cider Vinegar
1/4C Olive Oil
Juice of 3 Limes
Juice of 3 Lemons
In a Food Processor or a Blender:
Pulse the Jalapenos, Onion and Garlic
Scrape down the sides to incorporate everything
Remove this to a large bowl
Pulse Red and Green Peppers, transfer to the bowl
Without cleaning the processor or blender, add the tomatoes in batches and pulse them and transfer them to the bowl with the Jalapenos
Stir in the Adobo Seasoning
Add the Cilantro
Season to taste with Salt
Stir in the Vinegar
Stir in the Oil
Add the Juice of the Limes and the Lemons
Mix well
Refrigerate
Chicken Casserole:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees
I like this one because of the noodles. I rarely see a Tex - Mex Casserole with Noodles.
I use homemade Amish Noodles that we get at an Amish Bulk food store.
2 C of noodles that have already been cooked.
2 Tbs Butter, melted
1/3 C Grated Parmesan Cheese
2 tsp of an herb mixture. Your choice or you can mix the recipe at the end of this and use it. It can also be used in Salads and in other Pasta recipes.
1 TBS Olive Oil
2 TBS Diced Onion
1 Garlic Clove , minced
1 Large Tomato, diced
2 (4oz. cans) Diced Green Chiles, not drained
2 (4oz. cans) Sliced Mushrooms, drained
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1/4 tsp Fresh Thyme, chopped
1/8 tsp Paprika
1/2 C Vegetarian or Regular Chicken Broth
4 Sauteed Vegetarian Quorn Chick'n Cutlets, cut into strips, or 1 12oz. bag of Quorn Chick'n Tenders, sauteed. Sauté in 2 TBS Olive Oil. Non Vegetarians use the equivalent.
2 C Shredded Cheddar or Queso Quesadilla Cheese ( I prefer the Queso Quesadilla)
2 TBS of Diced Pimientos ( from a jar)
Drain the cooked Noodles and toss them with the Butter , Parmesan Cheese and Herb Mixture and set aside.
In a saute pan:
Heat the Olive Oil and cook the Onion and Garlic until tender.
Add Tomato, Green Chiles and Mushrooms.
Season with Salt, Pepper, Thyme and Paprika.
Add Broth and Chicken
Simmer for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally
Remove from heat
Combine the Noodles and the Chicken and add 1 1/2 C of Shredded Cheese and the Pimientos and mix well.
Pour the mixture in the Casserole, top with remaining Shredded Cheese and Bake for 20 minutes.
Herb Mixture:
Makes 1 cup
1/2 C Grated Parmesan or Romano Cheese
1 TBS dried Parsley
1 tsp dried Basil
2 tsp dried Chives
2 tsp Paprika
2 tsp Onion Powder
2 tsp Garlic Powder
2 tsp Salt
1 tsp Fresh Ground Black Pepper
Blend together and store in an airtight container.
Enjoy!
Peace in the Kitchen!
Tuesday, April 30, 2013
Monday, April 29, 2013
How to use the Blog......
I'm able to follow statistics on the blog.
I can see what people are looking at and I can see the countries that are looking at it.
The stats are available to me to see currently, daily, weekly and monthly.
I wanted to let people know some of the possibilities that are available to the reader.
If you want to see the complete list of recipes, scroll down and you can continue until you see the phrase : Older Posts. This is available if you are looking at the blog on a PC, Mac, or Laptop. You can view the entire recipe menu on the right side.
If you're using an IPhone or IPad, scroll down and look for the words:" View web version" click on that at it will bring up the entire menu of recipes on the right side.
Search the blog: ( this is on the right side of the blog)
This allows you to enter an ingredient or a full name to locate a certain recipe.
Translate: ( under Search the blog)
This allows you to search a language and translate the entire blog into your native language.
I'm writing these instructions because I can see that very few viewers have gone to the beginning of the blog to look at the original selection of recipes and stories.
I hope that this helps.
Enjoy!
Peace in the Kitchen!
I can see what people are looking at and I can see the countries that are looking at it.
The stats are available to me to see currently, daily, weekly and monthly.
I wanted to let people know some of the possibilities that are available to the reader.
If you want to see the complete list of recipes, scroll down and you can continue until you see the phrase : Older Posts. This is available if you are looking at the blog on a PC, Mac, or Laptop. You can view the entire recipe menu on the right side.
If you're using an IPhone or IPad, scroll down and look for the words:" View web version" click on that at it will bring up the entire menu of recipes on the right side.
Search the blog: ( this is on the right side of the blog)
This allows you to enter an ingredient or a full name to locate a certain recipe.
Translate: ( under Search the blog)
This allows you to search a language and translate the entire blog into your native language.
I'm writing these instructions because I can see that very few viewers have gone to the beginning of the blog to look at the original selection of recipes and stories.
I hope that this helps.
Enjoy!
Peace in the Kitchen!
Brussels Sprouts with Shaved Parmesan Cheese
I happen to like Brussels Sprouts.
I usually oven or pan roast them whole and serve them with Dried Cranberries and a Balsamic Reduction. ( this recipe is on the blog)
Occasionally I place them whole in a large bowl, cover them with Olive Oil , Roast them and drizzle them with melted Butter, Salt and Pepper to taste.
This is my latest recipe for Brussels Sprouts.
1 stick of Butter ( 8 TBS)
2 lbs. of Brussels Sprouts, trim the end and roughly chop them
8 Cloves of Garlic, chopped
5 oz. Fresh Shaved Parmesan Cheese ( you can purchase a 5 oz. container)
Heat a large Saute Pan on medium heat
Add 2 TBS of Butter
Saute the Garlic for 2 minutes, stirring
Add 4Tbs of Butter until melted
Add Brussels Sprouts, stir well.
Cover and cook for 2 minutes.
They'll reduce and the butter will begin to brown
Add the last 2 TBS of Butter, stir well to incorporate the browned butter on the bottom of the pan.
Remove from heat
Cover with the Cheese, Stir well, Cover the pan and let it sit until the cheese melts.
Serve warm.
Enjoy!
Peace in the Kitchen!
I usually oven or pan roast them whole and serve them with Dried Cranberries and a Balsamic Reduction. ( this recipe is on the blog)
Occasionally I place them whole in a large bowl, cover them with Olive Oil , Roast them and drizzle them with melted Butter, Salt and Pepper to taste.
This is my latest recipe for Brussels Sprouts.
1 stick of Butter ( 8 TBS)
2 lbs. of Brussels Sprouts, trim the end and roughly chop them
8 Cloves of Garlic, chopped
5 oz. Fresh Shaved Parmesan Cheese ( you can purchase a 5 oz. container)
Heat a large Saute Pan on medium heat
Add 2 TBS of Butter
Saute the Garlic for 2 minutes, stirring
Add 4Tbs of Butter until melted
Add Brussels Sprouts, stir well.
Cover and cook for 2 minutes.
They'll reduce and the butter will begin to brown
Add the last 2 TBS of Butter, stir well to incorporate the browned butter on the bottom of the pan.
Remove from heat
Cover with the Cheese, Stir well, Cover the pan and let it sit until the cheese melts.
Serve warm.
Enjoy!
Peace in the Kitchen!
Mexican Chocolate Buttermilk Poundcake
This recipe came from Joy at Yesterfood, a Blog that I follow.
Thank you Joy for allowing me to share it.
Mexican Chocolate Buttermilk Pound Cake
Ingredients:
1 (8-oz.) package semisweet chocolate baking squares, chopped
1 cup butter, softened at room temperature
1 and 1/2 cups sugar
4 large eggs
1/2 cup chocolate syrup
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 and 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 cup buttermilk
1.Microwave chocolate baking squares in a small bowl, stirring every 15 seconds, until chocolate is melted and smooth. This should take about 1 minute.
2. Beat butter at medium speed with an electric mixer 2 minutes or until creamy. Gradually add sugar, then beat until light and fluffy, about 5 to 7 minutes. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating just until yellow disappears after each addition. Stir in melted chocolate, chocolate syrup, and vanilla until smooth.
Cook’s note: You may substitute Mexican chocolate for the baking chocolate and cinnamon in this recipe.
Thank you Joy for allowing me to share it.
Mexican Chocolate Buttermilk Pound Cake
Ingredients:
1 (8-oz.) package semisweet chocolate baking squares, chopped
1 cup butter, softened at room temperature
1 and 1/2 cups sugar
4 large eggs
1/2 cup chocolate syrup
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 and 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 cup buttermilk
1.Microwave chocolate baking squares in a small bowl, stirring every 15 seconds, until chocolate is melted and smooth. This should take about 1 minute.
2. Beat butter at medium speed with an electric mixer 2 minutes or until creamy. Gradually add sugar, then beat until light and fluffy, about 5 to 7 minutes. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating just until yellow disappears after each addition. Stir in melted chocolate, chocolate syrup, and vanilla until smooth.
3. Combine the flour, cinnamon, baking soda, and salt. Add to butter mixture, alternating with buttermilk, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Beat at low speed just until blended after each addition. Pour batter into a greased and floured 10-inch tube pan or a 12-cup Bundt pan.
4. Bake at 325° for about 1 hour and 10 minutes (start checking at about an hour; be careful not to over-bake) or until a long wooden pick inserted in center of cake comes out clean. Cool in pan on a wire rack 10 to 15 minutes; remove from pan to a wire rack, and let cool completely.
Sunday, April 28, 2013
Jalapeno Cornbread Poppers
I've posted many recipes using Jalapeños. We eat a lot of them in Texas. This is one of my favorite stuffed Jalapeño appetizers.
Here's what you'll need:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
A Sheet Pan topped with a cooling rack.
12 Large Jalapeños.
1 Box of Jiffy Cornbread Mix + ingredients listed on the Mix.
1 1/2 C Shredded Cheddar Cheese, divided.
1 C Corn
Slice each Jalapeño in half lengthwise.
Remove seed and membranes. Set aside.
In a mixing bowl:
Mix the Cornbread according to the package directions.
Add:
1 C of the Cheese
Corn
Mix until well combined.
Fill each Jalapeño.
Sprinkle with remaining Cheese.
Place them on the Pan.
Bake for 15 - 20 minutes, until the Cornbread is firm.
Enjoy!
Peace in the Kitchen!
Here's what you'll need:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
A Sheet Pan topped with a cooling rack.
12 Large Jalapeños.
1 Box of Jiffy Cornbread Mix + ingredients listed on the Mix.
1 1/2 C Shredded Cheddar Cheese, divided.
1 C Corn
Slice each Jalapeño in half lengthwise.
Remove seed and membranes. Set aside.
In a mixing bowl:
Mix the Cornbread according to the package directions.
Add:
1 C of the Cheese
Corn
Mix until well combined.
Fill each Jalapeño.
Sprinkle with remaining Cheese.
Place them on the Pan.
Bake for 15 - 20 minutes, until the Cornbread is firm.
Enjoy!
Peace in the Kitchen!
Betty Crocker, an American Icon ! ... the history.... the story .... and how she influenced the way my family cooked
The name Betty Crocker has become a cultural icon in the history of American cooking.
However, the name is fictitious. It was created by the Washburn Crosby Company in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
William Crocker was the companies director. The name Betty was chosen as the first name because in 1921 the name Betty was extremely popular and was thought of as an all American name.
Marjorie Halstead was a Home Economist at that time and she created Betty Crocker as a household product for the American housewife.
Eventually Washburn Crosby merged with several other milling companies and became General Mills.
Betty Crocker became an icon for the General Mills Company.
A portrait of what was thought to be Betty Crocker was created in 1936. It changed over the years to reflect General Mills' cultural perception of the American homemaker.
The first Betty Crocker cookbooks appeared in 1933.
In 1950 Betty Crocker's Picture Cook Book was published.
I own a copy of that book.
I grew up in the 50's and it was a time of post war brides starting families and learning to cook.
My mother would have used this book in her kitchen.
My Grandmother's generation created everything from scratch. She would never have baked a cake from a box. My Grandmother made homemade breads, cakes, frosting, pies and full course meals. However that was not the case for my mother's generation. It was a time when women went outside the home for employment which allowed households to have a double income . The fact that woman worked, took time away from the daily household chores, including cooking . It was easier to purchase something in a box than cook from scratch.
Here are some of the examples of products that my mother would have had available in her kitchen.
They were all produced by General Mills and were packaged in a box or some sort of container.
Cookie Mix
Cornbread Mix
Hamburger Helper
Instant Potatoes
Homemade Stuffing
Suddenly Salad
Brownie Mix
Cake Mix
Frosting Mix
Complete Meals in a Box
Bowl Appetit Products
Basically these products made life easier for the working woman. In 1953 it got even easier, the TV Dinner was introduced to the market. They were also referred to as, ready-made meal, ready meal, frozen dinner, and frozen meal. They were pre-packaged frozen or refrigerated meals. They required little preparation and contained all the elements for a complete single serving meal. They usually contained a meat, a vegetable, and a dessert. They eventually included items such as fish and rice. The original dinners came in a portion divided aluminum tray that was simply heated in the oven. I was raised on this type of food.
The introduction of Betty Crocker's Picture Cook Book allowed homemakers to be more creative in the kitchen. It opened up a new world of food.
The book was divided into sections that made it easy to look up a recipe.
The categories were:
How To Do.
Preparation hints such as Peeling a Tomato, Browning Flour, How to section a Grapefruit.
Meal Planning Table Service.
Nutrition, Appearance, Cost, How to Set the Table, Answers to Questions on How to Serve .
Appetizers
Breads, Yeast
Cakes
Frostings
Cookies
Desserts
Eggs
Meat, Fish
Pies
Salads
Sauces
Soups
Supper Dishes
Vegetables
Short Cuts
The Index
It was complete and very informative for the new bride or a mother with a large family.
I'm quite sure I was raised on Betty Crocker recipes.
Here are a few that I either remember as a child or that I consider American Classics.
My parents entertained often. We grew up on a street where everyone was very social when it came to getting together and having parties.
Here's a very good example of what my mother served as appetizers.
These examples are taken verbatim from the book.
Simple Hors D'Oeuvres:
Smoked White Fish Fillets, Deviled Eggs , Frankfurts (1"lengths) , Smoked Salmon, Shrimp or Lobster, Vienna Sausages.
My mother did not bake Bread, but she did make Doughnuts.
I won't post the recipe, but this is what is say's about them.
"Brown and Crusty ... best served warm. New Englanders make them for breakfast and serve them with cheese."
Occasionally we would have a homemade cake. It would have been made for Birthdays and always at Easter. She would make a traditional , according to the book, Light Golden Cake. It would always have a white Frosting. But, I must say that if there wasn't an occasion to celebrate, she always made a Betty Crocker cake from a boxed mix!
In the Cookie category, we always has cookies at Christmas. My mother and Grandmother would make all of the Holiday Cookies in the book. We all grew up with Chocolate Chip Cookies. My mother and my grandmother always had a cookie jar filled with Chocolate Chip Cookies. As a kid, I was convinced that the jar was always magically filled with cookies. The jar was never empty.
Here's what Betty Crocker said about Chocolate Chip Cookies.
"The glamorous Toll House cookies... first introduced to American homemakers in 1939 through my series of radio talks on "Famous Foods from Famous Places"
Follow the recipe above except in place of 1/2 cup sugar use 3/4 cup (half brown, half white). Then mix into the dough 1/2 cup cut-up nuts and one 6-oz. package of chocolate pieces (about 1 1/4 cups).
Here's the recipe they were referring to:
Mix together thoroughly:
1/2 cup soft shortening ( part butter)
1/2 cup sugar
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla
Sift together and stir in:
1 1/8 cups sifted Gold Medal Flour
1/4 tsp soda
1/2 tsp salt
Temperature: 370 ( quick mod. oven).
Time: Bake 8 to 10 min.
Amount: About 3 doz. 2" cookies.
Drop rounded teaspoonfuls about 2" apart on lightly greased baking sheet.
Bake until delicately browned ... cookies should be soft.
Cool slightly ... them remove from baking sheet.
I will definitely try making these!
Eventually the Toll House started offering bags of Chocolate Chips that included a recipe. They're still available and are the most popular cookie in America.
In the Egg category the most popular egg was a basic fried egg for breakfast.
When the Holidays approached, Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas and always for a summer picnic the eggs were deviled.
We always had deviled eggs at my grandmother's house during the summer.
My grandmother and mother made the best deviled eggs in the world!
Here's Betty Crocker's recipe for Deviled Hard Boiled Eggs.
"Mounds of savory yellow egg yolks in white frames. A stunning garnish and satisfying appetizer ... food for picnics and parties.
Cut in halves ... 6 hard cooked eggs
Slip out the yolks. Mash with a fork
Add .....
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1/2 tsp dry mustard
about 3 tbsp. salad dressing or vinegar or cream ( enough to moisten)
Refill whites with egg yolk mixture, heaping it up lightly.
Use with salads, cold cut meat platters, etc.
To Carry Deviled Eggs to Picnics
Fit two halves together,wrap in waxed paper ( twisting the ends )
In the Meat category we always had Roast Beef, Ham, Chicken..... the basics. The hamburger was the served at every picnic and for weekend lunches. I think we had meatloaf at least once a week.
If there was a special occasion, we had some of the recipes listed in the book such as, Pork Chops, Beef Stew, Liver and Onions, Pheasant and of course Turkey during the Holidays.
In the pie category I'll just list the most popular ones.
We always had homemade pie. I don't ever remember eating a store bought pie.
My grandmother was definitely a better cook than my mother and that's simply a fact.
My grandmother made the best pies in the world. What grandchild would argue with that?
Here are the pies that we grew up with.
Apple
Cherry ( my dad's favorite)
Peach
Blueberry ( my favorite)
Pecan ( my favorite)
Pumpkin ( my favorite)
Lemon Meringue ( only on special occasions)
Banana Cream ( not often so it was a favorite)
Salads.
The only salads that I can remember are Potato Salad, Macaroni Salad and Cole Slaw.
I am convinced that my grandmother and my mother made the best! I still make their recipes for all of these salads.They were the only salads that we had as children. A special occasion would include Chicken Salad . We did eat tossed salad but it wasn't our favorite.
The book includes the following recipes.
Waldorf
Seafood
Fruit Molded Salad ( we had these at Thanksgiving and Christmas)
The next category is Sauces.
I don't have much to say about our family history when it comes to sauces. I think the only type of sauce that my grandmother and mother made was Gravy! I think the only time we had that was at Thanksgiving and Christmas. We did have chocolate and butterscotch sauce for ice cream which is included in the category.
The book includes sauces for meat, game, vegetables, desserts, white sauce, caper, cheese, egg, hollandaise, mushroom and more.
Fancy sauces were never a part of our meals.
Soup.
Here's what Betty Crocker said about soup. Soup is as old as the art of cooking.
La Soupe is the name given the evening meal in parts of rural France.
Each nation has its own special soups, rich in chunks of meat, hearty with vegetables and barley, rice and macaroni.
Today, soup serves a double purpose. It stimulates the appetite and provides wholesome nourishment.
As kids, we ate Tomato, Chicken Noodle, Minestrone, Cream of Mushroom and Cream of Chicken.
The book also lists recipes for Vichyssoise ( we never knew what that was), Cream of Cucumber Soup Oyster Bisque,Tuna Vegetable Chowder. These are soups that we were never familiar with.
Vegetables.
I could write a dissertation about this section. I could list every recipe. We ate every type of vegetable. I don't think there's a single vegetable that we didn't eat.
The category called Short Cuts is quite interesting. It begins by saying that you should have a plan for your time and work. Minutes saved are hours gained.
Take time to plan meals for a week or several days at a time. Establish convenient work centers. Keep utensils and equipment in good working order. Disregard gadgets that add work.
Here are some recipes that I would consider iconic for the 50's.
Molded Gelatin Salad
Made with flavored gelatin. Choose flavor to make an interesting combination with the fruits or vegetables, etc. you add.
Prepare according to directions on package. 1 pkg. flavored gelatin
Add... 2 tbsp lemon juice or vinegar.
Chill and when partially set, add.... 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 cups well drained and cut up fresh or canned fruit, vegetables, or seafood, etc.
When partially set again, pour into a ring mold ( 8" in diameter and 2 1/2 " deep) or 8 to 10 individual molds. Chill until firm. Unmold on large chop plate or individual salad plates. Garnish with crisp lettuce, curly endive, or lacy watercress.
Note:
Serve with appropriate dressing: Mayonnaise with whipped cream for mild salads ... or Tomato - Cucumber Mayonnaise for vegetable and seafood salads.
Serves 8 - 10.
Meat Loaves ... Delicious hot or cold
Mix thoroughly ...
Fluffy Meat Loaf
1 lb. ground beef ( or veal )
1/2 lb. ground lean pork
2 C bread crumbs
1 egg, beaten
1 1/2 cups milk
4 tbs. minced onion
2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
1/4 tsp. dry mustard
1/8 tsp. sage
Pack into greased 9x5x3" loaf pan. Bake. Unmold. Serve hot ... or serve cold. For Catsup - Topped Loaf, spread 3 tbsp. catsup over the top before baking.
Tuna - Stuffed Eggs on Rice
Spoon into a greased 12 x 7 1/2 x 2" baking dish 3 cups fluffy Boiled Rice. Place Tuna- Stuffed Eggs ( add flaked tuna to yolk mixture when making Deviled Eggs ) in slight depressions in the rice.
Sprinkle with sieved hard - cooked egg yolk. Cover and heat in slow mod. oven 15 min. Serve hot with hot Curry Sauce.
6 servings
Creamed Vegetables
Make them go further and adds a sauce. Use one vegetable or two or three in combination.
For 6 servings, add 1 cup hot Medium White Sauce to 2 cups hot cooked vegetables, drained. Serve plain , on toast or hot biscuits, or in a rice or noodle ring.
Scalloped Vegetables
Originally baked in scallop shells.
Place Creamed Vegetables in greased casserole, or arrange vegetables and White Sauce in alternate layers. Top with buttered bread crumbs. Bake until browned, 20 min. at 350 degrees ( mod. oven).
Eggs a la Reine
Fit for a queen's luncheon or supper
Place rounds of toast in baking dish. Cover with sliced mushrooms sauteed in butter ... then with poached eggs. Pour over all, hot Cheese Sauce. Sprinkle with grated cheese and place in quick mod. oven ( 375 ) until cheese is melted.
Eggs a la Lee:
As served in Old Virginia
For each serving, cover hot toast round with thin slice of boiled ham. Top with hot poached egg. Pour hot Mushroom Sauce over all.
Serve at once.
Deviled Ham Appetizers:
Mash deviled ham with a little horse-radish, grated onion, and coarse black pepper to taste.
Spread on toast beds.
As I read the appetizer section I came to the conclusion that you definitely needed toast!
Chutney - and - Bacon ( serve on prepared toast bed )
Minced Clam - Cheese (spread on toast bed)
Hot Cheese Puffs ( Heap on 1 1/2" rounds of prepared toast)
Smoked Oysters ( Place a smoked oyster on each tiny round prepared toast bed)
Peanut Butter - And - Bacon ( Spread prepared toast bed with crunchy peanut butter)
Caviar ( spread on toast bed with tiny pearl onions)
Tomato - And - Shrimp ( Place slice on a frill of lettuce on a prepared round of toast bed)
Anchovy or Sardine ( Place on a long narrow prepared toast bed)
Apparently you couldn't entertain and serve appetizers unless you had plenty of toast !
I've enjoyed doing the research and posting the history of Betty Crocker. I wrote about my grandmother and my mother and the way they cooked.
The next chapter to this part of the history of cooking should include my generation.
I can easily sum up how my Grandmother and my Mother influenced the way I cook :
There's a Hippy in the Kitchen!
Enjoy!
Peace in the Kitchen!
Friday, April 26, 2013
Crock Pot Carrot Spice Cake
This recipe is from my handwritten collection in 1974
I think of it as a 60's Hippy kind of recipe!
We ate a lot of Carrot Cake and Carrot Muffins ( Organic of course)
5 QT. Slow Cooker
Spray the entire interior surface with a Butter Flavored Cooking Spray
1 18.5 oz. box of Spice Cake ( I only use Duncan Hines Cake Mixes)
1 3.4 oz. box of Jello Instant Butterscotch Pudding Mix
1 C Water
2 C Shredded Carrots
3/4 C Vegetable Oil
4 Eggs
1 8oz. can of Crushed Pineapple with the juice
1 C Sour Cream
Combine all ingredients except the Carrots in a bowl and use an electric mixer to mix well
Fold in the Carrots
Transfer the batter to the Slow Cooker
Cover and cook on low for 4 1/2 - 6 hours.
Enjoy!
Peace in the Kitchen!
I think of it as a 60's Hippy kind of recipe!
We ate a lot of Carrot Cake and Carrot Muffins ( Organic of course)
5 QT. Slow Cooker
Spray the entire interior surface with a Butter Flavored Cooking Spray
1 18.5 oz. box of Spice Cake ( I only use Duncan Hines Cake Mixes)
1 3.4 oz. box of Jello Instant Butterscotch Pudding Mix
1 C Water
2 C Shredded Carrots
3/4 C Vegetable Oil
4 Eggs
1 8oz. can of Crushed Pineapple with the juice
1 C Sour Cream
Combine all ingredients except the Carrots in a bowl and use an electric mixer to mix well
Fold in the Carrots
Transfer the batter to the Slow Cooker
Cover and cook on low for 4 1/2 - 6 hours.
Enjoy!
Peace in the Kitchen!
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