Patricia Lee Burbridge Pat Schreiner Dr. Schreiner-Engel Pat Engel Mom M Grammy

Grammy’sRecipe Book

Everything in her three recipe card boxes, much of it written out by hand, and every recipe she typed on her computer, with the names and notes she kept, and pictures of the cards themselves.

  • 852 recipes
  • 580 handwritten
  • 693 from the card boxes
  • 159 typed
  • About 1945–2016
Grey box, p. 193
Rose box, p. 61
Grey box, p. 99

About Grammy

Good Food, Good Wine
Motto from a sign a friend gave her
Camp Grammy, Cold Spring, New York, 17 August 2002
Sanibel, Florida, 5 March 2008

Grammy was born Patricia Lee Burbridge in Seattle in 1937 and grew up in Indianapolis and the Chicago suburbs. With her first husband, John Schreiner, she raised Kirsten and Karin in Stamford, Connecticut, then became a pioneer of sex education and research, with a PhD from NYU and a professorship at Mount Sinai in Manhattan. In 1974 she married Peter Engel, and the family grew to five children: Kirsten, Karin, Mark, Andy and Melissa.

To her friends she was Pat Schreiner and then Pat Engel, the name she kept for the rest of her life. Her children called her Mom, or just “M”, and her eleven grandchildren called her Grammy.

Good food mattered a great deal to her, and her boxes show both sides of her cooking: Gourmet, the New York Times, Cook’s Illustrated and the Culinary Institute of America next to Jell-O moulds, sloppy joes and Eagle Brand pies. The cards marked “Mother’s” are her own mother Golda’s. However busy the day, at nine o’clock she sat down with a glass of red wine. Over the years, the glass started a little earlier.

She cooked and baked with her grandchildren from the time they were small, and she was always proud of the cooking they went on to do. Every summer the whole family came together for two weeks of “Camp Grammy”, most years at her house in Cold Spring, New York, above the Hudson, and some years in the Adirondacks, in England or on Fire Island.

Her recipe files end in 2016. After that she moved into a retirement community in Naples, Florida, and cooked far less, but her keen interest in food lasted the rest of her life: she sat on the community’s food and restaurant committee, was a regular at the local restaurants and enjoyed a good meal right to the end. She died there in December 2025, aged 88.

From Grammy’s 60th birthday book

This book was put together in 2026 by her grandchild Cosmo, with the help of AI (no data shared for model training). It is made from her three recipe card boxes, which her son-in-law Patrick scanned page by page, and from the recipe files she kept on her computer.

Around her table

Family photographs, in date order, from the Sea Beach house in 1986 to lunch by the water in October 2025. Others appear through the book, beside the chapters and recipes they belong with. Select one to see it larger.

The Sea Beach house, January 1986
Christmas at the Sea Beach house, December 1988
Christmas at the Sea Beach house, December 1988
Christmas at the Sea Beach house, December 1991
Camp Grammy, Cold Spring, New York, August 2002
Camp Grammy, Cold Spring, New York, 9 August 2002
A pizza class in Italy, 14 July 2004
Minneapolis, 6 May 2006
Key West, Florida, 23 July 2006
A taverna in Greece, 4 April 2007
Dinner out, 11 September 2007
Her kitchen, Cold Spring, New York, 15 May 2009
Camp Grammy, Cold Spring, New York, 8 August 2009
Camp Grammy, 2013
A tempura dinner, Cold Spring, New York, 26 December 2013
In the kitchen, 28 January 2016
Dinner at home, Cold Spring, New York, 23 April 2016
A wine-pairing dinner, Naples, Florida, 17 March 2018
Chautauqua, New York, 10 August 2019
Supper by the water, Naples, Florida, 10 March 2023
Her apartment in Naples, Florida, 20 May 2023
A birthday dessert, 26 August 2024
Lunch at Coconut Jack’s, Bonita Springs, Florida, 21 October 2025

What her recipes say

Read from the oldest card to the last typed file, Grammy’s recipes show what she loved to cook and eat, and how American cooking changed around her over seventy years. She kept them in three ways, one after another: the early cards, the later cards and her computer.

Her times

  1. Written on a 1963 bank deposit slip

    1950s–80s · The early cardsThe family years

    Two card boxes used side by side and split by course: a grey one for drinks, starters, soups, breads and everything sweet, and a purple one for main courses and vegetables. They begin with the cards of her mother, Golda, who baked her own bread and rolls. Then come the young hostess’s dips and canapés in Stamford (61 of the book’s 90 appetizers) and dinners for five children: pot roasts, casseroles made with canned soup, Jell-O salads and Chinese-American dishes seasoned with soy sauce and Accent. Packaged foods are everywhere, from Eagle Brand to Velveeta, and shortening or margarine is in one recipe in 11. Television and magazines brought French cooking home: Julia Child’s ratatouille, Jacques Pépin’s pilaf and a 1980 vichyssoise made in the Cuisinart. She wrote recipes on whatever was to hand, from a 1963 bank deposit slip to a 1967 auction receipt.

  2. Her kitchen, Cold Spring, New York, 21 October 1997

    1990s–2000s · The later cardsThe gourmet years

    The rose box follows The New York Times, Cook’s Illustrated, the Culinary Institute of America and Food TV, with dishes from Le Bernardin and London’s River Café, and from Indian cooking. Olive oil, in one early card in ten, is in more than a quarter of these; garlic, fresh herbs, chillies, balsamic vinegar and goat cheese rise the same way; and shortening all but disappears. Kir sent recipes from England in grams and degrees Celsius, and older family recipes were copied in too, like Gigi’s steamed cranberry pudding from about 1945.

  3. Camp Grammy, Cold Spring, New York, 24 July 2005

    2005–2016 · Typed on her computerAt the keyboard

    From 2005 she typed most of her new recipes on the computer, first in Word and later in Apple’s Pages, and by 2008 the handwritten cards stop: among the last are a New York Times salmon dinner from March 2008 and a steamed chocolate pudding from the same paper on 2 April 2008. The typed recipes come from Cook’s Illustrated and Fine Cooking, The New York Times, Nigella Lawson, Jamie Oliver and Madhur Jaffrey, from friends, and from Kir in England, in grams, and they reach further afield, to Thai and Senegalese cooking. Grammy took up grams herself: her weight chart has a column of her own, headed “Pat”.

  4. A beach restaurant at sunset, Naples, Florida, 15 October 2021

    2016–2025 · AfterwardsAt the table

    After 2016 she moved into a retirement community in Naples, Florida, and cooked far less, but food stayed at the centre of her life to the very end: she joined the community’s food and restaurant committee and knew the local restaurants well.

Her tastes

  • She cooked for company. Appetizers are the second-biggest chapter, recipes are doubled and tripled for a crowd, and dozens can be made ahead or frozen, as one card says: “Can park for 1 hr or day before!”
  • Her friends are in it. About 170 recipes carry the name of the friend who gave them, more than 80 people in all, with Rita and Liz alone giving over twenty. The boxes are an address book of the people she cooked and ate with.
  • Vegetables mattered. They are the biggest chapter, 101 recipes, nearly nine in ten of them on her cards, and more than half the book is vegetarian.
  • She had a sweet tooth. Cakes, cookies, pies, breads and puddings make up 226 recipes, more than a quarter of the book.
  • A butter ornament for Christmas, Naples, Florida, 2022
    Butter always, wine often. Butter is in four recipes in ten, from the first card to the last, and wine or spirits go into one in six.
  • She wanted it to work. Her cards underline the warnings (“Do not boil”, “Don’t stir”) and mark the winners “Delicious”, and in later years she chose sources that explain why a method works, like Cook’s Illustrated. A Post-it on one clipping asks: “Size pan / temp of heat / hi, med, lo? / serves how many?”

The cards she used most

Some cards are spattered, splashed and stained from years beside the stove. The book marks the worst of them Well used (42 in all; search “well used” to see them). Among them: Betsy Winslow’s Curry Dip, Grammy’s Cream of Mushroom Soup, Laurie’s Tarragon Pea Soup, Pat’s Onion Pie (Cheese Pie), Mother’s B-B-Q Beef (Sloppy Joes), Mother’s Pot Roast, Elizabeth Mynatt’s Lasagne (and Grammy’s “Pat’s Spaghetti – Lasagne”), Hogan’s Family Chocolate Cake and M. Murray’s [?] Brownies.

Her special praise

Some recipes are marked out with special praise, on the card or in her files. Most often it is “Delicious”, 31 times, usually underlined and sometimes twice; the others are just as warm. The book marks them Special praise (39 in all; search “special praise” to see them). Among them: Pat Coe’s Artichoke Spread (“So good”); Pat Coe’s Spinach Pesto Dip (Pesto Spread) (“Delicious!!”); Beef-Mushroom Soup (“Great Din”); Grilled Butterflied Leg of Lamb in Zinfandel Sauce (“DELICIOUS!!”); Delia’s Chicken Paprika; Marian’s Salmon Fillets, with Garlic Rice; Dru’s Artichoke Lasagna (“V. good”); Skillet Asparagus with Black Sesame Seeds (“Excellent!”); Roasted Green Beans as Finger Food (“Wonderful”); Elaine Waters’ Cranberry Bread; Apple or Blueberry Tart (“favorite”); Hattie’s Blueberry Buckle; Baked Fruit Compote (“Delicious with pork, ham and lamb.”); and Chinese Peanut Sauce (“Delicious intense flavor.”). Just one card has both stamps: Le Bernardin’s Endive and Roquefort Salad, marked “Delicious” and stained from years of use.

How this book works

Grammy kept her recipes in three ways over seventy years. The early cards are two boxes she filled side by side, mostly from the 1950s to the 1980s, a grey one for starters, baking and sweets and a purple one for main courses. The later cards are a rose box from the 1990s to 2008. Then came files typed on her computer, from 2005 to 2016. A card’s label follows the box it was filed in, so a few early cards are in fact later, such as Kir’s metric recipes and a New York Times rice from 2008. The book gathers all 852 recipes from them, with every card scanned page by page. Only clear duplicates were combined. When a recipe was on several cards, or on a card and in a typed file, it appears once, with every copy pictured and the differences noted. Where she typed a recipe again later and changed it, the changes are noted under it.

Handwritten Writing a recipe out by hand, on a card or on whatever paper was nearby, took time and care, and it is the surest sign that a recipe mattered. Most of the early and later cards were written out that way, card by card: 580 recipes in the book exist in someone’s handwriting, most of them Grammy’s own, and each carries this stamp; the index marks them with a pen. Search “handwritten” to see them all. The recipes she typed on her computer were quicker to save, and many are copies from magazines and websites, so they are marked plainly.

Chapters follow the boxes’ own tab cards loosely. Within each chapter the recipes run in time: the early cards, then the later cards, each in the order she filed them, then the typed recipes. Search by any word in the bar at the top: a name, an ingredient or a dish.

Recipes are written out as on the card, with the methods made easy to follow. Clippings and printed recipes are summarised in our own words. Things that aren’t recipes are kept at the back, in From the Files.

The book labels 490 recipes vegetarian, 106 of them vegan, going by the recipe as written and taking any choice it offers, such as “chicken stock (or just water)” or “a little butter or olive oil”. Packaged foods vary, so check Parmesan and other cheeses, Worcestershire sauce and ready-made pastry, and use vegetable shortening where a recipe says shortening.

  • Early cards · 1950s–80sLater cards · 1990s–2000sTyped on her computer · 2005–16Where it comes from: the early cards, the later cards or her computer (see What her recipes say). A recipe found in both the early and the later boxes says “Early and later cards”. Under each card’s picture are its box and page, so the original can be found. Three typed-file recipes are scans of magazine cards, stamped “Scanned into her computer”.
  • HandwrittenWritten out by hand, in pen or pencil, most often by Grammy herself. The index marks these with a pen . Cards without it are clippings, printed or typewritten cards; their pictures show which.
  • Her later typed copyA note under a recipe she typed again later, saying what she changed. A few are headed with whose later version it is, such as Kir’s.
  • “good!”A note written on the card about the recipe or the people in it, copied as it was written.
  • 1 cup (240 ml)The other measuring system, in brackets: metric after American measures and American after metric. Turn these off with the switch in the top bar.
  • [?]A word that couldn’t be read for certain.
  • Well usedA card spattered and stained in the kitchen, so probably one she cooked from often.
  • Special praiseA recipe marked out with special praise on the card or in her files: “Delicious”, “So good”, “Excellent!” and the like.
  • VegetarianVeganVegetarian: no meat or fish, or anything made from them, such as stock or gelatin. Vegan: no dairy, eggs or honey either. The index marks them V and VG. Search either word to see them all.
  • PicturesThe original cards and clippings are taped beside each recipe. Select one to see it larger.
  • On every recipe. It copies a link that opens the book at that recipe, ready to paste into a message to someone who has the book.
  • In the top bar: stops a phone or tablet going dark while you cook. It appears only on devices that allow it.

People in these pages

Family first, then the friends who gave her the most recipes. Every name on the cards is kept with its recipe; this is a guide to who’s who, from the cards, the files and the family.

Family

WhoWhat the cards, files and family sayTheir recipes
GrammyBorn Patricia Lee Burbridge. She was Pat Schreiner in her first marriage (her printed recipe cards say “Pat Schreiner”) and Pat Engel in her second, the name she kept; at work she was Dr. Schreiner-Engel. Mom, or just “M”, to her children and Grammy to her grandchildren. She wrote most of these cards.Pat’s Hot Cheese Dip, Grammy’s Cream of Mushroom Soup, Mom’s French Onion Soup, M’s French Onion Soup (first version), Kir’s Senegalese Peanut Soup with Chicken, Kir’s Senegalese-Style Chicken Curry Soup, Grammy’s Cucumber Salad Mold with Sour Cream Dressing, Pat’s Onion Pie (Cheese Pie), Grammy’s Cheese Fondue, Grammy’s Bar-B-Q Hamburgers, Grammy’s Sukiyaki, Cherokee Casserole (Grammy’s own), Mom’s Caramelised Onions, Mom’s Turkey Stuffing, Grammy’s Banana Bread, Mom’s Sticky Buns, Mom’s Best-Ever Sticky Buns for the Breadmaker, Pat’s Classic White Birthday Cake, Mom’s Red Velvet Cake, Pat’s Cheesecake, Grammy’s Toll House Oatmeal Cookies, Grammy’s Orange Oatmeal Chocolate Cookies
Golda Burbridge (“Mother”, Gigi)Grammy’s mother, Golda I. Burbridge, née Dickey, from Oklahoma. Her recipes were copied out by Grammy, some onto Grammy’s printed PetRecipe cards. To Grammy’s grandchildren she was Gigi, or GG, for great-grandma: Gigi’s steamed cranberry pudding, about 1945, is the oldest dated recipe, her card headed “Gigi’s Baked Icing for Birthday Cake” is pictured with the Broiled Jiffy Icing, and “GG’s Sloppy Joes” is a metric write-up of her barbecue beef, probably by Kir.Mother’s Guacamole Dip, Mother’s [?] Spinach Dip, Mother’s B-B-Q Beef (Sloppy Joes), Mother’s Meat Loaf, Mother’s Pot Roast, GG’s Sloppy Joes, Mother’s Bread and Sweet Rolls, Mother’s Cocoa Cake, Mother’s Vanilla Butter Frosting (for Red Velvet Cake), Mother’s Apple-Spice Cake, Broiled Jiffy Icing, Gigi’s Cranberry Pudding
Frances (“Sister”)Grammy’s sister Frances (1925–1987), twelve years older than her. Her cards are for yeast dough, butter cookies and two crusts. One is headed “Sister’s Pie Crust (Candy’s)”; who Candy was isn’t known.Sister’s Refrigerator Yeast Dough, Sister’s Butter Cookies, Sister’s Graham Cracker Crust, Sister’s Pie Crust
John SchreinerGrammy’s first husband, a fellow University of Wisconsin graduate, and father of Kirsten and Karin. Named in the typed spaghetti sauce on railway letterhead (“for you and John”) and on the Stamford address card for Mr. and Mrs. John Schreiner.Spaghetti Meat Sauce, on Great Northern Railway paper, Address card: Mr. and Mrs. John Schreiner, Stamford
Ester Gray Schreiner (E.G.S.)John’s mother. She wrote the cheese soufflé card in an older hand: “The receipe says ‘serves 6’, but Johnny can eat over half of it himself.” Johnny was her son, John. Grammy liked Ester very much, and it helped her decide to marry John.E.G.S.’s Cheese Soufflé
Anna Schreiner (Mrs. Herbert Schreiner)Born Anna Virum, she married Herbert Schreiner, the youngest brother of John’s grandfather Frank Schreiner, so she was the wife of John’s great-uncle. She lived in Lancaster, Wisconsin, and died in 1994, aged 103. Her son David, an All-American football player who was famous in his day, was killed at Okinawa shortly before the end of the Second World War. Her name is crossed through on her address card.Note: Mrs. Herbert Schreiner’s address
Peter EngelGrammy’s second husband, whom she married in 1974. The much-stained card for Peter’s Caesar salad is probably his.Peter’s Caesar Salad
StanGrammy’s long-term partner in the years after her marriage to Peter Engel. The crust card for her apple or blueberry tart was “Stan’s favorite”; his name is struck through, with “Pat” written beside it.Apple or Blueberry Tart
Kirsten (Kir) and Patrick CoulterGrammy’s daughter and son-in-law. Kir’s recipes run through the later cards and the typed files, often in British measures. Her roast beef is typed on the family letterhead: Kirsten and Patrick Coulter, with Cosmo, Lucia and Gabriel, Cambridge, June 2003. Her later recipes, from 2011 to 2016, come in grams: breadmaker bread, barbecue beef, curries and a seedy knäckebröd made with Bernhardine, the partner of Patrick’s brother Tim Coulter. Patrick scanned the card boxes for this book.Kir’s French Beans and Prosciutto Appetizer, Kir’s Senegalese Peanut Soup with Chicken, Kir’s Senegalese-Style Chicken Curry Soup, Kir’s Leek, Goat Cheese and Puy Lentil Salad, Kir’s Grape Tomato Salad, Kir’s Salad, Kir’s Roast Beef Sandwich, Kir’s Perfect Roast Beef, Kir’s Slow-Cooked Shredded Barbecue Beef, Kir’s Chicken Karhai with Mint, Kir’s Chicken Curry (Sarasota), Kir’s Rice Ring, Kirsten’s Basmati Rice, Kir’s Green Risotto, Kir’s Asparagus, Kir’s Roasted Asparagus and Basil (after Jamie Oliver), Kir’s Haricots Verts with Parmesan, Kir’s Roasted Garlic, Kir’s Puy Lentils with Bacon, Kir’s Spinach, Kir’s Grape Tomato Crush, Patrick’s Marinated Veggies, Kir’s Honey-Roast Vegetables, Kir’s Herb-Roasted Red Potatoes, Kir’s Best Bread for the Breadmaker, Bernhardine and Kir’s Seedy Knäckebröd, Kir’s River Café Polenta Cake, Kir’s Chewy Chocolate Chip Oat Bars, Kir’s Chocolate Chip Cookies, Kir’s Peach Pudding, Kir’s Mustard Vinaigrette
KarinGrammy’s daughter. Her salads are on the later cards, and Pat’s cheesecake is “alias Andy’s or Karin’s Cheesecake”. The Word file for the first version of M’s French Onion Soup gives her first married name, Karin Rutter, as its author; she is now Karin Cole.M’s French Onion Soup (first version), Karin’s Tortellini Salad (for a crowd), Karin’s Festive Holiday Salad, Karin’s [?] Beef Stew (slow cooker), Pat’s Cheesecake
Mark, Andy and MelissaGrammy’s sons Mark and Andy and her daughter Melissa. Andy shares the cheesecake alias with Karin. Melissa’s recipes are on the later cards and in the typed files, and notepaper printed “Melissa Engle” (spelled that way) is among the early cards. Lecie, who gave the squash soufflé, is Melissa’s sister-in-law.Manchego Cheese and Quince, Pippa Dates, Squash Soufflé, Melissa’s Candied Sweet Potatoes, Melissa’s Chewy Molasses Spice Cookies
LaurieProbably Laurie O’Neill, one of the “foster” children who were part of the family. Her tarragon pea soup is printed in capitals in black felt pen.Laurie’s Tarragon Pea Soup
The grandchildrenEleven of them: Hunter, Cosmo, Austin, Lucia, Zai, Gabriel, BJ, Quentin, Chase, Lila and Peri. Cosmo, Lucia and Gabriel are named on Kir’s family letterhead, and Cosmo put this book together. The Lu of a 2014 apple cake may be Lucia.Lu’s Version of Ame’s Mum’s Apple Cake

Friends and neighbours

WhoNotesTheir recipes
RitaSpareribs, beef and peppers, shrimp, fish, spaghetti and a Mürbeteig plum torte.Rita’s Beef Soup, Rita’s Spareribs Sauce, Rita’s Beef and Peppers, Rita’s Beef Marinade, Rita’s Shrimp and Green Peas, Rita’s Shrimp and Rice au Gratin, Rita’s Fish (Flounder and Cod), Rita’s Stuffed Fish, Rita’s Pasta Dish, Rita’s Spaghetti, Rita’s Blueberry Cheese Cake, Rita’s Mürbeteig Plum Torte
LizParty food and casseroles: hot clam dip, Cossacks’ Delight (“freezes well”), a make-ahead shrimp casserole in two sizes and moulded salads.Liz’s Sausages with Rum, Liz’s Liver Sausage Appetizer Ball, Liz’s Hot Clam Dip, Liz’s Cossacks’ Delight, Liz’s Hot Meat Balls, Liz’s Blueberry–Pear–Blue Cheese Molded Salad, Liz’s Molded Spice Fruit Salad, Liz’s Mini-Quiches, Liz’s Shrimp Casserole, Liz’s Shrimp Mold, Liz’s Pineapple Cheese Cake
Elizabeth MynattHer own printed PetRecipe cards. Grammy’s typed Baked Fruit Compote is her curried fruit dish.Liverwurst Pâté, Elizabeth Mynatt’s Lasagne (and Grammy’s “Pat’s Spaghetti – Lasagne”), Elizabeth Mynatt’s Green Bean and Mushroom Casserole, Eliz’s Pound Cake (from a mix), Elizabeth Mynatt’s Deluxe Party Dessert, Elizabeth Mynatt’s Baked Fruit Dish (curried), Baked Fruit Compote, Elizabeth Mynatt’s Mandarin Orange–Cranberry Relish
Betty and Betty JohnsonBetty’s Sweet-Sour Bean Salad, Betty’s Baked Chicken Casserole, Betty’s Finnish Coffee Bread, Betty’s Rum Apricot Cake, Betty Johnson’s Black Bottom Pie, Betty’s Pumpkin Ginger Pie
DruDru’s Chex Mix, Dru’s Asian Salad, Dru’s Rice-Nut Loaf, Dru’s Artichoke Lasagna, Dru’s Creamy Parmesan Dressing
Inez LangillePrinted cards “from the recipe file of Inez Langille”, with an old iron stove.Inez Langille’s Cheese Roll, Inez Langille’s Curry Shrimp Dip, Inez Langille’s Dill Dip, Inez’s Brunch Baked Dish, Inez Langille’s Noodles or Rice Casserole
Mrs. KTyped cards, with Grammy’s pencilled changes.Mrs. K’s Pepper Steak, Mrs. K’s Company Casserole, Mrs. K’s Blueberry Pancakes, Mrs. K’s Butter Cookies (Mürbeteig), Mrs. K’s Barbecue Sauce
Pat CoePat Coe’s Artichoke Spread, Pat Coe’s Spinach Pesto Dip (Pesto Spread), Pat Coe’s Smoked Salmon Spread, Pat Coe’s Pork and Fruit Ragout, Pat Coe’s Chunky Apple Walnut Cake
Rokhsha (Rok)Persian rice with a crisp tahdig crust, sesame green beans, stuffed mushrooms, a saffron rub for sea bass (marked “Rok”) and an easy shrimp dish.Rokhsha’s Stuffed Mushrooms, Rok’s Saffron Dry Rub for Sea Bass, with Greek Salad, Rokhsha’s Easy Shrimp Dish, Rokhsha’s Persian Rice (Chelow with Tahdig), Rokhsha’s Green Beans
Susan E. DevitoHer printed PetRecipe cards.Susan Devito’s Black Cherry Jell-O, Susan Devito’s Pineapple Pork Chop Roast, Susan Devito’s Sour Cream Coffee Cake, Susan Devito’s Inspiration Cake, Susan Devito’s Fluffy Frosting
Charlotte and Charlotte AllenCharlotte’s Crab Dip, Charlotte Allen’s Sausage Stuffing, Charlotte’s Chocolate Frosting, Charlotte’s French Apple Pie
LillianLillian’s Lime-Marinated Swordfish with Cilantro Butter, Lillian’s Swordfish with Ginger Glaze, Lillian P.’s Butternut Squash and Apple Casserole, Lillian’s Latkes
RuthWritten on re-used University of North Carolina alumni record cards.Ruth’s Orange Mandarin Salad, Ruth’s Chinese Rarebit, Ruth’s Green Beans with Sour Cream, Ruth A.’s Swedish Limpa Bread
CindyHer soups are in British measures.Cindy’s Roasted Garlic, Turnip and Chervil Soup, Cindy’s Roasted Parsnip and Parmesan Soup, Cindy’s Roasted Halibut with Mustard Crumb Crust on Zucchini and Red Onions
HattieHattie’s Chinese Spareribs, Hattie’s Cheese Cake, Hattie’s Blueberry Buckle
JinnyJinny’s Byzantine Salad, Jinny’s Meat and Noodle Casserole, Jinny’s Seafood Casserole
MariaMaria’s Steak Salad, Maria’s Steak Marinade, Maria’s Balsamic Vinaigrette and Marinade
Pam and Pamela CultraPam’s crab cakes and salmon came typed together; Pamela Cultra’s taco bake has her own asides. Perhaps the same friend.Pamela Cultra’s Taco Bake, Pam’s Classic Crab Cakes, Pam’s Salmon and Spinach in Parchment Paper
RichardRichard’s Shrimp Cocktail, Richard’s Tuna on the Grill, Richard’s Swordfish
Sunny RhodesRoasted Garlic and Goat Cheese, Sunny’s Lemon Pie Filling, Sunny’s Frozen Lemon Pie
Audrey HurdAudrey Hurd’s Chicken with Cumberland Sauce, Audrey Hurd’s Swordfish
Corrinne WolfeGrammy’s copy of her dip is dated 1967.Corrinne Wolfe’s Tomato & Green Onion Dip, Corrinne’s Hot Clam Dip
DaveKarin’s former partner. He wrote his recipes for Camp Grammy: “Karin & I usually buy 3-4 packages for our gatherings.”Dave’s Italian Beef Sandwiches, Dave’s Grilled Chicken Tenders
EmmyEmmy’s Shish-ka-Bob (Beef Burgundy), Emmy’s Rice and Carrots
LindyLindy’s Pasta with Brie, Tomatoes and Arugula, Lindy’s Cranberry-Cherry Relish
Marian-lisaMarian-lisa’s Oven Mashed Potatoes, Marian-lisa’s Brined Turkey
OliviaOlivia’s Frozen Lemon Dessert, Olivia’s Chocolate Dessert
Alisa and Glen LevineAlisa and Glen Levine’s Bagel Soufflé
Judy LowreyJudy Lowrey’s Sweet Potato Salad
M. Murray [?]Two brownie cards: the original, headed “Mothers” [?], drifts into Spanish; the neat copy has a name at the top that most likely reads “M. Murray” (it has also been read as “M. Munoz”).M. Murray’s [?] Brownies
Mr. WoolfsonDated 30 January 1979.Mr. Woolfson’s Filbert Balls (Haselnuss Bällchen)
Mrs. McClainMargaret Freeman’s mother, of Moline, Illinois.Mrs. McClain’s Pecan Bars
Suzen DroginHer eggplant dip is Ina Garten’s.Suzen Drogin’s Roasted Eggplant Dip

Also named in the cards and files

Alex · Andrea Clair · Arlene Jacobi · B.S.E. · Bambi · Bete · Beth · Betsy Winslow · Bev Skinner · Bob · Budd · Burdie · Carol · Debbe · Deb Lear · Elaine · Esther · Ginny W. · Ilse · Jack · Jeanne · Jessie · Joy K. · Judy · Lauri · Lee D. · Leslie and Kevin · Linda · Lucie Patterson · Maran · Marci · Marian · Marjorie Luckey · Maureen · Miki · Mimsy · Moxie · Mrs. Anderson · Pat K. · Pat Lillian · Pat Ricks · Phyllis · R. Boyce · Sally Specht · Sandy · Shirley · Stan · Steve · Sue · V. Taylor · Vance · Vera · Von Bargen

Cooks, books and magazines

Julia Child, Jacques Pépin, Mark Bittman, Melissa Clark, Molly O’Neill, Christopher Idone, Delia Smith, Nigella Lawson, Madhur Jaffrey, Jamie Oliver, Ina Garten, Martha Stewart, James Peterson, Barbara Kafka, Lee Bailey, Mai Pham, Gary Danko, Jody Adams, Le Bernardin and the Gotham Bar and Grill; Gourmet, The New York Times, Cook’s Illustrated and Cook’s Country, America’s Test Kitchen, Fine Cooking, Food & Wine, Family Circle, Simply Seafood, BBC Food, King Arthur Flour and the Culinary Institute of America; and the brands whose recipes came on the box or the label: Eagle Brand, Land O Lakes, Carnation, Duncan Hines, Heinz, Grey Poupon, Nestlé, Gold Medal and Jiffy.

Contents

  1. Drinks7
  2. Appetizers & Nibbles90
  3. Soups39
  4. Salads & Dressings70
  5. Eggs & Cheese14
  6. Beef, Pork & Lamb80
  7. Chicken & Poultry39
  8. Fish & Seafood55
  9. Pasta, Rice & Grains55
  10. Vietnamese & Thai4
  11. Vegetables101
  12. Potatoes & Sweet Potatoes30
  13. The Holiday Table3
  14. Breads & Breakfast43
  15. Cakes & Frostings54
  16. Cookies, Bars & Candy31
  17. Pies & Tarts45
  18. Puddings & Desserts53
  19. Sauces, Relishes & Basics39
  20. From the Files18

No recipes match that search. Check the spelling, or try fewer words, such as a name or an ingredient.

Drinks

A spiced tea mix, frozen daiquiris, Carter Whiskey Soup and Glühwein from the card boxes, then the margaritas Grammy saved in her typed files.

4 handwritten4 early cards3 typed on her computer

All 7 in this chapter
  1. Spiced Tea Mix
  2. Frozen Daiquiris
  3. Carter Whiskey Soup
  4. Glühwein
  5. Fresh Margaritas
  6. Frozen Margaritas
  7. Virgin Raspberry Margarita
Margaritas with the family, 21 June 2024
Early cards, 1950s–80s
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegan

Spiced Tea Mix

Sandy A.

Ingredients
  • 1 cup (220 g) Tang
  • 1 cup (200 g) sugar
  • ½ cup (120 ml) instant tea
  • ½ tsp cinnamon
  • ½ tsp ground cloves
Method
  1. Mix and store. Use 1 tbsp per cup of hot water.
Grey box, p. 25
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegan

Frozen Daiquiris

Yield The right-hand column scales it to 12 drinks: 24 oz (710 ml) limeade and 24 oz (710 ml) rum

Ingredients
  • 1 can (6 oz / 175 ml) frozen limeade
  • 1 limeade can of rum
  • about 7 ice cubes, crushed
Method
  1. Put everything in the blender. Run it slow, then at high speed for a while.
  2. See if it is frozen; add more ice if too liquid.
Grey box, p. 28
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwritten

Carter Whiskey Soup

Ingredients
  • ⅓ tomato juice cocktail
  • ⅓ canned beef bouillon
  • ⅓ whiskey
Method
  1. Heat the tomato juice and bouillon to a boil, then add the whiskey.
Grey box, p. 44
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegan

Glühwein

Schwartzie [?]

Yield 30 oz (890 ml)

Ingredients
  • 4 orange slices
  • 4 lemon slices
  • 1 quart (950 ml) Burgundy
  • 6 whole cloves
  • one 3-inch (8 cm) cinnamon stick, broken into 5 pieces
  • 1 cup (200 g) sugar
Method
  1. Remove the centres from the fruit slices.
  2. In a large saucepan, bring the wine to a simmer; do not boil. Add the fruit and the rest of the ingredients and stir to dissolve the sugar.
  3. Let stand over low heat about 10 minutes.
  4. Serve in punch cups with a piece of cinnamon stick in each.

Underlined on the card: “not” in “do not boil”.

Grey box, p. 57
Grey box, p. 58
Typed on her computer, 2005–16
Typed on her computer · 2005–16Vegan

Fresh Margaritas

From Cook’s Illustrated. Makes about 1 quart (950 ml); serves 4–6.

The longer the zest and juice steep, the more intensely citrusy the drinks: 24 hours is best, 4 hours is fine. For drinks right away, skip the zest and the steeping. Reposado tequila (100% blue agave, aged 2–12 months) has the mellowest flavour.

Ingredients
  • 4 tsp grated lime zest
  • ½ cup (120 ml) lime juice (2–3 medium limes)
  • 4 tsp grated lemon zest
  • ½ cup (120 ml) lemon juice (2–3 medium lemons)
  • ¼ cup (50 g) superfine sugar
  • Pinch of table salt
  • 2 cups (475 ml) crushed ice
  • 1 cup (240 ml) 100% agave tequila, preferably reposado
  • 1 cup (240 ml) triple sec
Method
  1. Combine the zests, juices, sugar and salt in a large measuring cup. Cover and refrigerate until the flavours meld, 4–24 hours.
  2. Divide 1 cup (240 ml) of the crushed ice among 4–6 margarita or double old-fashioned glasses.
  3. Strain the juice mixture into a 1-quart (950 ml) pitcher or cocktail shaker. Add the tequila, triple sec and remaining ice and stir or shake until thoroughly chilled, 20–60 seconds. Strain into the glasses and serve at once.
With a margarita, Naples, Florida, 6 October 2023
Typed on her computer · 2005–16Vegan

Frozen Margaritas

Grammy’s printed recipe, with three more versions she saved alongside it.

Ingredients
  • 6-oz (175 ml) can frozen limeade concentrate
  • 6 oz (175 ml) tequila
  • 2 oz (60 ml) triple sec
  • 6 oz (175 ml) lemon-lime soda
  • 5 cups (1.2 litres) crushed ice
  • Lime slices
  • Margarita salt
Method
  1. Stir the limeade, tequila, triple sec and soda together in a large plastic container.
  2. Fill the blender with the crushed ice, add the limeade mixture and blend until slushy.
  3. To salt the rims, squeeze half a lime into a small flat-bottomed bowl. Dip each glass in the juice, then in the salt.
  4. Pour into the glasses and garnish with lime slices.
Other versions saved with it
  • Single frozen margarita (metric): 5 or 6 ice cubes, crushed; 30 ml (2 tbsp) ice-cold water; 40 ml (2½ tbsp) fresh lemon or lime juice; 10 ml (2 tsp) tequila; 5 ml (1 tsp) Cointreau (triple sec). Rim a cocktail glass with salt, shake the rest together and pour in. Serves 1.
  • Frozen margarita for 4: 2 tsp coarse salt, a lime wedge, 3 oz (90 ml) white tequila, 1 oz (30 ml) triple sec, 2 oz (60 ml) lime juice and 1 cup (240 ml) crushed ice. The method saved with it uses a can of limeade instead: put it in the blender, measure the tequila and triple sec with the empty can, and blend, adding ice until slushy and holding peaks.
  • Jose Cuervo frozen margarita: 1 oz (30 ml) lemon juice, ½ oz (15 ml) triple sec and 1½ oz (45 ml) Jose Cuervo tequila, blended with 1 cup (240 ml) crushed ice for 5 seconds on low, then on high until firm. Serve in a cocktail glass with a slice of lemon.
Typed on her computer · 2005–16Vegan

Virgin Raspberry Margarita

Ingredients
  • 3 cups (380 g) raspberries
  • 1 can frozen lemonade
  • 5 cups (1.2 litres) water
  • 2 cups (475 ml) orange juice
Method
  1. Purée the raspberries and frozen lemonade in a food processor until fine.
  2. Pour through a fine strainer into a pitcher to catch the seeds.
  3. Stir in the water and orange juice. Serve well chilled with a slice of lemon.

Appetizers & Nibbles

The second-biggest chapter, mostly from the early cards: dips, spreads and canapés from decades of cocktail parties, many credited to the friends who brought them, such as Liz, Inez Langille, Corrinne Wolfe and Charlotte. The later cards add favourites, including Pat Coe’s spreads and Kir’s French beans with prosciutto, and her typed files bring three ways with spiced almonds.

78 handwritten61 early cards21 later cards8 typed on her computer

All 90 in this chapter
  1. Zucchini Appetizers
  2. Syrian Snacks
  3. Shrimp Bowl
  4. Charlotte’s Crab Dip
  5. Guacamole (Family Circle)
  6. Clam-Cream Dip (Family Circle)
  7. Crab-Stuffed Mushrooms
  8. Rye Rounds
  9. Swiss Puffs
  10. Liverwurst Pâté
  11. Cocktail Franks in Sweet-Sour Sauce
  12. Mother’s Guacamole Dip
  13. Corrinne Wolfe’s Tomato & Green Onion Dip
  14. Blue Cheese Dip
  15. Betsy Winslow’s Curry Dip
  16. Vegetable Dip
  17. Deviled Ham Dip
  18. Sausage-Stuffed Mushrooms
  19. Crab Brochettes
  20. Chicken Pâté Amandine
  21. Pat’s Hot Cheese Dip
  22. Roquefort-Cheese Spread
  23. Stuffed Cherry Tomatoes
  24. Sweet-Sour Dip
  25. Sardines in Casserole
  26. Roasted Potato Skins with Herb Dip
  27. Hot Shrimp Appetizer
  28. Liz’s Sausages with Rum
  29. Mushroom Strudel
  30. Smoked Trout with Horseradish Cream
  31. Mushroom Stuffed Eggs
  32. Weinie Roll-Ups with Hot Dip
  33. Cheese Wafers
  34. Liz’s Liver Sausage Appetizer Ball
  35. South-of-the-Border Cheese Balls
  36. Three-Cheese Mold
  37. Chili Dip
  38. Inez Langille’s Cheese Roll
  39. Stuffed Bread
  40. Inez Langille’s Curry Shrimp Dip
  41. Marinated Mushrooms
  42. Crescent-Bacon Roll-Ups
  43. Beer Cheese
  44. Broiled Ham & Chutney Canapés
  45. Ham Rolls
  46. Asparagus Rolls
  47. Inez Langille’s Dill Dip
  48. Red Caviar Dip
  49. Ham Fritters (Buñuelitos de Jamón)
  50. Steve’s Dip
  51. Cheddar Cheese Crackers
  52. Steak Tartare
  53. Corrinne’s Hot Clam Dip
  54. Liz’s Hot Clam Dip
  55. Liz’s Cossacks’ Delight
  56. Liz’s Hot Meat Balls
  57. Pickled Watermelon Rind in Blankets
  58. Hummus Dip
  59. Little Ham Puffs (Buñuelitos de Jamón)
  60. Cheese Patties (Delicias con Queso)
  61. Deviled Eggs with Caviar
  62. Guacamole
  63. Mother’s [?] Spinach Dip
  64. Crab Dip
  65. Cook’s Guacamole, Classic and Creamy
  66. Pat Coe’s Artichoke Spread
  67. Pat Coe’s Spinach Pesto Dip (Pesto Spread)
  68. Dru’s Chex Mix
  69. All-American Deviled Eggs
  70. Spatini Dip
  71. Roasted Red Pepper Spread
  72. Asparagus Puffs
  73. Vance’s [?] Bruschetta and Tapenade
  74. Rokhsha’s Stuffed Mushrooms
  75. Manchego Cheese and Quince
  76. Pippa Dates
  77. Crudités for Dips
  78. Leslie and Kevin’s Artichoke Dip
  79. Roasted Garlic and Goat Cheese
  80. Gougère Balls
  81. Chutney Dip for Crudités
  82. Kir’s French Beans and Prosciutto Appetizer
  83. Avocado Dips
  84. Spiced Almonds
  85. Spiced Almonds #2
  86. Spiced Almonds (UK Style)
  87. Goat Cheese in Phyllo with Roasted Pepper Salad
  88. Prosciutto and Melon Canapés
  89. Suzen Drogin’s Roasted Eggplant Dip
  90. Pat Coe’s Smoked Salmon Spread
Early cards, 1950s–80s
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegetarian

Zucchini Appetizers

Virginia

Yield One 13 × 9-inch (33 × 23 cm) pan, cut into squares

Ingredients
  • 3 cups (380 g) thinly sliced unpeeled zucchini
  • 1 cup (120 g) Bisquick
  • ½ cup (80 g) finely chopped onion
  • ½ tsp seasoned salt
  • dash of pepper
  • ½ cup (120 ml) oil
  • ½ cup (50 g) grated Parmesan cheese
  • 2 tbsp snipped parsley
  • ½ tsp oregano or marjoram
  • 1 clove garlic, mashed
  • 4 eggs, beaten
Method
  1. Heat the oven to 350°F (180°C). Butter a 13 × 9 × 2-inch (33 × 23 × 5 cm) pan.
  2. Mix all the ingredients, adding the zucchini last.
  3. Bake until golden brown, about 25 or 30 minutes. Cut into squares.

Underlined on the card: “or” in “oregano or marjoram”.

Grey box, p. 3
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegetarian

Syrian Snacks

From the kitchen of Audry

Ingredients
  • Syrian (pita) bread
  • onion powder and seasoning salt (“salt” is crossed out in blue ink)
  • grated Parmesan cheese
  • butter
Method
  1. Split and butter the bread. Break it into bite-sized wedges.
  2. Sprinkle with the cheese, onion powder and salt.
  3. Put under the broiler for a few minutes, until browned: 4 minutes at 400°F (200°C).

Written in pencil on a printed “Here’s what’s cookin’” card; “4 min – 400°” and a few corrections are added in blue ink.

Grey box, p. 4
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwritten

Shrimp Bowl

Ingredients
  • 2 lb (900 g) cooked, peeled shrimp
  • 2 Bermuda onions, sliced thin and divided into rings
  • French dressing
  • 1 cup (240 ml) olive oil
  • 2 cups (475 ml) vinegar (as written)
  • ½ bottle Worcestershire sauce
  • 2 cloves garlic
  • 2 small onions, cut small
  • 1 tsp paprika
  • salt and pepper
Method
  1. Arrange the shrimp and onion rings alternately in a salad bowl.
  2. Mix the dressing ingredients well and pour over.
  3. Marinate in the refrigerator 24 hours.
Grey box, p. 5
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwritten

Charlotte’s Crab Dip

Charlotte

Ingredients
  • 1 bottle Old Shedd’s sauce
  • chili sauce
  • 1 can crab

That is the whole card: mix and serve.

Grey box, p. 6
Early cards · 1950s–80sVegetarian

Guacamole (Family Circle)

Printed recipe card from Family Circle magazine, filed under “Appetizers — Vegetable Dip”

Yield About 2 cups (475 ml)

Ingredients
  • 1 medium ripe avocado
  • ¼ cup (60 ml) mayonnaise or salad dressing
  • 2 tbsp lemon juice
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp grated onion
  • ¼ tsp bottled red-pepper seasoning
  • 1 large tomato, peeled, chopped and drained
Method
  1. Halve, peel and pit the avocado and mash it in a medium bowl (about 1 cup / 230 g).
  2. Blend in the rest, cover tightly and chill. It keeps its bright colour for several hours.
  3. Serve in small bowls with corn chips or raw carrot and celery sticks.

A peppery avocado dip for appetizer trays.

Grey box, p. 7
Early cards · 1950s–80s

Clam-Cream Dip (Family Circle)

Printed recipe card from Family Circle, November 1965, filed under “Appetizers — Sea-food Dip”

Yield 2 cups (475 ml)

Ingredients
  • 1 cup (8-oz carton; 225 g) cream-style cottage cheese
  • 1 package (3 or 4 oz / 85 or 115 g) cream cheese
  • 1 packet (about 1 tbsp) horseradish dip mix, or 2 tsp prepared horseradish
  • 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 can (about 8 oz / 225 g) minced clams, drained
  • 3 to 4 tbsp light or table cream
  • paprika
Method
  1. Blend the cottage cheese, cream cheese, dip mix or horseradish and Worcestershire in a medium bowl. Stir in the clams and chill.
  2. To serve, beat in enough cream to thin it for dipping. Spoon into small bowls, sprinkle with paprika and serve with potato chips.
Grey box, p. 8
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwritten

Crab-Stuffed Mushrooms

Ingredients
  • 16 to 24 large mushrooms
  • 3 tbsp (43 g) butter
  • ¾ lb (340 g) crabmeat, flaked
  • ½ cup (120 ml) beef broth
  • ¼ tsp white pepper
  • 1 tsp A-1 sauce
  • ¼ cup (25 g) grated Parmesan
Method
  1. Remove the mushroom stems. Sauté the caps in the butter for 3 minutes, hollow side up.
  2. Put them in a buttered shallow baking dish.
  3. Mix the crab, broth and A-1 sauce and stuff the mushrooms. Sprinkle the cheese on top.
  4. Bake at 350°F (180°C) for 15 minutes.
Grey box, p. 9
Grey box, p. 10
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegetarian

Rye Rounds

Jacobi

Ingredients
  • 1 cup (225 g) mayonnaise
  • ½ cup (50 g) Parmesan cheese
  • ½ tsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 3 tbsp chopped chives
Method
  1. Mix and broil on rye rounds.

A second version on the same card: chop onions fine and bind with salt, curry powder and enough mayonnaise to hold. Put 1 tsp on each rye round, sprinkle with Parmesan and broil.

Grey box, p. 13
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegetarian

Swiss Puffs

Yield 32

Ingredients
  • ½ cup (115 g) mayonnaise
  • ¼ cup (40 g) chopped onion
  • 2 tbsp parsley
  • 32 tiny rye slices, toasted
  • 8 slices Swiss cheese, quartered
Method
  1. Combine the mayonnaise, onion and parsley.
  2. Spread on the toasted rye and top each with a quarter slice of Swiss cheese.
  3. Broil 2 to 3 minutes.
Grey box, p. 14
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwritten

Liverwurst Pâté

Elizabeth Mynatt, on a printed “My PetRecipe” card

Ingredients
  • 1 lb (450 g) liverwurst
  • 2 packets Lawry’s Green Onion Dip mix
  • 1 tsp sugar
  • 2 tsp water
  • Topping
  • 1 tbsp Lawry’s Garlic Spread
  • one 8-oz (225 g) package cream cheese
  • 1 tbsp milk
  • ⅛ tsp Tabasco
  • one 2-oz (55 g) jar caviar
Method
  1. Mash the liverwurst. Mix the dip mix, sugar and water together and blend with the liverwurst.
  2. Line a bowl with plastic wrap, pack the meat in firmly and chill overnight.
  3. A few hours before serving, turn the pâté out onto a plate and frost with the topping: melt the garlic spread, whip the cream cheese with the milk and Tabasco, then blend in the garlic spread.
  4. Spread the caviar over the frosted pâté and chill well. Serve with good English biscuits, melba toast and so on.
Grey box, p. 15
Grey box, p. 16
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwritten

Cocktail Franks in Sweet-Sour Sauce

Titled “Hot dogs” on the card

Ingredients
  • ½ cup (120 ml) chili sauce
  • ½ cup (160 g) currant jelly
  • 1½ tbsp lemon juice
  • 1½ tsp mustard
  • two 7-oz (200 g) packages cocktail franks
  • one 13-oz (370 g) can pineapple chunks
Method
  1. Simmer everything in a saucepan for 15 minutes.
  2. Serve warm with cocktail picks.
Grey box, p. 17
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwritten

Mother’s Guacamole Dip

Grammy’s mother

Ingredients
  • 1 avocado, mashed or chopped
  • 2 tbsp lemon juice
  • 1½ tbsp chopped green onion
  • ¼ tsp garlic powder
  • tomato, chopped
  • green pepper, chopped
  • celery, chopped
  • bacon, cooked and chopped
  • salt, pepper and Tabasco
Method
  1. Put the avocado in the lemon juice to cover; it thickens some.
  2. Put everything together and season with salt, pepper and Tabasco.
  3. Serve with crackers and potato chips.
Grey box, p. 18
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegetarian

Corrinne Wolfe’s Tomato & Green Onion Dip

Corrinne Wolfe, 1967

Yield 3 cups (710 ml)

Ingredients
  • 1 medium tomato, chopped
  • ¼ cup (60 ml) lemon juice
  • ½ tsp salt
  • ¼ tsp pepper
  • 1 tbsp sugar
  • ¼ tsp Worcestershire sauce
  • ¼ cup (25 g) minced green onion or scallions
  • 2 cups (475 g) sour cream
Method
  1. Marinate the tomato in the lemon juice, salt and pepper for 1 hour.
  2. Add the remaining ingredients and mix lightly but thoroughly.
  3. Serve with celery, carrot, cauliflower and potato chips.

Two cards: one in Grammy’s hand dated 1967, and Corrinne’s own typed “Here’s what’s cookin’” card with every amount doubled in pen.

Grey box, p. 19
Grey box, p. 20
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegetarian

Blue Cheese Dip

Ingredients
  • 1 package garlic cheese
  • 1 tbsp vinegar
  • ½ cup (70 g) blue cheese
  • ¼ cup (15 g) chopped chives
  • 1 pint (475 g) sour cream
Method
  1. Combine and chill 1 hour.
  2. Serve with raw vegetables or fish sticks.
Grey box, p. 21
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenWell usedVegetarian

Betsy Winslow’s Curry Dip

Betsy Winslow

Ingredients
  • ¾ pint (1½ cups; 340 g) mayonnaise
  • 3 tbsp grated onion
  • 3 tbsp ketchup
  • 3 tbsp honey
  • 3 tsp lemon juice
  • 3 tsp curry powder
  • 3 drops Tabasco
Method
  1. Mix well.

“good with shrimp or raw vegetables”

Each 3 has a 6 written beside it, for a double batch; “1½ cup” is written above the ¾ pt (340 g).

Grey box, p. 22
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegetarian

Vegetable Dip

Bambo [?]

Ingredients
  • 1⅓ cups (300 g) mayonnaise
  • 2 tbsp ketchup
  • 2 tbsp honey
  • 1 tbsp grated onion
  • 1 tsp lemon juice
  • a few drops Tabasco
  • 1 tsp curry powder
  • ½ tsp tarragon vinegar
  • salt and pepper to taste
Method
  1. Mix everything together.
Grey box, p. 24
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwritten

Deviled Ham Dip

Ingredients
  • three 3-oz (85 g) packages cream cheese
  • ¼ cup (60 g) horseradish
  • 1 tbsp grated onion
  • one 2¼-oz (65 g) can deviled ham
  • mayonnaise, to make a dipping consistency
Method
  1. Mix, adding mayonnaise until soft enough to dip.
Grey box, p. 27
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwritten

Sausage-Stuffed Mushrooms

Ingredients
  • mushroom caps
  • Jones sausage
Method
  1. Stuff the mushroom caps with sausage.
  2. Bake at 350–375°F (180–190°C) for 15 to 20 minutes. Serve with toothpicks.
Grey box, p. 29
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwritten

Crab Brochettes

“Serve hot”

Ingredients
  • 1 can king crab meat
  • 3 slices white bread, crumbled
  • a dash of onion juice
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • ¼ cup (60 ml) sherry
  • enough mayonnaise to hold the mixture together
  • bacon slices, halved
Method
  1. Combine the ingredients in order. Form into small, marble-sized balls.
  2. Wrap each in half a slice of bacon and secure with a toothpick.
  3. Broil 5 minutes on each side.

A faint pencilled note above “(Serve hot)” may read “for 8” [?].

Grey box, p. 30
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwritten

Chicken Pâté Amandine

Ingredients
  • 1 tin minced chicken
  • 4 tbsp (55 g) butter
  • 1 tbsp dry sherry
  • salted almonds, chopped fine
Method
  1. Blend the chicken with the butter and add the sherry.
  2. Pack into a small crock and cover with the almonds.
  3. Serve with crackers to spread.
Grey box, p. 31
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegetarian

Pat’s Hot Cheese Dip

Pat

Ingredients
  • 1 can Old El Paso chopped tomatoes and green chilies, with the liquid
  • ½ lb (225 g) Velveeta cheese
Method
  1. Melt together over low heat.
  2. Serve in a chafing dish with Fritos to dip.

Written in capitals and signed “Pat”.

Underlined on the card: the second “VE” in “VELVETTA”.

Grey box, p. 32
Early cards · 1950s–80sVegetarian

Roquefort-Cheese Spread

Newspaper clipping taped to a card

Yield 2 cups (475 ml)

Ingredients
  • ½ lb (225 g) Roquefort cheese
  • one 8-oz (225 g) package cream cheese
  • ¼ tsp Worcestershire sauce
  • dash of salt
  • ¼ cup (60 ml) brandy
Method
  1. Let the cheeses come to room temperature.
  2. Beat with the Worcestershire, salt and brandy in a large mixer bowl on high speed until smooth.
  3. To store, fill small crocks and seal the tops with melted paraffin. Keep refrigerated several weeks; serve as a cocktail spread or wrap as a gift. Take out of the fridge ½ hour before serving.
Grey box, p. 33
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegetarian

Stuffed Cherry Tomatoes

Ingredients
  • cherry tomatoes
  • Onion stuffing
  • 1 tbsp minced onion
  • 1 clove garlic, crushed
  • 1 tsp minced parsley
  • 2 tbsp mayonnaise (made with olive oil)
  • Ham filling
  • ¼ cup (35 g) minced cooked ham
  • 1 tsp grated onion
  • 1 tbsp minced green pepper
  • 2 tbsp mayonnaise
Method
  1. Scoop the pulp out of the cherry tomatoes.
  2. Blend either filling thoroughly and stuff the tomatoes.
Grey box, p. 34
Grey box, p. 35
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwritten

Sweet-Sour Dip

Ingredients
  • 1 beef bouillon cube
  • 1 tbsp hot water
  • 1 tbsp brown sugar
  • 1 tsp instant minced onion
  • ½ tsp soy sauce
  • ¼ tsp garlic salt
  • ⅛ tsp ginger
  • 1 cup (240 g) sour cream
Method
  1. Mash the bouillon cube in the hot water and blend in the rest of the ingredients.
Grey box, p. 36
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwritten

Sardines in Casserole

Marked “Spanish tapas”

Ingredients
  • 2 cans imported Spanish sardines
  • ½ cup (120 ml) olive oil
  • 2 large onions, chopped
  • 1 small can pimientos, cut in strips
  • salt to taste
Method
  1. Rinse the sardines quickly in warm water and drain.
  2. Pour ¼ cup (60 ml) of the oil over the bottom of a shallow casserole. Layer the onions, then the sardines, and arrange the pimientos prettily over the sardines.
  3. Cover with the remaining ¼ cup (60 ml) oil and sprinkle lightly with salt.
  4. Bake at 350°F (180°C) for 30 minutes. Serve hot with forks and crusty bread.
Grey box, p. 37
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegetarian

Roasted Potato Skins with Herb Dip

Noted “G – 7/85”: Gourmet, July 1985

Yield Serves 6

Ingredients
  • 4 lb (1.8 kg) baking potatoes, scrubbed and patted dry
  • coarse salt to taste
  • Dip
  • 1 small garlic clove
  • ¼ cup (25 g) chopped scallion
  • ½ cup (30 g) chopped fresh parsley
  • ½ cup (120 g) sour cream
  • ½ cup (115 g) mayonnaise
  • 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
  • salt and pepper
Method
  1. Peel the skins lengthwise in ¾-inch-wide (2 cm) strips, taking a thin layer of flesh with each strip. (Put the peeled potatoes in a bowl of cold water for another use.)
  2. Arrange the strips skin side up in one layer in a well-buttered jelly roll pan. Bake at 450°F (230°C) for 15 to 20 minutes, until crisp and golden. Toss with salt and let cool.
  3. They can be made a day ahead and stored airtight. Serve at room temperature, or reheat at 450°F (230°C) for 5 minutes.
  4. For the dip, mince the garlic, scallion and parsley in a food processor. Add the sour cream and mayonnaise and blend until smooth. Blend in the Worcestershire, salt and pepper.
  5. Chill the dip, covered, overnight. It can be made up to 3 days ahead.

Underlined on the card: “overnight”.

Grey box, p. 38
Grey box, p. 39
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenWell used

Hot Shrimp Appetizer

Ingredients
  • 1½ lb (675 g) raw shrimp
  • ¼ cup (60 ml) dry sherry
  • ¼ cup (55 g) butter
  • ½ tsp garlic salt
  • ¼ cup (25 g) grated Parmesan cheese
  • Cold shrimp sauce
  • ½ cup (115 g) mayonnaise
  • 1 tbsp tomato paste
  • 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tsp prepared mustard
Method
  1. Peel and devein the shrimp and put them in a bowl. Pour the sherry over and marinate several hours.
  2. Melt the butter in a heavy skillet over low heat. Add the shrimp and sherry and sprinkle with the garlic salt. Simmer 10 to 15 minutes.
  3. Just before serving, sprinkle the cheese over the shrimp and put under the broiler 2 to 3 minutes, until the cheese is lightly browned.
  4. Mix the sauce ingredients and refrigerate until needed. Serve the shrimp hot with picks, with the cold sauce on the side.

“Serve hot w/ pick & cold shrimp sauce on side!”

Grey box, p. 40
Grey box, p. 41
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwritten

Liz’s Sausages with Rum

Liz

Ingredients
  • 2 packages brown-and-serve breakfast sausages
  • ½ cup (110 g) brown sugar
  • ½ cup (120 ml) soy sauce
  • 1 cup (240 ml) heavy (dark) rum
Method
  1. Sauté the sausages. Add the brown sugar and soy sauce and heat the sausages in the mixture.
  2. Add the rum and ignite at the table in a chafing dish. Serve with toothpicks.
Grey box, p. 43
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegetarian

Mushroom Strudel

Ingredients
  • 6 tbsp (85 g) butter
  • 1 lb (450 g) mushrooms, finely chopped
  • 2 tbsp finely chopped scallions or shallots
  • salt and pepper
  • 2 tbsp Madeira
  • ½ tsp dried tarragon
  • ½ cup (120 g) sour cream
  • 2 to 4 sheets strudel (phyllo) dough
  • ½ cup (115 g) melted butter
  • 1 cup (110 g) dry breadcrumbs
Method
  1. Cook the mushrooms and scallions in the butter with salt, pepper, the Madeira and tarragon until the liquid evaporates and the mushrooms are soft. Cool, then stir in the sour cream.
  2. Layer 2 sheets of dough, brushing each generously with melted butter and sprinkling with crumbs.
  3. Spread half the mixture along the dough, fold over and roll up on a greased baking sheet. Brush generously with butter. Repeat with the rest.
  4. Cut into 1½-inch (4 cm) slices. Bake at 375°F [?] (190°C) for 15 to 20 minutes, until crisp and well browned.

The middle figure of the temperature is a 7 and an 8 written over each other, so it reads 375 or 385.

Grey box, p. 45
Grey box, p. 46
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwritten

Smoked Trout with Horseradish Cream

A torn, much-folded sheet; the trout came from “High Valley Farm” [?] (“4 – High Valley Farm”, with “2.05” under it). Circled in the corner: “Atlantic” [?], with “[?] 1.20” above it.

Ingredients
  • smoked trout
  • ½ pint (240 ml) heavy cream, whipped
  • 1 cup (240 g) horseradish
  • parsley
  • capers and lemon wedges, to serve
Method
  1. Fold the horseradish into the whipped cream and add parsley.
  2. Serve with the trout, capers and lemon wedges.

Circled on the sheet: “capers”, with “(lemon wedges)” beneath it.

Grey box, p. 47
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegetarian

Mushroom Stuffed Eggs

On the same torn sheet as the trout; the title is underlined twice in red

Yield Serves 6

Ingredients
  • 6 medium mushrooms
  • juice of ½ lemon
  • 4 tbsp (55 g) butter, softened
  • 6 eggs, hard-boiled
  • 1 tbsp [?] dried dill (the unit is written over; it reads “tbs”, with no p)
  • salt and pepper
Method
  1. Mince the mushrooms and sprinkle with the lemon juice.
  2. Heat 1 tbsp of the butter and cook the mushrooms until their liquid is given up and evaporated. Cool.
  3. Peel and halve the eggs and mash the yolks in a bowl. Add the remaining 3 tbsp (43 g) butter, the mushrooms, dill and seasoning, and stuff the whites.
Grey box, p. 47
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwritten

Weinie Roll-Ups with Hot Dip

Ingredients
  • weiners
  • buttermilk flake rolls, each divided into 4 or 5 pieces
  • Hot dip
  • ½ jar currant jelly
  • 2 tbsp prepared mustard
Method
  1. Roll each weiner in a piece of roll and bake.
  2. Heat the jelly and mustard and mix well. Serve the weiners hot with the hot dip.

Underlined on the card: the second “hot” in “Serve hot with hot dip”.

Grey box, p. 48
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegetarian

Cheese Wafers

Marked “Double”; in the top corner, “see pie [?] 9”

Ingredients
  • ¾ cup (170 g) butter (1½ sticks)
  • ½ cup (60 g) shredded Cheddar
  • ⅓ cup (47 g) blue cheese
  • ½ clove garlic, minced
  • 1 tsp parsley
  • 1 tsp chives
  • 2 cups (230 g) sifted flour
Method
  1. Cream the butter with the cheeses. Mix in the garlic, parsley, chives and flour.
  2. Shape into 1½-inch (4 cm) rolls and chill.
  3. Slice and bake at 375°F (190°C) for 8 to 10 minutes.

“Serve on platter with cherry tomatoes in center dish.”

Grey box, p. 49
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwritten

Liz’s Liver Sausage Appetizer Ball

Liz

Ingredients
  • 1 lb (450 g) liver sausage
  • 2 tbsp dill pickle juice (or relish)
  • 3 drops Tabasco
  • 12 oz (340 g) cream cheese
  • ½ cup (70 g) salted peanuts
  • ¼ cup (55 g) mayonnaise
  • 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
  • ¼ tsp garlic salt
  • ⅓ cup (50 g) chopped dill pickle
  • ¼ cup (40 g) finely chopped onion
Method
  1. Mash the liver sausage with a fork. Blend in the mayonnaise, Worcestershire, pickle juice, Tabasco, garlic salt and a third of the cream cheese until smooth. Stir in the pickle and onion.
  2. Line a 2-cup (475 ml) bowl with plastic wrap, pack the mixture in, cover well and chill the day before.
  3. A few hours ahead, turn it out onto a big tray. Frost with the remaining cream cheese and chill well (cover with chopped parsley).
  4. Before serving, cover with the peanuts. Surround with assorted crackers and Melba toast.

After “cover w/ peanuts” the card’s “(or parsley)” is crossed out.

Underlined on the card: “Cover” in “Cover well”.

Grey box, p. 51
Grey box, p. 52
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenWell used

South-of-the-Border Cheese Balls

Yield 30

Ingredients
  • 12 tortillas
  • 1 cup (240 ml) milk
  • 3 cups (350 g) grated cheese
  • 1 mashed red ancho chili (or 2 tbsp + 1 tsp red chili purée)
  • ½ cup + 2 tbsp (2½ oz / 70 g) flour
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp salt
  • fat, for deep frying
Method
  1. Soak the tortillas in the milk and mash with half the cheese and the chili.
  2. Add the flour, baking powder and salt and form into little fat cakes.
  3. Deep-fry in hot fat until crisp. Sprinkle the rest of the cheese on top and serve very hot.
Grey box, p. 53
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwritten

Three-Cheese Mold

Ingredients
  • 1½ tsp gelatin
  • ¼ cup (60 ml) cold water
  • ½ cup (70 g) blue cheese
  • ½ cup (60 g) shredded Cheddar
  • ½ cup (115 g) cottage cheese
  • ¼ cup (60 g) sour cream
  • 1½ tsp grated onion
  • ½ tsp Worcestershire sauce
  • parsley, to garnish
Method
  1. Add the gelatin to the cold water and heat to dissolve.
  2. Beat the three cheeses together. Beat in the sour cream, onion, Worcestershire and gelatin.
  3. Chill in a 2-cup (475 ml) mold. Unmold, garnish with parsley and serve with crackers.
Grey box, p. 55
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwritten

Chili Dip

Ingredients
  • 1 can Hormel chili without beans
  • ½ lb (225 g) Velveeta
  • ¼ cup (60 ml) sherry
  • 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
Method
  1. Melt together and serve hot with Fritos [?].
Grey box, p. 56
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwritten

Inez Langille’s Cheese Roll

Inez Langille, on her printed “from the recipe file of” card

Ingredients
  • 2 cups (230 g) shredded Cheddar cheese
  • one 3-oz (85 g) package cream cheese
  • 3 tbsp mayonnaise
  • ½ tsp Worcestershire sauce
  • onion salt
  • garlic salt
  • 3 tbsp sherry
  • chipped (dried) beef, cut with shears
Method
  1. Mix everything except the beef.
  2. Shape into a long roll and roll it in the chipped beef. Refrigerate overnight.
Grey box, p. 59
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwritten

Stuffed Bread

Noted “pg 128”

Ingredients
  • 1 large Italian loaf
  • ½ lb (225 g) liverwurst
  • two 8-oz (225 g) packages cream cheese
  • ¼ cup (60 ml) beer
  • 1 tbsp dry mustard
  • ¼ cup (8 g) chopped watercress
  • ¼ cup (40 g) chopped onion
  • ¼ cup (29 g) chopped radish

The card has no method. Hollow out the loaf, pack it with the blended filling, chill well and slice.

Grey box, p. 60
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwritten

Inez Langille’s Curry Shrimp Dip

Inez Langille

Ingredients
  • 1 large package cream cheese
  • ⅔ cup (150 g) Miracle Whip
  • 1 can cleaned shrimp, cut up in small pieces
  • 1 tbsp lemon juice
  • ½ tsp (or more) curry powder
  • 1 tbsp onion juice
Method
  1. Blend the cream cheese and Miracle Whip. Add the shrimp, lemon juice, curry powder and onion juice.

The last line first said “lemon juice” again; “onion” is written over it in red, with a question mark.

Grey box, p. 61
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegan

Marinated Mushrooms

Ingredients
  • 2 tbsp soy sauce
  • 4 tbsp white vinegar
  • 3 tbsp sake (or white wine)
  • 3 tbsp sugar
  • 1 tsp salt
  • ½ cup (80 g) minced onion
  • 36 mushroom caps
Method
  1. Boil everything except the mushrooms and pour over the mushroom caps.
  2. Marinate 24 hours in the refrigerator.
Grey box, p. 63
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwritten

Crescent-Bacon Roll-Ups

Ingredients
  • 1 package crescent rolls
  • ½ cup (115 g) sour cream or cream cheese
  • ½ tsp onion salt
  • ½ lb (225 g) bacon
Method
  1. Cut each crescent triangle into 3.
  2. Spread with the sour cream or cream cheese and sprinkle with the onion salt and bacon. Roll up.
  3. Bake on a greased sheet at 375°F (190°C) for 12 to 15 minutes.
Grey box, p. 64
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegetarian

Beer Cheese

Ingredients
  • 1 lb (450 g) aged sharp Cheddar
  • 1 lb (450 g) American cheese
  • 2 to 3 cloves garlic
  • ¾ of a 12-oz (355 ml) beer (about 1 cup)
  • 3 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tsp (or more) salt
  • 1 tsp dry mustard
  • dash of Tabasco
Method
  1. Grind the cheeses with the garlic. Mix in the Worcestershire, salt, mustard and Tabasco.
  2. Beat with an electric mixer, adding enough beer slowly to make a smooth spreading paste.
  3. Store in covered jars in the refrigerator until needed.
Grey box, p. 67
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwritten

Broiled Ham & Chutney Canapés

From Life magazine

Yield 24

Ingredients
  • one 4-oz (115 g) can deviled ham
  • ⅓ cup (105 g) chutney
  • ¼ cup (55 g) mayonnaise (or just enough to moisten)
  • 24 round crackers or rye rounds
Method
  1. Drain the chutney, saving the juice. Mince the chutney and mix with the ham, mayonnaise and juice.
  2. Spread on the crackers and broil under moderate heat about 5 minutes, until lightly browned and bubbly.
Grey box, p. 68
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwritten

Ham Rolls

Ingredients
  • thin ham slices
  • butter
  • finely chopped chutney
Method
  1. Spread the ham slices sparingly with butter and chutney.
  2. Roll up each slice from the narrow side. Chill several hours or overnight.
  3. Slice the rolls on the diagonal to serve.

Underlined on the card: “diag” in “Slice rolls diag for serving”.

Grey box, p. 69
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegetarian

Asparagus Rolls

Ingredients
  • one 8-oz (225 g) package cream cheese, room temperature
  • one 3-oz (85 g) package blue cheese, room temperature
  • 1 egg
  • 1 large loaf Pepperidge Farm bread
  • 1 glass jar asparagus, drained
  • ½ lb (225 g) butter
Method
  1. Cream the cheeses together and beat in the egg.
  2. Cut the crusts off the bread and roll each slice thin with a rolling pin.
  3. Spread each slice with the cheese mixture and lay a piece of asparagus on it.
  4. Melt the butter. Roll up each slice and dip it in the butter.
  5. Place seam side down on a foil tray and freeze.
  6. To serve, cut each roll in 3 and bake from frozen at 400°F (200°C) for 15 minutes.
Grey box, p. 70
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegetarian

Inez Langille’s Dill Dip

Inez Langille

Ingredients
  • ¾ cup (170 g) Miracle Whip
  • ¾ cup (180 g) sour cream
  • 1 tbsp dried minced onion (or 1 to 2 tbsp fresh onion, chopped fine)
  • 1 tbsp parsley flakes
  • 1 tsp dill weed
  • 1 tsp Beau Monde seasoning
Method
  1. Mix everything together and chill.

“Salt” [?] is pencilled under the “tsp” of the last line.

Grey box, p. 71
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwritten

Red Caviar Dip

Ingredients
  • 1½ cups (360 g) sour cream (Grammy’s note: “cut back”)
  • 2 tbsp finely chopped dill weed (or dried)
  • 2 tbsp finely chopped scallions, green stems only
  • ½ tsp lemon juice
  • 8 oz (1 jar; 225 g) red caviar
  • 1 tbsp finely chopped parsley
  • cayenne
Method
  1. Combine the sour cream, dill, parsley, scallions, lemon juice and cayenne.
  2. Gently fold in the caviar with a spatula. Chill until ready to serve.

Serve with cucumber and mushroom slices.

Underlined in pencil on the card: “green stems only”.

Grey box, p. 72
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwritten

Ham Fritters (Buñuelitos de Jamón)

Yield 2 dozen

Ingredients
  • 2 eggs, separated
  • 2 tbsp flour
  • 2 tbsp milk
  • 2 cups (280 g) cooked ground ham
  • pinch of salt
  • dash of pepper
  • oil, for frying
Method
  1. Beat the egg whites until stiff. Beat the yolks with the flour, milk, salt and pepper.
  2. Add the ham and fold in the whites.
  3. Drop by spoonfuls into oil at 365°F [?] (185°C) and fry until golden on all sides.

Substitute 2 cups (230 g) grated cheese for the ham to make buñuelitos de queso.

The middle figure of the frying temperature is written over another; it reads 365 or 385.

Grey box, p. 73
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegetarian

Steve’s Dip

Steve

Ingredients
  • 1 package Treasure Cave blue cheese
  • 1 package light cream cheese
  • 1 tbsp horseradish
  • 1 tbsp mayonnaise
  • 2 dashes Worcestershire sauce
  • 2 dashes Tabasco
Method
  1. Blend together.
Grey box, p. 74
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegetarian

Cheddar Cheese Crackers

Ingredients
  • ½ lb (225 g) sharp dry Cheddar, grated
  • ¼ lb (115 g) butter, soft
  • ⅛ tsp cayenne
  • ½ tsp dry mustard
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 1 egg yolk (optional)
  • 1¼ to 1½ cups (155–190 g) flour
Method
  1. Grate the cheese in the Cuisinart and mix everything in it. Work all the ingredients together with your hands.
  2. On a lightly floured surface, shape the dough into a cylinder 1½ inches (4 cm) across. Wrap in wax paper and chill at least ½ hour.
  3. Slice ¼ inch (5 mm) thick and bake on an ungreased cookie sheet at 375°F (190°C) for 10 minutes.
  4. Lift off with a spatula and cool on a rack. Store in an airtight container. Reheat if desired at 300°F (150°C) for 5 minutes.

Marked “good” (underlined), and “to go w/ soup”.

“Pie” [?] is circled in the top corner, with “6” written above it in green-blue ink (compare “see pie [?] 9” on the Cheese Wafers card).

Underlined twice on the card: “10” in the baking time (the “12” after it is crossed out).

Grey box, p. 75
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwritten

Steak Tartare

Ingredients
  • 1 lb (450 g) sirloin
  • 1 medium onion, grated
  • 3 anchovies
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 clove garlic, mashed
  • a dash of Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tsp dry mustard
  • ¼ tsp black pepper
  • 1 egg yolk
  • 2 tsp parsley
  • parsley and anchovy curls, to garnish
Method
  1. Mix everything together and form into a “sausage” loaf.
  2. Criss-cross the top with a knife into squares or diamonds and press an anchovy curl into each. Sprinkle with parsley.
  3. Wrap in wax paper and refrigerate. Serve with buttered rye rounds.
Grey box, p. 76
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwritten

Corrinne’s Hot Clam Dip

Corrinne

Ingredients
  • 8 oz (225 g) cream cheese
  • one 4- to 5-oz (115–140 g) can minced clams
  • 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 2 tbsp lemon juice
  • 6 squirts Tabasco
Method
  1. Pour off half the clam juice. Put the remaining juice and the liquid ingredients in a saucepan. Add the cream cheese and clams; don’t stir.
  2. Cover and cook over low heat about 20 minutes. Beat with a fork to mix. Serve with Fritos.

To use cold, add all the clam juice and beat together.

Underlined on the card: “Don’t stir”.

Grey box, p. 77
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwritten

Liz’s Hot Clam Dip

Liz

Ingredients
  • ½ package cream cheese
  • ½ tsp grated onion
  • 1 small can minced clams
  • ¼ tsp curry powder
Method
  1. Cream the cheese with a little of the clam liquor. Add the onion, curry powder and drained clams.
  2. Bake in a small baking dish at 350°F (180°C) for 25 minutes. Serve in a chafing dish to keep warm.
Grey box, p. 78
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwritten

Liz’s Cossacks’ Delight

Liz

Ingredients
  • 1 lb (450 g) fresh mushrooms
  • 1 large garlic clove, crushed
  • 1 cup (140 g) ham or 1 cup (140 g) chicken
  • 2 tbsp (28 g) butter
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 small onion, grated
  • ⅛ tsp Accent
  • ⅛ tsp dry mustard
  • ½ tsp soy sauce
  • ⅛ tsp paprika
  • salt and pepper
  • 1 tbsp flour
  • 1 cup (240 g) sour cream
  • parsley, to garnish
Method
  1. Chop the mushrooms, garlic and ham or chicken very fine and sauté together in a little butter and olive oil for 1 minute.
  2. Heat the 2 tbsp (28 g) butter and 2 tbsp oil and add the onion with the Accent, mustard, soy sauce, paprika, salt and pepper. Add the mushroom mixture and sauté 3 minutes, stirring constantly.
  3. Make a paste of the flour and a little of the sour cream, then add the rest of the cream. Stir into the mushroom mixture until thickened and well heated. Don’t boil.
  4. Serve in a chafing dish, garnished with parsley, with Melba toast to dip.

“Freezes well.”

Underlined on the card: “very” in the pencilled “chop very fine”, “Do not boil”, and “Don’t” in “(Don’t Boil)”.

Grey box, p. 79
Grey box, p. 80
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwritten

Liz’s Hot Meat Balls

Liz

Ingredients
  • 1 lb (450 g) ground round
  • ½ lb (225 g) ground veal
  • ½ lb (225 g) ground pork
  • salt, garlic powder, pepper and Lawry’s seasoned salt
  • ¼ cup (28 g) breadcrumbs
  • 1 egg
  • olive oil
  • ¾ jar grape jelly
  • 1 jar chili sauce
Method
  1. Season the meats and mix in the crumbs and egg.
  2. Form into little balls, brown in olive oil and drain.
  3. Combine the jelly and chili sauce and simmer 20 minutes. Add the meatballs and simmer 20 minutes more.
  4. Serve hot in a chafing dish.
Grey box, p. 81
Grey box, p. 82
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwritten

Pickled Watermelon Rind in Blankets

Ingredients
  • pieces of pickled watermelon rind
  • short lengths of bacon
Method
  1. Wrap each piece of rind in bacon and secure with a toothpick.
  2. At serving time, broil 3 inches (8 cm) from high heat until the bacon is brown. Serve hot, 3 per person.
Grey box, p. 83
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenWell usedVegan

Hummus Dip

Marked “Double”

Ingredients
  • one 20-oz (575 g) can chickpeas
  • ½ cup (120 g) tahini
  • 1 clove garlic, mashed
  • juice of 1 lemon (“MORE” is written over it, with “3 Tb” beside it)
  • cayenne (⅛ to ¼ tsp, to taste)
  • chopped fresh parsley
Method
  1. Drain the chickpeas, saving the liquid. Purée in the blender with as much of the liquid as needed for a smooth paste.
  2. In a bowl, blend the purée thoroughly with the tahini. Season to taste with the garlic, lemon juice and cayenne.
  3. Garnish with parsley and serve at room temperature.

“Double” is circled at the top; “MORE”, in capitals, is underlined twice, with an arrow to the lemon juice.

Grey box, p. 84
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwritten

Little Ham Puffs (Buñuelitos de Jamón)

Ingredients
  • 2 oz (55 g) flour
  • 2 eggs
  • 8 oz (225 g) finely chopped ham
  • salt and pepper
  • olive oil, for frying
Method
  1. Separate the eggs and beat the whites until stiff. Mix the flour with the yolks to a smooth paste.
  2. Fold in the whites, season and beat in the ham.
  3. Drop a teaspoonful at a time into smoking hot oil. Drain well and serve hot or cold.

Little cheese puffs: use 8 oz (225 g) grated cheese instead of the ham.

Grey box, p. 85
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegetarian

Cheese Patties (Delicias con Queso)

Ingredients
  • 6 egg whites
  • 4 oz (115 g) grated Gruyère
  • breadcrumbs
  • 1 egg yolk, beaten
  • butter or oil, for frying
Method
  1. Beat the egg whites until stiff and fold in the cheese. Season.
  2. Roll into small balls or croquettes. Dip in breadcrumbs, then in the beaten yolk, and back into the crumbs.
  3. Deep-fry in oil or butter and serve very hot.
Grey box, p. 86
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwritten

Deviled Eggs with Caviar

Ingredients
  • 8 hard-boiled large eggs
  • ¾ stick (85 g) unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 tbsp tarama (carp roe)
  • 2 tbsp mayonnaise
  • 2 tsp fresh lemon juice
  • 1 tsp Dijon mustard
  • cayenne and white pepper, to taste
  • salmon caviar, to garnish
Method
  1. Halve the eggs lengthwise and remove the yolks. Arrange the whites on a plate lined with paper towel and chill, loosely covered.
  2. In the Cuisinart, blend the yolks with the butter, tarama, mayonnaise, lemon juice, mustard, cayenne, pepper and salt.
  3. Move to a bowl and chill, covered, 1 hour or overnight.
  4. Let the filling soften at room temperature 15 minutes. Put it in a pastry bag with a decorative tip and pipe into the whites. Garnish with caviar.

In “covered 1 hr or overnt”, “overnt” is underlined.

Purple box, p. 310
Purple box, p. 311
Later cards, 1990s–2000s
Later cards · 1990s–2000sHandwrittenVegetarian

Guacamole

Noted “(Cooks)”: Cook’s Illustrated

Ingredients
  • ¼ cup (40 g) minced red onion (or ½ small yellow onion)
  • 2 cloves garlic, smashed with ½ tsp kosher salt
  • 2 ripe avocados, cubed
  • 1 lime, juiced (1½ tbsp)
  • 1 plum tomato, diced
  • 2 to 3 tbsp cilantro (the card says “cilantro pepper diced” [?])
  • ¼ to ½ jalapeño pepper, minced
  • 1 bunch scallions, sliced (optional)
  • salt, Tabasco and Worcestershire sauce
Method
  1. Soak the onion in cold water for 15 minutes and drain.
  2. Add the garlic, avocados, lime juice, tomato, cilantro, jalapeño and scallions to the drained onion and mix to combine, just barely.
  3. Season with salt, Tabasco and Worcestershire. Serve immediately.

“Opt: add ¼ c. cilantro chopped.”

Rose box, p. 9
Later cards · 1990s–2000sHandwrittenWell usedVegetarian

Mother’s [?] Spinach Dip

In green ink on a heavily stained card, marked in the corner “Mother” [?] (the same scrawl as her “Mother’s” B-B-Q Beef card); the back is blank but just as stained

Ingredients
  • 1 package frozen chopped spinach, drained well
  • 1 cup (225 g) Hellmann’s mayonnaise
  • ½ cup (120 g) sour cream (1 cup / 240 g if using yogurt instead)
  • 1 small onion, chopped fine (optional)
  • one 8-oz (225 g) can water chestnuts, chopped fine
  • 1 package Knorr’s vegetable soup mix
Method
  1. Put everything in the Cuisinart, one at a time, and pulse until just mixed.
  2. Serve with vegetables and crackers.

“drained” is underlined, and so is “just” in “(Pulse til just mixed)”.

Rose box, p. 10
Rose box, p. 11
Later cards · 1990s–2000sHandwritten

Crab Dip

A stained card in an older hand; the back says simply “fresh veg & chips.”

Ingredients
  • 1 cup (140 g) crab meat
  • ¼ cup (60 ml) lemon juice
  • one 3-oz (85 g) package cream cheese (an 8 is written faintly above the 3)
  • ¼ cup (60 ml) heavy cream (or sour cream [?])
  • 2 tbsp mayonnaise
  • 1 tsp dried onion flakes
  • ⅛ tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp shredded green onion
  • 2 dashes cayenne (or Tabasco)
  • 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
  • ½ tsp salt
  • ⅛ tsp Accent
  • ¼ tsp [?] sherry (the unit is written over)
Method
  1. Marinate the crab in the lemon juice for 30 minutes.
  2. Beat the cream cheese, cream, mayonnaise and seasonings together until smooth and creamy.
  3. Add the crab. Serve with fresh vegetables and chips.

In the left margin beside the marinating step, a short note in green ink can’t be read [?].

Rose box, p. 12
Rose box, p. 13
Later cards · 1990s–2000sHandwrittenVegan

Cook’s Guacamole, Classic and Creamy

Written on the back of the Avocado Dip card, from Cook’s Illustrated; a faint rubber stamp (“…N.Y.”) at the foot

Ingredients
  • Classic
  • 3 medium avocados
  • 2 tbsp minced onion
  • 1 medium clove garlic, minced or pressed
  • 1 small jalapeño chile, minced
  • ¼ cup (15 g) minced cilantro leaves
  • salt
  • ½ tsp ground cumin (optional)
  • 2 tbsp juice from 1 lime
  • Creamy
  • 1 avocado
  • ¾ cup (180 g) sour cream
  • ¾ cup (170 g) mayonnaise
  • 1 tbsp lime juice
  • ½ cup (30 g) cilantro
  • 2 medium scallions, sliced thin
  • salt and pepper
  • 1½ chipotle chiles in adobo sauce
  • 1 tsp adobo sauce
Method
  1. The card gives only the ingredients: mash or mix together and season to taste.

The headings “Classic” and “Creamy” are each underlined.

See also Guacamole, Avocado Dips

Rose box, p. 15
Later cards · 1990s–2000sHandwrittenSpecial praiseVegetarian

Pat Coe’s Artichoke Spread

Pat Coe; marked “So good”

Ingredients
  • 1 can artichokes
  • ¼ cup (14 g) sun-dried tomatoes
  • ⅔ cup (150 g) mayonnaise
  • ½ cup (50 g) Parmesan
  • 3 large garlic cloves
  • 1 tsp hot pepper sauce
Method
  1. Combine in the food processor.
  2. Bake in a crock at 350°F (180°C) for 20 to 30 minutes. Serve hot or at room temperature.
  3. In wontons: use a little olive oil instead of the mayonnaise. Put a teaspoonful on a wonton wrapper, wet the edges and fold two adjoining sides over to make a pillow. Bake on a tray, brushed with olive oil, at 450°F (230°C) for 10 minutes. Make a dipping sauce of hoisin with a bit of soy.

“So good” and “Pat Coe” are underlined, as are “Combine”, “Bake” and “w/wontons:” in the method.

Rose box, p. 16
Later cards · 1990s–2000sHandwrittenSpecial praiseVegetarian

Pat Coe’s Spinach Pesto Dip (Pesto Spread)

Pat Coe; two cards, “Pesto Spread” (marked “Delicious!!” and “(Cut in half)”) and “Spinach Pesto Dip”

Ingredients
  • 2 cups (50 g) basil leaves, washed
  • 2 cups (60 g) spinach leaves, washed
  • 2 tbsp chopped garlic (Pesto Spread: 2 large cloves, with a 3 written above)
  • ½ cup (50 g) grated Parmesan, from a brick
  • ½ to ¾ cup (70–105 g) pine nuts (Pesto Spread: ½ cup / 70 g)
  • ½ cup (28 g) sun-dried tomatoes (Pesto Spread: ¼ cup / 14 g)
  • ¼ cup (60 ml) olive oil (Pesto Spread: 1 tbsp or more, to get the right consistency)
  • sea salt to taste (Pesto Spread: 1 tsp seasoned salt or herbal sea salt, and ⅛ tsp cayenne)
  • 8 oz (225 g) cream cheese
Method
  1. In the Cuisinart, blend the garlic, Parmesan, basil and spinach.
  2. Add the olive oil, sun-dried tomatoes, pine nuts and salt, then the cream cheese.
  3. Serve with vegetables (or with pasta).

The Pesto Spread card: “Delicious!!”, underlined twice, with “Pat Coe” underlined too. On the Spinach Pesto Dip card, “Add:” is underlined.

Rose box, p. 17
Rose box, p. 18
Later cards · 1990s–2000sHandwrittenVegetarian

Dru’s Chex Mix

Dru

Ingredients
  • 1 stick (115 g) butter
  • 1 cup (30 g) Cheerios
  • 2 cups (60 g) each Wheat Chex, Rice Chex and Corn Chex
  • 1 cup (45 g) thin pretzels
  • ½ cup (60 g) slivered almonds
  • 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
  • ¼ tsp each celery salt, onion salt (or powder), garlic powder, seasoned salt and cayenne
Method
  1. Heat the oven to 250°F (120°C). Melt the butter in a large 12 × 15-inch (30 × 38 cm) pan (“in oven” is crossed out).
  2. Mix the cereals, pretzels and almonds in a large bowl.
  3. Stir the Worcestershire and seasonings into the melted butter. Add the cereal mixture to the pan and stir to coat well.
  4. Bake 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes.

Underlined on the card: “Mix:”, and “each” in “2 C. each” and “ea” in “¼ tsp ea:”.

Rose box, p. 19
Later cards · 1990s–2000sVegetarian

All-American Deviled Eggs

A newspaper clipping pasted on a card, with a blue pen mark in the margin. Rewritten here.

Yield 12 halves; 45 minutes in all

Ingredients
  • 6 large eggs
  • 1 tsp Dijon mustard
  • 1 to 2 dashes Tabasco sauce, to taste
  • salt, to taste
  • ¼ tsp freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 tbsp snipped fresh chives
  • 3 tbsp mayonnaise
  • paprika and whole fresh chives, to garnish
Method
  1. Rinse the eggs in warm water and put them in a small saucepan. Cover with cold water and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Lower to a simmer and cook exactly 13 minutes.
  2. Drain, rinse under cold water and peel. Cool in the refrigerator, loosely covered, for 15 minutes.
  3. Halve the eggs lengthwise and gently scoop out the yolks. Mash them in a bowl with a fork, with the mustard, Tabasco, salt, pepper and snipped chives. Stir in the mayonnaise.
  4. Fill each white with about 1½ teaspoons of the yolk mixture and dust with paprika.
  5. Arrange in a spoke design on a platter and garnish with whole chives.
Rose box, p. 20
Later cards · 1990s–2000sHandwrittenVegetarian

Spatini Dip

Ingredients
  • 1 envelope Spatini (spaghetti sauce mix)
  • 1 pint (475 g) sour cream
Method
  1. Mix thoroughly and chill 1 hour or more.
  2. Stir and serve with chips or crudités.
Rose box, p. 22
Later cards · 1990s–2000sVegan

Roasted Red Pepper Spread

A newspaper clipping pasted on a card, initialled “TM” [?] at the top. Rewritten here.

Yield 10 minutes

Ingredients
  • three 7-oz (200 g) jars roasted red peppers, drained
  • 3 tbsp olive oil
  • 3 tbsp minced fresh Italian parsley leaves
  • 1½ tbsp fresh lemon juice
  • 3 tsp capers, drained
  • 2 medium cloves garlic, smashed, peeled and mashed to a paste
  • ½ tsp kosher salt
Method
  1. Lay the drained peppers on a double layer of paper towels to dry.
  2. Process the rest of the ingredients in a food processor or blender until the capers and parsley are very finely chopped.
  3. Add the peppers and pulse until coarsely chopped; don’t overprocess. Scrape down the bowl a few times so it is evenly chopped.
  4. Check the seasoning and serve with crudités.

The clipping’s crudités, which Grammy underlined: fennel cut in ¼-inch (5 mm) wedges through the core, Japanese cucumbers sliced on the diagonal, and Belgian endive leaves.

Rose box, p. 24
Later cards · 1990s–2000sHandwrittenSpecial praiseVegetarian

Asparagus Puffs

Marked “Delicious” and “Cedars Co.” [?]

Yield 24 puffs

Ingredients
  • ½ cup (125 g) ricotta cheese
  • ½ cup (50 g) grated Parmesan, plus 2 tbsp for the tops
  • ½ lb (225 g) asparagus, trimmed, blanched, dried and chopped fine
  • 2 tbsp minced fresh chives
  • 2 tbsp lemon juice
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 2 sheets puff pastry
  • egg, lightly beaten
Method
  1. Heat the oven to 375°F (190°C), with the rack in the middle. Combine the ricotta, Parmesan, asparagus, chives, lemon juice, salt and pepper.
  2. Unfold both sheets of puff pastry on a floured surface and roll out to flatten the bumps and folds. Cut with a 2½-inch (6 cm) round cookie cutter: 24 rounds.
  3. Brush with egg. Put a spoonful of the cheese mixture just off centre on each round, fold over and crimp the edges with a fork.
  4. Set on a parchment-lined baking sheet (sprayed with Pam first).
  5. To freeze at this point: wrap the baking sheet in Saran, then move the frozen puffs to bags. Let them defrost at room temperature 20 minutes before baking.
  6. Brush with egg and sprinkle with the 2 tbsp Parmesan. Bake until puffed and golden brown, about 20 minutes. Cool slightly and serve warm.

Underlined on the card: “Delicious”, “Combine:”, “Place” (in “Place on parchment”, twice) and “freeze”; on the back, “Let defrost” is underlined twice.

Rose box, p. 25
Rose box, p. 26
Later cards · 1990s–2000sHandwrittenVegetarian

Vance’s [?] Bruschetta and Tapenade

Ingredients
  • Bruschetta
  • tomatoes, chopped in large chunks
  • finely chopped red onion
  • parsley and basil
  • dried oregano
  • salt and pepper
  • a baguette, or a round dense loaf
  • olive oil
  • Tapenade
  • Kalamata olives, chopped fine
  • red pepper, chopped fine
  • oregano and dried basil
Method
  1. Combine the tomatoes, onion, herbs and seasoning and let sit. (It can also go over pasta.)
  2. Slice the baguette diagonally, or cut a round dense loaf through the middle like half a bagel. Put olive oil on the bread and toast.
  3. Ladle on the tomato mixture and serve.
  4. Tapenade: mix the olives and red pepper with oregano and dried basil. The last note is hard to read (“put mascarpone [?] g. cheese on bread after toast”).

“round” is underlined, in “or use round (dense) bread”, and so is the tapenade heading.

Rose box, p. 27
Later cards · 1990s–2000sHandwritten

Rokhsha’s Stuffed Mushrooms

On a yellow index card, with “Rokhsha” underlined in the corner and “see Fine Cooking Xmas” [?] beside it

Yield 15 to 20 mushrooms

Ingredients
  • 8 oz (225 g) cream cheese, softened
  • 5 to 6 slices of bacon, fried crisp
  • 1 small onion, chopped fine
  • 15 to 20 large mushrooms
  • garlic
Method
  1. Take out the stems, keeping 4 or 5. Clean the mushrooms.
  2. Chop the onion and the reserved stems.
  3. Fry the bacon until crisp and keep the grease. Cook the onion and stems in the bacon grease until tender.
  4. Drain off the grease and add the onions and stems to the soft cream cheese. Crumble the bacon into the cheese mixture and combine well.
  5. Scoop the mixture into each mushroom cap. Bake at 350°F (180°C) for 10 to 15 minutes, then broil to brown the tops.

“Can refrig & reheat next day.”

Rose box, p. 28
Later cards · 1990s–2000sHandwrittenSpecial praiseVegetarian

Manchego Cheese and Quince

Melissa; marked “Delicious”

Ingredients
  • Manchego cheese
  • quince jelly (membrillo)
Method
  1. Keep the cheese at room temperature. Cut into bite-sized pieces.
  2. Serve with quince jelly on top.
Rose box, p. 29
Later cards · 1990s–2000sHandwritten

Pippa Dates

Melissa; noted “(British favorite)”

Ingredients
  • pitted dates
  • goat cheese
  • bacon strips, cut in thirds
  • toasted almonds (optional)
Method
  1. Slit the side of each pitted date and smear goat cheese inside with a knife.
  2. Wrap each in a third of a bacon strip and set on aluminium-foil-lined cookie sheets. (They can be frozen at this point, before cooking.)
  3. Bake at 450°F (230°C) for 12 minutes, until the bacon is crisp. Serve warm, not hot.

“Could put toasted almonds inside.”

Underlined on the card: “pitted dates”, “goat cheese” and “bacon strips”. A circled star by the wrapping step matches a circled star by “Can freeze before cooking”.

Rose box, p. 31
Later cards · 1990s–2000sHandwrittenVegan

Crudités for Dips

Ingredients
  • green beans, with their tails, blanched 3 minutes
  • asparagus (as thin as possible), blanched
  • jicama
  • grape tomatoes (yellow and red)
  • green onions (small)
  • endive leaves
  • carrots
  • celery
Method
  1. Blanch the green beans for 3 minutes and the asparagus briefly; serve everything else raw.

See also Chutney Dip for Crudités

Rose box, p. 32
Later cards · 1990s–2000sHandwrittenVegetarian

Leslie and Kevin’s Artichoke Dip

Headed “Leslie & Kevin dip”; a note down the side reads “see computer printed” [?], so a typed copy may be among her computer files

Ingredients
  • 1 cup (100 g) Parmesan
  • 1 to 2 cups (115–230 g) shredded mozzarella
  • 1 cup (225 g) mayonnaise
  • 1 medium onion, chopped
  • 1 can artichoke hearts, chopped coarse
  • 1 clove crushed garlic
Method
  1. Mix everything and bake in a soufflé dish at 350°F (180°C) for 30 minutes.
Rose box, p. 34
Later cards · 1990s–2000sHandwrittenVegetarian

Roasted Garlic and Goat Cheese

Sunny Rhodes

Ingredients
  • Roasted garlic
  • 1 head of garlic
  • a little olive oil
  • salt and pepper
  • To serve
  • a roll of goat cheese
  • olive oil
  • crackers
Method
  1. Roast the garlic: cut off the bottom of the head to reveal each clove (cut into them). Pour a little olive oil over and season with salt and pepper. Roast 45 minutes at 350°F (180°C). Cool and squeeze out the cloves.
  2. Put the roll of goat cheese in a bowl with some olive oil. Squeeze in the garlic.
  3. Mix and let it sit at room temperature for a while. Serve with crackers.

The first line reads “Roast 1 head of garlic (see Kir). Cool”; the heading “Roasted Garlic” further down is underlined.

Rose box, p. 36
Later cards · 1990s–2000sHandwrittenVegetarian

Gougère Balls

Marked “Db” in a circle. Margin notes: “See Fine Cooking, Winter 2003, pg 48” and “& Joy’s recipe” [?], with a reference number “#515605” that can’t be placed; beside the number is a word that can’t be read [?], and below it “Best … (folder)” [?]

Yield 18 puffs

Ingredients
  • 5 eggs
  • 2¼ cups (280 g) flour
  • 5 oz (140 g) butter
  • 1¾ cups (420 ml) water
  • 225 g Emmental cheese (Swiss crossed out), grated, or more (8 oz)
  • pepper to taste, and cayenne
Method
  1. Heat the water and butter to a boil. Turn off the heat.
  2. Add all of the flour, then the eggs one at a time, mixing well with a wooden spoon.
  3. Add the cheese and pepper and mix well.
  4. Spoon out 18 mounds onto a greased cookie sheet, spaced well apart.
  5. Bake at 180°C (350°F) for 15 to 20 minutes, until brown. Cool and freeze.
  6. To serve, reheat in a hot oven for 10 to 15 minutes.

Beside the cheese: “need sharp cheese!”

“See” (in “See Fine Cooking”) is underlined.

Rose box, p. 37
Later cards · 1990s–2000sHandwrittenVegetarian

Chutney Dip for Crudités

Dorothy (tennis): a tennis friend

Ingredients
  • 1 jar pear or mango chutney (enough to cover)
  • 8 oz (225 g) softened Neufchâtel (or cream cheese)
  • 2 tbsp sour cream
  • 1 tsp or more curry powder, to taste
Method
  1. Mix the cheese, sour cream and curry powder.
  2. Line a soup bowl with Saran wrap. Put the cheese mixture in the bowl and refrigerate until hardened.
  3. Turn out onto a serving plate and cover with ½ to 1 cup (155–310 g) chutney.
Rose box, p. 38
Later cards · 1990s–2000sHandwritten

Kir’s French Beans and Prosciutto Appetizer

Kir

Ingredients
  • French haricots verts (green beans), about 1 lb (450 g)
  • 1½ tbsp salt, for the water
  • balsamic vinegar (good quality)
  • prosciutto or Parma ham
Method
  1. Top and tail the beans. Cook in boiling salted water until done, about 4 minutes. Drain and rinse with cold water. Cool in a towel in the refrigerator.
  2. Spray with the balsamic vinegar.
  3. Cut the prosciutto into strips. Tie a strip around each bundle of beans (any size or number).
  4. Serve at room temperature on a platter.
Rose box, p. 177
Typed on her computer, 2005–16
Later cards · 1990s–2000sTyped on her computer · 2005–16HandwrittenWell used

Avocado Dips

Two versions on one page: Grammy’s own (“Mine”) and Cook’s.

Grammy’s avocado dip
  • 3 oz (85 g) cream cheese
  • ½ cup (120 g) sour cream
  • Dash of Tabasco
  • 2 oz (55 g) anchovy paste
  • 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
  • ¼ tsp garlic powder (Grammy used 2 cloves crushed fresh garlic instead)
  • Salt and pepper
  • 1 large ripe (slightly soft) avocado
  • 1 large tomato, seeded, drained and chopped into ¼-inch (5 mm) pieces
  1. Mix everything except the avocado and tomato until smooth.
  2. Mash the avocado into lumps and add it with the tomato.
  3. Let stand at least 1 hour in the fridge.
Cook’s guacamole
  • ¼ cup (40 g) minced red onion (or ½ small yellow onion), soaked in cold water 15 minutes
  • 2 garlic cloves, smashed with ½ tsp kosher salt
  • 2 ripe avocados, cubed
  • Juice of 1 lime
  • 1 fresh plum tomato, diced
  • 2–3 tbsp chopped cilantro
  • ¼–½ jalapeño, seeded and minced
  • Salt, Tabasco and Worcestershire sauce

Drain the onion, add everything else and mix until just barely combined. Season with salt, Tabasco and Worcestershire and serve immediately.

Grammy’s own dip (“Mine”) is in the rose box on two much-used, stained cards. The newer one says “over for Cook’s”, with two Cook’s guacamoles on its back.

“squirts” is underlined (on the older card, “squirt”), and “over” in “over for Cook’s” is underlined twice.

See also Cook’s Guacamole, Classic and Creamy

Rose box, p. 14
Rose box, p. 35
Typed on her computer · 2005–16Vegan

Spiced Almonds

Keeps 2–3 weeks in an airtight container.

Ingredients
  • 2 tsp salt
  • ½ tsp ground cumin
  • 2 tsp ground ginger
  • 1 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
  • ¾ cup (150 g) sugar, divided
  • 1 tbsp vegetable oil
  • 3 cups (425 g) whole blanched almonds

The method also mentions sesame seeds, though the recipe gives no amount.

Method
  1. Mix the salt, cumin, ginger and pepper flakes (and sesame seeds) with ¼ cup (50 g) of the sugar in a large bowl.
  2. Heat the oil in a heavy sauté pan over medium heat. Add the nuts and stir continuously until fragrant, about 2+ minutes, taking care not to burn them.
  3. Sprinkle in the remaining ½ cup (100 g) sugar and shake the pan occasionally. Stir only when the sugar starts to melt and caramelise. Take off the heat when the nuts are dark golden brown and smoking slightly.
  4. Tip the nuts into the spice mixture and toss quickly to coat. Spread on a non-stick baking sheet and separate them with two forks while still hot. Finish separating by hand once cool enough to touch. Work fast: once the caramel sets they are hard to pull apart.
  5. Store airtight when cool.

Grammy’s note, on separating the hot nuts: “a MUST DO”

See also Spiced Almonds #2

Typed on her computer · 2005–16Vegetarian

Spiced Almonds #2

Grammy’s recipe, and a different one from her first Spiced Almonds.

Ingredients
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 tsp ground ginger
  • ½ tsp cayenne
  • 2 tsp salt (or less)
  • ½ tsp curry
  • ¼ tsp ground cumin
  • 1 tbsp honey
  • 2 tbsp sugar
  • 1¾ cups [?] (245 g) whole blanched almonds (the file says “11-3/4 C”)
Method
  1. Get olive oil hot. Mix ginger, cayenne, salt, curry and cumin together and add to hot oil; stir for about 5–10 seconds. Do not burn!
  2. Stir in honey and sugar. Add nuts and stir until amber, about 6 minutes.
  3. Lay out on foil-lined tray to cool. Separate and store in airtight container.

See also Spiced Almonds

Typed on her computer · 2005–16Vegetarian

Spiced Almonds (UK Style)

No source is named. Metric, with Grammy’s US conversions.

Ingredients
  • Vegetable oil, for greasing the pan
  • 200 g (7 oz) whole blanched almonds
  • 1 egg white
  • 100 g (3½ oz) superfine sugar
  • ½ tsp sea salt
  • 1 tsp cumin
  • 1 tsp paprika (or smoked paprika)
  • ½ tsp crushed chillies
Method
  1. Heat the oven to 170°C (325°F). Line a baking tray with foil and brush it lightly with vegetable oil.
  2. Coat the almonds in the egg white, then add the rest of the ingredients and mix well.
  3. Spread the nuts in a single layer on the tray and bake for 20–25 minutes, stirring halfway through.
  4. Leave to cool before serving.

Grammy’s note: “Kir’s favorite”

Typed on her computer · 2005–16

Goat Cheese in Phyllo with Roasted Pepper Salad

Serves 6.

Ingredients
  • 2 cups (475 ml) chicken stock or broth
  • 20 pearl onions
  • One 12-oz (340 g) goat cheese log
  • ⅓ cup (20 g) chopped fresh herbs (parsley, chives, chervil and tarragon)
  • 6 sheets phyllo dough, thawed
  • ¼ cup (55 g) butter, melted
  • 1 egg beaten with 1 tbsp water, for egg wash
  • 2 tbsp red wine vinegar
  • 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
  • 1 tsp salt
  • ½ tsp freshly ground pepper
  • ½ cup (120 ml) extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 large red, 2 large yellow and 2 large green bell peppers, roasted
  • 3 cups (90 g) baby salad greens
Method
  1. Bring the stock to a boil and drop in the pearl onions. Simmer over medium heat until very tender, 30–45 minutes. Drain.
  2. Heat the oven to 400°F (200°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment. Roll the cheese log in the herbs.
  3. Layer the phyllo sheets on a piece of parchment, brushing each lightly with butter. Work quickly so the phyllo doesn’t dry out and crack.
  4. Lay the cheese along a long edge, tuck the ends of the dough over the ends of the log and roll up tightly, using the parchment as a guide. Brush with butter and egg wash and score the portions a third of the way through. Bake on the lined sheet until golden brown, 20 minutes.
  5. Vinaigrette: combine the vinegars, ½ tsp salt and ¼ tsp pepper, then whisk in the oil.
  6. Toss the peppers and onions with half the vinaigrette and season. Toss the greens with the rest and season.
  7. Arrange the greens on one side of each plate and a mound of pepper salad on the other. Slice the phyllo log and set it on the pepper salad.

To roast peppers: turn them over a gas flame until blackened, or halve them and broil cut side down. Put the charred peppers in a bag so the steam loosens the skins. When cool enough, slip off the skins and pull out the seeds and ribs.

Typed on her computer · 2005–16

Prosciutto and Melon Canapés

From CIA Taste, Summer/Fall 2008, the Culinary Institute of America’s catalogue of classes for food enthusiasts, where it illustrates the “Hors d’Oeuvre: Irresistible Bite-Sized Creations” feature. The recipe comes from The CIA’s Gourmet Meals in Minutes cookbook. Serves 8.

Make these when cantaloupe is at its best: the point is sweet, juicy melon against salty, paper-thin prosciutto. For crostini instead, spread the mascarpone on toasted ¼-inch (5 mm) slices of baguette and top each with a folded third of a prosciutto slice and a melon ball.

Canapés
  • 8 slices white bread
  • Olive oil, as needed
  • 1 cantaloupe (you need about 24 small balls)
  • 8 thin slices prosciutto (about ¼ lb / 115 g)
  • 1 bunch mint, cut in fine ribbons (chiffonade)
Mascarpone spread
  • 5 oz (140 g) mascarpone cheese
  • ¼ tsp Tabasco sauce
  • ¼ tsp Dijon mustard
  • A dash each of salt and freshly ground black pepper
Method
  1. Heat the broiler. Brush the bread lightly with oil and broil about 30 seconds a side, until crisp.
  2. Mix the mascarpone with the Tabasco, mustard, salt and pepper.
  3. Using the small end of a melon baller, scoop about 24 balls from the cantaloupe.
  4. Spread the toasts with the mascarpone and lay a slice of prosciutto on each. Stamp out canapés with a round cutter.
  5. Set a melon ball on each canapé and scatter with mint.
Prosciutto and melon canapés with mascarpone and mint. CIA Taste, Summer/Fall 2008, page 7
The recipe page as printed in Taste (page 7). CIA Taste, Summer/Fall 2008, page 7
Typed on her computer · 2005–16Vegan

Suzen Drogin’s Roasted Eggplant Dip

Ina Garten’s roasted eggplant spread, by way of Suzen Drogin.

Ingredients
  • 1 medium eggplant
  • 2 red bell peppers, seeded (or 1 yellow and 1 red)
  • 1 red onion, peeled
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 3 tbsp EVOO
  • 1½ tsp kosher salt
  • ½ tsp freshly ground pepper
  • 1 tbsp tomato paste (from tube)
Method
  1. Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).
  2. Cut eggplant, peppers and onion into 1-inch (2.5 cm) cubes. Toss in a large bowl with garlic, olive oil, salt and pepper. Spread all on a baking sheet. Roast for 45 minutes, until veggies are lightly browned and soft. Toss once during cooking. When done, cool slightly.
  3. Place veggies in a food processor (with steel blade) and add tomato paste. Pulse ONLY 3–4 times to blend (should not be a purée but chunky). Add more salt and pepper to taste. Enjoy!
Typed on her computer · 2005–16

Pat Coe’s Smoked Salmon Spread

Pat Coe’s recipe.

Ingredients
  • 4 oz (115 g) sliced smoked salmon
  • 2 oz (55 g) regular cream cheese
  • 1 tsp dried dill or 1 tbsp fresh dill
  • 1 tbsp capers
  • 2 tbsp diced red onion
  • 1 tbsp lemon juice
Method
  1. Put all in a food processor and blend until fairly smooth. Serve chilled.

An earlier copy lists the dill, capers, red onion and lemon juice without amounts.

Early cards, 1950s–80s
Early and later cards · 1950s–2000sHandwrittenWell used

Onion Soup

Yield Serves 6

Ingredients
  • 12 onions, thinly sliced
  • 14 cups (3.3 litres) beef bouillon
  • 4 tbsp (55 g) butter
  • 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
  • ¼ tsp Tabasco sauce
  • 1 tsp Kitchen Bouquet
  • 6 slices French bread, 1 inch (2.5 cm) thick
  • 6 tbsp Parmesan cheese
  • salt and pepper
Method
  1. Sauté the onions in the butter for 15 minutes, until golden brown.
  2. Add the bouillon, Worcestershire, Tabasco, Kitchen Bouquet, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat, cover and simmer 4 hours.
  3. Serve each bowl with a slice of bread topped with a tablespoon of Parmesan.

Also in the rose box: “Onion Soup (doubled)”. A stained, much-revised card for the grey box’s Onion Soup, doubled and noted “Life – 74” (perhaps a page in a Life cookbook). Compared with the grey box card: twice the quantities, much more Tabasco, a much longer, darker browning of the onions, and the Kitchen Bouquet dropped.

The Worcestershire, Tabasco and Kitchen Bouquet lines are boxed.

See also Mom’s French Onion Soup

Grey box, p. 106
Rose box, p. 271
Rose box, p. 272
Early cards · 1950s–80s

Chilled Cucumber-Buttermilk Soup

Newspaper clipping, about 1988

Yield Serves 4 or 5

Ingredients
  • 4 cups (500 g) peeled, seeded and chopped cucumber
  • 2 green onions, chopped
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • 1 tbsp honey
  • 1 tsp dried mint leaves
  • ½ tsp dried dillweed
  • 2 cups (475 ml) chicken broth
  • 2 cups (475 ml) buttermilk
  • salt and pepper
  • yogurt or sour cream (optional)
Method
  1. Purée the cucumber, green onions, garlic, honey, mint, dill and chicken broth in a blender or food processor. Transfer to a large bowl.
  2. Stir in the buttermilk and season with salt and pepper. Chill thoroughly.
  3. Ladle into bowls and garnish with a dollop of yogurt or sour cream if you like.

A surprisingly filling light meal, with some good bread to go with it.

Grey box, p. 109
Grey box, p. 110
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwritten

Rita’s Beef Soup

Rita

Ingredients
  • shin bone (shank) with meat
  • oil
  • onion and garlic
  • salt and pepper
  • 2 bouillon cubes or a can of beef broth
  • thyme
  • celery chunks
  • carrots (frozen)
  • round red potatoes
Method
  1. Brown the shank in oil. Add onion, garlic, salt, pepper and water to cover the meat.
  2. Add the bouillon or broth and thyme and simmer 1½ hours.
  3. Take the meat out, cut it up and remove the gristle. Return it with extra meat, the celery, carrots and potatoes.
  4. Cook 1 hour. Taste and season. Serve with bread.
Grey box, p. 111
Grey box, p. 112
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwritten

Chicken Soup

Ingredients
  • 1 stewing hen
  • 1 large veal knuckle, cracked, with lots of meat
  • 4 onions, whole
  • carrots, whole
  • 1 celery stalk, whole
  • salt and pepper
  • water to cover
Method
  1. Bring everything to a boil and cook all afternoon, slowly.
  2. Grind the meat to make a filling.

Underlined on the card: “cracked”; “all” in “Cook all aft. slowly.” is underlined twice.

Grey box, p. 113
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenSpecial praise

Beef-Mushroom Soup

Marked “(Great Din)”

Ingredients
  • 2 lb (900 g) beef chuck
  • 2 large beef marrow bones
  • 2 large onions, quartered
  • 3 celery stalks, cut up
  • 2 carrots, cut up
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1 large garlic clove, split
  • 4 whole cloves
  • 1 tbsp salt
  • 15 peppercorns
  • 4 quarts (3.8 litres) cold water, plus 2 cups (475 ml)
  • 2 egg whites, lightly beaten
  • 1 cup (70 g) thinly sliced raw mushrooms
  • 2 tbsp dry sherry
Method
  1. Roast the bones and onions at 450°F (230°C) for 45 minutes, for flavour and colour. Put them in a large kettle with the beef, celery, carrots, bay leaf, garlic, cloves, salt and peppercorns.
  2. Pour the fat out of the roasting pan, add 2 cups (475 ml) water and stir up the browned bits. Add to the kettle with the 4 quarts (3.8 litres) water.
  3. Bring to a boil and skim off the scum. Reduce the heat, cover and simmer 2 hours.
  4. Strain the soup and set the beef aside. Chill the soup 6 hours or overnight and remove the congealed fat.
  5. Stir in the egg whites and bring to a boil, stirring. Reduce the heat and simmer 1 hour uncovered. Strain through cheesecloth.
  6. Just before serving, boil the mushrooms in 2 cups (475 ml) of the consommé for 2 minutes. Add the rest of the consommé and the sherry and warm through.
Grey box, p. 114
Grey box, p. 115
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwritten

Jack’s Vissy-Squash

Jack

Ingredients
  • 2 large (4 medium) yellow summer squash, with skin
  • 1 large onion
  • chicken broth
  • ½ to 1 pint (240–475 g) sour cream
  • salt, pepper and lemon juice
  • chives or scallions, to garnish
Method
  1. Cook the squash and onion in chicken broth until tender. Cool.
  2. Blend to a purée. Add more broth to the thickness you like, then the sour cream.
  3. Season with salt, pepper and lemon juice and garnish with chives or scallions.

A chilled summer squash soup in the style of vichyssoise.

“Serve very cold — a knockout!”

Grey box, p. 116
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwritten

English Cheddar Soup with Olives

AWB

Yield 2 big portions for dinner or 4 small before a main course

Ingredients
  • 4 slices bacon
  • ¼ cup (25–40 g) each shredded carrots, celery and onion
  • ⅛ cup (16 g) flour
  • 2 cups (475 ml) chicken broth
  • 1½ cups (175–195 g) shredded or cubed sharp Cheddar
  • 1 cup (240 ml) milk
  • 2 tbsp sherry (optional)
  • ¼ cup (34 g) sliced olives
Method
  1. Cook the bacon in a saucepan until crisp. Remove and crumble.
  2. Sauté the vegetables in the drippings 5 minutes; don’t brown. Blend in the flour.
  3. Gradually stir in the broth. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until the mixture thickens and boils. Cook 5 minutes longer.
  4. Add the cheese and stir until melted. Stir in the milk, sherry if using, olives and bacon.

At the foot of the card: “Can be made day before” and “shred veg. in blender if you have one – much faster”, signed “AWB”.

Grey box, p. 117
Grey box, p. 118
Early cards · 1950s–80s

Cream of Celery Soup

Newspaper clipping

Yield 9 to 10 cups (2.1–2.4 litres)

Ingredients
  • 4 tbsp (55 g) butter
  • 1 clove garlic, finely minced
  • 1 cup (160 g) coarsely chopped onion
  • ¼ cup (31 g) flour
  • 4 cups cubed celery root (knob celery), about 1¼ lb (575 g)
  • 8 cups (800 g) rib celery, trimmed and cut into 1-inch (2.5 cm) lengths
  • 4 cups (950 ml) chicken broth
  • 4 cups (950 ml) water
  • salt
  • ½ cup (120 ml) heavy cream
  • freshly ground pepper
Method
  1. Heat half the butter in a large saucepan. Cook the garlic and onion until wilted. Sprinkle with the flour and stir to blend.
  2. Add the celery root, celery, broth, water and salt. Bring to the boil and simmer about 45 minutes.
  3. Purée in a food processor or blender and return to the pan. Add the cream, salt and pepper. Swirl in the remaining 2 tbsp (28 g) butter and serve.
Grey box, p. 119
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwritten

New England Clam Chowder

Yield Serves 6

Ingredients
  • 3 dozen soft-shell clams, shucked
  • 2 oz (55 g) salt pork, diced
  • 1½ cups (175 g) sliced onion
  • 6 cups (900 g) diced potatoes
  • 2 small bay leaves, crumbled
  • 1 tbsp salt, and pepper
  • 4 cups (950 ml) milk, scalded
  • 2 cups (475 ml) light cream, scalded
  • 3 tbsp (43 g) butter
  • 2 tbsp flour
Method
  1. Strain the clams, keeping the liquor. Mince the hard parts and chop the soft parts coarsely.
  2. Sauté the salt pork until golden brown. Add the minced clams, onion, potatoes, bay leaves, salt, pepper and 3 cups (710 ml) water. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat, cover and simmer 15 minutes.
  3. Add the clam liquor plus enough water to make 3 cups (710 ml). Add the chopped clams, milk, cream, and the butter blended with the flour. Simmer 20 minutes.
Grey box, p. 121
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwritten

Chilled Watercress Soup

Yield Serves 6

Ingredients
  • 1½ cups (240 g) chopped onion
  • 2 large garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 tbsp vegetable oil
  • ¼ cup (60 ml) dry wine
  • 1 cup (240 ml) canned chicken broth
  • a ½-lb (225 g) baking potato, cut into ½-inch (1 cm) pieces
  • 2 cups (60 g) packed watercress
  • 1 cup (240 ml) half-and-half
  • ⅛ tsp nutmeg
  • salt and pepper
Method
  1. In a kettle, cook the onion and garlic in the oil over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until softened.
  2. Add the wine and cook, stirring, until it has evaporated.
  3. Add the broth, 3 cups (710 ml) water, the potato, nutmeg, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil and simmer 10 minutes, until the potato is tender.
  4. Add the watercress and cook, stirring, 1 minute. Add the half-and-half.
  5. Cool, then purée in batches. Adjust the salt and pepper and chill. It can be made a day ahead, covered and chilled.
Grey box, p. 122
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwritten

Cucumber Soup

Written out in capitals

Ingredients
  • 5 to 7 cucumbers
  • 1 pint (475 g) plain yogurt
  • fresh dill
  • garlic (lots)
  • 1 pint (475 ml) half-and-half
  • 2 cans chicken broth
  • salt and pepper
Method
  1. Peel, halve and deseed the cucumbers.
  2. Strip the dill from the stems.
  3. Put the garlic in the Cuisinart and almost purée it.
  4. Combine the cucumbers, garlic, dill, broth, half-and-half and yogurt. Season with salt and pepper.

The card signs off: “You’re done ☺”

Underlined on the card: “COMBINE”; “FRESH” in “FRESH DILL” is underlined twice.

Grey box, p. 123
Grey box, p. 124
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwritten

Vichyssoise

Noted “G – 8/80” (Gourmet, August 1980), with a Cuisinart method

Yield Serves 4

Ingredients
  • 3 to 4 medium leeks (2½ cups / 225 g), chopped with the metal blade, 4 to 5 pulses
  • ¼ cup (55 g) butter
  • 1½ lb (675 g) (3 medium) potatoes (about 4 cups), peeled and chopped by pulsing
  • 3 cups (710 ml) canned chicken broth, undiluted
  • 2 cups (475 ml) half-and-half
  • 1 cup (240 ml) dry white wine (added in red ink)
  • salt and white pepper
  • snipped fresh chives
Method
  1. Sauté the leeks in the butter until soft, about 5 minutes. Take the pan off the heat.
  2. Add the potatoes and broth. Bring to a boil and simmer 20 minutes, until the potatoes are soft.
  3. Purée and blend until very finely smooth. Stir in the half-and-half and the wine, then salt and white pepper to taste.
  4. Chill, loosely covered, at least 4 hours or overnight. Sprinkle with snipped chives.

Underlined on the card: “leeks”, “butter”, “pot.”, “chicken broth”, “½ + ½”, “salt” and “white pepper”; the potatoes’ “4 C” is circled.

Grey box, p. 125
Early cards · 1950s–80s

Dolley Madison’s Macaroni Soup

From a newspaper feature, “Entertaining With…”, by Anne Crutcher, a Washington writer, on history’s great hosts and hostesses

Yield Serves 4 to 6

Ingredients
  • 1 lb (450 g) beef shin bone
  • ½ tsp dried thyme
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1 clove garlic
  • 3 quarts (2.9 litres) water
  • 1 lb (450 g) macaroni or other pasta
  • ½ lb (225 g) sweet butter
  • ½ tsp nutmeg
  • 1½ cups (360 ml) turkey or roast-beef drippings
  • ½ cup (50 g) Parmesan-style cheese
Method
  1. Simmer the shin bone with the thyme, bay leaf and garlic in the water for 2 or 3 hours, until tender.
  2. Slice the meat and set aside.
  3. Strain the broth, bring to a boil and cook the pasta in it for 10 minutes.
  4. Butter a tureen generously. Pour in the broth and pasta. Add the meat, nutmeg and drippings and top with the Parmesan.
  5. Bake at 350°F (180°C) for 25 minutes.

See also Antonin Carême’s Apple Soufflé

Grey box, p. 205
Early cards · 1950s–80s

Daisy Harriman’s Soup Remarkable

From the same newspaper feature, on the Washington hostess Daisy Harriman

Yield Serves 3 to 4

Ingredients
  • 12 clams, with their juice
  • 6 oysters, with their juice
  • ¼ lb (115 g) mushrooms
  • 2 tbsp (28 g) butter
  • 1 tbsp flour
  • ½ cup (120 ml) milk
  • 1 cup (240 ml) light cream
  • juice of ½ lemon
  • 3 tbsp sherry
  • salt and pepper
Method
  1. Purée the clams and oysters, with their juices, and the mushrooms in a blender.
  2. In a 2-quart (1.9 litres) saucepan, melt the butter and stir in the flour.
  3. Add the milk and cream and stir until smooth.
  4. Add the purée and lemon juice and reheat. Just before serving, add the sherry and salt and pepper to taste. Serve with crisp toast.
Grey box, p. 206
Early cards · 1950s–80s

Potato-Leek Soup and Tarragon Roast Chicken (one oven, one microwave)

Newspaper clipping on cooking a dinner with the microwave and the conventional oven together; the column’s start is cut off

Yield Serves 4

Ingredients
  • Potato-leek soup (microwave)
  • ¾ lb (340 g) potatoes, peeled and cut into 2-inch (5 cm) chunks
  • 2 large leeks (about 1 lb / 450 g), white and very light green parts only, cleaned and cut into 2-inch (5 cm) slices
  • 2½ cups (590 ml) chicken broth
  • ⅓ cup (80 g) part-skim ricotta cheese
  • ½ cup (120 ml) buttermilk
  • ½ tsp kosher salt
  • 2 tbsp snipped fresh chives
  • Roast chicken (conventional oven)
  • 1 roasting chicken (its weight is cut off the clipping)
  • 1 lemon
  • garlic
  • salt and pepper
  • 2 bunches fresh tarragon (¾ oz / 21 g each): stem one, leave the other whole
  • ½ cup (120 ml) dry white wine
Method
  1. Soup: coarsely chop the potatoes and leeks in a food processor. Scrape into a 2½-quart (2.4 litres) soufflé dish with a tight lid and stir in 1½ cups (360 ml) of the broth. Microwave, covered, at full power in a high-power oven for 16 minutes, stirring once.
  2. Uncover and stir in the ricotta, buttermilk, salt and the remaining broth. Purée in batches in a blender until smooth (a food processor won’t make it creamy).
  3. Serve chilled, or return to the dish and microwave, covered, 2 minutes. Sprinkle with chives. In a low-power oven, cook 30 minutes in step 1 and 3 minutes to reheat.
  4. Chicken: heat the oven to 500°F (260°C). Remove the fat from the crop and cavity, and the neck, gizzard and liver (freeze them for another use).
  5. Squeeze half the lemon over the skin and season with salt and pepper. Stuff the cavity with the other lemon half, the garlic and the whole bunch of tarragon.
  6. Roast breast side up for 45 minutes to 1 hour, until the juices run clear. For the first few minutes, shake the pan or move the chicken with a wooden spoon so it doesn’t stick.
  7. Tilt the chicken over the pan to let the cavity juices run in, then move it to a platter. Pour off the fat.
  8. Set the pan on the stove, add the wine and boil, scraping the bottom hard. Stir in the tarragon leaves and simmer 5 minutes. Serve the juices over the chicken or in a sauce boat.

The article’s advice: preheat the oven at the start, but the chicken “should come out of the oven when your guests have finished the soup, so you can clear the dishes and make the deglazing sauce at the last minute.” “Some good bread is an asset.”

Grey box, p. 335
Later cards, 1990s–2000s
Later cards · 1990s–2000sHandwritten

Split Pea Soup

A stained card, revised in several inks

Yield Serves 4

Ingredients
  • 2 cups (400 g) green split peas
  • 1 ham bone
  • ½ cup (80 g) finely chopped onion (or 1 large onion)
  • 2 cups (200 g) chopped celery (or 1 cup / 100 g)
  • 2 carrots, thinly sliced (1½ cups / 190 g)
  • 1 cup (240 ml) milk
  • 2 cups (475 ml) chicken bouillon
  • salt
  • 10 peppercorns and a bay leaf (or ½ tsp pepper)
  • bacon bits
  • ½ tsp garlic
  • ½ tsp oregano
Method
  1. Soak the peas overnight in 2 quarts (1.9 litres) (3, revised) of water.
  2. Boil them in the water, then reduce the heat. Add the ham bone, onion, bouillon and seasonings, cover and simmer 1½ hours.
  3. Add the vegetables and simmer 2 to 2½ hours.
  4. Remove the bone, cut off the meat and chop it up. Press the rest of the soup through a sieve or food mill (“not nec.”).
  5. Add the chopped ham and the milk and simmer 20 minutes. Add salt if needed.

The last word: “Milk not in most recipes.”

Rose box, p. 273
Rose box, p. 274
Later cards · 1990s–2000sHandwrittenVegetarian

Turkish Lentil Soup

On a torn sheet of spiral-notebook paper, with a name circled in the corner, perhaps “Reizal” [?]. The lentils are measured in “water cups”, the Turkish water glass (su bardağı).

Yield Serves 6

Ingredients
  • 2 water cups (glasses) lentils, soaked 10 minutes (or overnight)
  • a pot of water
  • 2 onions, chopped and browned
  • 1 medium potato, chopped
  • 1 tsp pepper
  • 1 tsp chili pepper
  • 1 tsp dried mint
  • a pinch of salt
  • 1 tomato, peeled and chopped
  • ½ spoon tomato paste
  • butter
Method
  1. Cook everything together ½ hour, then purée.
  2. Finish with butter.

Beside the chili pepper: “(!!)”

“Butter” (added at the end) is underlined.

Rose box, p. 275
Later cards · 1990s–2000sHandwrittenWell usedVegetarian

B.S.E.’s Gazpacho, with Garlic Croutons

Headed “Gazpacho Soup (B.S.E.’s combination)”; the croutons are on the back, which is heavily stained

Yield Serves 10

Ingredients
  • Purée in the Cuisinart
  • 3 cloves garlic, mashed
  • ¼ cup (40 g) onion (1 medium onion), in chunks
  • 1½ cups (225 g) green pepper (1 green pepper), in chunks
  • ½ cup (65 g) (1½ cups / 190 g, revised [?]) cucumber (1 cucumber), peeled, in chunks
  • 2 cups (475 ml) tomato juice (add after the Cuisinart)
  • 6 tomatoes, peeled and cut up (6 cups / 1.1 kg, or less; 2 medium tomatoes make 2 cups / 360 g)
  • Then add
  • 1½ [?] tsp salt (overwritten, with “tsp” written above in blue)
  • pepper
  • ⅛ tsp cayenne
  • ¼ cup (60 ml) olive oil
  • ¼ cup (60 ml) tarragon vinegar
  • ½ tsp cumin
  • Garnish (½ cup / 120 ml each)
  • cucumber, diced (in the Cuisinart)
  • onion, chopped
  • tomato, chopped
  • red and green pepper, chopped
  • Garlic croutons
  • 6 slices white bread (dry), crusts removed, cut in ½-inch (1 cm) squares
  • ½ cup (115 g) clarified butter (with the milky residue separated out)
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
Method
  1. Purée the garlic, onion, pepper, cucumber and tomatoes in the Cuisinart. Stir in the tomato juice and the seasonings, oil and vinegar.
  2. Refrigerate overnight.
  3. Serve with the garnishes and garlic croutons.
  4. Croutons: put the butter and garlic in a skillet over medium heat. Add the bread cubes and sauté, stirring, until crisp and golden. Drain.

“½ c plain yogurt” was added and then crossed out.

Underlined on the card: “Puree in Cuisinart”, “Add”, “Refrig” (overnight) and “Garnish”; on the back, “stirring” (the croutons).

Rose box, p. 276
Rose box, p. 277
Later cards · 1990s–2000sHandwrittenWell used

Grammy’s Cream of Mushroom Soup

Two cards. Grammy’s neat yellow card is headed “My Cream of Mushroom Soup (c.1970)”; the older card, badly stained, uses George Washington Golden Broth and has the seasonings finished on the back.

Ingredients
  • 1½ lb (675 g) button mushrooms, chopped (the old card: 1 lb / 450 g)
  • butter, to sauté
  • 4 to 5 cups (950 ml–1.2 litres) beef broth (the old card: 4 cups / 950 ml broth, made with G. Washington Golden Broth)
  • 1½ cups (150 g) celery, chopped (old card: 1 cup / 100 g)
  • ½ cup (60 g) sliced onions
  • ¼ cup (15 g) shredded parsley
  • 4 tbsp (55 g) butter
  • 4 tbsp flour
  • 3 cups (710 ml) heavy cream (old card: 4 cups / 950 ml cream)
  • 3 tsp (1 tbsp) salt
  • ¼ tsp nutmeg
  • ¼ tsp paprika
  • 4 tbsp sherry (old card: “sherry wine”)
Method
  1. Chop the mushrooms and sauté them lightly in butter.
  2. Add the broth, celery, onions and parsley. Cover and simmer 20 minutes.
  3. Drain and keep the stock (or blend it all).
  4. Melt the butter and stir in the flour. Add the cream.
  5. Pour into the stock slowly and bring to a boil, stirring.
  6. Season with the salt, nutmeg, paprika and sherry.

On the old card “Drain veg., reserve stock” is crossed out: by then she was blending the vegetables into the soup instead.

On the yellow card, a short line is drawn just above each “1½” (the mushrooms and the celery), and “3C.” (heavy cream) is underlined.

Rose box, p. 278
Rose box, p. 279
Rose box, p. 280
Later cards · 1990s–2000sHandwrittenWell used

Laurie’s Tarragon Pea Soup

Laurie, printed in capitals in black felt pen; a blot of ink sits over part of the list

Yield 6 cups (1.4 litres)

Ingredients
  • 4 tbsp (55 g) unsalted butter
  • 1 onion, coarsely chopped
  • 2 large garlic cloves, chopped
  • 4 cups (950 ml) chicken stock [the word is under a blot]
  • 1 large Idaho potato, peeled and quartered
  • 1½ lb (675 g) frozen sweet peas
  • ¼ tsp cayenne pepper
  • ½ tsp ground pepper
  • 2 tbsp dried tarragon
Method
  1. Melt the butter in a heavy saucepan over low heat. Add the onion and garlic and cook gently until wilted, 10 minutes.
  2. Add the stock and potato and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and cook until the potato is just tender, about 15 minutes.
  3. Add the peas, cayenne and pepper and return to a boil. Take the pan off the heat and stir in the tarragon. Let the soup cool 10 minutes.
  4. Process in batches in a food processor or blender until smooth. Pour through a fine sieve or a food mill to remove any pieces of skin.
Rose box, p. 281
Rose box, p. 282
Later cards · 1990s–2000sHandwrittenWell usedVegan

Gazpacho

Two cards: a tidy one, and an older, much-stained slip of paper

Yield Serves 4

Ingredients
  • 2 cups (475 ml) tomato juice
  • 1 small onion, chopped (¼ cup / 40 g)
  • 1 green pepper, chopped (½ cup / 75 g); the tidy card has “1 gr. pepper (lg)”, with “sm red & 1 gr” [?] written in above it, so one small red and one large green
  • 1 small cucumber, chopped (1 cup / 125 g)
  • 1 garlic clove, minced
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 2 tbsp wine vinegar
  • a dash of hot pepper sauce, to taste (½ tsp)
  • salt and pepper
  • a slice of lemon, to serve
Method
  1. Save a quarter of each chopped vegetable to add after blending.
  2. Blend everything else. Refrigerate overnight before serving.
  3. Add the saved vegetables and serve with a slice of lemon.

The rose box also has a larger “Gazpacho Soup (B.S.E.’s [?] combination)” for 10, with garlic croutons, just before these cards.

On the old slip, “Refrig overnight” is underlined.

Rose box, p. 283
Rose box, p. 284
Later cards · 1990s–2000sHandwrittenVegetarian

Cuke Soup

Headed “(make 1 batch at a time)”; Grammy changed it from 8 servings to 10

Yield Serves 10

Ingredients
  • 6 cucumbers (large; the card first said 2½)
  • 1 quart (950 ml) buttermilk
  • ¼ cup (15 g) parsley
  • 2 scallions (white part only)
  • 1 pint (475 g) sour cream
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 2 tbsp lemon juice
  • 2 tbsp fresh dill sprigs, or chopped dill
Method
  1. Cut 6 thin slices of cucumber and set them aside. Peel and chop the rest.
  2. Put the cucumbers in the Cuisinart and moisten with 1 cup (240 ml) of the buttermilk. Blend with the parsley and scallions.
  3. Beat in the sour cream, salt and lemon juice.
  4. Put it in a large pitcher, add the remaining buttermilk, whisk and chill.
  5. Float the cucumber slices on top with dill.

The card shows its history: “blender” is crossed out for “Cuisinart”, and “repeat with other half” is gone once the bigger machine could take it all.

Rose box, p. 285
Later cards · 1990s–2000sHandwritten

Chilled Avocado and Cucumber Soup

Noted “G – June 83”: Gourmet, June 1983

Yield 9 cups (2.1 litres); serves 8

Ingredients
  • 3 cups (710 ml) chicken stock
  • 2 scallions, chopped
  • 3 very ripe avocados, peeled, pitted and mashed with a fork
  • 1 cucumber, peeled, seeded and chopped
  • 3 cups (710 ml) half-and-half
  • 1 cup (240 g) sour cream
  • 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
  • white pepper and salt, to taste
  • snipped fresh dill, to garnish
Method
  1. In a saucepan, heat the stock with the scallions until hot. Take the pan off the heat and stir in the avocado and cucumber.
  2. Purée the mixture in batches in a blender and put it in a glass bowl.
  3. Stir in the half-and-half, sour cream, lemon juice, white pepper and salt.
  4. Chill the soup, covered, for at least 1 hour. Garnish with dill.

“Covered” is underlined.

Rose box, p. 286
Rose box, p. 287
Later cards · 1990s–2000s

Garlic Soup

A typed recipe, taped into the box

Ingredients
  • 1 large elephant garlic round, or two large cloves, sliced thin
  • 1 large Vidalia onion, chopped
  • 2 medium Idaho potatoes, peeled and cubed
  • 3 tbsp (43 g) sweet butter
  • chicken stock to cover
  • 1 cup (240 ml) milk or half-and-half
  • a good dash of freshly grated nutmeg
  • salt and pepper
  • chopped chives, parsley or croutons, to garnish
Method
  1. Melt the butter in a large heavy pot over medium-high heat. Add the onions and sauté until tender. To avoid browning, add 2 tbsp warm water to the pot.
  2. Add the garlic and potatoes. Cover with chicken stock and cook 20 to 25 minutes, until the garlic and potatoes are soft.
  3. When the soup is cool enough to handle, blend it in a processor or blender. Thin to the consistency you like with milk or half-and-half.
  4. Season with salt and pepper and a generous amount of nutmeg. Reheat and garnish with chives, parsley or croutons.
Rose box, p. 288
Later cards · 1990s–2000sHandwritten

Cindy’s Roasted Garlic, Turnip and Chervil Soup

Cindy; the British measures suggest an English source

Yield Serves 6

Ingredients
  • 50 g (2 oz) butter
  • 1 medium onion, finely chopped
  • 4 large garlic cloves, unpeeled and roasted
  • 1 stick celery, finely chopped
  • 1 turnip (8 oz / 225 g), grated
  • 8 oz (225 g) potatoes, peeled and thinly sliced
  • 1½ pints (900 ml) light chicken broth
  • 2 tbsp double cream
  • 2 tbsp finely chopped chervil
  • salt and ground pepper
Method
  1. Melt the butter and cook the onion gently in a covered saucepan until soft, without colouring.
  2. Peel the roasted garlic and add it to the pan with the celery, turnip and potatoes. Cook 2 minutes.
  3. Add the stock. Cover, bring to a boil and simmer until the vegetables are tender.
  4. Cool a little, then purée. Reheat gently, adding the cream and chervil. Season and serve.

“Cindy” is underlined, and so is “un” (in “unpeeled”).

Rose box, p. 289
Later cards · 1990s–2000sHandwritten

Cindy’s Roasted Parsnip and Parmesan Soup

Cindy, on a pink card

Yield Serves 6

Ingredients
  • 1 lb parsnips (450 g), cut into lengths
  • 2 oz freshly grated Parmesan cheese (50 g)
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 15 g (½ oz) butter
  • 1 medium onion, finely chopped
  • 1 tbsp flour
  • 2¼ pints (1.35 litres) light chicken stock
  • salt and pepper
  • 4 tbsp double cream
Method
  1. Simmer the parsnips in plenty of salted water 3 minutes. Drain well and toss in half the Parmesan.
  2. Put the olive oil in a roasting pan and heat it in the oven (400°F / 200°C) for 3 to 4 minutes.
  3. Arrange the parsnips in the pan, add the butter and bake 45 minutes, basting frequently.
  4. Drain the excess oil into a large saucepan and cook the onion gently until soft, without colouring.
  5. Stir in the flour and cook 1 minute. Add the stock, stirring constantly, and bring to a boil. Add the parsnips and simmer, covered, 10 minutes.
  6. Purée the soup with the remaining Parmesan. Stir in the cream, taste and season. Reheat to serve and garnish with ground pepper.

“Cindy” is underlined, and the “3″” (simmer 3 minutes) is underlined twice.

Rose box, p. 290
Typed on her computer, 2005–16
Typed on her computer · 2005–16

“Mushroom Cappuccino” (Cream of Mushroom Soup with Parmesan Foam)

From the Culinary Institute of America’s Culinary Intelligence blog, posted 10 January 2011 and adapted from the CIA’s The New Book of Soups (2010). Serves 8.

Soup
  • 7 tbsp (100 g) butter
  • 8 cups chopped mushrooms (about 1¼ lb / 575 g): white, cremini, oyster or porcini, alone or mixed
  • ⅔ cup (65 g) finely chopped celery
  • 1¼ cups (115 g) thinly sliced leek (white part only)
  • ½ cup (65 g) all-purpose flour
  • 5 cups (1.2 litres) chicken broth
  • 1 fresh thyme sprig
  • 1 cup (70 g) sliced mushrooms
  • ½ cup (120 ml) heavy cream, heated
  • Fresh lemon juice, as needed (or a touch of sherry instead)
  • Salt to taste
  • Freshly ground white pepper, as needed
Optional garnishes
  • ¼ cup (38 g) small-diced peeled red pepper, sautéed until tender
  • ¼ cup (34 g) chopped hard-boiled egg whites
  • ¼ cup (18–25 g) each of leeks, celery and sliced mushrooms, sautéed until tender
Method
  1. Melt 6 tbsp of the butter over medium heat in a soup pot. Add the chopped mushrooms, celery and leek and cook, stirring often, until softened, 6–8 minutes.
  2. Stir in the flour and cook, stirring constantly, for 3–4 minutes. Gradually whisk in the broth, add the thyme, bring to a simmer and cook for 30 minutes.
  3. Meanwhile, melt the remaining 1 tbsp (14 g) butter in a skillet and sauté the sliced mushrooms until cooked through, about 5 minutes. Set aside.
  4. Discard the thyme. Purée the soup, then strain it through cheesecloth or a fine sieve back into the pot. Over low heat, add the hot cream and season with lemon juice, salt and white pepper. Heat through, but do not boil.
  5. Serve in heated bowls (or glass mugs, cappuccino-style), garnished with the sautéed mushrooms and any of the optional garnishes, and topped with Parmesan foam.

Parmesan foam (makes about 1½ cups / 360 ml)

  • 1 cup (240 ml) 2% milk
  • ½ tsp soy lecithin (a natural powder from health-food stores; it holds the bubbles up)
  • 1 cup (100 g) grated Parmesan cheese
  • ½ tsp minced garlic
  • ½ tsp cracked black pepper
  • ¾ cup (180 ml) low-sodium chicken broth or mushroom broth [?] (listed, but the method never says when to add it)
  1. Scald the milk with the soy lecithin in a saucepan. Off the heat, whisk in the Parmesan, garlic and pepper, then leave to steep at room temperature for 30 minutes (start it while the soup simmers).
  2. Strain, discarding the cheese and seasonings. Pour the liquid into a 1-quart (950 ml) measuring cup and froth it with an immersion blender until a foam develops. Spoon it onto the soup.
Typed on her computer · 2005–16

Mom’s French Onion Soup

Mom’s recipe, the revised version. Serves 8.

Ingredients
  • 3 lb (1.4 kg) yellow onions, sliced ⅛ inch (3 mm) thick (about 3 cups)* — Spanish onions are best
  • ½ stick (55 g) butter
  • 4 cloves garlic, crushed*
  • 1 tsp brown sugar
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 8 cups (1.9 litres) beef broth, low-sodium (low-sodium chicken stock also works)
  • 2 cups (475 ml) white wine, such as Pinot Grigio or Sauvignon Blanc*
  • 4 tbsp Cognac*
  • ½ tsp Tabasco sauce
  • 2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
  • French baguette, cut on the bias into ⅜–¾ inch (1–2 cm) slices (2 per bowl)
  • 8 oz (225 g) Gruyère, grated*
Method
  1. Melt the butter in a heavy-bottomed Dutch oven over high heat. When the foam subsides, stir in the salt and brown sugar. Add the onions and garlic and stir to coat.
  2. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions begin to soften and release some moisture, 6–10 minutes. Reduce the heat to medium-low and cook, stirring frequently, until caramelised (syrupy and deeply browned), about 60+ minutes longer. Reduce the heat if the onions scorch.
  3. Stir in the broth, wine, Cognac, Tabasco and Worcestershire (and the herbs, if using instead of garlic). Scrape the bottom of the pan with a wooden spoon to loosen all the browned bits. Bring to a slow simmer and cook 20–30 minutes. Add salt and pepper to taste.
  4. While the soup simmers, heat the oven to 350°F (180°C). Spread the bread slices on a rack and toast lightly, 7–10 minutes.
  5. Ladle the soup into bowls. Float enough bread on top to cover and sprinkle each with 2 tbsp grated cheese. Broil until well browned and bubbly, 7–10 minutes. Cool 5 minutes and serve.
Substitutions (marked * above)
  • Yellow onions: red onions, for their subtle complexity. Then add 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar at the end with the salt and pepper, to restore the soup’s deep reddish-brown colour.
  • Garlic: 2 sprigs fresh parsley, 1 sprig fresh thyme and 1 bay leaf. Add with the broth and remove before serving.
  • White wine and Cognac: increase the beef broth to 10 cups (2.4 litres) and add ½ cup (120 ml) Calvados or applejack.
  • Gruyère: 4½ oz (130 g) Swiss cheese sliced 1/16 inch (1.5 mm) thick, plus 1½ oz (43 g) Asiago, grated (¾ cup). Lay a slice of Swiss on each piece of bread and sprinkle with 2 tbsp Asiago.

See also Onion Soup

Made by Zenab and Karin, 5 October 2024
Typed on her computer · 2005–16

M’s French Onion Soup (first version)

The first version of the soup above, with olive oil, more butter and a longer simmer. Serves 8–10.

Ingredients
  • About 3 cups yellow onions, thinly sliced (3 lb / 1.4 kg)
  • ¼ cup (60 ml) olive oil
  • 1 stick (115 g) butter
  • 4 cloves garlic, crushed
  • 1 tsp sugar
  • 8 cups (1.9 litres) beef broth plus 2 cups (475 ml) white wine, or six 14-oz (395 g) cans of broth instead
  • 4 tbsp Cognac (optional)
  • ½ tsp Tabasco sauce
  • 2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
  • Croutons: slices of French bread with olive oil and 2 cloves garlic, crushed
  • 8–16 oz (225–450 g) Gruyère, grated
Method
  1. Melt the oil and butter together in a heavy-bottomed saucepan over high heat.
  2. Add the onions, garlic and sugar, turning occasionally, until the edges of the onions have turned dark, about 6–10 minutes.
  3. Reduce the heat to low and cook 30–35 minutes. The bottom will have a rich, nut-brown caramelised film.
  4. Pour in the broth, season and stir with a wooden spoon, scraping the bottom of the pan well.
  5. Bring to a simmer, turn to low and cook uncovered for about 1 hour. Check the seasoning.
  6. Ladle the hot soup into bowls, float the croutons and sprinkle with cheese. Place under a preheated hot broiler until the cheese is golden brown and bubbly.

Grammy’s note: “(Very Hot!)”

The first version as a printed recipe card, made in Word from a “Creating Recipe Cards” template, chef and all. The Word file names Karin Rutter as its author. Grammy’s typed files, November 2006
Typed on her computer · 2005–16Vegetarian

Senegalese Peanut Soup

M. Luckey, from James Peterson’s Splendid Soups. Serves 6–8 (makes 7 cups / 1.7 litres).

Ingredients
  • 1–2 tbsp roasted peanut oil
  • 1 large onion, cut into ½-inch (1 cm) dice
  • 1 large garlic clove, minced
  • ¼ cup (15 g) chopped cilantro stems
  • ¼–½ tsp cayenne or hot red pepper flakes, to taste
  • 2 tbsp curry powder
  • 28-oz (800 g) can crushed tomatoes
  • ⅔ cup (180 g) peanut butter, preferably organic and unsweetened
  • 3 cups (710 ml) chicken stock (or just water)
  • 1 cup (240 ml) coconut milk, or more to taste
  • Sea salt
  • 2 tbsp chopped cilantro, plus whole branches to garnish
  • Plain yogurt and lime wedges, to serve
Method
  1. Heat the oil in a soup pot, then add the onion, garlic and cilantro stems. Stir, then cook over high heat for a few minutes to warm the onion. Lower the heat to medium and cook until the onion has softened somewhat, 10–12 minutes. Stir in the cayenne and curry powder.
  2. Add 3 cups (710 ml) water (or chicken stock) and the tomatoes with all their juices. Stir well and bring to a boil. Drop in the peanut butter and simmer until the onions are soft and the peanut butter has dissolved, about 15 minutes.
  3. Stir in the coconut milk. Season with salt; it will take less (if any) than most soups.
  4. Just before serving, add the chopped cilantro. Serve with a large dollop of yogurt in each bowl and a wedge of lime on the side.

Note: Although it is a full meal in a bowl as is, you can thin it with water or tomato juice and add cooked rice to the bowl.

Her later typed copy

Her later copies add optional 2 tbsp Thai curry paste with the curry powder (“I use half hot and half sweet curry for milder taste”), optional 4 cups (550 g) shredded cooked chicken thighs or breast with the coconut milk, and 1–2 tbsp lime juice to season. Serve with a spoonful of rice, sliced green onions and cilantro. One copy is headed “Patricia Engel”.

See also Kir’s Senegalese-Style Chicken Curry Soup

Typed on her computer · 2005–16

Kir’s Senegalese Peanut Soup with Chicken

Pat Engel / M. Luckey, with Kir’s alterations. Serves 6–8.

Make the soup above with these changes:

  • Cilantro stems: Kir “used a bit more”.
  • Peanut butter: Kir “used ‘crunchy’, and added a bit extra”.
  • Use 3 cups (710 ml) chicken stock rather than water.
  • Add 2 whole chicken breasts, poached and shredded (about 6 cups / 850 g). After the coconut milk, mix in the chicken and simmer again 5–10 minutes.
  • Stir in 1–2 tbsp fresh lime juice before seasoning with salt.
Other versions Kir collected

Kir saved three more recipes from the web, noting that two include sweet potatoes (“yuck?”).

Senegalese Chicken and Peanut Soup (recipezaar.com, recipe #109454). The poster describes it as silky but not thick, spicy but not too hot, sharp with tomato and lemon, and tasting of peanuts rather than peanut butter. It freezes well. Takes about 1 hour 20 minutes.

  • 1 large onion, chopped
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • ¼ tsp cayenne
  • 2 tbsp vegetable oil
  • ¼ cup (28 g) curry powder
  • 1 tbsp yellow curry paste
  • 1 quart (950 ml) chicken stock
  • 1 quart (950 g) diced tomatoes with juice
  • 4 cups (550 g) cooked chicken, diced (the poster used one whole cooked chicken)
  • ¾ tsp sambal oelek (red chile paste)
  • 1 cup (270 g) chunky peanut butter
  • 14-oz (415 ml) can coconut milk
  • 1 bunch cilantro, chopped
  • Lemon juice, to taste (about 1 small lemon)
  1. Sauté the onion, garlic and cayenne in the oil until the onion is translucent.
  2. Stir in the curry powder and curry paste and sauté 1 minute.
  3. Add the stock and tomatoes, bring to a boil, then simmer 15 minutes.
  4. Add the chicken and sambal and simmer 10 minutes.
  5. Whisk in the peanut butter a little at a time, then stir in the coconut milk.
  6. Turn the heat to low and add the cilantro and lemon juice. Check the seasoning.

A reviewer’s tip saved with it: yellow curry paste is much better than green, which is far hotter (use only about ½ tsp of green). They served it with salad and baguette slices brushed with olive oil and garlic, then toasted.

The Soup House’s Senegalese Peanut Soup (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel; ingredients only): 1 lb (450 g) dry-roasted peanuts, 2 tbsp peanut oil, 1 Spanish onion, 2 ribs celery and 2 leeks (all diced), 2 tsp sugar, 2 tsp curry powder, 2 tsp ground cumin, ½ tsp cayenne, ½ tsp salt, 28-oz (800 g) can diced tomatoes, 6 cups (1.4 litres) water, ½ cup (50 g) diced green onions, ½ cup (120 ml) half-and-half, 1 tsp garlic powder (or finely crushed fresh garlic), cooked boneless chicken breast (optional) and chopped fresh parsley.

Sweet potato version (Food Network; the same list also appears on fooddownunder.com; ingredients only): 2 large sweet potatoes (about 2 lb / 900 g), 4 tbsp peanut oil, 12 Roma tomatoes (about 2 lb / 900 g) halved, stemmed and seeded, 1 tsp salt, ½ tsp black pepper, 2 tbsp curry powder, 2 cups (230 g) thinly sliced yellow onions, 1 tbsp minced garlic, 2 tsp cayenne, 2 cups (550 g) smooth peanut butter, 2 quarts (1.9 litres) chicken broth and 10 oz (295 ml) unsweetened coconut milk.

Kir’s later version

Kir later rewrote this soup in metric measures, with optional Thai curry paste and 4 chicken breasts.

See also Kir’s Senegalese-Style Chicken Curry Soup

Typed on her computer · 2005–16

Kir’s Senegalese-Style Chicken Curry Soup

Adapted by KC (Kir) from P. Engel / M. Luckey, from James Peterson’s book Splendid Soups. Serves 8-ish.

Ingredients
  • 1–2 tbsp roasted peanut oil (or any oil)
  • 1 large onion, roughly chopped
  • 1 large garlic clove, minced
  • 4+ tbsp chopped coriander stems
  • ¼–½ tsp cayenne or hot red pepper flakes, to taste
  • 2 tbsp “curry powder” (or make your own, with turmeric, cumin, etc.)
  • Optional extra, sounds crazy, but works: 2 tbsp “Thai curry paste” (or make your own, with lemon grass, etc.)
  • 4 × 400 g (14 oz) cans chopped tomatoes
  • 150 g (5½ oz) good-quality peanut butter, preferably unsweetened
  • 250+ ml (1+ cup) coconut milk, or more to taste
  • Optional: 4 chicken breasts, poached and shredded (approx 4 cups / 550 g?)
  • 1–2 tbsp fresh squeezed lemon or lime juice (maybe lime would be best here)
  • 700 ml (3 cups) chicken stock
  • Salt
For garnishing at the table
  • 2+ tbsp chopped coriander leaves, plus whole branches for garnish (I use more)
  • Plain yogurt
  • Lime wedges (plenty)
  • Spring onions, thinly sliced
Method
  1. Heat the oil in a soup pot, then add the onion, garlic and coriander stems. Give a stir, then cook over high heat for a few minutes to warm the onion. Lower the heat to medium and cook until the onion has softened somewhat, 10–15 minutes. Stir in the cayenne, curry powder and curry paste.
  2. Add the chicken stock and the tomatoes, including all their juices. Stir well and bring to a boil. Drop in the peanut butter and simmer until the onions are soft and the peanut butter has dissolved, about 15 minutes.
  3. Stir in the coconut milk. Mix in the shredded chicken and simmer again to heat through (to 74°C / 165°F). Finally, stir in the lemon juice and season with salt, to taste. It will take less salt (if any) than most soups. It won’t need any more salt if the stock was previously salted.
  4. To serve: serve in large bowls along with a spoonful of rice, a large dollop of yogurt, a sprinkling of chopped coriander and spring onions, and a wedge of lime on the side.

The earlier version, Kir’s Senegalese Peanut Soup with Chicken, is in cups, with one 28-oz (800 g) can of crushed tomatoes, 2 whole chicken breasts, lime juice and no curry paste.

See also Senegalese Peanut Soup, Kir’s Senegalese Peanut Soup with Chicken

Typed on her computer · 2005–16Vegetarian

Apple-Fennel Soup

From the New York Times. Serves 6.

Ingredients
  • 3 apples (Granny Smith, Winesap, Cameo or Cortland)
  • 1 medium fennel bulb, stems removed, diced
  • 1 shallot, sliced
  • 2 small inner stems celery, with leaves
  • 2 cups (475 ml) chicken or vegetable stock
  • ½ cup (120 ml) dry white wine
  • Salt and freshly ground white pepper
  • Juice of 1 lemon
  • 1⅔ cups (400 ml) heavy cream
  • 1 tsp Dijon mustard
  • 2 tbsp (about 1 oz / 28 g) domestic sturgeon caviar (optional)
Method
  1. Peel and core 2½ apples. Put them in a 3-quart (2.9 litres) saucepan with the fennel, shallot, celery, stock, wine, salt and pepper. Simmer 20 minutes, until all are tender.
  2. Meanwhile, core and finely dice the remaining half apple and toss with half the lemon juice. Cover tightly (or seal in a sandwich bag) and set aside.
  3. Purée the contents of the pan in a blender and return to the pot. Whisk in the remaining lemon juice, the cream and the mustard. Bring to a simmer and check the seasoning.
  4. Serve each portion garnished with the diced apple, and caviar if you like.
Typed on her computer · 2005–16

Roasted Pear, Fennel and Parmesan Soup

Chef David Bruno, Culinary Institute of America. Makes 5 quarts (4.8 litres), a party-sized batch.

Ingredients
  • 5 lb (2.3 kg) pears, peeled and cored
  • Butter, as needed
  • 2 oz (55 g) honey
  • Salt and pepper
  • 1½ lb (675 g) yellow onions, sliced
  • 1½ fennel bulbs, sliced
  • 1–1½ quarts (950 ml–1.4 litres) chicken stock
  • ½ quart (475 ml) apple cider
  • 1 cup (240 ml) heavy cream
  • 4–5 cups finely grated Parmesan (1½–1¾ lb / 675–800 g); her conversions: 2 oz = ½ cup grated, 1 cup = 4 oz shredded
Method
  1. Combine the pears, butter and honey. Bake at 350°F (180°C) until tender, about 40 minutes.
  2. Sweat the onions and fennel in butter until tender, about 30 minutes.
  3. Add the pears, stock and cider and bring to a boil. Simmer 30 minutes.
  4. Add the cream and Parmesan, bring to a simmer and purée in a blender. Season with salt and pepper.
Typed on her computer · 2005–16Vegan

CIA Thai Fresh Pea Soup

Culinary Institute of America. Serves 8.

Ingredients
  • 6 cups (1.4 litres) vegetable broth, plus more as needed
  • 1 cup (160 g) chopped onions
  • 4 garlic cloves, finely minced
  • 2 tsp green curry paste
  • 8 cups (1.2 kg) shelled peas (thawed if frozen)
  • Salt and pepper
  • 1 tsp lightly toasted mustard seeds
  • ¼ cup (15 g) chopped mint
Method
  1. Bring about ½ cup (120 ml) of the broth to a simmer in a soup pot over medium heat. Add the onions, garlic and curry paste and sauté, stirring often, until the onions are soft and translucent, about 5 minutes.
  2. Add the remaining broth and bring to a boil. Add the peas, cover and simmer over low heat for 10 minutes.
  3. Take off the heat and cool at least 10 minutes. Purée with a hand blender. If using a countertop blender, strain the soup and reserve the liquid; blend the solids in batches (don’t overfill), adding liquid as needed, then return to a clean pot and adjust the consistency with the remaining liquid.
  4. The soup can now be cooled and kept up to 2 days in the fridge or 1 month in the freezer.
  5. To finish, return to a simmer over low heat and season with salt and pepper. Serve in heated bowls, garnished with the mustard seeds and mint.
Typed on her computer · 2005–16Vegetarian

White Grape Gazpacho with Toasted Almonds

Culinary Institute of America, written for a Vita-Mix blender. Serves 10–12.

Ingredients
  • 2 lb (908 g) white grapes, rinsed well
  • 1 English cucumber, unpeeled
  • 4 scallions, green parts only
  • 2½ cups (600 ml) half & half
  • 1¼ cups (300 ml) plain yogurt
  • ¼ cup (60 ml) cream cheese
  • 2 tbsp (30 ml) white wine vinegar
  • 2 tbsp (30 ml) extra virgin olive oil
  • ½ cup (120 ml) plus 2 tbsp (30 ml) chopped fresh dill
  • Salt and freshly ground white pepper
  • ¼ cup (60 ml) sliced almonds, toasted
Method
  1. Peel and halve 18 grapes and set aside for garnish.
  2. Put the remaining grapes, the cucumber, scallions, half & half, yogurt, cream cheese, vinegar, olive oil and ½ cup (30 g) of the dill in the blender. Start on low, quickly increase to high and blend 1 minute until smooth.
  3. Season with salt and white pepper. Chill thoroughly, and adjust the seasoning before serving.
  4. Serve in chilled bowls, garnished with the remaining dill, the grape halves and the almonds.
White grape gazpacho with toasted almonds and dill, from the CIA handout. The Culinary Institute of America (for Vita-Mix)
Typed on her computer · 2005–16Vegetarian

Gary Danko’s Tomato Soup

Chef Gary Danko of Restaurant Gary Danko, San Francisco, from the Wall Street Journal umami article Grammy saved (December 2007; see From the Files). Serves 6 (about 8 cups / 1.9 litres).

Roasting the tomatoes deepens their savoury flavour, and the tomato paste, ketchup, Worcestershire, soy and Parmesan add more. With canned tomatoes, Danko prefers Italian whole tomatoes in purée, but tomatoes in juice work too. He suggests a dry rosé Champagne with it.

Ingredients
  • 2 lb (900 g) plum (Roma) tomatoes, or three 28-oz (800 g) cans whole tomatoes
  • 6 garlic cloves, smashed and peeled
  • 3 small yellow onions (about 1 lb / 450 g), cut into ½-inch (1 cm) dice
  • 2 tsp salt
  • ¼ tsp dried thyme
  • 4 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 stalk celery or ½ fennel bulb (about 4 oz / 115 g), cut into ¼-inch (5 mm) dice
  • ¼ cup (65 g) tomato paste
  • 3 tbsp ketchup
  • 2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tsp soy sauce
  • ¼ tsp Tabasco sauce
  • 2–3 cups (475–710 ml) chicken broth, vegetable stock or water
  • 4–6 large fresh basil leaves, chopped
  • 2 fresh mint leaves, chopped
  • ¼ cup (25 g) finely grated Parmigiano-Reggiano
Method
  1. Heat the oven to 375°F (190°C).
  2. If using fresh tomatoes, wash, dry and core them. If using canned, drain them and keep the purée or juice. Halve the tomatoes lengthwise.
  3. Arrange cut side down in a single layer in 2 shallow baking pans, without crowding. Sprinkle with the garlic, onions, salt and thyme and drizzle with the oil. Roast until slightly browned and tender, about 45 minutes. Cool slightly.
  4. Put the celery or fennel, tomato paste, ketchup, Worcestershire, Tabasco and soy sauce in a blender with some of the roasted tomato mixture and stock, and blend until smooth. Strain into a pot through a medium strainer, pressing on the solids.
  5. Continue in small batches with the rest of the tomato mixture, the reserved can juices and the remaining stock, using 2 cups (475 ml) of liquid in all.
  6. Bring to a slow simmer over medium-high heat, stirring, about 10 minutes. Thin with more stock if needed and adjust the salt.
  7. Serve sprinkled with the basil, mint and cheese.
Gary Danko’s tomato soup, as pictured in the Wall Street Journal’s umami article. The Wall Street Journal, 8 December 2007
Typed on her computer · 2005–16

Chilled Cucumber Soup with Shrimp and Dill

From CIA Taste, Summer/Fall 2008, in its “CIA Sophisticated Palate Courses and Recipes” section. The recipe comes from The CIA’s Breakfasts & Brunches cookbook. Serves 8.

A cold soup leaves almost nothing to do at the last minute, which makes it easy for entertaining. Poaching the shrimp in the broth first and then making the soup with that broth is what gives it its flavour.

Ingredients
  • 4 cups (950 ml) fish, chicken or vegetable broth
  • ¾ lb (340 g) medium shrimp, peeled and deveined
  • 2 tbsp (28 g) butter
  • 1 cup (160 g) chopped yellow onion
  • ¾ cup (75 g) diced celery
  • 6 medium cucumbers, peeled, seeded and chopped
  • 2 tsp salt, divided
  • ½ tsp freshly ground white pepper, divided
  • 1½ tsp cornstarch mixed with 2 tsp water
  • 1½ cups (360 g) sour cream
  • ½ cup (120 ml) heavy cream
  • ½ cup (30 g) chopped dill
  • 2 tbsp lemon juice, or as needed
  • ½ tsp Tabasco sauce, or as needed
  • ½ cup (65 g) small-diced cucumber and a few dill sprigs, to garnish
Method
  1. Bring the broth to a simmer, add the shrimp and cook 2–3 minutes, just until opaque. Lift them out, halve lengthwise and chill for the garnish. Keep the broth.
  2. Melt the butter in a soup pot over medium heat and cook the onion and celery, stirring often, until the onion is translucent, 5–7 minutes.
  3. Add the broth, cucumbers, 1 tsp salt and ¼ tsp pepper. Bring to a boil, then simmer gently until the cucumbers are tender, about 10 minutes.
  4. Let it cool a little and purée until smooth. Return to a simmer, stir in the cornstarch mixture and cook, stirring, until lightly thickened, about 2 minutes. Chill for at least 4 and up to 24 hours.
  5. Stir the sour cream, heavy cream, dill, lemon juice and Tabasco together and whisk into the cold soup. Season with the rest of the salt and pepper, adding more lemon juice or Tabasco if it needs it.
  6. Serve in chilled cups or glasses, topped with the shrimp, the diced cucumber and a dill sprig.
Chilled cucumber soup with shrimp and dill. CIA Taste, Summer/Fall 2008, page 31
The recipe page as printed in Taste (page 31). CIA Taste, Summer/Fall 2008, page 31
Typed on her computer · 2005–16

Summer Stew au Pistou

From CIA Taste, Summer/Fall 2008, in its “CIA at Astor Center Courses and Recipes” section. The recipe comes from The CIA’s One Dish Meals cookbook, which the CIA demonstrated in a class at its Astor Center in New York on 26 November 2008. Serves 4.

Pistou, the tomato, basil and garlic paste the French stir into soups and stews, goes in at the end. A few minutes’ rest off the heat lets its flavours open up. Pour a hearty red wine to stand up to the pancetta and pistou.

Stew
  • 4 cups (950 ml) water, or as needed
  • 2 slices pancetta
  • 1 large carrot, cut in medium dice
  • 1 Idaho potato, cut in medium dice
  • 3 small yellow onions, cut in medium dice
  • 1 cup (180 g) cooked or canned cannellini beans, drained
  • 1 cup (110 g) green beans
  • 1 cup (125 g) medium-dice zucchini
  • 2 scallions, white and green, cut into ⅓-inch (8 mm) lengths
  • ¾ cup (75 g) small dried pasta (shells, bow ties or orecchiette)
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Pistou
  • ½ cup (90 g) diced plum tomatoes
  • ⅓ cup (20 g) chopped basil
  • 2 tsp minced garlic
  • 1 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
Method
  1. Bring the water and pancetta to a boil in a large soup pot, then lower to a gentle simmer and add the carrot, potato, onions and cannellini. Simmer slowly until the potatoes are tender, 30–35 minutes.
  2. Add the green beans, zucchini, scallions and pasta and simmer until the pasta is tender and the vegetables are full of flavour, 20–25 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
  3. Meanwhile, make the pistou: chop the tomatoes, basil and garlic together with a chef’s knife (or in a food processor) to a fairly smooth paste, then stir in the olive oil.
  4. Stir the pistou into the stew, cover and leave off the heat for a few minutes. Serve in warmed soup plates.
Summer stew au pistou with crusty bread. CIA Taste, Summer/Fall 2008, page 45
The recipe page as printed in Taste (page 45). CIA Taste, Summer/Fall 2008, page 45

Salads & Dressings

Moulded Jell-O salads of the 1960s sit beside Le Bernardin’s endive salad and Kir’s Puy lentils. Grammy’s own cucumber mould is on two of her printed PetRecipe cards.

52 handwritten37 early cards23 later cards10 typed on her computer

All 70 in this chapter
  1. Celery Root Rémoulade
  2. Fruit Cocktail Salad
  3. Salmon and Pea Salad
  4. Kir’s Leek, Goat Cheese and Puy Lentil Salad
  5. French Rice Salad
  6. Tabbouli
  7. Dilled Green Bean Salad
  8. Spinach Salad with Mandarin Oranges
  9. Sally Specht’s Cabbage Salad
  10. Green Salad
  11. Cucumbers and Tomatoes in Cream
  12. Liz’s Blueberry–Pear–Blue Cheese Molded Salad
  13. Cucumbers in Sour Cream
  14. Chef’s Salad
  15. Molded Cottage Cheese and Horseradish Salad
  16. Grammy’s Cucumber Salad Mold with Sour Cream Dressing
  17. Heinz Rainbow Salad
  18. Curried Chicken Salad in Tomato Petals
  19. Salad Niçoise
  20. Lime Jell-O Mold with Pineapple and Cucumber
  21. Jinny’s Byzantine Salad
  22. Tomato and Hearts of Palm Salad
  23. Cheese Salad (Lemon Jell-O with Cream Cheese Topping)
  24. Bing Cherry Mold with Cream Cheese Marbles
  25. Liz’s Molded Spice Fruit Salad
  26. Bev Skinner’s Frozen Salad
  27. Susan Devito’s Black Cherry Jell-O
  28. Refrigerator Salad
  29. Chicken Salad
  30. Endive and Watercress Salad
  31. Guacamole Salad
  32. Spinach Salad with Mushrooms and Bacon
  33. Debbe’s Layered Salad
  34. Cold Pasta Salads, with Homemade Mayonnaise
  35. Betty’s Sweet-Sour Bean Salad
  36. Avocado Aspic
  37. Mushroom Salad
  38. Grape Tomatoes Cooler
  39. Maria’s Steak Salad
  40. Karin’s Tortellini Salad (for a crowd)
  41. Dru’s Asian Salad
  42. Karin’s Festive Holiday Salad
  43. Phyllis’s Mixed Salad
  44. Salad Ideas
  45. Kir’s Grape Tomato Salad
  46. Le Bernardin’s Endive and Roquefort Salad
  47. Wild Mushroom and Green Bean Salad with Goat Cheese
  48. Kir’s Salad
  49. Apple, Roquefort and Red Leaf Lettuce with Pumpernickel Croutons
  50. Ruth’s Orange Mandarin Salad
  51. Joy K.’s Greek Salad
  52. Elaine’s Dinner Salad
  53. Lettuce Chiffonade with Gorgonzola-Herb Dressing
  54. Caesar Salad (from “Rare Bits”)
  55. Lee D.’s Blueberry Salad
  56. Orange Sherbet Salad
  57. Wilted Spinach
  58. Peter’s Caesar Salad
  59. Wilted Lettuce, Two Ways
  60. Endive, Parsley and Shallot Salad
  61. Wheat Berry Waldorf Salad
  62. Jalapeño Chicken Salad
  63. Jeanne’s Bok Choy Salad
  64. Asian Green Beans
  65. Spicy Thai Cucumber Salad
  66. Gazpacho Pasta Salad
  67. Fresh and Zingy Chicken Salad
  68. Judy Lowrey’s Sweet Potato Salad
  69. Jamie’s Lemon Dressing
  70. Balsamic Vinaigrette
Early cards, 1950s–80s
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegetarian

Celery Root Rémoulade

Ingredients
  • 6 celery roots (celeriac)
  • 2 cups (450 g) mayonnaise
  • 4 tbsp tarragon vinegar
  • 4 tbsp chopped fresh parsley
  • 4 tbsp chopped scallions
  • 2 tbsp Dijon mustard
  • 1 tsp tarragon
  • 1 tsp salt
  • freshly ground pepper
Method
  1. Peel the celery roots and cut into strips.
  2. Combine everything and mix thoroughly. Taste and add more seasoning if needed.
  3. Chill, covered, at least 1 hour.
Grey box, p. 62
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwritten

Fruit Cocktail Salad

Ingredients
  • 1 cup (245 g) fruit cocktail, drained (save the juice)
  • 3 apples, cubed
  • 1 or 2 sliced bananas
  • mini marshmallows
  • sliced red grapes, pitted
  • mayonnaise
Method
  1. Combine the fruit and marshmallows.
  2. Mix some of the juice with mayonnaise and toss through.
Grey box, p. 304
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwritten

Salmon and Pea Salad

Yield Serves 8

Ingredients
  • 8 salmon steaks, 1 inch (2.5 cm) thick (about 4 lb / 1.8 kg)
  • 1½ cups (360 ml) water
  • 1½ cups (360 ml) dry white wine
  • 1 onion, sliced thin
  • 3 sprigs parsley
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 2 tsp salt
  • ½ tsp thyme or tarragon
  • 6 peppercorns, in a cheesecloth bag
  • 1½ lb (675 g) peas in the pod (about 1½ cups shelled)
  • 1 tsp sugar
  • ¾ cup (85 g) thinly sliced radishes
  • Bibb lettuce
  • Dressing
  • ¼ cup (60 ml lemon juice, 15 g snipped fresh dill) each lemon juice and snipped fresh dill
  • 2 tbsp Dijon mustard
  • 2 shallots, sliced thin
  • salt and pepper
  • 1 cup (240 ml) olive oil
Method
  1. In a deep steel or enamelled skillet large enough to hold the salmon in one layer, combine the water, wine, onion, parsley, bay leaf, salt, herbs and peppercorns. Boil, then simmer 10 minutes, partly covered.
  2. Add the salmon and enough water to cover. Poach at a bare simmer, covered with a buttered round of wax paper, 10 to 12 minutes, until just flaky.
  3. Lift onto a board with a slotted spoon. Discard the skin, dark flesh and bones. Let cool, flake into ½-inch (1 cm) pieces and chill on a plate at least 1 hour.
  4. Cook the peas in 1½ quarts (1.4 litres) boiling salted water with the sugar over moderate heat 5 to 10 minutes, until tender. Drain and toss with salt and pepper.
  5. Dressing: in a ceramic or glass bowl combine the lemon juice, dill, mustard, shallots, salt and pepper. Add the oil in a stream, whisking, until well combined.
  6. Add the salmon, radishes and peas, pour the dressing over and toss gently. Serve in a bowl lined with Bibb lettuce.

Underlined on the card: “Combine”.

Purple box, p. 96
Purple box, p. 97
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegetarian

Kir’s Leek, Goat Cheese and Puy Lentil Salad

Kir

Ingredients
  • 8 oz (225 g) Puy lentils
  • 4 medium leeks
  • 1 red pepper
  • 1 yellow pepper
  • 150 ml (5 fl oz) olive oil
  • 2 tbsp white wine vinegar
  • 4 oz (115 g) goat cheese
  • 1 lemon
  • salt and pepper
Method
  1. Rinse the lentils under cold water, cover with plenty of water, boil and simmer 15 to 20 minutes, until just cooked. Drain and cool under running water.
  2. Heat the oven to 200°C (400°F). Wash the leeks carefully and shred finely. Seed the peppers and chop finely.
  3. Warm the olive oil in the oven, add the leeks and peppers and cook 5 minutes. Take out and cool.
  4. Mix the vinegar into the oil and pepper mixture. Add the lentils, season well and mix thoroughly.
  5. Crumble in the goat cheese and finish with the juice of the lemon.

Underlined on the card: “Finish” (twice) and “150 ml”.

Purple box, p. 102
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenWell used

French Rice Salad

Two versions: a card, and a much-stained sheet of the party-size version, its heading “Saturday morning” crossed out and changed to “Sunday”

Ingredients
  • 1 cup (190 g) rice, cooked and dry
  • 1 tomato, chopped
  • 3 green onions, chopped
  • 1 green (or red) pepper, chopped
  • 2 stalks celery, chopped
  • diced ham or chicken
  • ½ can water chestnuts
  • optional: cooked peas, diced carrots
  • additions for parties (a column headed “Parties”): snow peas, Gruyère (½ cup / 65 g, in chunks), raisins, unsalted peanuts or cashews, apples
  • Dressing
  • 2 tbsp red wine vinegar
  • 5 to 6 tbsp salad oil
  • 2½ to 3 tsp Dijon mustard
  • pepper and salt (lots)
Method
  1. Add the chopped vegetables, meat and any extras to the rice.
  2. Mix the dressing and toss.

The party version (the stained sheet): 5 cups (800 g) cooked dry rice (2 cups / 380 g uncooked); 2 medium tomatoes (2½ cups / 450 g chopped); 6 green onions; 1 red pepper; 2 green peppers; 4 celery stalks (4 cups / 400 g chopped); 1 cup (130 g) Gruyère in ¼-inch (5 mm) chunks (circled); 1 cup (145 g) raisins; 1 cup (140 g) unsalted cashews or peanuts; 1 can water chestnuts; 1 package frozen baby peas; 2 green apples, diced. Dressing: 4 tbsp red wine vinegar, 10 to 12 tbsp salad oil, 2 tbsp Dijon mustard, salt and pepper.

On the card, underlined: “Parties”, “Opt:” and “Dressing:”; the “6” of “5-6 Tb” (salad oil) is written heavily in darker ink.

On the party sheet, underlined: “Chop & add:”, “Dressing:” and the “Mix” written above it; “salt” (in the dressing) is underlined twice in green. In the rice line a figure is scribbled out and a “5” written before it in green, with “(2cups uncooked)” in red underneath; the “2” of the tomatoes’ “2½ cups” is written in green over another figure.

Purple box, p. 133
Purple box, p. 351
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegan

Tabbouli

Ingredients
  • 2 cups (280 g) bulgur wheat
  • 8 cups (1.9 litres) boiling water
  • 1 cup (60 g) finely minced parsley
  • ½ cup (30 g) minced mint
  • ½ cup (50 g) minced scallions, with 2 inches (5 cm) of the tops
  • 1½ cups (270 g) chopped tomato (2 medium)
  • ½ cup (120 ml) lemon juice
  • ½ cup (120 ml) olive oil
  • 2 tsp salt
  • freshly ground pepper
Method
  1. Put the wheat in a large pot and pour the water over. Cover and let stand 2 to 3 hours, until light and fluffy.
  2. Drain off the excess water and shake the wheat in a strainer until dry.
  3. Add the rest of the ingredients and stir until thoroughly mixed. Chill 1 hour.
Purple box, p. 271
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegan

Dilled Green Bean Salad

Dated “June 83”

Ingredients
  • 2 lb (900 g) green beans, trimmed and cooked (don’t refresh them)
  • 3 tbsp red-wine vinegar
  • ¼ cup (60 ml) olive or vegetable oil
  • ¼ cup (25 g) minced scallion, or to taste
  • 1 to 2 tbsp snipped dill
  • salt and pepper
Method
  1. In a bowl, toss the beans while still warm with the vinegar and oil.
  2. Add the scallions, dill, salt and pepper and toss.
  3. Let the salad cool and move it to a serving dish.

At the bottom: “OK”. The “1-2” of the dill is gone over in heavy strokes.

Purple box, p. 273
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegan

Spinach Salad with Mandarin Oranges

Ingredients
  • 2 bags fresh spinach [?], broken up and stemmed
  • white Bermuda onion, in rings
  • 2 small cans mandarin oranges (save the juice)
  • ⅓ cup [?] (80 ml) vinegar, pepper, oil and the juice from the canned oranges
  • celery salt and garlic salt
Method
  1. Mix the dressing: ⅓ cup [?] (80 ml) vinegar, pepper (written above), oil and the canned juice.
  2. Sprinkle the leaves liberally with celery salt and garlic salt after washing and drying them.

The last line says “after washing & drying cabbage”, so this may have started life as a cabbage salad.

“canned”, written in above the word before “juice”, is circled.

Purple box, p. 308
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwritten

Sally Specht’s Cabbage Salad

Sally Specht

Ingredients
  • 10 cups (700 g) shredded cabbage
  • 1 green pepper, chopped
  • 1 small onion, grated
  • 3 carrots, grated
  • 1½ cups (300 g) sugar
  • 1 cup (240 ml) vinegar
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp celery seeds
  • 1 envelope Knox gelatin
  • ⅔ cup (160 ml) cold water
  • 1 cup (240 ml) salad oil
Method
  1. Boil the sugar, vinegar, salt and celery seeds together and cool.
  2. Dissolve the gelatin in the cold water and add to the cooled mixture. Beat in the oil.
  3. Pour over the vegetables and refrigerate 24 hours.

A wavy line is drawn under “3 carrots”.

Purple box, p. 313
Purple box, p. 314
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegan

Green Salad

Two cards

Yield Serves 6 to 8

Ingredients
  • 1 small head Boston lettuce
  • 1 small head Bibb
  • ½ small head romaine
  • 1 Belgian endive
  • ½ clove garlic
  • 6 tbsp olive oil
  • 3 tbsp tarragon vinegar
  • 1 tsp salt
  • ground pepper
Method
  1. Wash the greens and separate into leaves. Drain well and shake or pat dry. Wrap in a plastic bag and refrigerate several hours. Chill the bowl too.
  2. Rub the inside of the bowl with garlic and discard it. Tear the greens into bite-size pieces.
  3. In a jar with a lid, shake the oil, vinegar, salt and pepper until combined.
  4. Pour half over the greens and toss until well coated, with none left in the bottom of the bowl. Add more if you like.

The other card’s method: sprinkle salt in the bowl and rub it round with a cut garlic clove until the clove is crushed. Use 3 parts olive oil to 1 part wine (or tarragon) vinegar. Toss the greens in the oil until coated, then add the vinegar, salt and pepper and toss again. Or mix it all in advance and shake well.

Underlined twice: “or dry” (“shake or dry”) on the card with the lettuces, and “Or” (“Or mix in advance”) on the other card.

Purple box, p. 315
Purple box, p. 358
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegetarian

Cucumbers and Tomatoes in Cream

Yield Serves 6 to 8

Ingredients
  • 6 tomatoes
  • 3 cucumbers
  • 1 pint (475 g) sour cream
  • 4 tbsp wine vinegar
  • 1 tsp sugar
  • 2 tsp salt
  • fresh ground pepper
Method
  1. Slice the tomatoes and cucumbers, arrange on a platter and chill.
  2. Combine the other ingredients and spoon over the vegetables. Let marinate in the refrigerator until ready to serve, but not more than 30 minutes.

“not more than 30 min” is underlined.

At the top, the “6” of “6-8” is circled.

Purple box, p. 316
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwritten

Liz’s Blueberry–Pear–Blue Cheese Molded Salad

Liz

Ingredients
  • 1 package lemon Jell-O
  • 1 cup (240 ml) boiling water
  • 1 cup (240 ml) syrup from the pears, chilled
  • 1 can pears, drained and sliced
  • 1 cup (145 g) blueberries
  • ½ cup (70 g) crumbled blue cheese
  • ½ cup (120 ml) whipping cream, whipped
  • greens
Method
  1. Dissolve the Jell-O in the water and add the pear syrup. Chill until slightly thick.
  2. Fold in the pears, blueberries, cheese and whipped cream. Put in a mould and chill. Serve on greens.

“Liz” is underlined.

Purple box, p. 317
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegetarian

Cucumbers in Sour Cream

On a pink card, in an older, rounder hand

Ingredients
  • 2 medium cucumbers
  • 1 tbsp salt
  • 1 carton sour cream
  • 2 tbsp dry onion flakes
  • ½ tsp sugar
  • ⅛ tsp paprika
  • 2 tbsp vinegar
  • 1½ tsp salt
  • 1 tbsp minced dry parsley
Method
  1. Slice the cucumbers thin and sprinkle with the tablespoon of salt. Let stand 10 minutes or more, then squeeze out the juice.
  2. In a bowl mix the sour cream, onion flakes, sugar, paprika, vinegar, salt and parsley.
  3. Add the cucumbers and chill.

“Mixture keeps well.”

A short line is drawn under the start of “Squeeze out juice”.

Purple box, p. 318
Purple box, p. 319
Early cards · 1950s–80s

Chef’s Salad

A printed recipe card, from the same series as the Curried Chicken Salad in Tomato Petals

Yield 12 servings

Ingredients
  • a dry bread crust and garlic
  • salad greens, well drained
  • salad oil, vinegar, salt and freshly ground pepper
  • 1½ cups (210 g) cold cooked chicken or turkey, in strips
  • 1½ cups (210 g) sliced tongue or ham, in strips
  • 1 cup (115 g) sliced radishes
  • ½ cup (60 g) Swiss cheese strips
  • 1 cup (240 g) commercial sour cream
  • 1 tsp sugar
  • 1 tbsp grated onion
Method
  1. Make a chapon: rub a piece of dry bread crust well with garlic and put it in the salad bowl with the greens.
  2. Pour oil over the greens and toss well. Add vinegar in the usual French-dressing proportion (⅓ vinegar to ⅔ oil), salt and pepper, and toss again.
  3. Remove the chapon. Mix in the chicken, radishes and cheese, keeping some of the meat and cheese strips for the top.
  4. Stir the sugar and onion into the sour cream and serve it in a separate bowl.

The card’s last word on serving: “Let people help themselves.”

Purple box, p. 320
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwritten

Molded Cottage Cheese and Horseradish Salad

Noted “Pale green” and “makes a lot”

Ingredients
  • 1 package each lemon and lime Jell-O
  • 2 cups (475 ml) hot water
  • 1 No. 2 can (570 g) crushed pineapple, with its juice
  • 2 tbsp lemon juice
  • 1 cup (240 ml) evaporated milk
  • 2 tsp horseradish
  • ½ cup (60 g) chopped nuts (optional)
  • 1 cup (225 g) mayonnaise or Miracle Whip
  • 1 pint (450 g) creamed cottage cheese
  • ½ tsp salt
Method
  1. Dissolve the Jell-O in the hot water. Let cool and add the pineapple and juice, lemon juice and evaporated milk.
  2. Chill until syrupy. Stir in the horseradish, nuts, mayonnaise, cottage cheese and salt, and chill to set.

“Pale green” is underlined, in pencil.

Purple box, p. 321
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwritten

Grammy’s Cucumber Salad Mold with Sour Cream Dressing

On two of Grammy’s printed “My PetRecipe… A PetRecipe from Pat Schreiner” cards

Ingredients
  • 2 packages lime Jell-O
  • 2 cups (475 ml) boiling water
  • 2 tsp gelatin in ¼ cup (60 ml) cold water
  • 1 tsp salt
  • ⅓ cup (80 ml) cider or white vinegar
  • ¼ cup (60 g) grated horseradish (“2T” is written above a crossed-out word before “grated”)
  • 2 cups (250 g) grated cucumber, with the skins (about 2 medium)
  • sliced tomatoes and cucumbers, to garnish
  • Sour cream dressing (her bigger batch in brackets)
  • ½ cup (115 g) mayonnaise (¾ cup / 170 g)
  • 1 cup (240 g) sour cream (1½ cups / 360 ml)
  • ½ tsp salt (¾ tsp)
  • 1 tbsp horseradish (1½ tbsp)
  • 1 heaping tsp strong mustard (1½ tsp)
Method
  1. Dissolve the Jell-O in the boiling water. Let the gelatin thicken in the cold water and add it to the hot Jell-O with the salt and vinegar.
  2. Chill over iced water until like egg whites. Fold in the horseradish and cucumber and blend.
  3. Pour into a medium mould, well oiled, and let stand 10 hours in the refrigerator.
  4. Unmould and surround with sliced tomatoes and cucumbers. Serve the dressing separately.
  5. Dressing: combine and beat well until blended. Keep in the refrigerator until served.

In “add to hot quickly”, “hot” is written in above the line and underlined twice, with “quickly” under it and an arrow curving up to the top line.

Purple box, p. 323
Purple box, p. 324
Early cards · 1950s–80sVegetarian

Heinz Rainbow Salad

Torn from a magazine (page 96), a Heinz vinegar advertisement. The back carries the end of the Heinz copy and a Du Pont advertisement for a long gown of “Antron” nylon, with the slogan “Better Things for Better Living… through Chemistry”.

Yield 6 to 8 “satisfying servings”

Ingredients
  • 1 cup (70–150 g) each: shredded cabbage, chopped green pepper, grated carrots, sliced celery, chopped lettuce, tomato chunks, cooked peas and grated American cheese
  • ½ cup (60–65 g) each: chopped cucumber and sliced onion, separated into rings
  • 1 tsp sugar
  • ½ tsp salt
  • ⅛ tsp pepper
  • ½ cup (120 ml) Heinz wine or malt vinegar
Method
  1. Combine the vegetables and cheese in a large bowl.
  2. Stir the sugar, salt and pepper into the vinegar, pour over and toss lightly. Chill.

The advertisement’s promise: Heinz vinegars “add their own taste magic” and make it “easier to stay with your slimming program!”

Purple box, p. 325
Purple box, p. 326
Early cards · 1950s–80s

Curried Chicken Salad in Tomato Petals

A printed recipe card, from the same series as the Chef’s Salad

Yield 6 servings

Ingredients
  • one 5-lb (2.3 kg) roasting chicken
  • ½ cup (50 g) diced celery
  • 1 cup (115 g) diced, peeled and cored tart apples
  • 2 tsp grated onion
  • 2 tsp curry powder
  • 1 cup (225 g) mayonnaise
  • ¼ cup (60 ml) light cream
  • 1½ tsp salt and a dash of pepper
  • ⅓ cup (38 g) toasted slivered almonds
  • 6 ripe tomatoes
  • lettuce
Method
  1. Steam the chicken; don’t boil it. Cool, take the meat off the bones, cut into largish pieces and chill.
  2. Add the celery, apples and onion. Blend the curry powder with the mayonnaise and cream and stir in. Season, add the almonds, mix well and chill.
  3. Cut the tomatoes into sixths, almost but not quite through. Set them in lettuce cups and fill with the chicken salad.
Purple box, p. 327
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenWell used

Salad Niçoise

Ingredients
  • 2 lb (900 g) potatoes, boiled and sliced
  • 2 cups (220 g) cut green beans
  • 1 cup (170 g) artichoke hearts
  • greens
  • 1 large onion, sliced
  • three 7-oz (200 g) cans tuna, broken up
  • 1 pint (300 g) cherry tomatoes
  • 1 cup (135 g) pitted black olives
  • 6 hard-cooked eggs, quartered
  • 1 large green pepper, in strips
  • ½ cup (46 g) red pepper strips
  • two 2-oz (55 g) cans rolled anchovies with capers
  • ¼ cup (15 g) chopped parsley
  • Garlic dressing (3 cups / 710 ml)
  • 2 cups (475 ml) olive oil
  • ½ cup (120 ml) tarragon vinegar
  • ¼ cup (60 ml) fresh lemon juice
  • 2 cloves garlic, crushed
  • 1 tbsp dry mustard
  • 1 tsp sugar
  • 1 tbsp salt
  • fresh black pepper
Method
  1. Dressing: combine the mustard, sugar, salt and pepper. Mix in the garlic, add the vinegar and lemon juice and stir, then add the oil and mix well. Stir or shake hard just before using.
  2. Marinate the potatoes, beans and artichoke hearts in some of the dressing in the refrigerator for 3 hours, stirring gently 2 or 3 times.
  3. Line a bowl with greens. Drain the marinated vegetables, keeping the dressing, and spoon them onto the greens.
  4. Put the tuna in the middle. Arrange the tomatoes, olives, eggs, peppers and anchovies around it and sprinkle with parsley.
  5. Pass the dressing, and put a little on the salad just before serving.
Purple box, p. 328
Purple box, p. 329
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwritten

Lime Jell-O Mold with Pineapple and Cucumber

Ingredients
  • 2 packages (3 oz / 85 g each) lime gelatin
  • 2 cups (475 ml) hot water
  • 1 can (1 lb 4 oz / 575 g) pineapple pieces
  • water
  • 1 package (8 oz / 225 g) cream cheese
  • 1 large cucumber, cubed
  • salad greens and whole strawberries
Method
  1. Dissolve the gelatin in the hot water. Drain the pineapple, saving the juice, and add water to make 1½ cups (360 ml). Add to the gelatin.
  2. Spoon ¼ cup (60 ml) into the bottom of a 1½-quart (1.4 litres) mould. Arrange 4 pieces of pineapple in it and chill until firm.
  3. Beat the cream cheese into the remaining gelatin. Chill until partly thickened, then add the pineapple and cucumber.
  4. Spoon carefully over the firm lime layer and chill until firm.
  5. Unmould on salad greens and garnish with whole strawberries.
Purple box, p. 330
Purple box, p. 331
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwritten

Jinny’s Byzantine Salad

Jinny, on a printed recipe card (marked “JAPAN”) with a border of kitchen things

Yield Serves 6

Ingredients
  • 1 medium head lettuce, torn into bite-size pieces
  • 2 green peppers, cut into squares
  • 3 stalks celery, cut into squares
  • 3 small onions, sliced and separated into rings
  • ½ cup (70 g) crumbled crisp bacon
  • 2 hard-boiled eggs, sliced
  • ½ lb (225 g) feta cheese
  • ½ lb (225 g) Greek olives (black)
  • vinaigrette made partly with freshly squeezed lemon juice
Method
  1. Combine the lettuce, peppers, celery, onions, bacon and eggs.
  2. Add the feta and olives and toss with the vinaigrette.

“Greek” is underlined.

Purple box, p. 332
Purple box, p. 333
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegan

Tomato and Hearts of Palm Salad

Yield Serves 4 [?]

Ingredients
  • ½ lb (225 g) spinach, trimmed, washed and dried
  • 1 large head Bibb, separated, rinsed and dried
  • 4 tomatoes, cored and cut into wedges
  • one 14-oz (395 g) tin hearts of palm, drained and cut in 1-inch (2.5 cm) pieces
  • 1 cup (135 g) Kalamata olives
  • basil vinaigrette
Method
  1. Toss the spinach and Bibb. Arrange the tomatoes and palm hearts in the centre.
  2. Sprinkle with the olives and serve with the basil vinaigrette.

Written above the title and underlined: “Pesto – Basil Vinag”, with “over” beneath it.

See also Basil Vinaigrette

Purple box, p. 334
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwritten

Cheese Salad (Lemon Jell-O with Cream Cheese Topping)

In an older hand

Ingredients
  • 1 package lemon Jell-O
  • ¾ cup (180 ml) hot water
  • 1 can crushed pineapple, with juice
  • Topping
  • 1 small package Philadelphia cream cheese, softened
  • ½ pint (240 ml) whipping cream, whipped stiff
  • sharp cheese, to grate
Method
  1. Make the Jell-O with the hot water and pineapple and let it set.
  2. Fold the softened cream cheese into the whipped cream and spread on top of the Jell-O.
  3. Grate sharp cheese over the top.
Purple box, p. 336
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwritten

Bing Cherry Mold with Cream Cheese Marbles

Ingredients
  • 1 package black cherry Jell-O
  • 1 can pitted Bing cherries
  • cream cheese
  • sherry
  • crushed nuts (almonds)
Method
  1. Make the Jell-O with the cherry juice. When it has set a little, add the cherries.
  2. Make “marbles” of cream cheese, softened with sherry until workable. Roll them in the crushed almonds and refrigerate.
  3. Drop them into the Jell-O.

See also Susan Devito’s Black Cherry Jell-O

Purple box, p. 337
Purple box, p. 338
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwritten

Liz’s Molded Spice Fruit Salad

Liz

Ingredients
  • 1 envelope gelatin (lemon)
  • ¼ cup (60 ml) water
  • 1¾ cups (420 ml) canned pineapple juice
  • 1 tbsp mixed pickling spice
  • ¼ cup (50 g) sugar
  • 2 tbsp lemon juice
  • 1 cup (150 g) green grapes
  • 1 cup (145 g) fresh blueberries
  • ⅓ cup (75 g) mayonnaise and ⅓ cup (80 g) sour cream, for the dressing
Method
  1. Soften the gelatin in the water and set aside.
  2. Heat the pineapple juice and pickling spice to boiling. Cover and cook 3 minutes. Strain out the spices and pour over the softened gelatin. Add the sugar and lemon juice.
  3. Chill until it begins to thicken. Fold in the grapes and blueberries and turn into an oiled 1-quart (950 ml) mould. Chill until firm.
  4. Unmould onto a serving plate and garnish with greens. Make the dressing of mayonnaise and sour cream.
Purple box, p. 339
Purple box, p. 340
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegetarian

Bev Skinner’s Frozen Salad

On Grammy’s printed “My PetRecipe… A PetRecipe from Pat Schreiner” card, credited “Bev Skinner” [?]

Ingredients
  • one 3-oz (85 g) package cream cheese, softened
  • 1 cup (225 g) mayonnaise, added to it
  • 1 cup (165 g) drained crushed pineapple
  • 1 small bottle maraschino cherries, diced
  • 1 cup (240 ml) whipped cream
  • ¼ tsp salt
  • ½ cup (60 g) powdered sugar
Method
  1. Combine everything and freeze in a freezing tray until firm. Freeze overnight.
  2. Serve on greens.
Purple box, p. 341
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwritten

Susan Devito’s Black Cherry Jell-O

Susan E. Devito, on her printed “My PetRecipe… A PetRecipe from Susan E. Devito” card

Ingredients
  • 1 package black cherry Jell-O
  • one 1-lb (450 g) can big cherries
  • ½ pint (240 g) sour cream
  • chopped nuts and marshmallows
Method
  1. Oil the mould. Heat 1¾ cups (420 ml) of cherry juice and water and add the Jell-O.
  2. When it thickens, add the sour cream, cherries, nuts and marshmallows.
Purple box, p. 343
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenWell used

Refrigerator Salad

Titled “Refrig Salad”

Ingredients
  • 2 eggs, beaten
  • 4 tbsp lemon juice
  • 4 tbsp sugar
  • ⅓ cup (80 ml) pineapple juice
  • 2 tbsp (28 g) butter
  • 1 cup (240 ml) sour cream or whipped cream
  • 2 cups (290 g) white cherries or green grapes
  • 2 cups (100 g) tiny marshmallows
  • 2 cups (330 g) pineapple chunks
  • 2 cups (380 g) mandarin oranges
Method
  1. Cook the eggs, lemon juice, sugar and pineapple juice until thick enough to coat a spoon. Add the butter and cool.
  2. Add the cream. Mix in the fruit and marshmallows, cover and refrigerate overnight.
Purple box, p. 345
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwritten

Chicken Salad

Ingredients
  • a chicken
  • salt and mayonnaise
  • a handful of green grapes
  • whole (salted) almonds
Method
  1. Boil the chicken until tender. Remove the skin and grind it up [?]; break up the chicken meat.
  2. Mix with salt, mayonnaise, the grapes and the almonds.
Purple box, p. 347
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegetarian

Endive and Watercress Salad

Two cards, one a little more detailed than the other

Yield Serves 6

Ingredients
  • 2 large Belgian endive
  • 1 bunch watercress
  • ½ cup (120 ml) creamy salad dressing, without shallot (the second card)
  • Dressing
  • 1 egg yolk
  • 1 tsp Dijon mustard
  • ½ cup (120 ml) olive oil (the second card: peanut and olive oil)
  • 2 tbsp wine vinegar or lemon juice
  • ¼ cup (60 ml) cream
  • ½ tsp salt
  • pepper
Method
  1. Separate the endive leaves and slice them lengthwise into 2-inch (5 cm) pieces (the second card: cut them into squares).
  2. Pull the watercress leaves from the stems and discard the stems.
  3. Dressing: beat the egg yolk, mustard and salt in a bowl with a small whisk. Add the oil slowly, as for mayonnaise. Stir in the vinegar or lemon juice, the cream and pepper to taste.
  4. Combine the greens with the dressing, thinning it with more cream if needed.

On the first card, the “½” (olive oil) is written over another figure, and the “2” (wine vinegar) is gone over, with a heavy blot at its start.

Purple box, p. 352
Purple box, p. 353
Purple box, p. 354
Purple box, p. 355
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegetarian

Guacamole Salad

Ingredients
  • 1 small tomato, finely chopped
  • 1 very small onion, minced
  • 6 avocados
  • 2½ tsp salt
  • 2 tsp lemon juice
  • 2 tbsp mayonnaise
  • 1 tsp salad oil
  • 4 drops Tabasco
  • shredded lettuce
Method
  1. Half an hour before serving, put the tomato and onion in a medium bowl.
  2. Halve the avocados and remove the pits. Scoop out all the flesh, cut into small pieces and add to the tomato.
  3. Add the salt, lemon juice, mayonnaise, oil and Tabasco and toss until blended.
  4. Arrange on a large bed of shredded lettuce.

“½ hr before serving” is underlined.

Purple box, p. 357
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwritten

Spinach Salad with Mushrooms and Bacon

In red ink on a slip of paper

Ingredients
  • spinach leaves, washed, stemmed and torn up
  • thinly sliced red onion
  • sliced mushrooms
  • dressing
  • bacon bits and breadcrumbs
Method
  1. Add the onion and mushrooms to the spinach and toss with dressing.
  2. Sprinkle with bacon bits, more sliced mushrooms and breadcrumbs.

Underlined: “Toss” and “bacon bits”.

Purple box, p. 359
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwritten

Debbe’s Layered Salad

“Salad from Debbe”, pencilled on the back of a Flexsol contact-lens solution leaflet

Yield Serves 12

Ingredients
  • 1 head lettuce
  • 1 head cauliflower, in florets
  • 1 medium onion, minced
  • 2 cups (450 g) mayonnaise
  • ⅓ cup [?] (65 g) white sugar (a “<” is written in front of the ⅓)
  • ⅓ cup (33 g) grated Parmesan
  • 1 lb (450 g) bacon, cooked and crumbled
  • also: carrot, pepper, Chinese peas and celery (footnoted “* also add …”; “add*” is written between the lettuce and cauliflower lines)
Method
  1. Layer the ingredients in the order given, dripping a little oil over the bacon.
  2. Cover and leave overnight.

Written on the back of Flexsol contact-lens instructions (visible through the fold: “…keep the lenses stored a… 4 hours to assure disinfection”).

In “Salad from Debbe”, “Salad” is underlined; “Serves 12” is written in blue ink and underlined.

Purple box, p. 360
Purple box, p. 361
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegetarian

Cold Pasta Salads, with Homemade Mayonnaise

Two cards. The first is noted “Gourmet”; the mayonnaise on its back is noted “Apr. 81 – p168” [?]; the second, Grammy’s own version, says “Picnic 48”.

Gourmet’s shells with dill: serves 8

Ingredients
  • 12 oz (340 g) tiny pasta shells
  • 1 cup (225 g) mayonnaise (see below)
  • ⅓ cup (80 g) sour cream
  • ⅓ cup (20 g) fresh dill, snipped, plus more to sprinkle
  • 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
  • 1 garlic clove, mashed
  • 1½ cups (175 g) chopped radish
  • 1½ cups (250 g) cooked corn
  • 1 cup (150 g) green pepper
  • cayenne, salt and pepper
Method
  1. Boil the shells 6 to 8 minutes in salted water. Drain, refresh under cold water and drain well.
  2. In a large bowl combine the mayonnaise, sour cream, dill, mustard and garlic. Add the radish, corn and pepper, then the pasta.
  3. Season with cayenne, salt and pepper. Chill, covered, overnight (2 hours at least). Sprinkle with chopped dill.

Grammy’s picnic version

Ingredients
  • 12 oz (340 g) pasta (rotini, or tortellini with cheese)
  • vinaigrette: ⅔ cup (160 ml) olive oil, ⅓ cup (80 ml) lemon juice and Dijon mustard
  • mayonnaise with chives, tarragon and dill
  • green peas, chopped celery and chopped red pepper, steamed 3 minutes and cooled in water
  • toasted pine nuts and fresh basil
Method
  1. Cook the pasta the day before, 6 to 8 minutes, until just barely done. Rinse in cold water and get it very cold.
  2. Coat with the vinaigrette, then mix in the herbed mayonnaise, the vegetables “for color”, the pine nuts and basil. Serve at room temperature.

Homemade mayonnaise (2 cups / 450 g)

Ingredients
  • 2 large egg yolks, at room temperature
  • 1 tsp wine vinegar, plus 1 tsp more
  • 1 tsp Dijon-style mustard
  • ¼ tsp salt and white pepper to taste
  • ½ cup (120 ml) olive oil
  • 1 cup (240 ml) more oil (vegetable or olive)
  • lemon juice or wine vinegar, salt and pepper
Method
  1. In a hot, dry mixing bowl, beat the yolks, vinegar, mustard, salt and pepper hard with a whisk or mixer.
  2. Add the olive oil drop by drop, beating constantly. Beat in another teaspoon of vinegar, then add the rest of the oil in a stream, beating constantly.
  3. Season with lemon juice or vinegar, salt and pepper, and thin with cream or water.

On the first card, under the boiling instructions: “(see over for alter. dss)”.

In “just barely done”, “just” is underlined twice.

In “(get very cold to prepare)”, “very” is underlined. A brown arrow curves down from the end of that line to the vinaigrette, which is bracketed in the same brown.

Beside the vinaigrette: “see other recipe”.

Underlined on the first card: “mayo”, “sr cream”, “dill”, “Dijon”, “garlic”, “radish”, “corn” and “green pepper”; on its back, the mayonnaise’s “2 C” is underlined twice.

Purple box, p. 362
Purple box, p. 363
Purple box, p. 364
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegan

Betty’s Sweet-Sour Bean Salad

Betty

Ingredients
  • 1 can cut green beans, drained
  • 1 can cut yellow beans, drained
  • 1 can red kidney beans, drained
  • 1 onion, cut in rings
  • 1 green pepper
  • ¾ cup (150 g) sugar
  • 1 tsp salt
  • ½ tsp pepper
  • ⅓ cup (80 ml) salad oil
  • ⅔ cup (160 ml) vinegar
Method
  1. Combine the beans, onion and pepper.
  2. Add the sugar, salt, pepper, oil and vinegar. Pour over the beans and let stand overnight before serving.

On the oil: “(I use ½ of this)”.

“Betty” is partly circled.

Purple box, p. 365
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwritten

Avocado Aspic

Yield Serves 8

Ingredients
  • 6 cups (1.4 litres) tomato juice
  • 1 cup (100 g) chopped celery
  • 2 onions, chopped
  • 4 sprigs parsley
  • ½ tsp salt
  • ¼ tsp sugar
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 2 tbsp minced fresh basil (or 2 tsp dried)
  • 8 peppercorns
  • 2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 2 cloves
  • Tabasco to taste
  • 3 tbsp unflavoured gelatin (a “5” is written over the “3” in red pencil)
  • ⅔ cup (160 ml) dry white wine
  • lemon juice, salt and pepper
  • 2 avocados
  • 2 tbsp lemon juice
  • 2 tomatoes, peeled, seeded and cut into ½-inch (1 cm) cubes
  • ¼ cup (25 g) minced scallion
  • watercress and thinly sliced scallions, to garnish
Method
  1. In a large stainless or enamel saucepan combine the tomato juice, celery, onions, parsley, salt, sugar, bay leaf, basil, peppercorns, Worcestershire, cloves and Tabasco. Bring to a boil and simmer 30 minutes, covered.
  2. In a small bowl sprinkle the gelatin over the wine and let soften 10 minutes. Add to the tomato mixture off the heat and whisk until dissolved.
  3. Strain through a fine sieve into a bowl, pressing hard on the solids. Set the bowl in ice water and cool, stirring occasionally. Add lemon juice, salt and pepper to taste.
  4. Rinse a 2-quart (1.9 litres) decorative mould and don’t dry it. Pour in ½ cup (120 ml) of the mixture and swirl to coat the bottom. Chill until set.
  5. Cut 1 avocado into ½-inch (1 cm) strips, toss with the 2 tbsp lemon juice, drain and arrange decoratively on the set aspic. Cover evenly with ½ cup (120 ml) of the mixture.
  6. Fold the tomatoes, the other avocado (in ½-inch / 1 cm cubes) and the scallion into the remaining aspic. Pour into the mould and chill 4 hours or overnight.
  7. Dip into hot water and invert onto a chilled platter. Garnish with watercress sprinkled with thinly sliced scallions.

Underlined in red: “gelatin”, “white wine”, “lemon j.”, “salt & pep.”, the first “1 avocado”, “Tb. lemon j.” and “minced scallion”. Underlined in the card’s blue ink: “combine” (twice), “2 toma” and the second “avocado”.

Purple box, p. 367
Purple box, p. 368
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegan

Mushroom Salad

With a version for 12 added in green ink

Yield Serves 4 (or 12)

Ingredients
  • ½ cup (35 g) mushrooms, sliced thin (for 12: 2 lb / 900 g)
  • 2 tsp lemon juice (for 12: ½ cup / 120 ml)
  • ¼ cup (25 g) thinly sliced scallion greens (tops)
  • 3 tbsp olive oil (for 12: ¾ cup / 180 ml)
  • ½ tsp salt (for 12: 2 tsp)
  • for 12, also: 2 tbsp green [?] pepper (the card has “gr. pep”; 2 tbsp of ground pepper would be a great deal) and 2 tbsp chopped parsley
  • lettuce
Method
  1. Toss the mushrooms with the lemon juice, olive oil, salt and pepper until moist.
  2. Add the scallion greens, oil and salt and chill. (Green ink: marinate 1 hour at room temperature and 1 hour in the refrigerator.)
  3. Serve on lettuce.
Purple box, p. 370
Later cards, 1990s–2000s
Later cards · 1990s–2000sHandwrittenVegan

Grape Tomatoes Cooler

Yield 1 box of tomatoes

Ingredients
  • 1 box grape tomatoes, quartered
  • olive oil
  • 2 cloves garlic, chopped
  • chopped basil
  • salt and pepper, 1 tsp or more
  • ¼ tsp cayenne
  • ½ onion (red or Vidalia), chopped
Method
  1. Marinate the tomatoes in olive oil with the garlic, basil, salt and pepper, cayenne and onion.
  2. Refrigerate until serving.

“Refrig til serving” is underlined.

Rose box, p. 220
Later cards · 1990s–2000sHandwritten

Maria’s Steak Salad

Maria; the last item runs onto the back of the card

Ingredients
  • steak, marinated 2 hours or more in 7-Seas dressing and soy sauce
  • portabello mushrooms, brushed with balsamic marinade
  • mixed greens (mesclun)
  • ½ cup (70 g) pine nuts, toasted
  • dried cranberries (or strawberries)
  • a small red onion, sliced
  • a medium cucumber, sliced
  • 1 stalk celery, chopped
  • 1 pint (300 g) grape tomatoes, halved
  • shredded carrot (organic [?])
  • endive leaves
  • crusty bread (or baps), croutons and crumbled Danish blue cheese
Method
  1. Marinate the steak at least 2 hours in 7-Seas dressing and soy sauce, and grill it.
  2. Brush the portabellos with balsamic marinade and grill 5 minutes a side.
  3. Toss the greens with the pine nuts, cranberries, onion, cucumber, celery, tomatoes and carrot.
  4. Serve the salad on plates. Cut the portabellos in quarters, put each piece on a slice of crusty bread and set it at the side of the salad.
  5. Put endive leaves around the edge and top with croutons and crumbled Danish blue cheese.

Underlined on the card: “Toss together”, “bread” and “endive”; on the back, “Danish Blue Cheese”.

See also Maria’s Balsamic Vinaigrette and Marinade

Rose box, p. 223
Rose box, p. 224
Later cards · 1990s–2000sHandwritten

Karin’s Tortellini Salad (for a crowd)

Karin; on a torn sheet of yellow legal paper, numbered “31” and “32” in the corner (perhaps a head count)

Ingredients
  • 3 [lb or packages?] cheese-filled tortellini (5, changed to 3 in green)
  • 3 [bottles?] red wine vinegar dressing
  • 2 red peppers, 2 yellow and 2 green
  • carrots
  • 1 red onion
  • broccoli
  • 2 lb (900 g) bacon, cooked crisp and crumbled
  • Dijon mustard, mayonnaise, salt and pepper (“?”)

No method is given: cook and cool the tortellini, chop the vegetables and toss everything with the dressing.

Rose box, p. 225
Later cards · 1990s–2000sHandwrittenVegetarian

Dru’s Asian Salad

Dru

Ingredients
  • Dressing
  • 1 tbsp sugar
  • 1 tbsp soy sauce
  • 2 tbsp red wine vinegar
  • 4 to 6 tbsp olive oil
  • pepper
  • Salad
  • 1 package oriental-flavoured Ramen noodles
  • 1½ tbsp (21 g) butter
  • greens: romaine, spinach and red leaf
  • chopped scallions
  • broccoli florets
  • sunflower seeds
  • mandarin oranges
  • carrot slices and cucumbers (optional)
Method
  1. Shake the dressing ingredients together.
  2. Crush the noodles in their bag. Put them in a non-stick skillet with the spice packet and the butter and fry until brown. Cool.
  3. Toss the greens with the scallions and broccoli, then with the sunflower seeds, noodles, mandarin oranges and dressing. Carrots and cucumber can be added.

“Dru” and “broc. flowerets” [?] are underlined.

Rose box, p. 227
Rose box, p. 228
Later cards · 1990s–2000sHandwrittenVegetarian

Karin’s Festive Holiday Salad

Karin [?]

Yield Serves 8

Ingredients
  • one 12- to 14-oz (340–395 g) bag washed mixed salad greens
  • ⅓ cup (13 g) chopped radicchio
  • ½ cup (75 g) dried mixed berries (cranberries, blueberries and cherries)
  • ½ cup (95 g) mandarin orange segments, drained
  • ¼ cup (40 g) diced red onion
  • ¼ cup (35 g) toasted pine nuts, or ½ cup (20 g) croutons
  • one 4-oz (115 g) package crumbled feta
  • Dressing
  • ¼ cup (60 ml) raspberry vinegar
  • 2 tbsp honey
  • ½ tsp sugar
  • 1 tsp lemon juice
  • ¼ tsp salt
  • ¼ cup (60 ml) vegetable oil
  • ¼ cup (60 ml) olive oil
  • 1 tbsp poppy seeds
Method
  1. Combine the dressing ingredients in a tightly covered container and shake well.
  2. Combine the salad ingredients in a large bowl. Lightly coat with dressing just before serving.

To serve it as a main course, add 4 oz (115 g) cooked peeled shrimp or cubed chicken.

Rose box, p. 229
Rose box, p. 230
Later cards · 1990s–2000sHandwrittenVegetarian

Phyllis’s Mixed Salad

Phyllis

Ingredients
  • romaine and red leaf lettuce
  • radicchio
  • red onion, sliced
  • zucchini, sliced raw
  • red and yellow peppers
  • tomatoes, sliced
  • steamed asparagus
  • sliced black olives
  • avocado
  • endive, sliced
  • crumbled feta on top, or Maytag Blue
  • pine nuts

“Maytag Blue” is underlined.

Rose box, p. 232
Later cards · 1990s–2000sHandwritten

Salad Ideas

Two numbered ideas, with a vinaigrette and a beet salad on the back

Ingredients
  • 1. Wedge-style salad
  • iceberg and romaine lettuce
  • chopped hard-boiled eggs
  • crumbled bacon
  • blue cheese dressing
  • 2. Greek-style salad
  • romaine
  • cucumber and red onion, marinated in red wine vinaigrette for 20 minutes
  • tomatoes and avocado
  • pine nuts
  • feta cheese (5 oz / 140 g)
  • black olives (a pint)
  • roasted red bell peppers (a 6-oz / 170 g jar, or small)
  • ¼ cup (15 g) fresh parsley and fresh mint, torn
  • eggs (“?”)
  • Vinaigrette
  • 3 tbsp red wine vinegar
  • 1½ tsp lemon juice
  • 2 tsp minced fresh oregano leaves
  • ½ tsp salt
  • ⅛ tsp pepper
  • 1 medium clove garlic, pressed
  • 6 tbsp olive oil
  • Beet salad
  • beets, endive leaves and arugula, with the vinaigrette
Method
  1. Whisk the vinaigrette together. Marinate the tomatoes, cucumber, onion and avocado in it for 20 minutes, then toss with the rest of salad 2.

“fresh parsley” and “fresh mint” are underlined.

Rose box, p. 233
Rose box, p. 234
Later cards · 1990s–2000sHandwrittenVegetarian

Kir’s Grape Tomato Salad

Kir

Ingredients
  • grape tomatoes, sliced
  • a little vinaigrette
  • Gorgonzola crumbs
  • mayonnaise or sour cream
Method
  1. Slice the tomatoes and cover with a bit of vinaigrette, Gorgonzola crumbs and a little mayonnaise or sour cream.
Rose box, p. 235
Later cards · 1990s–2000sHandwrittenSpecial praiseWell usedVegetarian

Le Bernardin’s Endive and Roquefort Salad

Noted “Le Bernardin”, the New York restaurant; a much-stained card marked “Delicious” in orange

Yield Serves 4

Ingredients
  • 3 oz (85 g) Roquefort cheese
  • ½ cup (120 g) sour cream
  • 20 whole endive leaves
  • 4 cups (360 g) endive trimmings, or whole leaves cut across into 1-inch (2.5 cm) pieces
  • 1 ripe tomato, peeled, seeded and cut into ¼-inch (5 mm) dice (blanch it 5 seconds in boiling water, dip in ice water until cold; no pulp left)
  • 4 tsp thinly sliced fresh chives
  • fine sea salt and freshly ground white pepper, to taste
  • 3 tbsp vinaigrette (below)
  • ¼ cup (30 g) toasted chopped walnuts (in brackets)
  • Vinaigrette
  • 2 tsp Dijon mustard
  • 1 tsp fine sea salt
  • 2 pinches ground white pepper
  • 3 tbsp red wine vinegar
  • 3 tbsp sherry vinegar
  • ½ cup (120 ml) plus 1 tbsp olive oil
  • ½ cup (120 ml) plus 1 tbsp corn oil
Method
  1. Vinaigrette: whisk together the mustard, salt, pepper and vinegars. Very slowly drizzle in the olive oil and then the corn oil. It keeps 1 week in the refrigerator.
  2. Cut 2 oz (55 g) of the cheese into ¼-inch (5 mm) dice and set aside. Crumble the other ounce into a small bowl, add the sour cream and work it in with a small whisk or fork until well blended. Spoon into the centre of 4 plates.
  3. Arrange 5 whole endive leaves spoke-fashion around the sauce on each plate, sticking the straight ends into the sauce.
  4. Toss the trimmings or cut leaves with the tomato, chives, salt, white pepper and vinaigrette. Mound over the sauce.
  5. Sprinkle the diced cheese (and nuts) over and around the salad. Serve immediately.

“Delicious”, written across the top in orange and underlined.

Underlined on the card: “leaves” (20 whole endive leaves), “tomato”, “white” (pepper) and “1 oz” (of the cheese, to crumble); on the back, “tom” and “chives”. The “4” of “Serves 4” is underlined several times.

Rose box, p. 236
Rose box, p. 237
Later cards · 1990s–2000sSpecial praiseVegetarian

Wild Mushroom and Green Bean Salad with Goat Cheese

A magazine clipping on a card, marked “Cindy” and “delicious”. Rewritten here.

Yield 6 servings

Ingredients
  • ½ lb (225 g) haricots verts or other slender green beans, trimmed
  • 7 tbsp olive oil
  • 2 tbsp balsamic vinegar
  • 1 tbsp chopped fresh thyme
  • 1 lb (450 g) assorted fresh wild mushrooms (oyster, crimini, stemmed shiitake), sliced
  • 1 large shallot, chopped
  • salt and pepper
  • one 5-oz (140 g) bag mixed baby greens
  • 3 oz (85 g) soft mild goat cheese (such as Montrachet), crumbled (about ¾ cup)
Method
  1. Cook the beans in a large pot of boiling salted water until crisp-tender, about 4 minutes. Drain, cool in ice water, drain well and pat dry. (They can be made a day ahead, covered and chilled.)
  2. Whisk 4 tbsp of the oil with the vinegar and thyme and season to make the dressing.
  3. Heat the remaining 3 tbsp oil in a heavy large skillet over medium-high heat. Sauté the mushrooms and shallot until brown, about 8 minutes. Off the heat, mix in 2 tbsp of the dressing and season.
  4. Toss the beans and greens with the rest of the dressing and season. Divide among 6 plates, spoon the warm mushrooms over and sprinkle with the goat cheese.

Marked “Cindy”, underlined, and “delicious”.

Rose box, p. 238
Later cards · 1990s–2000sHandwrittenVegetarian

Kir’s Salad

Kir

Ingredients
  • chopped endive
  • red pepper
  • Roquefort cheese, crumbled
  • mustard dressing
Method
  1. Toss the endive and red pepper with mustard dressing and top with crumbled Roquefort.

See also Kir’s Mustard Vinaigrette

Rose box, p. 239
Later cards · 1990s–2000s

Apple, Roquefort and Red Leaf Lettuce with Pumpernickel Croutons

Gourmet, clipped onto a yellow card. Rewritten here.

Yield Serves 6; 20 minutes

Ingredients
  • ½ lb (225 g) thick-cut bacon (5 slices), cut crosswise into ¼-inch (5 mm) strips
  • 3 slices pumpernickel, crusts removed, cut into ¼-inch (5 mm) dice (1 cup / 40 g)
  • 1 tbsp sherry vinegar
  • ½ tsp Dijon mustard
  • 3 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 Granny Smith apple
  • 1 head red leaf lettuce, torn into bite-size pieces (6 cups / 215 g)
  • ¼ cup (30 g) dried cranberries
  • ½ cup crumbled Roquefort (2 oz / 55 g)
Method
  1. Cook the bacon in a 12-inch (30 cm) heavy skillet over moderate heat, stirring, until crisp, about 5 minutes. Drain on paper towels.
  2. Cook the pumpernickel in the fat in the skillet over moderate heat, stirring, until crisp, about 4 minutes. Drain and season with salt and pepper.
  3. Whisk the vinegar and mustard, add the oil in a slow stream, whisking until emulsified, and season.
  4. Halve and core the apple and cut crosswise into thin slices.
  5. Toss the lettuce with the cranberries, apple, croutons, half the bacon and the dressing. Divide among plates, dot with Roquefort and sprinkle with the rest of the bacon.
Rose box, p. 240
Later cards · 1990s–2000sHandwritten

Ruth’s Orange Mandarin Salad

Ruth. Like her two cards in the purple box, it is written on a re-used office record card; the back is a typed alumni record for a 1953 graduate, with “1953” in red. All three of Ruth’s cards look like old alumni-office records from a North Carolina school; this one has a Chapel Hill address.

Yield 8 to 10 (half the recipe fills 8 small moulds)

Ingredients
  • 2 packages orange gelatin
  • 1½ cups (360 ml) boiling water
  • two 6-oz (175 ml) tins frozen orange juice, undiluted
  • two 11-oz (310 g) cans mandarin oranges, with their juice
Method
  1. Dissolve the gelatin in the hot water. Add the orange juice and the oranges with their juice.
  2. Refrigerate to set.

Ruth’s verdict: “(not sweet) good w/ meats”.

Rose box, p. 241
Rose box, p. 242
Later cards · 1990s–2000sHandwrittenVegetarian

Joy K.’s Greek Salad

Joy K… [?] (the surname is hard to read)

Yield Serves 4

Ingredients
  • endive pieces (1 spear)
  • lettuces
  • black olives (½ cup / 70 g)
  • red onion (½)
  • grape tomatoes, halved (½ cup / 90 g)
  • plain feta cheese (¼ cup / 35 g)
  • Paul Newman Greek Salad Dressing
  • croutons
  • pine nuts, toasted
  • ½ cucumber, peeled, halved, seeded and sliced
Method
  1. Toss everything with the dressing.

“feta” and “Newman Greek Salad” are underlined.

Rose box, p. 243
Later cards · 1990s–2000sHandwrittenWell used

Elaine’s Dinner Salad

Elaine; on a crumpled, much-stained sheet of lined notepaper. “Little Gem” (with “Baby Cos” crossed out) is a British lettuce name.

Ingredients
  • Little Gem lettuce
  • petite peas, cooked
  • marinated artichoke hearts
  • marinated red peppers
  • red onion pieces
  • black olives, whole
  • hard-boiled eggs, sliced
  • a few more lines too stained to read, one ending “thin sliced” and one “tuna” [?]
  • cucumber
  • grape tomatoes, halved
  • celery
  • avocado

On the back, lists that look like the shopping for the dinner: onions, tomatoes, celery, lettuce, beans, “straw”; garlic bread, bread, chips, salt, black olives, “standard marinade”, water; eggs, yogurt, “Excedrin” [?], “coffeemat” [?], olives; marinated red peppers ×2 and artichoke hearts ×2.

On the back, a check mark is drawn above the first list, and “olives” is circled.

Rose box, p. 244
Rose box, p. 245
Later cards · 1990s–2000sVegetarian

Lettuce Chiffonade with Gorgonzola-Herb Dressing

Gourmet, clipped front and back onto a card, with a colour photograph of the salad. Rewritten here.

Yield Serves 6; 30 minutes

Ingredients
  • Dressing
  • ⅓ cup (20 g) fresh flat-leaf parsley
  • ⅓ cup (47 g) Gorgonzola dolce or other soft blue cheese
  • ⅓ cup (80 g) sour cream
  • ⅓ cup (75 g) mayonnaise
  • ⅓ cup (80 ml) well-shaken buttermilk
  • 1 tbsp distilled white vinegar
  • ¾ tsp salt
  • ¼ tsp black pepper
  • ¼ cup (15 g) finely chopped fresh chives
  • Salad
  • ½ head romaine, thinly sliced crosswise (5 cups / 235 g)
  • 1 small head radicchio, quartered and thinly sliced lengthwise (3 cups / 120 g)
  • 1 small head frisée, torn into bite-size pieces (3 cups / 150 g)
  • 2 Belgian endives, trimmed and thinly sliced lengthwise
Method
  1. Blend the parsley, cheese, sour cream and mayonnaise in a food processor until smooth. Blend in the buttermilk, vinegar, salt and pepper. Move to a bowl and stir in the chives.
  2. Toss the lettuces together in a large bowl, then with a generous ½ cup (120 ml) of the dressing.

The clipping says there will be more dressing than you need; the rest makes an everyday dressing, or a dip for chicken wings or raw vegetables. It keeps 5 days, covered and chilled; stir before using.

Underlined in blue on the clipping: “lengthwise” (the radicchio), “thinly sliced lengthwise” (the endives) and “a food processor”. A blue arrow runs down the margin from the romaine to the endives.

Rose box, p. 246
Rose box, p. 247
Later cards · 1990s–2000sVegetarian

Caesar Salad (from “Rare Bits”)

Newspaper clipping, “adapted from ‘Rare Bits’ by Patricia Bunning Stevens (Ohio University Press, 1998)”. Grammy added “or shards of Parm” and “Dijon, red wine v[inegar], Tab.” [?]. Rewritten here.

Yield 4 to 6 servings; 30 minutes

Ingredients
  • 2 heads romaine lettuce
  • 2 Grade A eggs
  • ¼ cup (60 ml) garlic-flavoured oil
  • ½ tsp salt
  • ½ tsp freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 large lemon, halved
  • ½ tsp Worcestershire sauce
  • ¼ cup (25 g) freshly grated Parmesan, or shards of Parmesan
  • 1 cup (40 g) garlic-flavoured croutons
Method
  1. Wash and dry the romaine, discarding the outer leaves. Wrap the leaves in a clean dish towel and refrigerate (tear them smaller if you like).
  2. Bring a small pan of water to a boil. Add the eggs and take the pan off the heat. After 1 minute, lift the eggs out and put them in ice water (Grammy’s change).
  3. Put the romaine in a large salad bowl and set out everything else on a platter.
  4. At the table, pour half the oil over the romaine and toss gently. Add the salt and pepper and toss again.
  5. Squeeze the lemon over and add the Worcestershire. Break the eggs over the salad. Add the rest of the oil and the cheese, then the croutons, and toss briefly. Serve at once.

Underlined on the clipping: “garlic-flavored oil”, and in the egg step “water to a”, “eggs, and remove from heat”, “After 1 minute” and “remove eggs from water and”; the egg step is bracketed in the margin.

Rose box, p. 248
Later cards · 1990s–2000sHandwritten

Lee D.’s Blueberry Salad

Lee D.

Ingredients
  • 1 package raspberry Jell-O
  • 1 cup (240 ml) hot water
  • 1 package frozen blueberries
  • ½ pint (240 ml) medium cream
  • 1 cup (200 g) sugar
  • ½ pint (240 g) sour cream
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1 envelope Knox gelatin, softened in ¼ cup (60 ml) cold water
Method
  1. Dissolve the Jell-O in the hot water. Add the blueberries and let it set.
  2. After that has set, heat the cream and sugar until the sugar dissolves.
  3. Cool, and add the sour cream, vanilla and softened gelatin.
  4. Spoon carefully over the top of the blueberry layer and chill.

“(Reverse layers if turned out)”, with “layers” written in above the line.

Rose box, p. 249
Later cards · 1990s–2000sHandwritten

Orange Sherbet Salad

Titled “Orange Salad”

Ingredients
  • 2 packages orange Jell-O
  • 2 cups (475 ml) hot water
  • juice from 2 cans mandarin oranges, and the oranges
  • 1 pint (475 ml) orange sherbet, softened
Method
  1. Dissolve the Jell-O in the hot water with the juice from the oranges. Let it set until semi-jelled, then whip.
  2. Fold in the softened sherbet. Add the oranges and chill.
Rose box, p. 250
Later cards · 1990s–2000s

Wilted Spinach

A printed recipe card, from the same series as Peas with Mint and Orange Rind. Rewritten here.

Yield 6 to 8 servings

Ingredients
  • 2 lb (900 g) young tender spinach
  • 5 slices bacon
  • 6 scallions, cut into rounds
  • 3 hard-cooked eggs, shelled
  • ½ tsp freshly ground pepper
  • 3 tbsp sugar
  • ½ cup (120 ml) vinegar
Method
  1. The day before, wash the spinach, remove the stems and store the leaves in the refrigerator so they are crisp. Use only the small leaves; the large ones are fine for cooking but not for salad.
  2. Fry the bacon, drain on paper towels and break into pieces.
  3. To the bacon fat add the scallions, 1 chopped egg, the pepper, sugar, vinegar and ½ cup (120 ml) water. Bring to the boil. (The dressing can be made ahead but must be brought back to the boil just before using.)
  4. Pour it boiling hot over the spinach, add the bacon and toss well. Garnish with the other 2 eggs, thinly sliced.

See also Wilted Lettuce, Two Ways

Rose box, p. 251
Later cards · 1990s–2000sHandwritten

Peter’s Caesar Salad

Peter; an old, much-stained card

Ingredients
  • 6 tbsp olive oil
  • 3 tbsp red wine vinegar
  • 1½ tsp salt (or less; the ½ is scribbled out in blue)
  • pepper
  • ½ tsp dry mustard
  • 1 or more garlic cloves, mashed
  • 1 egg
  • ⅛ tsp Worcestershire sauce
  • ¼ cup (25 g) Parmesan
  • 6 anchovy fillets
  • 1 cup (40 g) croutons
  • 2 heads romaine
Method
  1. Mix the oil, vinegar, salt, pepper, mustard, garlic, egg and Worcestershire in the salad bowl. (The card doesn’t say where the anchovies go; mash them into the dressing or lay them on top.)
  2. Toss the lettuce with the dressing. Add the Parmesan and croutons and toss again.

“Mix in bowl:” is underlined.

Rose box, p. 254
Later cards · 1990s–2000sHandwritten

Wilted Lettuce, Two Ways

Noted “Gourmet”; a stained card

Yield Serves 3 to 4

I. With bacon and eggs

Ingredients
  • 5 pieces bacon
  • 2 tbsp sugar
  • ½ cup (120 ml) vinegar (apple cider)
  • ½ cup (120 ml) water
  • 1 tbsp lemon juice
  • ½ tsp black pepper
  • 3 hard-cooked eggs, chopped
  • 6 green onions, cut up
  • ground pepper
  • lettuce
Method
  1. The card gives no method for this version. As with the Wilted Spinach: fry the bacon, add the sugar, vinegar, water, lemon juice and pepper to the fat and bring to the boil, then pour over the lettuce with the eggs, onions and crumbled bacon.

II. With Cognac

Ingredients
  • ½ cup (70 g) bacon, in 1-inch (2.5 cm) pieces
  • ½ lb (225 g) spinach
  • ½ cup (120 ml) Cognac
  • 2 tbsp red wine vinegar
  • 2 tsp sugar
  • 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
  • ½ tsp dry mustard and pepper
Method
  1. Cook the bacon until crisp. Pour the fat over the spinach in a bowl.
  2. Add the Cognac to the skillet and deglaze. Add the vinegar, sugar, Worcestershire, mustard and pepper and cook 2 minutes.
  3. Spoon the mixture over the spinach. Cover the bowl tightly and let it steam 5 minutes, or until slightly wilted. Toss well.

“Toss well” is underlined twice.

Also on the card: “½ C water” is underlined twice, “Add” (the Cognac) is underlined in the margin, and the “3-4” (servings) is circled.

Rose box, p. 255
Rose box, p. 256
Later cards · 1990s–2000sHandwrittenSpecial praise

Endive, Parsley and Shallot Salad

Noted “Gotham” (the Gotham Bar and Grill), with a circled “P” above it, and “Delicious”

Yield Serves 4

Ingredients
  • 5 heads Belgian endive (1¼ lb / 575 g)
  • 3 tbsp finely chopped shallot
  • ¼ cup (15 g) coarsely chopped flat-leaf parsley
  • ¼ cup (60 ml) mustard vinaigrette (Kir’s)
  • 1 avocado, sliced thin (optional), and poached shrimp
  • coarse salt and freshly ground white pepper
Method
  1. Cut the endive crosswise on the diagonal into 1½-inch (4 cm) pieces. Separate the rings and put them in a large bowl.
  2. Add the shallots, parsley and avocado and drizzle with the vinaigrette to coat everything lightly.
  3. Toss well and season. Serve immediately.

“Delicious”, underlined.

Underlined on the card: “avocado”, “poached shrimp” and, twice, “immed.” (serve).

See also Kir’s Mustard Vinaigrette

Rose box, p. 258
Typed on her computer, 2005–16
Typed on her computer · 2005–16Vegan

Wheat Berry Waldorf Salad

From The Whole Foods Market Cookbook. Serves 8.

Wheat berries are pleasantly chewy with a nutty flavour. Use a crunchy, firm, sweet-tart apple such as Granny Smith or Gala.

Ingredients
  • 2 cups (370 g) uncooked wheat berries
  • 1 cup (120 g) chopped walnuts (or pine nuts or slivered almonds)
  • ½ cup (60 g) craisins or dried cranberries
  • 2 medium apples, cored and chopped
  • 1 cup (145 g) seedless raisins
  • 1 cup (60 g) finely chopped parsley
  • ¼ cup (60 ml) apple cider vinegar
  • ½ cup (120 ml) apple juice
  • ½ tsp salt
  • ½ tsp pepper
  • ½ tsp ground nutmeg
  • ½ tsp ground cinnamon
  • ½ cup (120 ml) extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 tbsp lemon juice
Method
  1. Put the wheat berries in a large bowl, cover with at least 2 inches (5 cm) of water and soak 6–8 hours or overnight. Drain well.
  2. Bring 7 cups (1.7 litres) fresh water to a boil in a medium pot. Add the wheat berries, reduce the heat and simmer uncovered for about 50 minutes, until cooked through (they stay firm and chewy). Drain and cool.
  3. Transfer to a large bowl. Add all the remaining ingredients and mix thoroughly. Make several hours or a day ahead.
Typed on her computer · 2005–16

Jalapeño Chicken Salad

From Cook’s Country, August 2005. Makes about 5 cups (1.2 litres).

Pickled jalapeños are in the international aisle, near the taco fixings.

Ingredients
  • ½ cup (115 g) mayonnaise
  • 1 tbsp lime juice
  • 3 cups (425 g) shredded cooked chicken (see below)
  • 2 medium celery ribs, chopped
  • ½ small red onion, chopped
  • 1 red bell pepper, seeded and chopped
  • 2 tbsp chopped fresh cilantro
  • ¼ cup (38 g) sliced pickled jalapeños, chopped fine
  • 1 cup (150 g) sliced grapes (green or red)
  • Salt and pepper
Method
  1. Mix the mayonnaise and lime juice in a small bowl.
  2. Toss the chicken, celery, onion, bell pepper, cilantro and jalapeños in a large bowl.
  3. Add the mayonnaise mixture and toss until evenly coated. Season with (lots of) salt and pepper.
  4. Serve, or cover and refrigerate for up to 2 days.

To roast chicken breasts for salad (makes about 6 cups / 850 g shredded chicken)

  • 2 large whole chicken breasts, skin-on and bone-in (at least 1½ lb / 675 g each, = 4 half-breasts)
  • 1 tbsp vegetable oil
  • Salt and pepper
  1. Heat the oven to 400°F (200°C) with a rack in the middle. Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil.
  2. Pat the chicken dry with paper towels, rub the skin with oil and season with salt and pepper. Place skin side up on the sheet.
  3. Roast until a thermometer in the thickest part reads 160°F (71°C), 35–40 minutes.
  4. Cool to room temperature, discard the skin and cut the meat from the bone. Cut into 2-inch (5 cm) pieces and shred by hand.
Typed on her computer · 2005–16Vegan

Jeanne’s Bok Choy Salad

Jeanne’s recipe.

Dressing: combine and boil for no more than 1 minute

  • 2 tbsp tamari or soy sauce
  • ¼ cup (60 ml) cider vinegar
  • ¾ cup (180 ml) olive oil
  • ½ cup (100 g) sugar

Topping: sauté in a little olive oil with garlic powder

  • 2 packages ramen noodles, seasoning discarded, crunched into small pieces
  • 1½ cups (135 g) sliced almonds
  • 2½ oz (70 g) sesame seeds (add last so they don’t burn)
Salad
  • 2 heads bok choy or Chinese cabbage
  • 1 bunch scallions
  1. Clean the stems and leaves of the bok choy. Slice the stems and tear the leaves into bite-sized pieces.
  2. Chop the scallions and add to the bok choy in a salad bowl.
  3. Just before serving, toss with the dressing and top with the crunchy mixture.

Her later typed copy

Her later copy serves 6–8 and cuts the sliced almonds to ½ cup (45 g) (from 1½ cups / 135 g). It calls for 1–2 heads of bok choy or Chinese cabbage, “depending on size”, and garlic powder “to taste” in the topping.

Typed on her computer · 2005–16Vegan

Asian Green Beans

Melissa’s recipe. Serves 6.

Ingredients
  • ½ cup (45–70 g) whole roasted almonds (or sliced almonds)
  • 2 tbsp tamari
  • 1½ lb (675 g) green beans, trimmed
  • 2 tbsp toasted sesame oil
  • 3 tbsp rice vinegar
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 2 tsp peeled fresh ginger, finely chopped
  • ½ cup (30 g) fresh cilantro, chopped (optional)
Method
  1. Toast the almonds in a small non-stick pan over medium-high heat, about 3 minutes. Add 1 tbsp tamari and stir until evenly coated, about 30 seconds. Cool on a plate, then chop roughly if whole.
  2. Prepare a large bowl of ice water. Cook the beans in a large pot of boiling salted water (1 tbsp salt) until crisp-tender, 3–4 minutes after the water returns to the boil.
  3. Drain the beans, plunge into the ice water, then drain well.
  4. In a large bowl, combine the sesame oil, vinegar, garlic, ginger and the remaining 1 tbsp tamari. Warm the dressing in the microwave before mixing with hot beans. Toss the beans in it and garnish with the almonds and cilantro. Serve immediately, while warm.

To serve the next day: dry the blanched beans and refrigerate in a bag. Reheat with ¼ cup (60 ml) water in a large covered frying pan over high heat for 3 minutes, then uncover and cook until the moisture evaporates, about 30 seconds. Dress as above.

Typed on her computer · 2005–16Vegan

Spicy Thai Cucumber Salad

Culinary Institute of America. Serves 12 as a side dish.

Dressing
  • 5 fl oz (150 ml) rice vinegar
  • ½ cup (100 g) sugar
  • 1¼ tsp salt
  • 7½ tbsp water
Salad
  • 5 evenly sized cucumbers, halved lengthwise, deseeded and sliced ¼ inch (5 mm) thick
  • ½ bunch mint leaves, chopped
  • 2½ red chile peppers, sliced
  • 2 onions, finely chopped
  • ½ bunch cilantro, finely chopped, stems and leaves
  • 5 tbsp roasted peanuts, chopped, to garnish
Method
  1. Combine the vinegar, sugar, salt and water in a mixing bowl and blend well.
  2. Add the cucumbers, mint, chile, onion and cilantro and toss well. Let stand in the fridge 15 minutes to 1 hour.
  3. Garnish with the peanuts and serve very cold.
Typed on her computer · 2005–16Vegetarian

Gazpacho Pasta Salad

From Cook’s Country, April 2006, with Grammy’s notes. Serves 8–10.

Dressing (make the day before)
  • 14½-oz (400 g) can diced tomatoes, not drained
  • 3 large garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 tsp hot red pepper flakes (Grammy used ½ tsp)
  • ¼ cup (6 g) packed fresh basil
  • 1 tbsp red wine vinegar
  • ½ tsp salt

Purée in a blender until smooth. Cover and refrigerate at least 2 hours or overnight.

Salad
  • 1 lb (450 g) rotini pasta
  • 1 tbsp salt, for the pasta water
  • 1 large cucumber, peeled, halved lengthwise, seeded and cut into ¼-inch (5 mm) pieces
  • 1 large red bell pepper, in ½-inch (1 cm) dice
  • 1 large yellow bell pepper, in ½-inch (1 cm) dice (Grammy doubled the peppers)
  • 2 cups (360 g) grape tomatoes, halved
  • ¼ cup (15 g) chopped fresh parsley
  • 4 scallions, thinly sliced
  • ¼ cup (60 ml) extra virgin olive oil
  • 6 oz (170 g) feta cheese
  • 6 oz (170 g) pitted black olives, quartered
  • Salt
Method
  1. Bring 4 quarts (3.8 litres) water to a boil. Add the salt and pasta and cook until al dente. Drain, rinse with cold water and set aside.
  2. Toss everything except the feta, olives and salt in a large bowl. Add the pasta and the dressing and toss again. Salt to taste. (The salad can be refrigerated overnight at this point.)
  3. Scatter the feta and olives over the top. Serve chilled or at room temperature.
Typed on her computer · 2005–16

Fresh and Zingy Chicken Salad

Unsigned, but probably Kir’s: UK spelling, grams and °C. Allow one chicken breast per person.

With lime, chilli, and coriander. Our best-ever chicken salad. Allow plenty of time for prep (washing, shredding, chopping): it’s worth the effort. Serve with fresh baguettes or (cooled) red Camargue or black rice and a big green salad.

Chicken
  • Approximately 140 g (5 oz) chicken breast (one average-sized chicken breast) per person
For every chicken breast, approximately
  • 1 stalk celery, chopped
  • ¼ sweet red pepper, chopped
  • ¼ red onion, chopped
  • ¼ hot green chili, minced
  • ⅛+ tsp salt
  • 2+ tbsp yogurt
  • 2+ tbsp mayonnaise
  • Juice from ½ lime
  • Small handful fresh coriander leaves, chopped
Method
  1. Gently poach chicken breasts (to 74°C / 165°F). Cool in several changes of fresh cold water. Shred all the meat and place, covered, in the fridge until needed.
  2. For every chicken breast, prepare and mix together the ingredients above in a large bowl, with the shredded chicken.
  3. If possible, leave mixture for at least one hour in the fridge to allow flavours to meld and develop.

Important: There are no rules. These are suggestions. Leave out what you don’t want and add in whatever will make you happy.

Typed on her computer · 2005–16Vegan

Judy Lowrey’s Sweet Potato Salad

Judy Lowrey’s recipe.

Ingredients
  • 4 medium sweet potatoes, peeled & cut into 1-inch (2.5 cm) chunks
  • 1 large onion (preferably red), chopped
  • ½ cup (120 ml) olive oil
  • 1–2 tbsp minced hot chili (like jalapeño)
  • 1 clove garlic
  • Juice of 2 limes
  • 2 cups (360 g) cooked black beans (canned is OK)
  • 1 red or yellow bell pepper, diced
  • 1 cup (60 g) chopped cilantro
Method
  1. Put potatoes & onion on a large baking sheet, tossed with a little olive oil; salt & pepper. Roast until potatoes are tender (30–40 minutes). (The recipe gives no oven temperature; about 400°F / 200°C suits 1-inch / 2.5 cm chunks.)
  2. Put chilies in blender with garlic, lime juice & remaining olive oil.
  3. Put warm veggies in a large bowl with beans & bell pepper; toss with dressing & cilantro. Serve warm or refrigerate for up to 1 day.
Typed on her computer · 2005–16Vegan

Jamie’s Lemon Dressing

Sent by Kir in an email of 6 October 2011; “Jamie” is perhaps Jamie Oliver.

  • ¼ cup (60 ml) plus 1 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
  • 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
  • 1 tsp kosher salt
  • 1 tsp freshly ground pepper

Whisk everything together.

Typed on her computer · 2005–16Vegan

Balsamic Vinaigrette

No source is named.

Ingredients
  • ½ cup (120 ml) water
  • 1 cup (240 ml) good quality balsamic vinegar (Fini)
  • 2 tsp Dijon mustard
  • 2 tbsp lemon juice
  • 1 tsp finely minced garlic
  • 1 tsp dried oregano
  • 1 tsp sugar
  • 1 tsp chopped fresh parsley
  • 1 cup (240 ml) extra virgin olive oil
  • Salt and pepper
Method
  1. In a processor, combine all of the ingredients except the olive oil and process for 30 seconds.
  2. With the machine running, pour the olive oil in very slowly till all of the oil has been added and the vinaigrette is creamy. Season with salt and pepper.
  3. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes. Use at room temperature.

See also Kir’s Mustard Vinaigrette

Eggs & Cheese

Quiches, two soufflés and three fondues, one written by Grammy on the back of a 1963 bank deposit slip. The cheese soufflé card from John’s mother, Ester (E.G.S.), has the best note in the box. The Levines’ bagel soufflé is a make-ahead brunch.

8 handwritten11 early cards2 later cards1 typed on her computer

All 14 in this chapter
  1. Mushroom Quiche
  2. Liz’s Mini-Quiches
  3. Pat’s Onion Pie (Cheese Pie)
  4. Perfect Fondue
  5. Zucchini Quiche
  6. Grammy’s Cheese Fondue
  7. E.G.S.’s Cheese Soufflé
  8. Mary Meade’s Beer Cheese Fondue
  9. Ruth’s Chinese Rarebit
  10. Burdie’s Egg Foo Yong
  11. Inez’s Brunch Baked Dish
  12. Mark Bittman’s Scrambled Eggs with Shrimp
  13. Scrambled Eggs with Shrimp and Garlic Shoots (Revueltos)
  14. Alisa and Glen Levine’s Bagel Soufflé
Early cards, 1950s–80s
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegetarian

Mushroom Quiche

Ingredients
  • one 9-inch (23 cm) pie shell
  • 4 tbsp (55 g) butter
  • 2 tbsp minced shallots
  • 1 lb (450 g) fresh mushrooms, thinly sliced
  • 1½ tsp salt
  • 1 tsp lemon juice
  • 4 eggs
  • 1 cup (240 ml) heavy cream
  • ⅛ tsp pepper
  • ⅛ tsp ground nutmeg
  • ½ cup grated Swiss cheese (2 oz / 55 g)
Method
  1. Bake the pie shell at 450°F (230°C) for 10 minutes, until light brown. Reduce the oven to 350°F (180°C).
  2. Melt 3 tbsp of the butter in a large skillet. Add the shallots and cook a minute, stirring constantly. Stir in the mushrooms, 1 tsp salt and the lemon juice.
  3. Cover and simmer over low heat 10 minutes. Uncover, raise the heat and boil 5 to 10 minutes, until the liquid has completely evaporated and the mushrooms begin to sauté in the butter. Stir occasionally so they don’t burn.
  4. Beat the eggs and cream together with the remaining ½ tsp salt, the nutmeg and pepper. Stir in the mushrooms.
  5. Pour into the pie shell, sprinkle with the cheese and dot with the remaining 1 tbsp (14 g) butter.
  6. Bake at 350°F (180°C) for 35 minutes or more.
Grey box, p. 11
Grey box, p. 12
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwritten

Liz’s Mini-Quiches

Liz

Ingredients
  • two 9-inch (23 cm) pie crusts, or six 6-inch (15 cm) shells
  • ½ lb (225 g) Swiss cheese, grated (2 cups)
  • 4 tsp flour
  • 2 cups (280 g) diced baked ham
  • 6 eggs
  • ⅔ cup (160 ml) water
  • 2 tall cans evaporated milk (1⅔ cups / 400 ml each)
  • 2 packages (1¾ oz / 50 g each) cream of leek soup mix
Method
  1. Mix the cheese with the flour. Save half for the topping and sprinkle the rest evenly over the bottoms of the shells. Top with the ham.
  2. Beat the eggs slightly. Stir in the water and evaporated milk, then the soup mix, stirring until completely moistened.
  3. Pour over the ham and cheese and sprinkle with the remaining cheese.
  4. Bake at 400°F (200°C) for 25 to 30 minutes. Cool 5 minutes before cutting.

In the top corner, headed “Lunch”: “clear soup / green salad / quiche / frozen fruit cup”.

Grey box, p. 42
Early and later cards · 1950s–2000sHandwrittenWell usedVegetarian

Pat’s Onion Pie (Cheese Pie)

Yield One 9-inch (23 cm) pie; serves 6 to 10

Ingredients
  • one 9-inch (23 cm) pie crust
  • 1 lb (450 g) onions, sliced
  • 2 tbsp (28 g) butter
  • 3 tbsp chopped parsley (or 1½ tbsp dried)
  • 1 cup (130 g) cubed Gruyère
  • ¼ cup (25 g) Parmesan cheese
  • 4 eggs
  • 2 cups (475 ml) heavy cream
  • ¼ tsp nutmeg
  • ½ tsp salt
  • ¼ tsp white pepper
Method
  1. Bake the pie crust for 5 minutes at 450°F (230°C).
  2. Sauté the onion in the butter until transparent. Sprinkle the onion, Parmesan, Gruyère and parsley over the shell.
  3. Combine the eggs, cream, nutmeg, salt and pepper and strain over the pie.
  4. Bake 15 minutes at 450°F (230°C). Reduce to 350°F (180°C) and bake about 20 minutes longer, until a knife comes out clean.

The card is badly stained; the second baking time is written in brackets and hard to read.

Underlined on the card: “Strain” (in “Strain over pie”); the second baking time, “20” [?], is underlined twice.

Also in the rose box: “Pat’s Cheese Pie (Onion Pie)”. A typed card headed “Pat’s” in ink, so this is Grammy’s own recipe, and a handwritten copy that has seen a lot of use. The same recipe as the grey box card above (1 lb / 450 g onions in a 9-inch / 23 cm crust), but called Cheese Pie and baked in a 10-inch (25 cm) crust. The handwritten copy adds, at an angle: “use 2 C fl. recipe w/low [?] in 2nd [?] deep pie plate”, apparently the 2-cup-flour (250 g) pastry in a deep pie plate.

On the typed card, “Pat’s” is underlined; on the handwritten copy, “Combine” and “Strain” are underlined.

Grey box, p. 88
Grey box, p. 89
Rose box, p. 46
Rose box, p. 47
Early cards · 1950s–80sVegetarian

Perfect Fondue

A printed recipe sheet, with Grammy’s additions in blue ink (“Add 1 Tb lemon j.” in the margin, “& dash of nutmeg” over the pepper line), kept with the wrapper from Hay Day’s fondue cheese

Yield Serves 4 to 6

Ingredients
  • 1 clove garlic (optional)
  • 1½ lb (675 g) cheese: ¾ lb (340 g) Swiss Emmenthal and ¾ lb (340 g) Gruyère, shaved
  • 1½ tbsp cornstarch
  • 2 cups (475 ml) dry white Riesling (or California white wine with 2 tbsp lemon juice)
  • 3 to 4 tbsp kirsch
  • 1 tbsp lemon juice (Grammy’s addition)
  • a dash of nutmeg (Grammy’s addition)
  • crusty peasant or French bread, in chunks
Method
  1. Rub the inside of the pot with the cut side of the garlic. Dissolve the cornstarch in the kirsch.
  2. Heat the wine over moderately low heat. When it simmers, add the cheese by handfuls, stirring constantly and adding more as each melts. It will form a large soft lump; don’t worry.
  3. Add the kirsch mixture and stir until smooth. Keep it bubbling over a spirit burner and serve at once with the bread.
  4. Some like freshly ground pepper added at the last minute; others dip their bread in a small glass of kirsch first.

The sheet quotes the Swiss saying that the fondue waits for no one: the diners must wait for the fondue.

The Hay Day cheese wrapper (from The Country Farm Market in Greenwich, Connecticut, price sticker still on) says that anyone who loses a chunk of bread in the fondue pays with a round of kirsch, and one for the cook as well.

For Fondue à la Tomate, add three cloves of garlic to the pot before the wine and stir in one cup chopped plum tomatoes (canned are fine) just before serving. Pour it over boiled new potatoes.

Underlined in blue ink on the sheet: “freshly ground pepper”.

Grey box, p. 90
Grey box, p. 97
Early cards · 1950s–80sVegetarian

Zucchini Quiche

A torn newspaper clipping; the recipe is credited to Phyllis Sprieser of the Bronx, N.Y.

Yield Two 9-inch (23 cm) quiches

Ingredients
  • 2 small zucchini
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 2 tsp butter
  • ½ cup (50 g) scallions
  • 2 partially baked 9-inch (23 cm) pie crusts
  • 3 eggs, beaten
  • 1 cup (240 ml) heavy cream
  • ½ cup (60 g) grated Gruyère cheese
  • chopped dill and parsley
  • pepper
Method
  1. Grate the zucchini, skin and all. Sprinkle with the salt and drain in a fine strainer.
  2. Melt the butter and sauté the scallions until tender. Spread over the bottoms of the two pie crusts.
  3. Mix the eggs and cream. Press some water out of the zucchini and add it with the cheese, dill, parsley and pepper.
  4. Pour into the crusts and bake on a cookie sheet at 375°F (190°C) for about 30 minutes.

The other side of the clipping is a cinema advertisement for a French film.

Grey box, p. 91
Grey box, p. 92
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegetarian

Grammy’s Cheese Fondue

Written on the back of a Hartford National Bank and Trust Co. deposit receipt (form dated July 1963)

Ingredients
  • 1 clove garlic
  • 1½ cups (360 ml) dry white Swiss wine
  • 1 tbsp lemon juice
  • 1 lb (450 g) shredded Swiss cheese
  • 3 tbsp flour
  • pepper and nutmeg
  • 3 tbsp kirsch with 1 tbsp cornstarch
Method
  1. Grate or shred the cheese and dredge with the flour.
  2. Heat the wine and add the lemon juice. Add the cheese and let it boil once.
  3. Stir in the kirsch mixed with the cornstarch and bring to the boil again.

Her note: use Emmenthal and natural Gruyère, and do not use flour [with them].

Grey box, p. 93
Grey box, p. 94
Cheese fondue with friends, Naples, Florida, 27 June 2022
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegetarian

E.G.S.’s Cheese Soufflé

E.G.S. (Ester Gray Schreiner, John’s mother), in an older hand, with Grammy’s revisions; Grammy’s own neater version is on a second card

Ingredients
  • ¼ cup (55 g) butter
  • ¼ cup (31 g) flour
  • ½ tsp salt
  • ½ lb (225 g) nippy cheese, grated
  • 4 egg yolks, well beaten
  • 4 egg whites, beaten stiff
Method
  1. Melt the butter in a double boiler. Add the flour and salt and blend.
  2. Add the cheese and stir until melted.
  3. Add the sauce to the beaten yolks, then carefully fold in the stiffly beaten whites.
  4. Bake in an ungreased casserole at 325°F (160°C) for 1 hour 15 minutes.

On the back, in E.G.S.’s hand: “The receipe says ‘serves 6’, but Johnny can eat over half of it himself.”

Grammy’s version: melt 3 tbsp (43 g) butter, add 3 tbsp flour and 1 cup (240 ml) milk and cook until thick. Add ½ to ¾ cup (60–85 g) cheese and melt. Season with ¼ tsp salt, ⅛ tsp paprika and cayenne. Stir in 3 well-beaten egg yolks and cook 1 minute, then cool. Fold in 3 egg whites beaten stiff and bake in an ungreased 7-inch (18 cm) casserole at 350°F (180°C) for 50 to 60 minutes or more (the 5 of the temperature is written over a 2). On the older card her pencilled revisions also put “40 min” under the baking time.

Underlined on the second card: “Cool”.

Grey box, p. 99
Grey box, p. 100
Grey box, p. 104
Early cards · 1950s–80sVegetarian

Mary Meade’s Beer Cheese Fondue

Clipping from the Chicago Sunday Tribune, 13 May 1962, by the paper’s food writer Mary Meade

Ingredients
  • 12-oz (355 ml) can or bottle of beer or ale
  • ½ lb (225 g) Swiss cheese, grated (about 2 cups)
  • ½ lb (225 g) Cheddar cheese, grated (about 2 cups)
  • Tabasco sauce (the amount is torn off)
  • 3 tbsp flour
  • ¼ tsp salt
  • nutmeg
  • 1 loaf French bread
Method
  1. Heat the beer in a fondue dish, chafing dish or skillet.
  2. Combine the cheeses and flour and add them to the beer in small amounts, stirring to melt.
  3. When the mixture starts bubbling, add the salt and Tabasco and sprinkle with nutmeg.
  4. Cut the bread into ½-inch (1 cm) cubes for dipping. If the fondue thickens, stir in a little warm beer.
Grey box, p. 102
Grey box, p. 103
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegetarian

Ruth’s Chinese Rarebit

Ruth

Ingredients
  • 1 package Old English cheese
  • 1 can mushroom soup
  • ⅓ can milk
  • 1 small can pimentos, chopped
  • 3 hard-boiled eggs
  • butter
Method
  1. Melt the cheese with the soup and milk.
  2. Add the pimentos [?], fried first in butter. Cut the eggs in small pieces and add.
  3. Serve over Chinese noodles or English muffins, or toasted or sliced chicken on toast.

The card is a re-used typed index card: the other side is an alumni record for a 1953 graduate, with “1953” in red.

Purple box, p. 36
Purple box, p. 37
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwritten

Burdie’s Egg Foo Yong

Burdie’s typed card, with Grammy’s handwritten copy

Yield 6 to 9 portions

Ingredients
  • 6 eggs, well beaten (Grammy: beaten until very thick)
  • 1 can bean sprouts, drained (or 1 cup / 100 g)
  • ½ cup (70 g) diced meat or shredded seafood
  • ½ cup (80 g) finely chopped onions
  • 1 tsp soy sauce
  • 1 tsp “flavor extender” (Grammy’s copy)
  • salt and pepper
  • cooking oil
  • Sauce
  • 2 tbsp cornstarch mixed with ¼ cup (60 ml) cold water
  • 2 cups (475 ml) boiling soup stock, bouillon or consommé
  • 1 tbsp soy sauce (2 in Grammy’s copy)
Method
  1. Mix the meat, vegetables and eggs well.
  2. Heat enough oil to cover the bottom of a heavy skillet. Fry the mixture, brown on one side, then turn over and brown the other.
  3. Sauce: stir the cornstarch paste into the boiling stock with the soy sauce. Cook, stirring constantly, until clear and thick.
  4. Serve with the sauce.

The typed card ends: “Very good.” Its “1 tablespoon bead molasses” is crossed out.

On the typed card, a faint curved line runs down the left margin from the sauce lines to the handwritten “Stir. until clear & thick” at the foot.

Purple box, p. 147
Purple box, p. 148
Purple box, p. 150
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwritten

Inez’s Brunch Baked Dish

Inez

Ingredients
  • 6 hard-boiled eggs
  • 2 tbsp mayonnaise
  • ¼ tsp dry mustard
  • ¼ tsp salt
  • 1½ cups (210 g) cooked or canned shrimp
  • 3 tbsp (43 g) butter
  • 4 tbsp flour
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 3 cups (710 ml) milk
  • ¼ cup (29 g) grated cheese
  • 1 cup (50 g) soft breadcrumbs
  • 2 tbsp (28 g) melted butter
Method
  1. Devil the eggs with the mayonnaise, mustard and salt. Put the stuffed halves in a greased flat 11 × 8 × 2-inch (28 × 20 × 5 cm) baking dish, with the shrimp below the eggs.
  2. Melt the butter, add the flour and salt, then the milk gradually, stirring until thick. Add the cheese and cook until melted. Pour over the eggs and shrimp.
  3. Sauté the crumbs in the melted butter and sprinkle over.
  4. Bake 35 minutes at 350°F (180°C).
Purple box, p. 151
Purple box, p. 152
Later cards, 1990s–2000s
Later cards · 1990s–2000s

Mark Bittman’s Scrambled Eggs with Shrimp

“The Minimalist” column by Mark Bittman (“With Eggs, The Scent Of a Shellfish”), The New York Times, early 2007 (it opens “Of all the dishes I ate for the first time in 2006”). On the back is a Sherry-Lehmann wine advertisement for Georges Duboeuf’s 2006 Beaujolais Nouveau (“Zagat’s Marketplace Survey 2007, #1 Wine Shop”). Rewritten here.

Yield 4 servings; 20 minutes

Ingredients
  • ¾ lb (340 g) raw shrimp, peeled
  • salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • 3 tbsp peanut oil, butter or a neutral oil such as grapeseed or corn
  • 8 eggs
  • 2 tbsp soy sauce
  • 1 tbsp sesame oil
  • ½ cup (50 g) chopped scallions
  • chopped fresh cilantro, to garnish (optional)
Method
  1. Devein the shrimp if you like, and cut large ones into bite-size pieces. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.
  2. Heat the oil or butter in a large skillet (preferably nonstick or cast iron) over medium heat. Add the shrimp and cook, stirring, until somewhat pink. Beat the eggs with the soy sauce and sesame oil.
  3. Turn the heat to medium-high and add the eggs and scallions. Cook, scraping the pan with a rubber spatula and folding the eggs over themselves to break up the curds. If they clump or stick, take the pan off the heat and stir, then return it.
  4. Stop when the eggs are creamy, with a little liquid left. Adjust the seasoning, garnish and serve immediately, really hot.

It is a Chinese restaurant dish he met in Los Angeles, where it is also made with Dungeness crab or lobster in the shell: the shellfish flavours the eggs.

Bittman’s party report: he made it as an appetiser with 24 eggs and about two pounds of shrimp, “It was gone in a minute, and my feeling is that it was the high point of the meal.”

The wine advertisement on the back quotes Georges Duboeuf: “My grandmother used to say that vines had to suffer to give good wine.”

Rose box, p. 5
Rose box, p. 6
Later cards · 1990s–2000s

Scrambled Eggs with Shrimp and Garlic Shoots (Revueltos)

A New York Times clipping pasted on a card, with a second scrap from the article about Spanish revueltos on the back. Rewritten here.

Yield 2 generous servings; 10 minutes

Ingredients
  • ½ lb (225 g) rock shrimp, or other small, flavourful shrimp, peeled and cut into ½-inch (1 cm) pieces
  • sea salt
  • 4 large eggs
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • ⅔ cup (65 g) garlic shoots, cut into 1-inch (2.5 cm) lengths, or 2 cloves garlic crushed to a paste plus ¼ cup (15 g) sliced chives
Method
  1. Spread the shrimp on a plate, season generously with salt and let sit 5 minutes. Crack the eggs into a bowl and set it near the stove.
  2. Heat the oil in a 12-inch (30 cm) nonstick skillet over medium-high heat until it shimmers. Add the garlic shoots and sauté 1 minute (add garlic paste and chives at the same time as the shrimp instead).
  3. Add the shrimp and cook another minute, just until opaque on the edges.
  4. Working quickly, pour the eggs straight into the pan and stir hard with a wooden spoon or spatula. They should just set, not brown.
  5. While still a little wet, tip them into a serving dish; they finish cooking on the way to the table.

A note by the eggs: “directly – no pre-mixing”. On the back, “Instead, they are cracked directly into the pan.” is underlined.

Also on the front: a tick in the margin by the shrimp, with “½ pound rock shrimp” underlined; “or” (before “2 cloves garlic”) circled; “cloves garlic” and “¼ cup sliced chives” underlined, and a faint line under “If using garlic cloves and chives”; and “(over)” at the foot. On the back, a short curved blue stroke sits at the top right edge of the clipping.

The article explains why: unlike American scrambled eggs, revueltos use olive oil, the flavourings go in before the eggs, and the eggs are cracked straight into the pan, unseasoned and unwhisked. And there is never (ever!) a discussion of wet or dry: the one correct texture is moist and creamy.

Rose box, p. 146
Rose box, p. 147
Typed on her computer, 2005–16
Typed on her computer · 2005–16Vegetarian

Alisa and Glen Levine’s Bagel Soufflé

Alisa and Glen Levine’s recipe. Start the night before.

Ingredients
  • 4 bagels, cut in half
  • ½ cup (115 g) plus 1 tbsp (14 g) butter or margarine (the Levines add: “I use Healthy Choice, and always use less than ½ cup”)
  • 6 oz (170 g) Monterey Jack cheese, shredded
  • 6 oz (170 g) cheddar cheese, shredded
  • 7 eggs
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 2 cups (475 ml) milk
  • ¼ tsp paprika
  • Pepper
Method
  1. Grease a 2-quart (1.9 litres) casserole pan with 2 tbsp (28 g) margarine or butter.
  2. Butter each bagel and cut into bite-size [?] pieces (the file says “note size”).
  3. Beat together eggs, milk, salt, paprika and pepper. Mix together the cheeses.
  4. Place ½ of the bagel cubes in the casserole and cover with ½ of the cheese mixture. Repeat with the rest of the bagel cubes and the rest of the cheese.
  5. Carefully ladle the egg mixture into the casserole dish on top of the bagel and cheese layers.
  6. Refrigerate overnight.
  7. Bake at 350°F (180°C) for 1 hour.

Beef, Pork & Lamb

Mother’s B-B-Q beef and meat loaf, the New York Times rib roast (“do not open the door at all”), a sirloin tip written on a Hudson Valley auction slip and Molly O’Neill’s four Irish lambs. The later cards add Mother’s pot roast on a much-spattered sheet, and her typed files bring Kir’s barbecue beef, Madhur Jaffrey’s lamb with figs and GG’s Sloppy Joes.

52 handwritten44 early cards18 later cards18 typed on her computer

All 80 in this chapter
  1. Mother’s B-B-Q Beef (Sloppy Joes)
  2. Ginger Ale Baked Ham
  3. Chinese Spareribs
  4. Rita’s Spareribs Sauce
  5. BBQ Spareribs
  6. Lamb with Lemon Dill Marinade
  7. New York Times Rib Roast (and Eye Round)
  8. Hattie’s Chinese Spareribs
  9. Steak Teriyaki
  10. Broiled Lamb Chops with Herbs
  11. Beef and Peppers
  12. Susan Devito’s Pineapple Pork Chop Roast
  13. Beef Burgundy
  14. Sirloin Tip Roast, on an auction slip
  15. B-B-Q Lamb Shanks
  16. Corned Beef Dinner
  17. Mrs. K’s Pepper Steak
  18. Rita’s Beef and Peppers
  19. Swedish Meatballs
  20. Lamb Terrapin
  21. Pork Pot Roast with Sour-Cream Gravy
  22. Grammy’s Bar-B-Q Hamburgers
  23. Grammy’s Sukiyaki
  24. Marinated Lamb Grill
  25. Veal Strips in Matzo Meal, with Crispy Potatoes
  26. Butterflied Leg of Lamb
  27. Lamb Shish Kebab
  28. Sauerbraten
  29. Baked Ham with Pineapple Glaze
  30. Rita’s Beef Marinade
  31. Grilled Beef Fillet
  32. Rancher Ribs
  33. Emmy’s Shish-ka-Bob (Beef Burgundy)
  34. Irish Lamb, four ways (“Erin Go Baa”)
  35. Beef, Bean and Sausage Casserole
  36. Jinny’s Meat and Noodle Casserole
  37. Mother’s Meat Loaf
  38. Mrs. K’s Company Casserole
  39. Meat Loaf with Sage
  40. Judy’s Chili
  41. Sandy’s Tacos
  42. Cherokee Casserole (Grammy’s own)
  43. Beth’s Goulash
  44. Italian Meat Loaf
  45. Rack of Lamb (notes from TV)
  46. Budd’s BBQ Sandwich (Crock-Pot)
  47. Chili
  48. “Tex” Chili [?]
  49. Grilled Marinated Flank Steak
  50. Karin’s [?] Beef Stew (slow cooker)
  51. Grilled Butterflied Leg of Lamb in Zinfandel Sauce
  52. Butterflied Leg of Lamb with Roasted Red Potatoes
  53. Roast Sirloin (“A Rarefied Roast of Beef”)
  54. Lamb Chops with Yogurt-Mint Sauce
  55. Miki’s Flanken
  56. Filet Mignon with Blue Cheese and Rosemary
  57. Kir’s Roast Beef Sandwich
  58. Roasted Pork Tenderloin with Ginger and Golden Raisins
  59. Mother’s Pot Roast
  60. Teriyaki Pork Chops, Grilled
  61. Maria’s Steak Marinade
  62. Hamburgers
  63. Prime Rib Roast Beef with Jus
  64. Kir’s Perfect Roast Beef
  65. Slow-Roasted Beef
  66. Ultimate Beef Stew
  67. Sloppy Joes
  68. GG’s Sloppy Joes
  69. Pat Coe’s Pork and Fruit Ragout
  70. Deb Lear’s Roast Pork Loin with Shiitake and Leek Compote
  71. Best Grilled Pork Chops
  72. Madhur Jaffrey’s Lemony Minced Lamb with Mint & Coriander
  73. Kir’s Slow-Cooked Shredded Barbecue Beef
  74. Dave’s Italian Beef Sandwiches
  75. Pamela Cultra’s Taco Bake
  76. Lamb and Date Tagine
  77. Madhur Jaffrey’s Shahjahani Leg of Lamb
  78. Beer-Braised Short Ribs
  79. Slow-Cooker Braised Lamb with Red Wine and Cumin
  80. Spanish-Style Lamb Stew
Enjoying a burger cooked rare, New York City, 24 November 2018
Early cards, 1950s–80s
Early and later cards · 1950s–2000sHandwrittenWell used

Mother’s B-B-Q Beef (Sloppy Joes)

Ingredients
  • 2 lb (900 g) hamburger, browned
  • 14 oz (395 g) catsup, plus 2 tbsp water to rinse out the bottle
  • 2 tbsp dry mustard
  • 3 tbsp sugar
  • 1 large onion, cut fine
  • 1 large green pepper, chopped
  • 3 tbsp vinegar
  • 1 large celery stalk, cut fine
Method
  1. Combine everything and simmer ¾ hour.

Underlined on the card: “lg” (onion).

Also in the rose box: “Mother’s B-B-Q Beef (Sloppy Joes)”. Two cards, both headed “(Mother’s)”, so this is Grammy’s mother’s recipe. The older card is heavily spotted (its back is blank but stained), with a bigger batch pencilled over it in green and blue; the newer yellow card writes the bigger batch out. They are the same recipe as the purple box card above (with 2 lb / 900 g hamburger), and they say it was Grammy’s mother’s. Over time the sugar was dropped and a can of tomato sauce added.

On the newer card, the first line ends “browned with!” [?] (the last mark may be a colon).

A later write-up

A metric write-up of this recipe, probably by Kir, opens “GG would never have called it ‘Sloppy Joes’, but that’s just what it is”.

See also GG’s Sloppy Joes

Purple box, p. 2
Rose box, p. 71
Rose box, p. 72
Rose box, p. 73
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwritten

Ginger Ale Baked Ham

Titled simply “Ham”

Yield One 12- to 16-lb (5.4–7.3 kg) ham

Ingredients
  • 12- to 16-lb (5.4–7.3 kg) ham
  • 1 quart (950 ml) ginger ale
  • 1 quart (950 ml) water
  • 1 pint (675 g) molasses
  • whole cloves
  • powdered cloves
  • 2 to 3 tbsp mustard
  • 1 cup (215 g) dark brown sugar
Method
  1. Pour the ginger ale, water and molasses over the ham. Cover and bake at 300°F [?] (150°C), 16 minutes per pound [?]. Turn the ham every hour, avoiding piercing it.
  2. When tender, remove the ham, stud it with whole cloves and sprinkle with powdered cloves. Spread with the mustard and brown sugar.
  3. Put it in a cold broiler and cook until the sugar melts and bubbles.

Both the oven temperature and the minutes per pound have been written over in darker ink; they look like 300° (150°C) and 16, perhaps corrected from 350° (180°C) and 15.

Underlined on the card: “cold”, in “Put in cold broiler”. Faint writing to the right of the title reads “g. ale” [?].

See also Jelly Sauce

Purple box, p. 3
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwritten

Chinese Spareribs

Noted “(Life – 144)”, perhaps a page reference to a Life cookbook; “dry” is crossed out at the top

Yield Serves 8

Ingredients
  • 8 to 9 lb (3.6–4.1 kg) spareribs
  • 1 cup (240 ml) soy sauce
  • 1 cup (240 ml) dry sherry
  • 1 cup (240 ml) water
  • 8 tbsp dark brown sugar
  • 4 cloves garlic, crushed
Method
  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C). Put the ribs in a large roasting pan. Combine the other ingredients, stir well and pour over. Cover with foil and bake 45 minutes, turning the ribs once.
  2. Take the ribs from the pan and save the marinade for basting.
  3. Set the barbecue grill as high as possible. Separate the ribs just before putting them on the grill (or after).
  4. When the coals are grey, cook the ribs 20 to 30 minutes, until browned and tender, turning and basting often with the soy marinade so they won’t dry out.
  5. Or: put the ribs (without the sauce) in a shallow pan in a single layer and cook 40 to 45 minutes, turning occasionally and basting if needed.

A short addition written above “basting” in step 2 can’t be read [?].

Underlined on the card: “Bake 45 mi” (in a different ink), “high” (grill) and “Or”. The “1” of “1 C. soy sauce” is written over in a darker ink.

Purple box, p. 5
Purple box, p. 6
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwritten

Rita’s Spareribs Sauce

Rita

Ingredients
  • ½ cup (160 g) plum jelly
  • juice of ½ lemon
  • 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tbsp horseradish
  • a few drops Tabasco
  • ½ tsp salt
  • spareribs, with sliced onion and lemon
Method
  1. Bake the ribs 30 minutes at 450°F (230°C), with a slice of onion and lemon on each piece.
  2. Bring the glaze ingredients to a boil. Pour the fat off the ribs.
  3. Reduce the oven to 350°F (180°C) and bake 45 minutes more, basting with the glaze.
Purple box, p. 7
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenWell used

BBQ Spareribs

Ingredients
  • 8 to 9 lb (3.6–4.1 kg) ribs
  • three 8-oz (225 g) cans tomato sauce
  • ½ cup (120 ml) water
  • ½ cup (80 g) minced onion
  • 1 clove garlic
  • ¼ cup (60 ml) red wine vinegar
  • 3 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 3 tbsp brown sugar
  • 2 tbsp honey
  • 2 tsp dry mustard
  • 1½ tsp chili powder
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 2 slices lemon
Method
  1. Heat the oven to 325°F (160°C). Place the ribs on racks in a foil-lined pan, cover with foil and bake 1 hour.
  2. Meanwhile make the sauce: mix everything and boil, then simmer ½ hour.
  3. Remove the foil and pour off the fat. Raise the oven to 425°F (220°C). Brush the ribs with sauce and roast 1 hour more, basting and turning often, until fork-tender and thoroughly glazed.
  4. Outdoors: coat the ribs with sauce and put them on the grill. Baste and turn often.
Purple box, p. 8
Purple box, p. 9
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwritten

Lamb with Lemon Dill Marinade

Ingredients
  • ⅓ cup (80 ml) fresh lemon juice
  • ⅓ cup (20 g) snipped fresh dill (or 3 tbsp dried)
  • 2 tbsp Dijon mustard
  • 1 tsp salt
  • ⅓ cup (80 ml) vegetable oil
  • 2½ lb (1.1 kg) lamb, cut in 1½-inch (4 cm) cubes
Method
  1. Mix the marinade and turn the lamb in it. (The card gives no more; the cubes suggest kebabs.)
Purple box, p. 10
Early and later cards · 1950s–2000sHandwritten

New York Times Rib Roast (and Eye Round)

From The New York Times: the “turn off the oven and don’t open the door” method

Ingredients
  • a standing rib roast (or eye round)
  • flour, salt and pepper
  • Gravy
  • ½ cup (120 ml) beef broth
Method
  1. Take the roast out of the refrigerator 2½ to 4 hours before cooking. Preheat the oven to 500°F (260°C).
  2. Put the roast fat side up in an open, shallow roasting pan and sprinkle with flour, salt and pepper.
  3. Roast 5 minutes per pound by the chart: 2 ribs (4½ to 5 lb / 2–2.3 kg), 25 to 30 minutes; 3 ribs (8 to 9 lb / 3.6–4.1 kg), 40 to 45 minutes; 4 ribs (11 to 12 lb / 5–5.4 kg), 55 to 60 minutes. That is about 15 minutes per rib.
  4. Turn off the oven and do not open the door at all for 2 hours.
  5. Gravy: skim the excess fat from the drippings, leaving the meat juices in the pan. Stir in the broth and boil, scraping the bottom of the pan. Simmer 1 minute and season to taste.

At the top: “5 min/lb. at 500°” and “1½ hours of resting time”.

The words “at all” and “2 hrs” are each underlined twice.

On the back, “½ C beef broth” is underlined.

Also in the rose box: “New York Times Rib Roast (Grammy’s card)”. Grammy’s own stained card of the New York Times method. Her older weights and times (2 ribs 4½–5 lb / 2–2.3 kg, 25–30 minutes, and so on) are crossed out and replaced by the simpler “15 min per rib”.

“Time exactly” is underlined, and “15 min/rib” is underlined twice; on the back, “beef stock” is underlined in pencil.

Purple box, p. 11
Purple box, p. 12
Rose box, p. 79
Rose box, p. 80
Early cards · 1950s–80s

Hattie’s Chinese Spareribs

Hattie, typed card

Ingredients
  • ¼ cup (60 ml) soy sauce
  • ¼ cup (60 ml) sherry
  • 3 tbsp honey
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp pepper
  • ¼ tsp ginger
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • 4 lb (1.8 kg) ribs
  • sweet-sour bar-b-q sauce (commercial)
Method
  1. Combine the ingredients and pour over the ribs. Marinate in the refrigerator 12 hours, turning and rubbing the marinade into the meat.
  2. Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C). Remove the ribs from the sauce, reserving it. Bake 1½ hours, until tender, basting 4 or 5 times.
  3. Add the sweet-sour bar-b-q sauce for the last 10 minutes.
Purple box, p. 13
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwritten

Steak Teriyaki

Two printed “Here’s what’s cookin’” cards with a flowered kitchen-tool rack; one has a doubled column written alongside

Yield “Serves several”

Ingredients
  • 1 large flank steak
  • Marinade (double it for a bigger piece)
  • ⅔ cup (160 ml) soy sauce (double: 1⅓ cups / 320 ml)
  • 2 tbsp salad oil (double: 4 tbsp)
  • 2 tbsp sugar (double: 4 tbsp)
  • 1 tbsp wine vinegar (double: 2 tbsp)
  • ¼ cup (60 ml) dry sherry (double: ½ cup / 120 ml)
  • 1 clove garlic, chopped (double: 2)
  • 1 tsp minced ginger root, or ½ tsp ground ginger (double: “T. C” [?])
Method
  1. Pound the meat and marinate it overnight.

At the bottom: “1 recipe enough for 3 lb. pot roast”.

Purple box, p. 14
Purple box, p. 15
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwritten

Broiled Lamb Chops with Herbs

Yield Serves 6

Ingredients
  • 6 double-rib lamb chops, 2 inches (5 cm) thick
  • 1 tsp basil
  • 1 tsp marjoram
  • ½ tsp thyme
  • 1 tsp salt
Method
  1. Mix the herbs and salt together and rub into the meat.
  2. Broil 4 inches (10 cm) from the heat, 8 minutes each side.
  3. Serve with onions, mushroom caps and cherry tomatoes sautéed in butter and seasoned.
Purple box, p. 16
Purple box, p. 17
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenWell used

Beef and Peppers

Ingredients
  • 1½ lb (675 g) sirloin steak, 1 inch (2.5 cm) thick
  • boiling water
  • 4 cups (370 g) thinly sliced green pepper rings
  • 3 tbsp salad oil
  • 3 cups (350 g) thinly sliced onion
  • ¾ tsp salt
  • 2 cloves garlic
  • 5 green onions with tops, sliced
  • 2 tsp Accent
  • 1½ tsp sugar
  • a dash of pepper
  • ⅓ cup (80 ml) sherry
  • 1½ tsp chopped crystallized ginger
  • ¾ cup (180 ml) canned beef bouillon
  • 3 tbsp cornstarch
  • 2 tbsp soy sauce
  • ¾ cup (180 ml) water
  • hot cooked rice
Method
  1. Put the beef in the freezer until partly frozen, then slice it ⅛ inch (3 mm) thick. Let it thaw at room temperature.
  2. Pour enough boiling water over the green peppers to cover. Let stand 3 minutes and rinse in cold water.
  3. Heat the oil in a large skillet. Add the pepper rings, onions, salt, garlic and green onions and cook 3 minutes over high heat, stirring.
  4. Add the beef and cook 2 minutes, stirring.
  5. Add the Accent, sugar, pepper, sherry and ginger and cook 1 minute, stirring.
  6. Add the bouillon and bring to a boil. Meanwhile, in a small bowl, combine the cornstarch, soy sauce and ¾ cup (180 ml) water.
  7. Stir into the skillet and cook until the sauce is thick and translucent. Serve with hot rice.
Purple box, p. 18
Purple box, p. 19
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwritten

Susan Devito’s Pineapple Pork Chop Roast

Susan E. Devito, on her printed “My PetRecipe… A PetRecipe from Susan E. Devito” card

Yield Serves 6

Ingredients
  • 6 lean pork chops
  • salt, pepper and paprika
  • 2 tbsp (28 g) butter
  • 1 cup (160 g) chopped onion
  • ½ cup (50 g) chopped celery
  • 3½ cups (210 g) lightly toasted day-old breadcrumbs
  • 2 cups (330 g) canned pineapple (tidbits)
  • 2 tbsp chopped parsley
  • ½ tsp ginger
  • ¾ tsp salt
  • ½ tsp marjoram
  • ¼ tsp black pepper
Method
  1. Trim the excess fat from the chops and sprinkle with salt, pepper and paprika. Brown lightly in a greased frying pan and remove.
  2. Add the butter to the pan and sauté the onion and celery until soft but not brown. Pour over the breadcrumbs.
  3. Stir in the pineapple, parsley, spices, salt and pepper.
  4. Stand the chops in a loaf pan, fat side up, with stuffing between each chop. Hold together with skewers.
  5. Bake slowly (300°F / 150°C) for 1½ hours.

At the end: “I pour pineapple juice over, and even use extra pieces on top for garnish.”

Underlined on the card: “tbs”, both times (butter and parsley).

Purple box, p. 22
Purple box, p. 23
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwritten

Beef Burgundy

Ingredients
  • 2 lb (900 g) round steak, 1 inch (2.5 cm) thick
  • ½ cup (65 g) flour
  • 1½ tsp salt
  • ½ tsp pepper
  • 4 tbsp shortening
  • one 6-oz (170 g) can tomato paste
  • 1 cup (240 ml) bouillon or consommé
  • ½ cup (120 ml) Burgundy
  • 1 medium onion, chopped
  • 1 clove garlic
  • 1 cup (100 g) diced celery
  • 1 tbsp sugar
  • ¼ tsp each thyme, oregano and sweet basil
  • one 8-oz (225 g) can mushrooms, with their liquid
Method
  1. Trim the steak. Pound the flour, salt and pepper into both sides.
  2. Cut into serving portions and brown in the shortening.
  3. Blend the tomato paste, bouillon, Burgundy, onion, garlic, celery, sugar, herbs and mushrooms and pour over the meat.
  4. Cover and bake at 350°F (180°C), or simmer over low heat, for several hours.
Purple box, p. 24
Purple box, p. 25
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwritten

Sirloin Tip Roast, on an auction slip

Written in blue ink on a folded receipt slip from O. Rundle Gilbert, auctioneers, Garrison-on-Hudson, New York

Ingredients
  • a sirloin tip roast
  • red wine, to marinate
  • garlic salt and pepper
Method
  1. Marinate the sirloin tip in red wine.
  2. Season with garlic salt and pepper and sear.
  3. Roast at 450°F (230°C) for 45 minutes, or to rare.

The other side is the auction receipt, marked “Paid B.G. 6/23/67 [?]”: “Vase .50, 9 cups .50, frame 5.00”, totalled 6.00, plus .12, “$6.12”. Upside down at the foot of the recipe: “2 chairs – 8”.

Purple box, p. 26
Purple box, p. 27
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwritten

B-B-Q Lamb Shanks

Yield Serves 6

Ingredients
  • 1 cup (240 ml) dry vermouth
  • 6 lamb shanks
  • 1 cup (240 ml) oil
  • 1 tbsp lemon juice
  • 1 medium onion, chopped
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 tsp chopped tarragon
  • 1 tsp chopped basil
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 10 peppercorns, crushed
Method
  1. Marinate the lamb in the vermouth, oil, lemon juice, onion, garlic, herbs, salt and pepper for 4 hours at room temperature, turning once or twice.
  2. Broil 30 minutes, turning often and basting.
Purple box, p. 28
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwritten

Corned Beef Dinner

Ingredients
  • a corned beef (4 lb / 1.8 kg or more)
  • an onion stuck with cloves
  • celery
  • 2 cloves garlic
  • potatoes, carrots and cabbage
Method
  1. Boil the beef with the onion, celery and garlic until tender, 3 hours or more.
  2. Remove the meat. Add the potatoes to the broth and cook 20 minutes; the carrots, 15 minutes; the cabbage, 5 minutes.
Purple box, p. 29
Early cards · 1950s–80s

Mrs. K’s Pepper Steak

Mrs. K, typed card

Yield Serves about 4

Ingredients
  • 1 lb (450 g) sirloin tip or round steak, ¼ inch (5 mm) thick, cut in serving pieces
  • 2 tbsp fat
  • ¼ cup (40 g) chopped onion
  • 1 clove garlic, halved
  • salt and pepper
  • 1 cup (240 ml) beef bouillon
  • 2 cups (360 g) tomatoes
  • 1 large green pepper, cut in rings
  • 2 tbsp cornstarch
  • ¼ cup (60 ml) cold water
  • 2 tbsp soy sauce
  • hot noodles or rice
Method
  1. Brown the meat slowly in the fat. Add the onion and garlic and season with salt and pepper.
  2. Add the bouillon, cover and simmer until the meat is almost tender.
  3. Add the tomatoes and green pepper and cook 10 minutes.
  4. Combine the cornstarch, water and soy sauce, add and bring to a boil. Cook, stirring constantly, 5 minutes.
  5. Remove the garlic. Serve over hot noodles or rice.
Purple box, p. 30
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwritten

Rita’s Beef and Peppers

Rita, in pencil, with later additions in ink

Ingredients
  • 1 lb (450 g) beef, sliced
  • green peppers
  • 6 tbsp oil
  • 4 tbsp soy sauce
  • 2 tsp cornstarch
  • ⅛ tsp pepper
  • garlic, sliced
  • 1 tsp salt
  • ¼ tsp Accent
  • rice
Method
  1. Fry the peppers in 3 tbsp oil, cut them up and remove.
  2. Mix the sliced beef with 2 tbsp soy sauce, the cornstarch and pepper and let it soak.
  3. Fry the beef in the hot pan with 3 tbsp oil, the garlic and salt.
  4. Add the peppers, Accent and 2 tbsp soy sauce. Serve over rice.
Purple box, p. 31
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwritten

Swedish Meatballs

Ingredients
  • 1 egg
  • 1 lb (450 g) ground chuck
  • ½ lb (225 g) ground pork
  • 1 medium onion, chopped
  • ½ cup (55 g) fine breadcrumbs
  • 2 tsp brown sugar
  • ½ tsp allspice
  • ½ tsp nutmeg
  • 1½ tsp salt
  • ⅛ tsp pepper
  • ⅓ cup (42 g) flour
  • 2 tbsp (28 g) butter
  • 1 cup (240 ml) milk
  • 1 tbsp flour
  • 1 cup (240 ml) bouillon
  • cooked noodles
Method
  1. Mix the egg, meats, onion, crumbs, sugar and seasonings thoroughly. Shape into 1-inch (2.5 cm) balls and roll in the flour.
  2. Brown in the butter. Pour the milk over the meat, cover tightly and cook on low 25 minutes.
  3. Blend the tablespoon of flour and the bouillon in a bowl. Stir into the skillet and cook until thickened.
  4. Serve over cooked noodles.

The card lists the milk among the ingredients and underlines it in the method, where it is poured over the browned meatballs.

Underlined on the card: “low”, in “cover tightly & cook low”. A short line is drawn under the “⅛” of “⅛ tsp pepper”, and an arrow in the left margin points up to it from “Mix thoroughly”.

Purple box, p. 32
Purple box, p. 33
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwritten

Lamb Terrapin

Ingredients
  • 2 cups (280 g) cold cooked lamb, diced
  • 2 hard-boiled eggs, chopped
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 tbsp lemon juice
  • 2 tbsp (28 g) butter
  • 3 tbsp flour
  • 1 tsp dry mustard
  • 2 cups (475 ml) lamb stock or milk
  • 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
  • salt
  • hot toast
Method
  1. Combine the lamb, eggs, olive oil and lemon juice.
  2. Melt the butter and stir in the flour and mustard until blended. Stir in the stock or milk slowly.
  3. Add the Worcestershire sauce and salt and cook until boiling.
  4. Add the lamb mixture, heat thoroughly and serve on hot toast.

Underlined on the card: “lamb” and “eggs”.

Purple box, p. 34
Purple box, p. 35
Early cards · 1950s–80s

Pork Pot Roast with Sour-Cream Gravy

A printed recipe card

Yield 8 servings, plus leftovers

Ingredients
  • 1 fresh pork shoulder (about 6 lb / 2.7 kg), boned and tied, plus the bones
  • salad oil
  • 2 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp pepper
  • ¼ tsp each thyme, oregano and ground fennel
  • flour
  • ¾ cup (180 ml) chicken broth
  • 1⅓ cups (320 ml) sweet cider (or 1 cup / 240 ml cider and ⅓ cup / 80 ml white wine)
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • ½ tsp nutmeg
  • 1 cup (240 g) sour cream
Method
  1. Brush the roast with oil. Mix the salt, pepper, thyme, oregano and fennel on wax paper and rub into the meat. Dredge with flour, rubbing it in well.
  2. Heat 2 tsp oil in a large heavy Dutch oven and brown the roast evenly on all sides.
  3. Add the bones, broth and cider (or cider and wine), then the garlic and nutmeg. Cover tightly and simmer on low 2½ hours, until tender, turning the meat occasionally.
  4. Lift the meat onto a hot platter and keep warm in a low oven.
  5. Remove the bones and skim off the fat. Thicken the gravy with a little flour and water blended smooth. Strain, reheat and stir in the sour cream.
  6. Cut the strings off the roast before serving.
Purple box, p. 38
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwritten

Grammy’s Bar-B-Q Hamburgers

On Grammy’s printed “My PetRecipe… A PetRecipe from Pat Schreiner” card

Ingredients
  • 1 lb (450 g) hamburger
  • ½ cup (55 g) breadcrumbs
  • ½ cup (120 ml) water
  • salt and pepper
  • Sauce
  • 1 cup (240 ml) catsup
  • 2 tbsp sugar
  • 2 tbsp vinegar
  • ½ tbsp Worcestershire sauce
Method
  1. Mix the meat, crumbs, water and seasoning well. Make into balls and brown.
  2. Cook the sauce ingredients together 10 minutes. Pour over the balls and bake.
Purple box, p. 39
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwritten

Grammy’s Sukiyaki

On Grammy’s printed “My PetRecipe… A PetRecipe from Pat Schreiner” card

Yield Serves 4 (circled)

Ingredients
  • 2 lb (900 g) beef sirloin, sliced thin in 1 × 3-inch (2.5 × 8 cm) strips
  • butter
  • ½ cup (120 ml) soy sauce
  • ½ cup (120 ml) sherry
  • ½ cup (120 ml) beef broth
  • 1 tsp sugar
  • 6 green onions with tops, sliced
  • ½ lb (225 g) fresh mushrooms, sliced
  • 2 cups (200 g) celery, sliced diagonally
  • one 8-oz (225 g) can bamboo shoots, drained
  • one 8-oz (225 g) can water chestnuts, drained and sliced
  • rice
Method
  1. Brown the beef in butter. Add the soy sauce, sherry, broth and sugar, cover and cook 10 minutes.
  2. Add the vegetables to the beef and cook uncovered until heated. Serve on rice.
Purple box, p. 40
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenWell used

Marinated Lamb Grill

Noted “Gourmet”

Yield Serves 6

Ingredients
  • 1 cup (240 ml) oil
  • ⅓ cup (80 ml) fresh lemon juice
  • 3 scallions, including the green tops, sliced thin
  • 2 tsp tarragon mustard or Dijon
  • 2 tbsp minced fresh tarragon (or 2 tsp dried)
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1½ lb (675 g) boneless leg of lamb, in 1½-inch (4 cm) cubes
  • 3 zucchini, cut into 1-inch (2.5 cm) pieces
Method
  1. In a shallow glass dish, combine the oil, lemon juice, scallions, mustard, tarragon and salt.
  2. Add the lamb and zucchini and toss to coat. Cover, chill and marinate 6 hours or overnight, tossing occasionally.
  3. Drain, reserving the marinade. Thread the meat and zucchini alternately on skewers.
  4. Grill over grey coals about 25 minutes, basting with the marinade, until medium-rare.

“Shoulder” is crossed out and “leg” written in.

Purple box, p. 41
Purple box, p. 42
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwritten

Veal Strips in Matzo Meal, with Crispy Potatoes

Written in blue ink on a loose sheet

Yield 2 strips per person

Ingredients
  • veal round, cut as thin as possible, in strips
  • matzo meal
  • 2 eggs, beaten with a little water
  • Crisco, for frying
  • salt and pepper
  • Potatoes
  • potatoes, peeled
  • butter
  • 2 large onions, chopped
Method
  1. Dip the veal strips in matzo meal, then egg, then meal again.
  2. Heat a good layer of Crisco until hot, but don’t let it burn. Cook the veal over medium heat and season with salt and pepper.
  3. Potatoes: boil and drain the peeled potatoes. Put butter in a pan and brown the onions in the meat pan.
  4. Put the whole potatoes in the pan and break them up with a fork. Mix, brown and add more butter. Cook until crispy.
Purple box, p. 43
Purple box, p. 44
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwritten

Butterflied Leg of Lamb

Written in green ink

Ingredients
  • 1 leg of lamb (6 to 7 lb / 2.7–3.2 kg), butterflied
  • 1 clove garlic, crushed
  • ¾ cup (180 ml) oil
  • ¼ cup (60 ml) red wine vinegar
  • ½ cup (80 g) chopped onion
  • 2 tsp Dijon mustard
  • 2 tsp salt
  • ½ tsp oregano
  • ½ tsp basil
  • ⅛ tsp ground black pepper
  • 1 bay leaf, crushed
Method
  1. Put the lamb fat side down in a shallow pan. Mix the garlic, oil, vinegar, onion, mustard, herbs and seasonings and pour over the lamb.
  2. Cover tightly and refrigerate overnight, turning several times.
  3. Take it out of the refrigerator 1 hour before cooking. Preheat the broiler.
  4. Place the meat with its marinade in the pan, fat side up. Broil 4 inches (10 cm) from the heat for 10 minutes. Turn, baste and broil 10 minutes more.
  5. Lower the oven to 425°F (220°C) and roast 15 minutes. Test with a sharp knife: it should be pink and juicy.
  6. Carve in thin slices.
Purple box, p. 45
Purple box, p. 46
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwritten

Lamb Shish Kebab

Marked “GD” [?] in the corner

Yield Serves 6

Ingredients
  • Marinade
  • 1½ cups (360 ml) olive oil (or vegetable oil)
  • 1 cup (240 ml) lemon juice
  • 2 tsp salt
  • pepper
  • 1 tbsp chopped onion
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • 1 tbsp oregano
  • ½ tsp thyme
  • ¼ tsp rosemary
  • Kebabs
  • 18 rib lamb chops, 1 inch (2.5 cm) thick, the long end cut off
  • 18 small onions
  • 18 medium mushrooms
  • 2 medium zucchini
  • 3 large green peppers
  • 18 cherry tomatoes
  • 3 tbsp (43 g) butter
  • 2 lemons, each cut into 6 slices
Method
  1. Combine the marinade ingredients and stir well. Marinate the lamb in a large flat pan overnight.
  2. Onions: trim the ends and drop them unpeeled into boiling water. Parboil 1-inch (2.5 cm) onions 5 minutes (1½-inch / 4 cm, 8 minutes). Drain, rinse in cold water and slip off the skins.
  3. Mushrooms: wash and cut off the stems. Zucchini: wash, trim the ends and cut ½ inch (1 cm) thick. Green peppers: cut in sixths lengthwise and seed.
  4. Marinate the vegetables, covered and chilled, 3 hours or more, spooning the sauce over them. Wash, stem and chill the tomatoes separately.
  5. Assemble on skewers, 3 of each per skewer, brushing the mushroom caps with butter, and refrigerate.
  6. Grill 4 inches (10 cm) above low-burning charcoal for 10 minutes (10 minutes in the broiler), turning at least once (“Turn 1+ (–Consist [?])”). Start the fire 30 minutes ahead.

Underlined on the card: “Onions”, “Mush”, “Zucchini”, “Gr. peppers” and “Tomatoes”.

Purple box, p. 47
Purple box, p. 48
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwritten

Sauerbraten

Written in red ink

Yield Serves 8 to 10

Ingredients
  • red wine vinegar (the amount has faded)
  • ½ bottle red wine
  • 10 peppercorns
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 6 cloves
  • 2 cloves garlic
  • 2 strips lemon rind
  • 1 onion, cut in half
  • ¼ tsp nutmeg
  • 3 celery stalks, chopped
  • 2 carrots, chopped
  • 3 sprigs parsley
  • 1 rolled round of beef (6 lb / 2.7 kg)
  • 2 cups (475 ml) beef stock, in all
  • 3 tbsp cornstarch, mixed with water
  • potato dumplings, to serve
Method
  1. Marinate the beef in the refrigerator 3 days, turning occasionally.
  2. Remove the meat, saving the marinade, and dry it well with paper towels. Boil the marinade, then keep it simmering over low heat while the meat cooks.
  3. Brown the meat well, fat side first, then all sides ([?] hr; the figure has faded). Pour off the excess fat.
  4. Add 1 cup (240 ml) beef stock, cover and cook over low heat 3½ hours. Now and then, add a little more stock and some of the hot marinade (2 cups / 475 ml beef stock in all). Add all the rest of the marinade 30 minutes before the meat is done.
  5. Move the meat to a hot platter. Strain the gravy, pressing the vegetables through the sieve. Remove the fat and thicken with the cornstarch and water.
  6. Serve with potato dumplings.
Purple box, p. 49
Purple box, p. 50
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwritten

Baked Ham with Pineapple Glaze

Titled simply “Ham”

Ingredients
  • a ham
  • Glaze
  • pineapple juice
  • powdered mustard
  • brown sugar
  • ground cloves
Method
  1. Cover the ham with foil and bake at 325°F (160°C), 30 minutes per pound.
  2. Glaze and bake at 450°F (230°C) for 15 minutes.
  3. Refrigerate overnight.
Purple box, p. 51
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwritten

Rita’s Beef Marinade

Rita; “(Chicken)” noted beside the title, so it works for chicken too

Ingredients
  • ½ cup (120 ml) soy sauce
  • ½ cup (120 ml) sherry
  • ½ cup (120 ml) olive oil (¼ cup / 60 ml pencilled beside it)
  • 1 tsp ginger
  • ½ tsp Accent
  • ¼ tsp pepper
  • 2 cloves garlic, mashed
  • optional: 2 tbsp sugar and 1 tbsp wine vinegar
  • 1-inch (2.5 cm) cubes of steak
  • mushrooms, green peppers, cooked onions and water chestnuts, for the skewers
Method
  1. Mix the marinade and add the steak cubes.
  2. Thread on skewers in order: mushrooms, green peppers, onions, beef, water chestnuts.
Purple box, p. 52
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwritten

Grilled Beef Fillet

Noted “Gourmet”

Ingredients
  • 5½-lb (2.5 kg) beef fillet
  • salt and pepper
  • 2 tbsp (28 g) softened unsalted butter
Method
  1. Tie the fillet at 1-inch (2.5 cm) intervals and pat dry. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and rub with the butter.
  2. Grill over glowing coals, about 3 inches (8 cm) from the heat, turning it, for 20 to 25 minutes for rare.
  3. Move to a cutting board. Let stand 15 minutes and remove the string.
  4. Cut into ½-inch (1 cm) slices and serve.

“15 min” is underlined twice.

Purple box, p. 54
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenWell used

Rancher Ribs

Ingredients
  • 2 lb (900 g) short ribs
  • ½ cup (60 g) sliced onion
  • ¼ cup (60 ml) vinegar
  • 1 cup (240 ml) tomato juice
  • ¼ cup (60 ml) catsup
  • 2 tbsp brown sugar
  • 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp dry mustard
  • ½ cup (120 ml) water
  • ¼ tsp chili powder
  • 1 tbsp paprika
  • a pinch of cayenne (“Red Pepper” pencilled beside it)
  • ½ cup (50 g) chopped celery
Method
  1. Brown the ribs and pour the other ingredients over them.
  2. Cover and cook in a 350°F (180°C) oven for 1½ hours.
  3. Uncover and cook 15 minutes more, basting with the sauce.
Purple box, p. 55
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwritten

Emmy’s Shish-ka-Bob (Beef Burgundy)

Emmy

Yield Serves 2 to 3

Ingredients
  • ½ cup (120 ml) oil
  • ½ cup (120 ml) Burgundy or claret
  • 2 tbsp candied ginger
  • 2 tbsp catsup
  • 1 tbsp molasses
  • ½ tsp salt
  • ½ tsp curry powder
  • ½ tsp pepper
  • 1 large clove garlic, minced
  • 1 lb (450 g) sirloin steak, in 1-inch (2.5 cm) cubes
  • green pepper, in pieces
Method
  1. Combine everything except the meat and green pepper. Add the beef and let stand 1 hour, or overnight in the refrigerator.
  2. Arrange the beef and pepper on skewers. Cook over medium coals 12 to 15 minutes, brushing with the marinade.

“Plastic box w/ tinfoil – marinate on skewer.”

The “1” of “1 Tb molasses” is written over in a darker ink.

Purple box, p. 56
Early cards · 1950s–80s

Irish Lamb, four ways (“Erin Go Baa”)

Molly O’Neill’s food column in The New York Times Magazine, March 8 (the year is torn off; probably 1992 or 1998). The article covers Ireland’s spring and salt-marsh lamb. Recipes rewritten here.

Connemara Lamb Stew (Patrick Foyle, Rosleague Manor): serves 4

Ingredients
  • ½ cup (65 g) flour, seasoned with ½ tsp salt and 1 tsp pepper
  • 1½ lb (675 g) lamb shoulder or stewing lamb, in ½-inch (1 cm) chunks
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 3 tbsp minced fresh mint
  • 1 cup (240 ml) dry white wine
  • 2½ cups (590 ml) chicken broth
  • 2 tbsp lemon juice
  • 4 fresh artichoke hearts, trimmed and quartered
  • 3 tbsp minced parsley
  • 1 tbsp minced lemon zest
  • 8 fresh oysters, shucked
Method
  1. Stew: dust the lamb with the seasoned flour and shake off the excess. Brown it in one layer in the oil in a heavy pot over medium heat, 6 to 10 minutes.
  2. Add 1 tbsp mint and a little salt and pepper. Add the wine and simmer 5 minutes. Add the broth, lemon juice and artichokes, cover and simmer gently until the lamb is tender, about 30 minutes.
  3. Mix the rest of the mint with the parsley and lemon zest. Slide the oysters into the stew and simmer 3 minutes more. Sprinkle with the herb mixture and serve in warm bowls.

Irish Spiced Lamb: serves 10 to 12

Ingredients
  • 1 tbsp juniper berries
  • 1 tsp whole allspice
  • ½ tsp whole cloves
  • 1 tsp black peppercorns
  • 1 tsp coriander seeds
  • 1 tsp dried thyme
  • 1 tsp dried savory
  • 3 cloves garlic, mashed to a paste
  • ¾ cup (190 g) Dijon mustard
  • 2 tbsp honey
  • 1 leg of spring lamb (6 lb / 2.7 kg), at room temperature
  • ½ tsp salt
Method
  1. Spiced lamb: heat the oven to 350°F (180°C). Grind the spices and herbs fine and mix with the garlic, mustard and honey.
  2. Cut 8 to 12 slits ¼ inch (5 mm) deep and 1 inch (2.5 cm) apart across the top of the leg. Rub the paste into them and all over the top.
  3. Roast on a rack over a pan. Start checking after 50 minutes with a thermometer in the thick end: 125°F (52°C) for rare, 130°F (54°C) for medium-rare. Salt it and rest at least 20 minutes before carving.

Spring Lamb with Baby Greens: serves 6 to 8

Ingredients
  • stuffing: 1½ lb (675 g) tender spinach; 2 cups (120 g) chopped fresh mint; ½ cup (50 g) minced orange zest; 2 cloves garlic, chopped fine; 1 small red onion, chopped fine; ¼ tsp each cinnamon and ginger; 2 tbsp Dijon mustard; ½ tsp salt; 1 tsp pepper
  • greens: 1 lb (450 g) tender dandelion leaves and ½ lb (225 g) tender chicory, trimmed and rinsed
  • 1 butterflied leg of spring lamb (about 4 lb / 1.8 kg), trimmed of all fat, at room temperature
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • sauce: ¼ cup (60 ml) wine vinegar, ½ cup (120 ml) red wine, 2½ cups (590 ml) chicken broth, ½ cup (120 ml) apple cider
  • 1 lb (450 g) parsnips, peeled and cut diagonally in ½-inch (1 cm) pieces
Method
  1. Stuffed lamb: heat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Steam two-thirds of the spinach just until wilted, cool under cold water, squeeze dry and chop coarsely. Mix with the rest of the stuffing ingredients.
  2. Steam the rest of the spinach with the dandelion and chicory until barely wilted. Cool under cold water and pat dry.
  3. Lay the lamb fat side down, spread with the stuffing and roll it up lengthwise from the narrow end like a jelly roll. Tie firmly.
  4. Sear it in the oil in a large cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat, about 4 minutes on each of 4 sides. Lift it out, scrape out any burnt bits and fat, add the vinegar and wine and boil down to ¼ cup (60 ml). Add the broth and cider.
  5. Return the lamb, drape half the greens over it crosswise and put the rest in the pan. Roast 30 minutes, basting all the time. Turn the lamb, add the parsnips and roast 20 minutes more, to 125°F (52°C) for rare or 130°F (54°C) for medium-rare.
  6. Rest at least 20 minutes and serve sliced, with the greens and parsnips.

Herb-Roasted Rack of Lamb (after Matthew Darcy, Park Hotel Kenmare): serves 6

Ingredients
  • 3 tbsp dried lavender
  • 1½ tsp each dried basil, thyme, fennel seed and savory
  • 1 tbsp cracked black peppercorns
  • ½ tsp cinnamon
  • ⅔ cup (33 g) fresh breadcrumbs
  • 2 racks of spring lamb (about 1½ lb / 675 g each), trimmed and frenched
  • ⅓ cup (110 g) honey
  • ½ tsp salt
Method
  1. Rack of lamb: heat the oven to 425°F (220°C). Mix the herbs, pepper, cinnamon and crumbs.
  2. Coat the racks completely with honey, then a thick layer of the crumbs. Roast on a rack over a pan to 125°F (52°C) for rare or 130°F (54°C) for medium-rare, 25 to 35 minutes.
  3. Salt and rest at least 20 minutes before slicing.

The headline is “Erin Go Baa”, and the photograph shows the stuffed butterflied leg with its greens and parsnips.

Purple box, p. 57
Purple box, p. 58
Early cards · 1950s–80s

Beef, Bean and Sausage Casserole

A printed recipe card

Yield Serves 6 to 8

Ingredients
  • 1 lb (450 g) dried white marrow beans
  • two 10½-oz (300 g) cans condensed consommé
  • 2 cups (320 g) chopped Bermuda onion
  • 3 tbsp (43 g) butter
  • 1 tbsp salt
  • 2 cloves garlic, crushed
  • ½ tsp each thyme, pepper and marjoram
  • 1 lb (450 g) pork sausages, cut in 1-inch (2.5 cm) pieces
  • 1 lb (450 g) beef chuck, cut in 1-inch (2.5 cm) pieces
  • flour
  • 2½ cups (600 g) canned tomatoes
Method
  1. Wash and pick over the beans. Cover generously with cold water and soak overnight.
  2. Drain, measuring the liquid, and add water to make 4 cups (950 ml). Put the beans, water and undiluted consommé in a heavy 4-quart (3.8 litres) kettle. Cover and cook over medium heat while you prepare the rest.
  3. Sauté the onion in the butter until golden and add to the beans with the salt, garlic, thyme, pepper and marjoram. Cover again and simmer over low heat.
  4. Brown the sausages in the same skillet and add to the beans. Pour off all but about 2 tbsp of the drippings.
  5. Dust the beef lightly with flour, brown on all sides and add to the beans.
  6. Transfer to a large casserole and bake uncovered at 350°F (180°C) for about 1½ hours.
  7. Add the tomatoes and bake until the beans are tender, about ½ hour more, stirring now and then.
Purple box, p. 135
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwritten

Jinny’s Meat and Noodle Casserole

Jinny

Ingredients
  • 1 onion
  • 1 pepper
  • 1 lb (450 g) ground meat: beef, or beef and pork
  • salt
  • 1 can tomato soup
  • 1 can water
  • 1 cup (240 ml) catsup
  • ½ lb (225 g) noodles, cooked
  • ½ lb (225 g) sharp Cheddar
Method
  1. Chop the onion and pepper and brown with the meat. Salt it.
  2. Add the soup, water, catsup and noodles and mix.
  3. Sprinkle with the cheese and bake at 375°F (190°C) for 1 hour.
Purple box, p. 140
Purple box, p. 141
Early and later cards · 1950s–2000sHandwritten

Mother’s Meat Loaf

Grammy’s mother

Ingredients
  • 1½ lb (675 g) hamburger
  • 1 cup (40–85 g) cracker (or bread) crumbs
  • 1 onion
  • 1 can tomato sauce (a scribbled-over “½” [?] stands in front of the “1”)
  • 1 egg, beaten
  • 1 tsp salt
  • pepper
  • ½ tsp Accent
  • Sauce
  • ½ can tomato sauce
  • ¼ cup (60 ml) water
  • 2 tbsp mustard
  • 2 tbsp brown sugar
  • 2 tbsp vinegar
  • ½ tsp salt
Method
  1. Mix the loaf ingredients and shape.
  2. Mix the sauce and pour over. Bake 1 hour at 350°F (180°C).

“Sauce” (the heading) is underlined.

Also in the rose box: “Mother’s Meat Loaf”. Two more copies of Grammy’s mother’s meat loaf: one on a printed Stylecraft recipe card (Baltimore, refill no. 801 R) with an illustrated border of shakers, carrots, a bowl and kitchen tools; the other a stained, spotted card in an older hand. The same as the purple box’s card, except that these use 2 onions instead of 1.

The heading “Sauce” is underlined on both cards.

Purple box, p. 142
Rose box, p. 74
Rose box, p. 75
Early cards · 1950s–80s

Mrs. K’s Company Casserole

Mrs. K, typed card

Ingredients
  • 2 packages frozen French-style green beans, thawed
  • 3 cups (425 g) diced chicken, ham, shrimp or crabmeat
  • 1 can Chinese mixed vegetables, drained
  • one 4-oz (115 g) can mushrooms
  • 1 small onion, chopped
  • ½ cup (60 g) sharp grated cheese
  • 1 can mushroom soup
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 can French-fried onions (or frozen)
Method
  1. Put the beans in a casserole and top with the chicken (or other), Chinese vegetables, mushrooms, onion and cheese. Mix lightly.
  2. Combine the soup and salt and pour over all.
  3. Bake at 350°F (180°C) for ½ hour. Top with the French-fried onions and bake 10 minutes more.
Purple box, p. 143
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwritten

Meat Loaf with Sage

Yield 8 servings

Ingredients
  • ⅔ cup (55 g) fine cracker crumbs
  • 1 cup (240 ml) milk
  • 1½ lb (675 g) ground beef
  • 2 eggs, beaten
  • ½ cup (80 g) chopped onion
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp monosodium glutamate
  • ½ to ¾ tsp ground sage
  • a dash of pepper
Method
  1. Soak the crumbs in the milk. Add the meat, eggs, onion and seasonings and mix well.
  2. Shape into a loaf in a shallow baking pan, or press into an 8½ × 4½ × 2½-inch (22 × 11 × 6 cm) loaf pan.
  3. Garnish with green pepper and onion rings, or spread 3 tbsp catsup over the top.
  4. Bake at 350°F (180°C) for 45 to 50 minutes.
Purple box, p. 144
Purple box, p. 145
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwritten

Judy’s Chili

Judy

Ingredients
  • 1 large onion (first written ½ cup / 80 g), chopped
  • ½ clove garlic, chopped
  • green pepper
  • 1 lb (450 g) ground beef
  • oil
  • 1 can kidney beans (marked “opt.” [?])
  • 1 or 2 cans Hunt’s tomato sauce
  • 1 tsp salt, pepper and Worcestershire sauce
  • 2 tsp chili powder
  • “camino” herb
Method
  1. Sauté the beef, onion, pepper and garlic in oil until brown.
  2. Stir in the undrained beans, the Hunt’s sauce, salt and chili powder and simmer 45 minutes.
Purple box, p. 146
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwritten

Sandy’s Tacos

Sandy

Ingredients
  • dry kidney beans, soaked in enchilada sauce
  • 1¾ lb (800 g) hamburger
  • a little chopped onion
  • 1 tsp salt and pepper
  • 1 can taco sauce
  • ¼ tsp cumin
  • 1 tbsp chili powder per lb
  • taco shells
  • diced onion, chopped cheese, lettuce and tomato
Method
  1. Cook the hamburger with the onion, salt and pepper. Add the taco sauce and sprinkle with the cumin and chili powder. Add the beans.
  2. Heat the shells and fill with the meat. Top with diced onion, cheese, lettuce and tomato.

A smudged note in blue for a bigger batch: 3 lb (1.4 kg) hamburger, ½ lb (225 g) beans and 3 cans taco sauce.

Purple box, p. 149
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenWell used

Cherokee Casserole (Grammy’s own)

Printed in capitals in another hand and credited “(Pat Schreiner)”, so this is Grammy’s own recipe, copied out by a friend

Yield Serves 4 to 6

Ingredients
  • 1 lb (450 g) ground beef
  • 1 tbsp olive oil (crossed out in pencil, as is “in olive oil” in the method)
  • ¾ cup (120 g) chopped Bermuda onion
  • 1½ tsp salt
  • a dash of pepper
  • ⅛ tsp garlic powder
  • ⅛ tsp thyme
  • ⅛ tsp oregano
  • ½ small bay leaf
  • 1 can (1 lb / 450 g) tomatoes
  • 1 can (10½ oz / 300 g) cream of mushroom soup
  • 1 cup (95 g) Minute Rice, uncooked
  • 6 stuffed olives
  • 2 or 3 slices American cheese
Method
  1. Brown the meat (“350°” is pencilled above “Brown meat”, and “in olive oil” after it is crossed out). Add the onions and cook until tender (“soft” and “5–10 min” are pencilled here).
  2. Stir in the remaining ingredients in order, except the olives and cheese. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat (“200°” is pencilled here) and simmer 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  3. Top with the cheese and heat until the cheese is melted. (In pencil, “Spoon into baking dish &” and “Broil” are crossed out, “Heat” is written in, and “top w/ cheese” is underlined.)
  4. Garnish with the olives (crossed out in pencil).

Pencilled at the top: “½” before the title, and ‘½ of “¼ tsp”’ at the right.

Underlined in pencil: “1c minute” (rice). In “simmer 10 min”, the “1” is pencilled and the “0” heavily gone over. A pencilled line runs from the ‘½ of “¼ tsp”’ note to the “⅛ t” of the oregano.

Purple box, p. 153
Purple box, p. 154
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwritten

Beth’s Goulash

Beth

Ingredients
  • 2 lb (900 g) round steak, ground
  • 1 lb (450 g) sausage (Jones or Rath)
  • 1 large onion, chopped
  • 1 cup (100 g) chopped celery
  • 1 lb (450 g) fresh mushrooms, chopped
  • 1 can creamed corn (“?” beside it)
  • 2 small cans Hunt’s tomato sauce
  • 1 package noodles, cooked
Method
  1. Brown the meats, onion, celery and mushrooms well.
  2. Add the corn, tomato sauce and noodles.
  3. Bake 30 to 45 minutes at 350°F (180°C).

Underlined on the card: “Add” and “Bake”.

Purple box, p. 155
Early cards · 1950s–80s

Italian Meat Loaf

Typed card

Yield Serves 6

Ingredients
  • 2 slices rye bread
  • 2 slices white bread
  • 1 cup (240 ml) water
  • 1 lb (450 g) ground beef
  • 1 medium onion, minced
  • 3 tbsp grated Parmesan
  • 1 egg, slightly beaten
  • 1 tsp salt
  • ¼ tsp pepper
  • 2 tbsp (28 g) butter
  • 1 can (8 oz / 225 g) tomato sauce
  • 1 tsp oregano
Method
  1. Put the bread in a bowl, add the water and let stand 5 minutes. Mash with a fork.
  2. Add the meat, onion, cheese, egg and seasonings and mix thoroughly.
  3. Shape into a loaf in a shallow pan and dot with butter. Bake at 350°F (180°C) for 40 minutes.
  4. Pour the sauce over, sprinkle with oregano and bake 30 minutes longer.

Beside the oregano: “(careful, very potent!)”

Purple box, p. 163
Purple box, p. 164
Later cards, 1990s–2000s
Later cards · 1990s–2000sHandwrittenSpecial praise

Rack of Lamb (notes from TV)

“Notes from TV”, referring to the Gotham cookbook, p. 294 (presumably the Gotham Bar and Grill book)

Ingredients
  • rack of lamb
  • salt and pepper
Method
  1. Always sear it first on all sides, the ends too, with salt and pepper on it (see Gotham’s recipe).
  2. It can wait (“park”) for 1 hour, or from the day before.
  3. Cook at 475°F (240°C) for 15 minutes, then check.
  4. Always let it rest for 10 minutes.

“Always let it rest for 10′ – (key!)”, with “Always” underlined; above it, “Can park for 1 hr or day before!”; and across the bottom: “Delicious”, underlined. “Gotham” in the corner is underlined too.

Rose box, p. 69
Later cards · 1990s–2000sHandwritten

Budd’s BBQ Sandwich (Crock-Pot)

Budd

Ingredients
  • one 3-lb (1.4 kg) brisket
  • ½ cup (120 ml) water
  • 3 tbsp vinegar
  • 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tsp ground cumin or chili powder
  • 3 cups (710 ml) bottled BBQ sauce
  • Kaiser rolls, dill pickles and red onion slices
Method
  1. Trim the fat and cut the brisket to fit the pot. Add everything except the BBQ sauce.
  2. Cover and cook on low for 10 to 12 hours (or on high for 4 to 5 hours).
  3. An hour before serving, take the meat out of the cooker and discard the liquid. Pull and shred the meat with 2 forks and return it to the cooker.
  4. Stir in the BBQ sauce. Cover and cook on high 30 to 45 minutes, until heated through.
  5. Serve on Kaiser rolls with dill pickles and red onion slices.

Two slanting strokes are drawn in the margin before “1 hr before serv.”.

Rose box, p. 70
Later cards · 1990s–2000sHandwritten

Chili

An older card, in a rounder hand

Ingredients
  • 1 lb (450 g) ground beef
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • 1 onion, minced
  • 1 green pepper, chopped
  • 1 to 2 tsp chili powder
  • sugar, salt and pepper
  • 1 can stewed tomatoes (later: 2 cans plum tomatoes)
  • 1 can kidney beans
  • 3 tbsp quick rice
Method
  1. Brown the beef with the garlic, onion and green pepper.
  2. Add the chili powder, seasonings, tomatoes, beans and rice and simmer 30 minutes.
Rose box, p. 76
Later cards · 1990s–2000sHandwritten

“Tex” Chili [?]

Ingredients
  • 2 lb (900 g) ground beef
  • 1 large onion, garlic cloves, salt and pepper
  • 2 cans Campbell’s tomato soup
  • 2 large cans tomatoes (or 2 cans diced tomatoes, 28 oz / 800 g)
  • 1 can tomato paste (12 oz / 340 g; the size is written “lg” and “Med” over each other [?])
  • 1 can kidney beans (15 oz / 425 g)
  • chili powder: 3 tbsp or more, to taste (up to 5 tbsp)
  • cumin (½ tsp)
Method
  1. Fry the beef with the onion, garlic, salt and pepper.
  2. Add the soup, tomatoes, paste, beans, chili powder and cumin. Cook until hot (1 hour).
  3. Serve with corn bread (Pillsbury corn bread sticks), salad, sour cream and grated Cheddar.

“to taste” (the chili powder) is circled, and two short slanting lines are drawn under the “p” of “s&p” in the first line.

Rose box, p. 77
Later cards · 1990s–2000sHandwritten

Grilled Marinated Flank Steak

Noted “G – 7/85”: Gourmet, July 1985

Yield 4 to 6 people

Ingredients
  • 1½ to 1¾ lb (675–800 g) flank steak
  • 1½ cups (360 ml) beer
  • 4 scallions, minced
  • ⅓ cup (80 ml) vegetable oil
  • 3 tbsp soy sauce
  • 2 tbsp light brown sugar
  • 1 tbsp peeled and minced gingerroot
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp red pepper flakes
Method
  1. Marinate the meat in a glass bowl with all the other ingredients, covered and chilled, turning occasionally, overnight or up to 3 days.
  2. Drain the steak and pat dry. Grill over glowing coals, or broil 2 inches (5 cm) from the heat, 5 minutes each side for medium-rare.
  3. Let the steak cool (it can be covered and chilled for 1 day). Cut diagonally across the grain into very thin slices and serve at room temperature.

Underlined on the card: “Marinate” and “very” (in “very thin slices”).

Rose box, p. 81
Later cards · 1990s–2000sHandwritten

Karin’s [?] Beef Stew (slow cooker)

Headed “Karin’s” [?] and marked “SC” (slow cooker)

Yield Serves 6 to 8

Ingredients
  • 2 lb (900 g) stew meat (chuck roast), in 1½-inch (4 cm) cubes
  • ½ cup (65 g) flour
  • 2 tbsp oil
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 onion, chopped
  • 1 cup (240 ml) beef bouillon
  • ¼ tsp pepper
  • 2 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp sugar
  • 6 carrots, peeled and quartered
  • 1 cup (100 g) sliced celery
  • 4 potatoes, peeled and cut in eighths
  • 12 small white onions
  • 2 medium turnips, peeled and quartered
  • 4 cups (950 ml) water
Method
  1. Coat the meat with the flour and set the excess flour aside.
  2. Heat the oil in a sauté pan and brown the meat on all sides.
  3. Combine with the rest of the ingredients in the slow cooker, with the water over all.
  4. Cover and cook on low 8 hours. Turn to high.
  5. Thicken with ¼ cup (31 g) of the leftover flour dissolved in a little water. Cover and cook on high 10 to 15 minutes, until thick.

Or use 2 tbsp cornstarch stirred into ⅓ cup (80 ml) of the gravy, heated to thicken and returned to the pot.

“Low is 200°F, high is 300°.”

In the cornstarch note, “stirred” [?] is underlined.

Rose box, p. 82
Rose box, p. 83
Later cards · 1990s–2000sHandwrittenSpecial praise

Grilled Butterflied Leg of Lamb in Zinfandel Sauce

Ingredients
  • a butterflied leg of lamb
  • Zinfandel marinade and sauce
  • 1 bottle Zinfandel
  • ¼ cup (60 ml) red wine vinegar
  • ¼ cup (60 ml) rice vinegar (or white)
  • ¼ cup (60 ml) olive oil
  • 2 tbsp dark sesame oil
  • 6 garlic cloves, sliced into ovals [?]
  • 3 tsp chopped rosemary
  • ground pepper
Method
  1. Combine the marinade in a bowl and whisk to emulsify. Marinate the lamb (or beef) overnight; at least 2 hours.
  2. Keep back ¼ cup (60 ml) to baste the meat.
  3. Cook on a covered grill over medium-hot coals, about 12 minutes a side, to 120°F (49°C) on an instant thermometer. Cut into the thickest part to check, and baste.
  4. Let it stand 15 minutes before carving. Slice ¼ inch (5 mm) thick across the grain.
  5. Sauce: simmer the marinade in a saucepan and reduce by half, until thickened. Serve over the lamb or beef.

A tip at the top: “add dampened oak wood chips while cooking”. “Serve” and “Sauce” are underlined, and “120°” is circled.

Her later typed copy

Her typed copy grills the lamb 15–20 minutes per side (rather than about 12 minutes, to 120°F / 49°C), noting that its uneven thickness gives all degrees of doneness. It slices the garlic “into ovals”, allows fresh rosemary or 1 tsp dried, reduces the sauce gently in a non-aluminium pan, and makes enough marinade for 1 leg of lamb, a beef loin roast or 2 flank steaks.

DELICIOUS!!

Rose box, p. 84
Rose box, p. 85
Later cards · 1990s–2000sHandwritten

Butterflied Leg of Lamb with Roasted Red Potatoes

Yield Potatoes serve 8 to 10

Ingredients
  • a butterflied leg of lamb, studded with garlic
  • orzo and a green vegetable, to serve
  • Roasted quartered red potatoes with garlic
  • 3 lb (1.4 kg) red potatoes, quartered
  • 3 tbsp olive oil
  • ½ tsp salt
  • ½ tsp ground pepper
  • 3 large garlic cloves, sliced thin
  • ¼ cup (15 g) minced fresh parsley leaves
Method
  1. Stud the lamb with garlic and grill. Slice on a platter and surround with orzo (or the potatoes) and a green vegetable.
  2. Potatoes: in a large roasting pan, toss the potatoes with the oil, salt, pepper and garlic.
  3. Roast at 350°F (180°C), tossing occasionally, about 1 hour, until tender and golden.
  4. Add the parsley and toss well.

“serves 8 to 10” is underlined.

Rose box, p. 86
Later cards · 1990s–2000s

Roast Sirloin (“A Rarefied Roast of Beef”)

A New York Times article and recipe (“NY Times” in Grammy’s hand), pasted on two cards, with much underlining and a star. Rewritten here.

Yield 4 to 6 servings; 45 minutes

Ingredients
  • one 2½- to 3-lb (1.1–1.4 kg) piece sirloin strip
  • salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • Quick red wine sauce
  • 2 cups (475 ml) red wine
  • ¼ cup (40 g) minced shallots
  • 1 tbsp (14 g) butter
  • salt and pepper
Method
  1. Put a heavy skillet large enough to hold the roast in the oven and heat the oven to 500°F (260°C).
  2. Season the meat well on all sides. Put it in the hot pan fat side down; after 10 minutes turn it fat side up; after 10 more minutes, roast 5 minutes on each side. About 30 minutes in all, so it browns all over.
  3. Test with a meat thermometer in the centre, about an inch from one end: 120°F (49°C) is rare to medium-rare. Cook longer if you like, but each 3 to 5 minutes takes it a stage further.
  4. Rest 5 to 10 minutes, then carve and serve with the juices.
  5. Sauce: after taking out the meat, put the wine and shallots in the pan and reduce over high heat to about ½ cup (120 ml) of syrupy liquid. Stir in the butter, season and spoon over the sliced meat.

The article’s argument, underlined by Grammy: fillet is tender but nearly tasteless, standing rib is great but comes in unwieldy cuts, and round is not tender enough to roast. Sirloin strip (New York strip) is ideal: ask the butcher for a two- or three-pound piece. Undercook it slightly and let it rest.

The writer’s aside: “I’ve done this in even a mundane supermarket with no trouble.”

Circled on the clipping: “Fillet”, “standing rib”, “round” and “a quick red wine sauce”; an arrow points to “Roasting is simple”, and a second star is drawn by the recipe’s title. Also underlined: “sliced thin”, “red wine”, “shallots”, “butter”, “salt”, “pepper”, “sirloin strip” (in the ingredients) and “120 degrees, meat will be rare to medium-rare”.

Rose box, p. 87
Rose box, p. 88
Later cards · 1990s–2000s

Lamb Chops with Yogurt-Mint Sauce

A Gourmet clipping (“Gourmet” in Grammy’s hand). Rewritten here.

Yield Serves 4; 20 minutes active, 35 minutes in all

Ingredients
  • ½ cup (13 g) fresh mint leaves, finely chopped
  • ½ cup (120 g) plain yogurt
  • 1 garlic clove, minced
  • 1 tsp fresh lemon juice
  • 6 rib lamb chops, 1 inch (2.5 cm) thick
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • salt and pepper
Method
  1. Stir together the mint, yogurt, garlic and lemon juice, with salt and pepper to taste.
  2. Pat half the chops dry and season. Heat the oil in a 10-inch (25 cm) heavy (preferably cast-iron) skillet over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking.
  3. Sauté the chops 6 minutes in all, turning once, for medium-rare. Keep warm under foil and cook the rest the same way.
  4. Serve topped with the yogurt-mint sauce.

Grammy underlined the suggested partners: sugar snap peas and couscous with apricots.

Rose box, p. 89
Later cards · 1990s–2000sHandwritten

Miki’s Flanken

Miki

Ingredients
  • 2 beef short rib strips (flanken)
  • ½ whole chicken, cut in half
  • 1 leek, whole
  • 2 zucchini, peeled and whole
  • 6 celery stalks, in thirds
  • 1 sweet onion, halved
  • 6 large carrots, in thirds
  • 3 parsnips, halved lengthwise
  • 1 to 2 parsley roots, well trimmed
  • 2 turnips, quartered
  • garlic
  • salt and pepper
Method
  1. Boil the short ribs in water 1 to 2 minutes and rinse well, to get rid of the foam.
  2. Layer everything in the orange pot. Cover with water.
  3. Bring to a boil and simmer 2 hours.

The card’s instruction is simply “Layer in orange pot”.

Rose box, p. 90
Later cards · 1990s–2000sSpecial praise

Filet Mignon with Blue Cheese and Rosemary

A clipping, “Sautéed Filet Steaks With Rosemary and Great Hill Blue”, headed in Grammy’s hand “Filet Mignon w/ Blue Cheese & Rosemary” and noted “Gourmet”. Rewritten here.

Yield 4 servings

Ingredients
  • 2 oz (55 g) Great Hill Blue or another medium-strong blue cheese
  • 2 tbsp (28 g) unsalted butter, at room temperature
  • 1 minced shallot
  • ⅛ tsp mustard powder
  • ⅛ tsp freshly ground black pepper, plus more to taste
  • 4 filet mignon steaks, each about 1½ inches (4 cm) thick, tied with butcher’s string
  • kosher salt
  • 1½ tbsp finely chopped rosemary
  • 3 tbsp clarified butter
Method
  1. Cream together the cheese, butter, shallot, mustard and pepper until fairly smooth. Roll it up like a sausage in a square of waxed paper, twist the ends and refrigerate until hard, at least 2 hours.
  2. Season the steaks generously with salt and pepper and sprinkle with the rosemary.
  3. Heat the clarified butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Cook the steaks to the doneness you like, about 5 minutes a side for medium-rare.
  4. Move the steaks to plates. Slice the cheese butter into quarters, peel off the paper and top each steak with a disk.
  5. Cover loosely with foil and let stand 5 minutes. Remove the foil and serve.

“Delicious!” written down the side, and a note by the butter: “cut pocket in filet”. The first sentence of step 1 (creaming the cheese butter) is bracketed, with a short comment above it whose top is cut off [?]; “over” is written at the foot.

Underlined on the clipping: “shallot”, “medium heat.”, and on the back “Cover”, “with aluminum” and “let stand for 5 minutes”.

Rose box, p. 91
Rose box, p. 92
Later cards · 1990s–2000sHandwritten

Kir’s Roast Beef Sandwich

Kir

Ingredients
  • thin-sliced roast beef
  • top-quality bread (ciabatta)
  • caramelised onions
  • good horseradish and mayonnaise
  • sliced tomatoes
Method
  1. Serve the thin-sliced beef on the bread with caramelised onions, horseradish, mayonnaise and tomato.

See also Kir’s Perfect Roast Beef

Rose box, p. 93
Later cards · 1990s–2000s

Roasted Pork Tenderloin with Ginger and Golden Raisins

A newspaper clipping pasted on a card. Rewritten here.

Yield 4 servings; 45 minutes

Ingredients
  • 2 tbsp canola oil
  • 2 pork tenderloins
  • kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • grated zest of 1 orange
  • ¼ cup (60 ml) red wine vinegar
  • ¼ cup (60 ml) red wine
  • ¾ cup (180 ml) chicken stock
  • ½ cup (75 g) golden raisins
  • 1 tbsp grated ginger
Method
  1. Heat the oven to 400°F (200°C). Heat a small roasting pan or large enamelled casserole on the stove over medium-high heat and add the oil.
  2. Season the tenderloins on all sides and sear until well browned all over.
  3. Sprinkle the orange zest over the pork and move the pan to the oven. Cook until just barely pink in the middle, 15 to 18 minutes.
  4. Move the pork to a cutting board. Put the pan over medium-high heat, add the vinegar and wine and scrape up the drippings. Reduce by half, add the stock and reduce by a quarter. Stir in the raisins, cook 1 minute and take off the heat.
  5. Slice the pork thinly and arrange on a plate, adding its juices to the raisin sauce.
  6. Just before serving, squeeze a few drops of ginger juice from the grated pulp into the sauce with your fingers. Serve the pork with the sauce in a bowl.

Underlined: “squeeze a few drops of ginger juice from pulp into sauce”.

The clipping adds that the ginger should sharpen and freshen the flavour “without tasting of ginger”.

Rose box, p. 94
Later cards · 1990s–2000sHandwrittenWell used

Mother’s Pot Roast

Grammy’s mother’s recipe, written out by Grammy on a loose sheet of lined notebook paper, much stained and spattered from use, with later changes in her pen (olive oil for canola, red wine added)

Yield Serves 6 to 8

Ingredients
  • beef chuck “Arm” pot roast, approx 3 lb (1.4 kg) (“Prime, if possible”; a bracketed note after the weight is lost in a stain [?])
  • 8 carrots, cut into 2-inch (5 cm) lengths
  • 6 potatoes (Yukon), cut into 2-inch (5 cm) cubes
  • 4 large onions, sliced
  • 3 or 4 stems celery, cut into 2-inch (5 cm) slices
  • 1 can cream of mushroom and garlic soup
  • 1 can water (may have to add ½ cup / 120 ml more)
  • 2 cloves garlic, mashed
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 1 to 1½ cups (240–360 ml) red wine (added later)
  • flour mixed with seasoned salt and pepper, for rubbing the meat
  • canola oil, and olive oil (or canola) for the onions
  • Gravy
  • 3 tbsp flour
  • ¼ cup (60 ml) water
Method
  1. Rub the seasoned flour into both sides of the beef. Brown it in canola oil in a hot frying pan until nicely browned, a few minutes each side.
  2. Sauté the onions in olive oil (first written “canola”) in the roaster until soft. (A margin note by the vegetables: sauté them in olive oil until tender.)
  3. Add the garlic and all the vegetables; don’t drain the oil. Put the meat on top.
  4. Pour the soup and water (and the wine) over all, and lift some of the vegetables on top of the beef.
  5. Cover and bake at 325°F (160°C) for 2½ hours. Stir in the vegetables and turn the meat over (keep the meat covered). Continue cooking 45 minutes.
  6. Gravy: mix the flour with the water and stir into the pan liquid. Heat, stirring, to thicken. Serve over the meat and vegetables.

The last line, “Use also …”, disappears under a big gravy stain.

In that last line, “also” is underlined twice.

Rose box, p. 95
Rose box, p. 96
Later cards · 1990s–2000sHandwrittenSpecial praise

Teriyaki Pork Chops, Grilled

Noted “Fine Cooking 9/06” [?]

Ingredients
  • 4 boneless pork loin chops, 1 inch (2.5 cm) thick
  • ½ cup (120 ml) Kikkoman Teriyaki Marinade
  • 1 tbsp sugar
  • 2 tbsp pineapple juice (optional)
Method
  1. Combine the teriyaki sauce, sugar and juice and pour over the chops in a large plastic food-storage bag. Press the air out and turn several times.
  2. Refrigerate 4 to 6 hours, turning the bag occasionally.
  3. Remove the chops and discard the marinade.
  4. Grill 4 to 5 inches (10–13 cm) from hot coals, 7 minutes on each side, until 135°F (57°C) inside (circled). Let sit 5 minutes before serving.

Marked “Delicious”, underlined. “(???)” is written after “7 min on each side”. “Refrig” is underlined too.

Rose box, p. 97
Later cards · 1990s–2000sHandwritten

Maria’s Steak Marinade

Maria

Ingredients
  • ½ cup (120 ml) 7-Seas Italian vinaigrette
  • ½ cup (120 ml) soy sauce
  • For hanger steaks, add
  • 2 cloves garlic
  • 2 tbsp teriyaki (“Mad. Chang’s” [?])
Method
  1. Marinate the steak 2 hours or more.

“For hanger steaks” is underlined.

Rose box, p. 98
Later cards · 1990s–2000sHandwritten

Hamburgers

Written in a different hand on the back of the Shrimp Cocktail card

Ingredients
  • hamburger
  • B.B.Q. sauce
  • 1 egg yolk
  • onion powder
  • garlic powder
  • salt and herbs
Method
  1. Mix into the meat and shape into patties. (No method is given.)
Rose box, p. 149
Typed on her computer, 2005–16
Typed on her computer · 2005–16

Prime Rib Roast Beef with Jus

From Cook’s Illustrated, November 2002 (saved as “Standing Rib Roast”). Serves 10–12.

Ask the butcher to cut the meat off the ribs, but keep the ribs: the meat is tied back onto them for roasting. Take the roast out of the fridge about 5½ hours before serving.

Ingredients
  • 1 first-cut beef rib roast (ribs 9–12, about 8 lb / 3.6 kg), meat removed from the bone, ribs reserved, patted dry
  • 1½ lb (675 g) oxtails
  • 1 tbsp tomato paste
  • 3 medium onions, cut into eighths
  • 3 tbsp vegetable oil
  • Kosher salt (preferably) or table salt
  • 2 tbsp ground black pepper
  • 1 cup (240 ml) medium-bodied red wine, such as Côtes du Rhône
  • 1¾ cups (420 ml) low-sodium beef broth
  • 1¾ cups (420 ml) low-sodium chicken broth
  • 2 sprigs fresh thyme
Method
  1. Let the roast and ribs stand at room temperature for 2 hours. After 1 hour, put a rack in the lowest position and heat the oven to 400°F (200°C).
  2. Rub the oxtails with the tomato paste and put them in a heavy, burner-safe roasting pan. Toss the onions with 1 tbsp oil and scatter around. Roast until browned, about 45 minutes, flipping the oxtails halfway. Set the pan aside and reduce the oven to 250°F (120°C).
  3. When the roast has stood 2 hours, heat a heavy 12-inch (30 cm) skillet over medium heat until hot, about 4 minutes. Rub the ends and fat side of the roast with the remaining 2 tbsp oil and sprinkle with 1½ tsp kosher salt (or ¾ tsp table salt) and the pepper.
  4. Brown the roast fat-side down, 12–15 minutes, then stand it on each end with tongs and brown about 4 minutes per end. Don’t brown the side where the ribs were attached. Cool on a board, browned side up, 10 minutes.
  5. Using four lengths of twine, tie the meat back onto the bones exactly where it was cut. Set it bone-side down (seared side up) in the centre of the roasting pan, pushing the oxtails and onions to the sides.
  6. Roast 1 hour, then check the temperature through the top of the roast to the centre: it should read about 70°F (21°C) (adjust the total time if higher or lower). Return to the oven (make the Yorkshire pudding batter now, if making) and cook 1¼–1¾ hours longer, until the centre reads about 122°F (50°C) for rare to medium-rare or 130°F (54°C) for medium-rare to medium.
  7. Move the roast to a board and tent loosely with foil. Raise the oven to 450°F (230°C) for Yorkshire puddings.
  8. Spoon the fat off the roasting pan, keeping 3 tbsp for the puddings. While they bake, set the roasting pan over two burners on high. Add the wine, scrape up the browned bits and boil until reduced by half, about 3 minutes. Add both broths and the thyme.
  9. Cut the twine, remove the meat from the ribs and re-tent it. Add the ribs to the pan, meaty side down, and cook, stirring now and then, until the liquid has reduced by two-thirds (to about 2 cups / 475 ml), 16–20 minutes. Add any juices from the meat and heat through, about 1 minute.
  10. Discard the ribs and oxtails. Strain the jus into a gravy boat, pressing on the onions.
  11. Slice the meat ⅜ inch (1 cm) thick, sprinkle lightly with salt and serve at once, passing the jus separately.

The Yorkshire pudding recipe that goes with this wasn’t among the files.

Step 1: tie the browned meat back onto the rib bones with four lengths of twine, exactly where it was cut. Cook’s Illustrated, November 2002
Step 2: set the roast bone side down (seared side up) in the middle of the pan, pushing the oxtails and onions to the sides. Cook’s Illustrated, November 2002
Step 3: check the temperature by pushing the thermometer down through the top of the roast to the centre. Cook’s Illustrated, November 2002
Typed on her computer · 2005–16

Kir’s Perfect Roast Beef

Kir’s version of the Cook’s Illustrated method, typed on the family letterhead (Kirsten and Patrick Coulter, with Cosmo, Lucia and Gabriel, Cambridge, June 2003).

  1. Let the beef joint stand at room temperature for 2 hours before roasting.
  2. Preheat the oven to 250°F (120°C).
  3. Rub the joint with some vegetable oil (sunflower, say), then sprinkle with salt and pepper.
  4. Heat a heavy-bottomed frying pan over medium heat until hot, a few minutes. Brown the joint well all over, including the ends, turning every 2–4 minutes.
  5. Set the joint in a roasting pan and put it in the oven. Cook 1–3 hours, depending on size, until the internal temperature reaches 140°F (60°C) for medium-rare, perfectly pink throughout (125°F / 52°C for rare).
  6. Transfer to a cutting board and rest about 30 minutes before serving.

Kir’s notes: “Internal joint temperature is critical. I use a modern instant-read thermometer for this and I have no idea how accurately to judge oven timing without one.” And: “I’m no expert on cuts of beef, but I’ve found that a Scottish top rump joint works well.”

See also Kir’s Roast Beef Sandwich, Slow-Roasted Beef

Typed on her computer · 2005–16

Slow-Roasted Beef

From Cook’s Illustrated, published 1 January 2008, with Kirsten’s notes and °C temperatures. Serves 6–8.

Don’t cook this roast past medium. Keep the oven door shut as much as possible, and lift the roast out whenever you take its temperature. For a smaller roast (2½–3½ lb / 1.1–1.6 kg), use 3 tsp kosher salt (1½ tsp table salt) and 1½ tsp pepper; cut a 4½–6 lb (2–2.7 kg) roast in half crosswise to make 2 smaller roasts.

Ingredients
  • 1 boneless eye-round roast (3½–4½ lb / 1.6–2 kg) (Kirsten: “any beef roast will do!”)
  • 4 tsp kosher salt or 2 tsp table salt
  • 2 tsp vegetable oil, plus 1 tbsp
  • 2 tsp ground black pepper
Method
  1. Sprinkle the roast evenly all over with the salt. Optionally, wrap it in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 18–24 hours.
  2. Heat the oven to 225°F (110°C), with a rack in the middle. Pat the roast dry, rub it with the 2 tsp oil and sprinkle it evenly all over with the pepper.
  3. Heat the 1 tbsp oil in a 12-inch (30 cm) skillet over medium-high heat until starting to smoke, and brown the roast on all sides, 3–4 minutes per side. Kirsten adds: “Truth is, you can skip this browning step and still get a great result. But I do it when I have the 15 minutes to spare.”
  4. Set the roast on a wire rack in a rimmed baking sheet and roast until a thermometer in the centre reads 115°F (46°C) for medium-rare, 1¼–1¾ hours, or 125°F (52°C) for medium, 1¾–2¼ hours.
  5. Turn the oven off and leave the roast in, without opening the door, until it reads 130°F (54°C) for medium-rare or 140°F (60°C) for medium, 30–50 minutes more. If it hasn’t got there in that time, heat the oven to 225°F (110°C) for 5 minutes, turn it off and carry on. Kirsten adds: “If you are in a rush, you can leave the oven on and continue cooking until you reach the final temperatures.”
  6. Rest the roast on a carving board for 15 minutes, then slice it crosswise as thinly as possible. Serve with horseradish cream sauce, if you like.

See also Kir’s Perfect Roast Beef

Typed on her computer · 2005–16

Ultimate Beef Stew

From Cook’s Illustrated. Serves 6.

Salt pork and anchovies add savouriness (not fishiness), and flour plus gelatin give a rich, mouth-coating sauce. Use a good medium-bodied wine such as Côtes du Rhône or Pinot Noir, and well-marbled beef; meat that is too lean comes out slightly dry. 4 lb (1.8 kg) blade steaks can replace the chuck-eye roast.

Ingredients
  • 2 medium garlic cloves, minced (about 2 tsp)
  • 4 anchovy fillets, finely minced (about 2 tsp)
  • 1 tbsp tomato paste
  • 1 boneless chuck-eye roast (about 4 lb / 1.8 kg), trimmed of silver skin and excess fat, cut into 1½-inch (4 cm) chunks
  • 2 tbsp vegetable oil
  • 1 large onion, halved and cut pole to pole into ⅛-inch (3 mm) slices (about 2 cups / 230 g)
  • 4 medium carrots, peeled and cut into 1-inch (2.5 cm) rounds (about 2 cups / 250 g)
  • ¼ cup (36 g) all-purpose flour
  • 2 cups (475 ml) red wine
  • 2 cups (475 ml) low-sodium chicken broth
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 4 sprigs fresh thyme
  • 4 oz (115 g) salt pork, rinsed of excess salt
  • 1 lb (450 g) Yukon Gold potatoes, scrubbed and cut into 1-inch (2.5 cm) pieces
  • 1½ cups (210 g) frozen pearl onions, thawed
  • 2 tsp (1 packet) powdered gelatin
  • ½ cup (120 ml) water
  • 1 cup (145 g) frozen peas, thawed
  • Table salt and ground black pepper
Method
  1. Put a rack in the lower-middle position and heat the oven to 300°F (150°C). Mash the garlic and anchovies to a paste with the back of a fork, stir in the tomato paste and set aside.
  2. Pat the meat dry; don’t season it. Heat 1 tbsp oil in a large, heavy Dutch oven over high heat until just smoking. Brown half the beef well on all sides, about 8 minutes, reducing the heat if the oil smokes or the fond burns. Transfer to a plate. Brown the rest in the remaining oil, leaving it in the pot.
  3. Reduce the heat to medium and return the first batch. Add the onion and carrots and cook, scraping up the browned bits, until the onion softens, 1–2 minutes. Add the garlic mixture and stir until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add the flour and stir until no dry flour remains, about 30 seconds.
  4. Slowly add the wine, scraping the bottom of the pan. Raise the heat to high and simmer until thickened and slightly reduced, about 2 minutes. Stir in the broth, bay leaves, thyme and salt pork. Bring to a simmer, cover and cook in the oven for 1½ hours.
  5. Discard the bay leaves and salt pork. Stir in the potatoes, cover and return to the oven until almost tender, 45 minutes.
  6. Skim excess fat from the surface. Stir in the pearl onions and cook over medium heat until the potatoes and onions are cooked through and the meat meets little resistance when poked with a fork (it shouldn’t be falling apart), about 15 minutes. Meanwhile, sprinkle the gelatin over the water and let it soften 5 minutes.
  7. Raise the heat to high, stir in the softened gelatin and the peas and simmer until the gelatin has dissolved and the stew has thickened, about 3 minutes. Season with salt and pepper and serve.
Typed on her computer · 2005–16

Sloppy Joes

Brown in a large frying pan:
  • 3 lb (1.4 kg) chopped beef or hamburger (as fatty as you can buy)
  • 2 large onions, chopped coarsely
  • 2 large red peppers, chopped coarsely
  • 3 stalks celery, chopped coarsely
Combine with:
  • 28-oz (800 g) jar ketchup (use 2 tbsp water to rinse the last of it from the bottle into the Sloppy Joes)
  • 8-oz (225 g) can tomato sauce
  • 4 tbsp dry mustard
  • 6 tbsp vinegar
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Simmer everything 45 minutes and serve on hamburger buns.

See also GG’s Sloppy Joes

Typed on her computer · 2005–16

GG’s Sloppy Joes

Unsigned, but probably Kir’s: a metric write-up of Grammy’s mother’s recipe. GG is probably “great-grandma” Golda.

GG would never have called it ‘Sloppy Joes’, but that’s just what it is.

Ingredients
  • 1 kg (2.2 lb) minced beef, browned
  • 400 ml (1⅔ cups) good-quality ketchup
  • 250 ml (1 cup) tomato passata (a substitute for American ‘tomato sauce’)
  • 2+ tbsp dry mustard powder
  • 3 tbsp sugar
  • 3 tbsp cider vinegar
  • 1–2 large onions, chopped fine
  • 1–2 large green bell peppers, coarsely chopped
  • 125 ml (½ cup) chopped celery
Method
  1. Combine in a large sauté pan (or whatever) and simmer about 45 minutes.
  2. Serve with wraps of your choice or big crusty rolls (lightly buttered), a green salad, broccoli florets and plenty of paper napkins.

Sloppy Joes, Grammy’s own version (one copy is headed “Grammy’s Sloppy Joes”), browns 3 lb (1.4 kg) beef with the vegetables and uses red peppers and a can of tomato sauce, with no sugar.

See also Sloppy Joes, Mother’s B-B-Q Beef (Sloppy Joes)

Later cards · 1990s–2000sTyped on her computer · 2005–16Handwritten

Pat Coe’s Pork and Fruit Ragout

Pat Coe’s recipe. Start a day ahead: the pork marinates for 24 hours.

Ingredients
  • 3 lb (1.4 kg) boneless pork, cut into 1½-inch (4 cm) cubes
  • ½ cup (60 g) dried cranberries
  • 24 dried apricot halves
  • 1 cup (145 g) dark raisins
  • 1 cup (240 ml) dry red wine
  • 1 cup (240 ml) red wine vinegar
  • 3 tbsp chopped dill
  • 3 tbsp chopped fresh mint
  • 1 tsp ground cumin
  • 1 tsp paprika
  • 1 tbsp dried thyme
  • Salt to taste
  • ⅓ cup (80 ml) olive oil
  • 4 shallots, minced
  • Fresh mushrooms (the type and amount are left blank in the original)
  • Butter
  • 1 cup (240 ml) dry white wine
  • 1 quart (950 ml) chicken stock
  • 2 bay leaves
  • ¼ cup (85 g) honey
Method
  1. Marinate the pork with everything from the cranberries through the salt for 24 hours in the fridge. Dry the pork and save the marinade.
  2. Heat the oven to 350°F (180°C). Sauté the pork in the olive oil until browned but not dry, and put it in a deep casserole. Sauté the mushrooms in butter and add them to the dish.
  3. Sauté the shallots in the pan for 5 minutes. Add the marinade, bring to a boil and cook for several minutes (the original trails off here), then add to the casserole.
  4. Stir in ½ cup (120 ml) each of the white wine and chicken stock. Add the bay leaves and honey and bring to a boil on the stovetop. Cover and bake on the middle rack for 1 hour 15 minutes.
  5. Uncover, add the remaining wine and stock and bake another 30–45 minutes, until the meat is tender and the sauce is rich and thick. Serve with egg noodles.

Pat Coe’s own card is in the rose box. It reads “1 tsp pepper” where the typed file has paprika.

On the back, “pork — salt” is boxed, “Cover” and both “Bake”s are underlined, and an arrow runs from “Cover” to “Put on [?] middle rack”.

Rose box, p. 155
Rose box, p. 156
Typed on her computer · 2005–16

Deb Lear’s Roast Pork Loin with Shiitake and Leek Compote

Deb Lear’s recipe.

Ingredients
  • 3 large leeks, white and pale green parts only
  • 3–4 lb (1.4–1.8 kg) centre-cut boneless pork loin
  • About ¼ cup (15 g) chopped parsley, plus sprigs to garnish
  • Olive oil, for browning
  • 1 lb (450 g) fresh shiitake mushrooms, stems discarded, caps cut into ½-inch (1 cm) slices
  • 1 cup (240 ml) dry red wine
  • 1 cup (240 ml) chicken broth
  • Salt and pepper
Method
  1. Cut the leeks crosswise into ½-inch (1 cm) slices. Soak in a bowl of water for 5 minutes, agitating now and then to loosen any sand. Lift out and drain in a colander.
  2. Season the pork with salt and pepper and pat with some of the parsley. Heat oil in an ovenproof non-stick or cast-iron skillet over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking, and brown the pork all over. Transfer to a plate.
  3. Heat the oven to 350°F (180°C).
  4. In the fat left in the skillet, cook the mushrooms and leeks with salt over moderately high heat, stirring occasionally, until the mushroom liquid has evaporated, about 5 minutes. Add the wine and broth and bring to a boil.
  5. Set the pork on the vegetables and roast in the middle of the oven, 20 minutes per lb, or until a thermometer in the centre reads 160°F (71°C).
  6. Rest the pork on a board for 10 minutes. If the compote is too liquid, boil it, stirring occasionally, until almost all the liquid has evaporated. Stir in the remaining chopped parsley.
  7. Slice the pork thin and serve with the compote, garnished with parsley sprigs.
Typed on her computer · 2005–16

Best Grilled Pork Chops

From Cook’s Illustrated. Serves 4.

Buy chops of the same thickness so they cook evenly. Natural pork is better here than “enhanced” (injected with salt solution). Grate the onion on the large holes of a grater. Hickory chips are best; avoid mesquite.

Sauce
  • ½ cup (120 ml) ketchup
  • ¼ cup (85 g) light or mild molasses
  • 2 tbsp grated onion
  • 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 2 tbsp Dijon mustard
  • 2 tbsp cider vinegar
  • 1 tbsp brown sugar
Chops
  • 2 cups (475 ml) wood chips
  • 4 bone-in rib loin pork chops, 12 oz (340 g) each and 1½ inches (4 cm) thick
  • 4 tsp kosher salt
  • Ground black pepper
  • Disposable 12 × 8-inch (30 × 20 cm) aluminium cake pan
Method
  1. Simmer all the sauce ingredients in a small saucepan over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until reduced to about 1 cup (240 ml) and the consistency of ketchup, 5–7 minutes. Set ½ cup (120 ml) aside to serve with the chops.
  2. Soak the wood chips in water at least 30 minutes, then drain. Meanwhile, light a large chimney of charcoal (6 quarts / 5.7 litres, about 100 briquettes) and burn until covered with a thin layer of ash, about 20 minutes.
  3. Put the aluminium pan in the centre of the grill and pour the coals into equal piles on either side. Sprinkle 1 cup (240 ml) chips on each pile, put the grate on, cover and heat until the grate is hot and the chips are smoking, about 5 minutes. Scrape the grate clean.
  4. Pat the chops dry. Cut 3 slits, about 1 inch (2.5 cm) apart, through the outer layer of fat and connective tissue. Sprinkle each chop all over with 1 tsp salt and ½ tsp pepper.
  5. Stand the chops bone-side down in the centre of the grill, over the pan. Cover and cook until the centre (away from the bone) reads 120°F (49°C), 28–32 minutes.
  6. Brush the chops all over with 1 tbsp sauce. Move them, cut side down, to the hotter parts of the grill (two on each side) and cook uncovered until browned, 2–4 minutes. Brush the tops with 1 tbsp sauce, flip and brown the second side until the centre reads 140°F (60°C), 2–4 minutes more.
  7. Rest, tented with foil, 5 minutes (the temperature should rise to 145°F / 63°C). Serve with the reserved sauce.

On a gas grill: skip the cake pan. Put the soaked chips in a shallow disposable aluminium pie pan on the primary burner and position the grate. Turn all burners to high, cover and heat until very hot and the chips are smoking, about 15 minutes (if the chips ignite, put them out with a water spray bottle). Scrape the grate clean. Follow step 4, then leave the primary burner on high and turn the others off. Cook the chops on the cooler side, lid down, to 110°F (43°C), 20–25 minutes, and brown on the hotter side 4–7 minutes per side.

Typed on her computer · 2005–16

Madhur Jaffrey’s Lemony Minced Lamb with Mint & Coriander

Madhur Jaffrey’s recipe, with Kirsten’s notes. Serves 3–4.

Serve with flatbreads or rice. It also makes a good wrap: roll it in a flatbread with sliced shallots, chopped tomato and, if you like, green chillies.

Ingredients
  • 2 tbsp olive or rapeseed oil
  • Two 5-cm (2 in) cinnamon sticks
  • 4 tbsp peeled and chopped onion
  • 450 g (1 lb) ground lamb (not too fatty)
  • 2 tsp peeled, finely grated ginger
  • ¾ tsp salt
  • ½ tsp cayenne pepper, or to taste
  • 4 tbsp finely chopped fresh mint
  • 4 tbsp finely chopped fresh coriander, leaves only
  • 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
  • ¾ tsp garam masala, home-made or shop-bought
Method
  1. Heat the oil in a frying pan over medium heat. Add the cinnamon sticks and let them sizzle for a few seconds, then add the onion and brown it, stirring now and then.
  2. Add the lamb and ginger and brown for about 5 minutes, breaking up any lumps.
  3. Stir in 8 oz (235 ml) water, the salt and the cayenne and bring to a simmer. Cover, turn the heat down and simmer gently for 30–40 minutes, until the meat is tender.
  4. Uncover, add the mint, coriander, lemon juice and garam masala, and cook uncovered over low heat for 5 minutes more. Spoon off any excess fat before serving.

Kirsten’s notes add that she cooks the lamb first and removes some of its fat before adding it to the frying pan, “to avoid having to spoon out and discard lamb fat at the end, along with great accumulated flavours”. She sometimes uses a bit less lamb and stirs in “a load of petits pois at the end. Otherwise, it’s great to serve petits pois with this.”

Typed on her computer · 2005–16

Kir’s Slow-Cooked Shredded Barbecue Beef

Kir’s recipe, signed 29 August 2015.

Ingredients
  • 2 kg (4.4 lb) beef brisket (not tied)
  • 1½ cups (240 g) chopped onion
  • 6+ cloves chopped garlic
  • 1 tin (400 ml / 1⅔ cups) chopped tomatoes
  • 2 tbsp tomato paste
  • 3 tbsp black treacle (or ½ cup / 110 g dark brown sugar?)
  • 140 ml (9½ tbsp) beer
  • 50 ml (3½ tbsp) cider vinegar
  • ½ tsp ground cayenne pepper (or according to taste)
  • 2 tsp liquid smoke
  • 2 tsp salt
  • 2½ tbsp Worcestershire sauce
Method
  1. In big ovenproof pot (Creuset), gently fry onion until speckled with brown. Add garlic and stir-fry until fragrant.
  2. Mix all remaining sauce ingredients and add to pot.
  3. Place beef in pot and cover with sauce.
  4. Place in oven at 120–160°C (250–325°F) with no lid and cook for hours (4–6) until beef is tender and easily pulls apart into shreds with two forks.
  5. Check beef every hour. Exposed parts of beef should darken to deep brown but not black: turn beef when colour darkens toward black. Sauce will reduce in volume to a thick-ish sludge, but should not be allowed to dry out. If necessary, add some water to the pot. Do not allow sauce to burn onto sides of pot.
  6. When beef is tender and easily pulls apart into shreds, go ahead and shred all beef in the pot, preserving a few clumps so the result is not a homogeneous mush. Gently turn the beef shreds into the sauce. Ideally, the sauce should be almost fully ‘absorbed’ into the beef shreds.
Serve with
  • Crusty bread (e.g., ciabatta) or soft tortillas or rice
  • Avocado and tomato salsa with lime (etc.) [?] (the file says “salsa with and lime”)
  • Sour cream
  • Fresh coriander leaves
  • Sliced red onion
  • Green salad
Typed on her computer · 2005–16

Dave’s Italian Beef Sandwiches

Dave’s recipe. Two of the three copies are headed “CG Recipe - 2”, one of the Camp Grammy recipes.

Ingredients
  • 1½ tsp garlic powder
  • 2 tsp oregano
  • 1 can of beer (I usually just get a can of Budweiser)
  • 1 can of beef broth
  • One 12-oz (340 g) jar pepperoncini peppers
  • ¼ tsp salt & pepper
  • Boneless beef chuck roast (I think we usually get 2–3 chuck roasts)
Method
  1. Combine ingredients in crock pot 8 hours. An hour or so before serving cut up or shred beef. (The recipe doesn’t say low or high; 8 hours suggests low.)
  2. Serve on crusty rolls.

(Depending on the size of the crock & roasts, I think you could get 3 roasts in a crock with doubling of other ingredients. I kind of wing it on doubling of ingredients.)

Karin likes to add side condiments such as cheese (mushrooms, sautéed onions etc).

Typed on her computer · 2005–16

Pamela Cultra’s Taco Bake

Pamela Cultra’s recipe, in her own words.

Ingredients
  • 1 regular large bag of nacho-flavored Doritos
  • 1 lb (450 g) of ground beef
  • 1 packet of taco seasoning
  • 1 jar (bottle) of TACO sauce
  • 1 can of refried beans
  • 2 cups (230 g) of shredded cheese (Mexican or cheddar)
  • 1 large tomato, chopped (optional)
Method
  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C). Use a 9 × 13-inch (23 × 33 cm) pan. I use a very light spray of PAM around the edges for easy cleanup.
  2. Cook the ground beef and add the taco seasoning as directed.
  3. Crush the entire bag of Doritos into crumbs.
Layers
  1. Start with a layer of Doritos, enough to completely cover the bottom of the pan.
  2. Next spread the cooked ground beef over the Doritos.
  3. Then warm the refried beans a little in the microwave to make them easier to spread over the ground beef.
  4. Next add the layer of fresh tomatoes (my kids are not fond of tomatoes so I leave them out and it really doesn’t make a difference).
  5. Next pour the taco sauce over everything.
  6. Top with the cheese.
  7. Sprinkle remaining Doritos on top.
  8. Bake for 30 minutes at 350°F (180°C) or until cheese is melted.
Typed on her computer · 2005–16

Lamb and Date Tagine

By Nigella Lawson, from Nigella’s Christmas Kitchen, saved from the BBC Food website, with Grammy’s serving note. Serves 6–8.

Ingredients
  • 3–4 tbsp goose fat or olive oil
  • 2 onions, peeled and chopped
  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 1 tsp ground turmeric
  • 1 tsp ground ginger
  • 1 tsp ground cumin
  • 1 tsp ground allspice
  • 1 kg/2 lb 3 oz boneless leg of lamb, chopped into cubes
  • 250 g/9 oz soft dried dates, stones removed, or Medjool dates, stones removed
  • 250 ml/9 fl oz pomegranate juice
  • 250 ml/9 fl oz water
  • 2 tsp Maldon sea salt, or 1 tsp table salt
Method
  1. Warm the goose fat or oil in a wide, heavy pan with a lid. Cook the onions gently over low heat for about 10 minutes, until soft.
  2. Stir in the cinnamon, turmeric, ginger, cumin and allspice.
  3. Turn up the heat, add the lamb and brown it all over, stirring often.
  4. Add the dates, pomegranate juice, water and salt, bring to a boil, then cover, turn the heat down to very low and cook for 2 hours. (Or cook it in the oven at 150°C/300°F/Gas 2 for 2 hours.)
  5. Serve in bowls.

Grammy’s note: “I serve with rice or couscous and Pomegranate Salsa”

See also Herbed Pomegranate Salsa

Typed on her computer · 2005–16

Madhur Jaffrey’s Shahjahani Leg of Lamb

From Madhur Jaffrey. The lamb marinates for 24–48 hours.

Ingredients
  • Leg of lamb, around 5–7 lb (2.3–3.2 kg)
  • 900 g (2 lb) natural yoghurt
  • ½ medium-sized onion, peeled and coarsely chopped
  • 300 g (10½ oz) onions, peeled and cut crosswise into fine half-rings
  • 5 tbsp peeled, coarsely chopped garlic
  • 7-inch (18 cm) piece of ginger, coarsely chopped
  • 5 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp cayenne pepper
  • 1 tbsp garam masala
  • Blanched slivered almonds, filled up to the 300 ml (1¼ cups) mark on a measuring jug
  • 12 dried figs
  • Vegetable oil
  • 6 tbsp white poppy seeds
Two nights before
  1. Remove all the fell (the parchment-like outer skin) and fat from the lamb, then stab it all over with a sharp knife.
  2. In a bowl or deep tray big enough to hold the leg, beat the yoghurt lightly with a fork until smooth and creamy. Put 4 tbsp of it in a blender with the chopped ½ onion, garlic, ginger, salt, cayenne and garam masala, and blend to a smooth paste, scraping down as needed. Stir the paste back into the yoghurt.
  3. Rub the marinade into the lamb in the bowl, cover well and refrigerate for 24–48 hours.
3½ hours before serving
  1. Heat the oven to 350°F (180°C). Put the lamb in the centre of a large round or oval casserole or a heavy roasting tin, pour the marinade over and around it and bring to a simmer on the stove. Cover tightly with foil and bake for 1½ hours.
  2. Meanwhile, toast the almonds lightly in a cast-iron frying pan over medium heat, stirring, then grind them in a clean coffee or spice grinder. After the 1½ hours, stir them into the sauce, scatter the figs around the lamb, cover again and bake for another 1–1½ hours.
  3. While it bakes, line a plate with kitchen paper. Heat about ¼ inch (5 mm) of oil in a medium frying pan over medium-high heat and fry the onion rings, stirring, until they start to brown at the edges. Lower the heat to medium and keep frying until reddish-brown and crisp, then lift out with a slotted spoon onto the paper. (The oil can be reused.)
  4. Toast the poppy seeds in a heavy frying pan over medium heat, stirring, until a couple of shades darker. Cool slightly, then grind as finely as possible in a coffee or spice grinder.
  5. When the lamb is tender, crumble the onions into the sauce, add the ground poppy seeds and mix gently. Spoon some sauce over the lamb, cover and return to the oven for 10 minutes.
  6. Set the leg on a large platter and put the figs to one side for the moment. Spoon as much fat as you can off the sauce, ladle the sauce over the lamb and arrange the figs around it. Carve at the table.

Notes on the file, unsigned: “Served 8 comfortably”, “(or one night will do apparently)” of the marinating, and “(divine!)” of the sauce.

Typed on her computer · 2005–16

Beer-Braised Short Ribs

No source is named; the file is dated December 2005. Serves 4–6.

A slow-cooker recipe. Start a day or two ahead: the braising liquid has to be chilled so its fat can be lifted off, and the ribs taste even better reheated in the defatted sauce.

Ingredients
  • 5 lb (2.3 kg) English-style beef short ribs (6–8 ribs), trimmed of excess fat
  • Salt and pepper
  • 2 tbsp vegetable oil
  • 2 tbsp (28 g) unsalted butter
  • 3 lb (1.4 kg) yellow onions, halved and sliced thin
  • 2 tbsp tomato paste
  • 2 (12-oz / 355 ml) bottles dark beer, such as Newcastle Brown Ale and O’Doul’s Amber Nonalcoholic
  • 2 tbsp Minute Tapioca
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 2 tsp minced fresh thyme leaves
  • 2 tbsp soy sauce
  • 12 pitted prunes
  • 3 tbsp Dijon mustard
  • 2 tbsp minced fresh parsley leaves
Method
  1. Season the ribs with salt and pepper. Heat the oil in a 12-inch (30 cm) skillet over medium-high heat until just smoking. Brown half the ribs meaty side down, about 5 minutes, then stand each rib on its other sides in turn, about 1 minute each, until browned all over (lean them against each other if they won’t stand). Move them to the slow-cooker insert meaty side down, bones up, so the meat stays submerged. Brown the rest the same way.
  2. Pour off all but 1 tsp fat from the skillet. Add the butter, lower the heat to medium and cook the onions, stirring occasionally, until well browned, 25–30 minutes. Stir in the tomato paste and cook until it coats the onions and starts to brown, about 5 minutes. Add the beer and simmer, scraping up the browned bits, until the foaming subsides, about 5 minutes. Off the heat, stir in the tapioca, bay leaves, 1 tsp thyme, the soy sauce and the prunes, and pour into the slow cooker.
  3. Cover and cook on low until the ribs are fork-tender, 10–11 hours (or on high for 4–5 hours). Transfer the ribs to a baking dish and strain the liquid into a bowl. Cover and chill for at least 8 hours or up to 2 days.
  4. To serve, spoon the hardened fat off the liquid. Put the ribs, meaty side down, and the liquid in a Dutch oven and warm through over medium heat, about 20 minutes. Lift the ribs onto a platter. Whisk the mustard and the remaining 1 tsp thyme into the sauce and season with salt and pepper. Pour 1 cup (240 ml) sauce over the ribs, sprinkle with the parsley and pass the rest of the sauce separately.
Typed on her computer · 2005–16

Slow-Cooker Braised Lamb with Red Wine and Cumin

From The Best Slow and Easy Recipes, by America’s Test Kitchen. Serves 6–8.

Trim the lamb thoroughly and defat the sauce well, or the sauce can taste gamey. An inexpensive, medium-bodied red blended from several grapes, such as a Côtes du Rhône, suits it.

Ingredients
  • 2 tbsp vegetable oil
  • 2 medium onions, minced
  • 8 medium garlic cloves, peeled and crushed
  • 1 tbsp tomato paste
  • 1 tbsp ground cumin
  • 1 tbsp minced fresh thyme leaves, or 1 tsp dried
  • Salt
  • 1 (750-ml / 3¼ cups) bottle dry red wine (see above)
  • 1 cup (240 ml) low-sodium chicken broth
  • ⅓ cup (80 ml) soy sauce
  • 3 tbsp Minute Tapioca
  • 1 (5-lb / 2.3 kg) boneless lamb shoulder roast, trimmed and tied
  • Ground black pepper
Method
  1. In a 12-inch (30 cm) nonstick skillet, heat the oil over medium-high heat until it shimmers. Cook the onions and garlic with the tomato paste, cumin, thyme and ¼ tsp salt, stirring often, until the onions are soft and lightly browned, 8–10 minutes. Add the wine, scraping up the browned bits, and simmer until reduced to about 3 cups (710 ml), 10–12 minutes.
  2. Pour into the slow cooker and stir in the broth, soy sauce and tapioca. Season the lamb with salt and pepper and nestle it into the sauce. Cover and cook on low for 9–10 hours or on high for 5–6 hours, until the meat is tender.
  3. Move the lamb to a carving board, tent loosely with foil and let it rest for 20 minutes. While it rests, strain the sauce into a fat separator through a fine-mesh strainer and let it settle for 5 minutes. Tip the defatted juices into a small saucepan, season to taste with salt and pepper, and keep warm, covered, over low heat.
  4. Untie the roast and slice it ½ inch (1 cm) thick. Arrange on a platter, pour 1 cup (240 ml) sauce over the meat and pass the rest separately.
Typed on her computer · 2005–16

Spanish-Style Lamb Stew

From the New York Times, April 14, 2010. Serves 6.

Allow about 2½ hours, most of it unattended simmering.

Ingredients
  • 3 tbsp olive oil
  • 3 lb (1.4 kg) boneless lamb stew meat (preferably shoulder), cut into 1½-inch (4 cm) chunks
  • Salt and pepper
  • 2 medium onions, chopped
  • 1 large red bell pepper, stemmed, seeded and chopped
  • 4 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 tbsp pimentón de la Vera, preferably picante or agridulce
  • 1 (28-oz / 800 g) can whole peeled tomatoes, with their juice
  • ¾ cup (180 ml) red wine, preferably Rioja
  • 3 cups (710 ml) chicken stock
  • 2 tbsp sherry vinegar or red wine vinegar
  • 3 bay leaves
  • 3 cups (550 g) cooked white beans, rinsed and drained if canned
  • ¼ cup (15 g) chopped fresh parsley
Method
  1. Heat the oil over medium-high heat in a large, heavy pot with a lid, or a Dutch oven. Season the lamb generously with salt and pepper and brown it in batches so the pot isn’t crowded, turning once or twice, until well browned all over, about 15 minutes in all. Set the browned pieces aside on a plate.
  2. Pour off all but 2 tbsp fat. Add the onions, bell pepper, garlic and a generous sprinkling of salt and pepper and cook, stirring now and then, until the onions and pepper soften, about 5 minutes. Stir in the pimentón for 1 minute. Add the tomatoes, breaking them into bite-size pieces, and scrape up the browned bits. Add the wine, stock, vinegar and bay leaves and bring just to a boil.
  3. Return the lamb, lower the heat so the stew bubbles very gently and partly cover the pot. Cook, stirring every 20 minutes or so, until the lamb is very tender, about 2 hours. Remove the bay leaves, add the beans and cook 10 minutes more to heat them through. Stir in the parsley and adjust the seasoning.

Chicken & Poultry

Chicken casseroles of the 1960s, including two sauces on Great Northern Railway paper and a Carnation milk advertisement, Jacques Pépin’s mustard chicken, the turkeys of later Thanksgivings, and from her typed files Kir’s curries and Dave’s Camp Grammy chicken tenders.

21 handwritten17 early cards11 later cards11 typed on her computer

All 39 in this chapter
  1. Charlotte Allen’s Sausage Stuffing
  2. Two Chicken Casserole Sauces, on Great Northern Railway paper
  3. Barbecued Chicken, Texas Style, with Texas Barbecue Sauce
  4. Sesame Crumb Chicken
  5. Lemon-Butter-Broiled Chicken with Chicken Livers
  6. Chicken Fricassee
  7. Baked Chicken Parmesan with Marsala
  8. Chicken in Mustard Sauce (after Jacques Pépin)
  9. Audrey Hurd’s Chicken with Cumberland Sauce
  10. Chicken Hongroise
  11. Roast Duckling Piquant
  12. One-Dish Chicken ’n Gravy (“the gravy makes itself!”)
  13. Betty’s Baked Chicken Casserole
  14. Chicken Parisienne
  15. Chicken and Noodles
  16. Chicken and Sesame Rice
  17. Baked Drumsticks
  18. Chicken Tenders
  19. Delia’s Chicken Paprika
  20. Chicken Piccata
  21. Chicken and Tofu Stir-Fry
  22. Roast Turkey (Gourmet, November 2000)
  23. B. Kafka’s Turkey (15 lb)
  24. Grey Poupon Best-Ever BBQ Chicken
  25. Chicken with Honey-Mustard
  26. Chicken à l’Orange
  27. Old-Fashioned Roast Turkey under Cheesecloth
  28. Sautéed Chicken with Tomatoes, Capers and Basil
  29. Moroccan Chicken with Olives and Lemons
  30. Chicken Bouillabaisse
  31. Jody Adams’s Balsamic-Marinated Chicken Stuffed with Green Olives
  32. Kir’s Chicken Karhai with Mint
  33. Kir’s Chicken Curry (Sarasota)
  34. Dave’s Grilled Chicken Tenders
  35. Green Goddess Roasted Chicken
  36. Chicken Velveting
  37. Chicken Korma
  38. Chicken Thighs Baked with Lemon, Sage, Rosemary & Thyme
  39. Oven-Roasted Chicken Thighs
Early cards, 1950s–80s
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwritten

Charlotte Allen’s Sausage Stuffing

Charlotte Allen

Ingredients
  • 1 loaf of bread
  • 1 lb (450 g) sausage meat
  • 3 stalks celery
  • 3 onions
  • 1 potato
  • 4 eggs
  • ½ cup (120 ml) milk (more or less, to make it very moist)
  • Bell’s Seasoning, salt and pepper
Method
  1. The bread must be broken up very fine. Chop all the vegetables very fine too and fry in butter until tender.
  2. Fry the sausage meat slightly.
  3. Mix everything together and season to taste. Pack the turkey loosely.
Purple box, p. 171
Purple box, p. 172
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwritten

Two Chicken Casserole Sauces, on Great Northern Railway paper

Handwritten in blue ink on two sheets of Great Northern Railway letterhead (“Rocky Says… Great for Travel • Great for Freight”, with Rocky the goat; form 6075-1959). The same stationery as the typed Spaghetti Meat Sauce written “for you and John”.

1. Brandy and Cream

Ingredients
  • a cut-up chicken, sautéed and moved to a casserole
  • 1 tbsp (14 g) butter
  • 1 large onion, finely minced
  • 1 garlic clove, crushed
  • 1 tbsp flour
  • ¾ cup (180 ml) California or Spanish brandy
  • ½ cup (120 ml) canned undiluted consommé
  • ¾ tsp salt
  • ⅛ tsp cracked black pepper
  • a flick of cayenne and a pinch of rosemary
  • ½ cup (120 ml) heavy sweet or sour cream
  • chopped parsley
Method
  1. After sautéing the chicken, add the butter to the fat in the pan. When it foams, put in the onion and garlic. Cover tightly, lower the heat and cook about 7 minutes, stirring now and then, until the onion is soft and transparent.
  2. Turn up the heat, add the flour, mix well and cook until brown.
  3. Add the brandy and consommé and stir while cooking to keep it smooth. Add the salt, pepper, cayenne and rosemary.
  4. Turn off the heat and add the cream. Season with salt and pour the sauce over the chicken in its casserole.
  5. Cover and bake at 350°F (180°C) for 1 hour. Sprinkle thickly with chopped parsley just before serving.

2. Chicken with Mushrooms

Ingredients
  • a cut-up chicken, sautéed and moved to a casserole
  • 1 can mushroom soup (if condensed, take out 2 or 3 spoonfuls and dilute with ½ can consommé or bouillon made with a cube)
  • ½ tsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 2 tbsp chopped parsley
  • 1 clove garlic, crushed
  • 1 tbsp scraped onion
  • a pinch of dried thyme, marjoram or rosemary
  • salt and freshly ground pepper
  • ½ lb (225 g) large mushrooms, whole caps (save the stems)
  • butter
Method
  1. When the chicken is out of the skillet, pour the soup into the hot pan and scrape the pan as it heats.
  2. Add the Worcestershire, parsley, garlic, onion and herbs, and season to taste. Pour over the chicken, cover and bake at 350°F (180°C) for 1 hour.
  3. Meanwhile, sauté the mushroom caps lightly in butter. After 45 minutes, take out the casserole and arrange the caps over the chicken. Cover again and bake 15 minutes more.

Underlined on the card: “or” in “thyme, marjoram or rosemary”.

Purple box, p. 173
Purple box, p. 174
Purple box, p. 175
Purple box, p. 176
Early cards · 1950s–80s

Barbecued Chicken, Texas Style, with Texas Barbecue Sauce

A torn, much-handled newspaper clipping (“traditional recipes from … files”), with Grammy’s handwritten method for the sauce. Rewritten here.

Yield Serves 6

Ingredients
  • 3 broiler chickens, 1½ to 2 lb (675–900 g) each
  • 5 tsp salt
  • 1 cup (240 ml) hot water
  • Texas barbecue sauce
  • 1 tsp powdered mustard
  • ¼ cup (60 ml) water
  • ⅓ cup (80 ml) tomato catchup
  • ½ cup (120 ml) cider vinegar
  • ⅓ cup (80 ml) lemon juice
  • 1 tbsp brown sugar
  • 1 tsp salt
  • ½ tsp ground black pepper
  • ½ tsp ground red pepper
  • ½ tsp instant onion powder
  • ⅛ tsp instant minced garlic
  • 1 tsp hot seasoning sauce
  • 2 tbsp (28 g) butter
Method
  1. Wash the chickens and split them lengthwise. Place over a slow-burning charcoal fire, skin side up.
  2. Dissolve the salt in the hot water in a small saucepan and keep it warm on the grill.
  3. Cook the chicken very slowly for two hours, turning and basting with the salt water whenever it looks dry (every 5 or 10 minutes), with a pastry brush or a small paint brush.
  4. Sauce: mix the mustard and water in a small saucepan and let stand 10 minutes for the flavour to develop. Add the rest and bring to a boil.
  5. About 30 minutes before the chicken is done, start basting both sides with the sauce, keeping the fire low so it doesn’t burn.

Grammy’s notes: the sauce is good on chicken, veal and so on, and keeps in the refrigerator.

The handwritten notes end: “Store in refrig – Yeel [?].”

Purple box, p. 177
Purple box, p. 178
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwritten

Sesame Crumb Chicken

Written in magenta ink on a folded sheet; the back is blank

Ingredients
  • 3 lb (1.4 kg) chicken
  • 1 cup (225 g) butter
  • ½ tsp tarragon
  • 3 tbsp lemon juice
  • 4 cups (450 g) crumbs
  • ¼ cup (15 g) parsley
  • ½ cup (70 g) sesame seeds
  • 3 tbsp seasoned salt
Method
  1. Melt the butter with the tarragon and add the lemon juice.
  2. Mix the crumbs, parsley, sesame seeds and seasoned salt.
  3. Dip the chicken in the butter, roll it in the crumbs and refrigerate 1½ hours (the card adds “with all sauce”).
  4. Bake on a tray at 350°F (180°C) for 1½ hours, basting with the rest of the butter.

Underlined on the card: “Melt”, “add” and “Add”.

Purple box, p. 179
Purple box, p. 180
Early cards · 1950s–80s

Lemon-Butter-Broiled Chicken with Chicken Livers

A printed recipe card

Yield Serves 6

Ingredients
  • 3 broilers, split
  • about ¾ cup (170 g) butter, softened
  • salt and pepper
  • juice of 2 lemons
  • lemon quarters
  • chicken livers
Method
  1. Rub the broilers generously with butter and sprinkle with salt and pepper.
  2. Broil skin side down, 7 inches (18 cm) from the heat, with 1 tbsp lemon juice and 2 tsp butter in the hollow of each half. Broil under medium heat for 12 minutes, basting the edges with the juice in the centre.
  3. Turn and broil skin side up 10 minutes, until golden brown, basting now and then with the pan juices.
  4. Move the chickens to the broiler pan and baste again. Bake at 300°F (150°C) for 20 to 30 minutes, basting occasionally; this keeps them moist.
  5. Sauté the chicken livers in a little butter. Arrange the chickens on a platter and garnish with the livers and lemon quarters.
Purple box, p. 181
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenWell used

Chicken Fricassee

Ingredients
  • 1 chicken, cut up
  • 3 cups (710 ml) boiling water
  • 1 medium onion, stuck with 1 clove
  • 1 carrot, diced
  • salt and peppercorns
  • 2 ribs celery with leaves
Method
  1. Put everything in the pot, close it and simmer 1 to 2 hours or more. Do not boil.
  2. Let the chicken cool in the broth.

Underlined on the card: “onion”, “clove” and “carrot”.

Purple box, p. 182
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwritten

Baked Chicken Parmesan with Marsala

Pencilled on a loose sheet

Yield Serves 5

Ingredients
  • 6 chicken breasts, boned
  • ½ cup (115 g) soft butter
  • 1 tsp oregano
  • ½ cup (50 g) Parmesan cheese
  • 2 cups (475 ml) chicken stock
  • ¾ cup (180 ml) Marsala wine
  • 3 tbsp flour
Method
  1. Combine the butter and oregano and spread on the chicken. Roll it in the cheese and broil until golden.
  2. Place the chicken in a casserole.
  3. Heat the stock with the wine. Blend the flour with 3 tbsp of the wine to a smooth paste.
  4. Add the paste to the stock slowly, stirring constantly until the sauce thickens. Pour over the chicken and cover.
  5. Bake at 350°F (180°C) for 1 hour or more.

The ingredient list says “3 tblsp. butter”, but the method blends flour with the wine, so flour is meant.

“after” (in “broil until golden after rolling in cheese”) is underlined.

Purple box, p. 183
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwritten

Chicken in Mustard Sauce (after Jacques Pépin)

Noted “pg 103 Pepin”

Ingredients
  • 3 tbsp (43 g) butter
  • 8 pieces of chicken
  • 1 tsp salt
  • ½ tsp pepper
  • 1 cup (160 g) finely chopped onions
  • 2 tbsp flour
  • 2 cups (475 ml) water
  • 2 tbsp Dijon mustard
Method
  1. Heat the butter in a large skillet. Sprinkle the chicken with salt and pepper.
  2. When the fat is hot, brown the pieces 2½ to 3 minutes on each side, until nicely browned.
  3. Mix in the onion and cook 1 minute. Sprinkle the flour over, turning the pieces so all are coated. Cook 1 minute to brown the flour lightly.
  4. Add the water and stir to dissolve the flour until the mixture boils. Lower the heat, cover and boil gently 20 minutes. Remove the meat.
  5. Reduce the sauce to about 1½ cups (360 ml) and mix in the mustard. Do not boil the sauce once the mustard is in.
  6. Return the chicken to the sauce and keep on very low heat 10 to 15 minutes. Serve with the sauce.

In brackets on the back: “This macerating of chicken in the sauce develop taste in the dish.”

Underlined on the back: “not” in “(Do not boil sauce after mustard is in)”, and “low” in “very low heat”.

Purple box, p. 184
Purple box, p. 185
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwritten

Audrey Hurd’s Chicken with Cumberland Sauce

Audrey Hurd, with a star

Ingredients
  • a chicken, cut up
  • butter
  • seasoned breadcrumbs
  • celery seeds
  • Sauce
  • 1 cup (320 g) red currant jelly
  • 6 oz (175 ml) frozen orange juice concentrate
  • 4 tbsp sherry
  • 1 tsp dry mustard
  • ¼ tsp Tabasco
Method
  1. Dip the chicken in butter, then into the crumbs mixed with celery seeds. Dot with butter and bake at 350°F (180°C) for 1 hour.
  2. Heat the sauce ingredients together. Pour a little over the chicken as you serve and pass the rest in a gravy boat.
  3. Serve with wild rice and zucchini.

“Sauce” (the heading) is underlined.

Purple box, p. 186
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwritten

Chicken Hongroise

Yield Serves 4

Ingredients
  • one 3-lb (1.4 kg) chicken, in pieces
  • salt and pepper
  • 6 tbsp (85 g) butter
  • 2 tbsp sweet paprika
  • 2 medium onions, thinly sliced (2 cups / 230 g)
  • 8 mushrooms, plus mushroom caps for garnish
  • 1 cup (240 ml) heavy cream
  • noodles, to serve
Method
  1. Sprinkle the chicken with salt and pepper. Heat 4 tbsp (55 g) butter in a large skillet and arrange the chicken in it, skin side down. Cook until golden brown, 15 to 20 minutes.
  2. Turn the chicken and sprinkle with the paprika and onions. Rinse and drain the mushrooms, slice them thinly and scatter over the onions.
  3. Cover and cook about 20 minutes. Spoon off the excess fat.
  4. When the chicken is done, put it in a warm serving dish, cover with foil and keep warm.
  5. Simmer the sauce in the skillet. Add the cream and bring to a boil, stirring. Turn off the heat and swirl in 2 tbsp (28 g) butter.
  6. Pour the sauce over the chicken and garnish with mushroom caps sautéed in butter. Serve with noodles.
Purple box, p. 187
Purple box, p. 188
Early cards · 1950s–80s

Roast Duckling Piquant

A printed recipe card

Yield Serves 12

Ingredients
  • 3 ducklings, quartered
  • 3 green peppers
  • 3 carrots
  • 3 stalks celery
  • 8 sprigs parsley
  • 3 tbsp lemon juice
  • 4½ cups (1.1 litres) canned consommé
  • 18 to 20 anchovy fillets, drained
  • 6 tbsp cornstarch
  • 3 tbsp cognac (optional)
  • salt and pepper
Method
  1. Roast the ducklings at 350°F (180°C) for 1½ to 2 hours, depending on their weight and age. Turn often and prick the skin even more often, so all the fat runs out.
  2. Meanwhile, cut up the peppers, carrots and celery. Sauté about 3 minutes in a little fat poured off the ducks.
  3. Add the parsley, lemon juice, consommé and anchovies. Cover and simmer until the vegetables are tender, then strain the broth.
  4. Drain the ducklings on paper towels and keep hot.
  5. Thicken the broth with the cornstarch moistened with a little cold water and flavour with the cognac if you like. Season.
  6. Arrange the ducklings on a platter and pour the hot sauce over.

It can be made ahead: reheat the ducklings in the sauce at 350°F (180°C) for 30 minutes.

Purple box, p. 189
Early cards · 1950s–80s

One-Dish Chicken ’n Gravy (“the gravy makes itself!”)

A Carnation Evaporated Milk advertisement, torn from a magazine

Yield Serves 6 to 8

Ingredients
  • 3 to 3½ lb (1.4–1.6 kg) frying chicken pieces
  • ¼ cup (31 g) flour
  • ¼ cup (55 g) melted butter
  • ⅔ cup (160 ml) undiluted Carnation Evaporated Milk
  • one 10½-oz (300 g) can cream of mushroom soup
  • 1 cup (115 g) grated process cheese
  • ¾ tsp salt
  • ⅛ tsp pepper
  • 8 to 10 small cooked onions
  • ¼ lb (115 g) sliced mushrooms
  • a dash of paprika
Method
  1. Coat the chicken with flour. Arrange skin side down in one layer in the melted butter in a 7½ × 12 × 2-inch (19 × 30 × 5 cm) baking dish.
  2. Bake uncovered at 425°F (220°C) for 30 minutes. Turn and bake 15 to 20 minutes more, until brown and tender. Pour off the excess fat.
  3. Combine the evaporated milk, soup, cheese, salt and pepper. Add the onions and mushrooms to the chicken and pour the milk mixture over.
  4. Sprinkle with paprika, cover with foil and bake at 325°F (160°C) for 15 to 20 minutes more.

On the back is a Standard Oil travel advertisement (“Come, take the high road to history by car… As you travel, ask us”), scribbled over in green crayon.

Purple box, p. 190
Purple box, p. 191
Early cards · 1950s–80s

Betty’s Baked Chicken Casserole

Betty, typed card

Yield Serves 8

Ingredients
  • 8 boned chicken breasts
  • 2 packages frozen broccoli, thawed
  • 2 cans cream of chicken soup
  • 1 cup (225 g) Hellmann’s mayonnaise
  • 4 tbsp lemon juice
  • 4 tbsp white wine
Method
  1. Place the chicken skin side down in a casserole. Cross 2 stalks of broccoli on top of each.
  2. Mix the soup, mayonnaise, lemon juice and wine and pour over.
  3. Bake at 350°F (180°C) for 45 minutes covered, then 30 minutes uncovered.
Purple box, p. 192
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwritten

Chicken Parisienne

Ingredients
  • 4 chicken breasts
  • 1 can mushroom soup
  • ½ pint (240 g) sour cream
  • 1 can mushrooms, with their liquid
  • ¼ cup (60 ml) sherry or wine
  • paprika
Method
  1. Put the chicken skin side up in a large flat dish.
  2. Mix the soup, sour cream, mushrooms and sherry and pour over each piece. Sprinkle with paprika.
  3. Bake at 350°F (180°C) for 90 minutes.
Purple box, p. 193
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwritten

Chicken and Noodles

Ingredients
  • 1 package noodles
  • 1 can (10 oz / 285 g) cream of chicken soup
  • 2 cans boned chicken
Method
  1. Cook the noodles in salted water and drain.
  2. Combine with the soup and chicken. (The card ends there; heat through or bake until bubbling.)
Purple box, p. 194
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwritten

Chicken and Sesame Rice

Ingredients
  • ¼ cup (55 g) butter, divided
  • 2 tbsp sesame seeds
  • 1 cup (190 g) uncooked rice
  • 2 cups (475 ml) chicken broth or stock, divided
  • 1½ tsp salt, divided
  • 1 frying chicken (2½ lb / 1.1 kg), cut up
  • ⅓ cup (42 g) flour
  • 1 tsp paprika
  • ½ cup (120 ml) dry white table wine
Method
  1. Melt 1 tbsp (14 g) butter in a skillet. Add the sesame seeds and rice and cook over medium heat, stirring often, until lightly browned.
  2. Add 1½ cups (360 ml) broth and ½ tsp salt and heat to boiling. Turn into a 2-quart (1.9 litres) casserole, cover and bake in a slow oven (300°F / 150°C) while you brown the chicken.
  3. Combine the flour, the rest of the salt and the paprika, and flour the chicken. Brown slowly in the rest of the butter and place on top of the casserole.
  4. Heat the remaining broth in the skillet to loosen the brown bits and pour over all. Pour the wine over.
  5. Cover and bake 40 minutes.
Purple box, p. 195
Purple box, p. 196
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwritten

Baked Drumsticks

Noted “Gourmet”

Yield Serves 8

Ingredients
  • 1 cup (240 g) sour cream
  • 3 tbsp lemon juice
  • 1 large garlic clove, minced
  • Tabasco, salt and pepper
  • 4 lb (1.8 kg) chicken drumsticks (24)
  • 2 cups (170 g) ground saltines
  • 2 tbsp minced fresh thyme (or 2 tsp dried)
  • 2 tsp dry mustard
  • 1½ tsp or more salt
  • 1 tsp sweet paprika
  • ¼ tsp cayenne, and pepper
  • melted butter
  • parsley sprigs
Method
  1. In a large glass bowl, combine the sour cream, lemon juice, garlic, Tabasco, salt and pepper.
  2. Add the drumsticks and toss to coat. Marinate, covered, at room temperature at least 1 hour, or chilled overnight.
  3. In a shallow bowl, combine the saltines, thyme, mustard, salt, paprika, cayenne and pepper.
  4. Roll the drumsticks in the crumbs, shake off the excess and arrange them 1 inch (2.5 cm) apart on a buttered baking sheet. Drizzle lightly with melted butter.
  5. Bake at 375°F (190°C) for 35 minutes, until golden brown and tender.
  6. Arrange in a basket and garnish with parsley sprigs. Serve hot or at room temperature.

The “8” beside “Gourmet” at the top is circled.

Purple box, p. 197
Purple box, p. 198
Later cards, 1990s–2000s
Later cards · 1990s–2000sHandwritten

Chicken Tenders

Title in red ink

Ingredients
  • 1 package chicken tender strips (2 to 3 per person)
  • lite soy sauce, garlic powder and lemon juice
  • Pam cooking spray
  • parsley
Method
  1. Marinate the chicken in the soy sauce, garlic powder and lemon juice for 10 minutes.
  2. Brown in a frying pan sprayed with Pam, on each side, then leave [?] 10 to 15 minutes to cook (the card says “Lv.”).
  3. If made ahead and refrigerated, set out at room temperature 1 hour before serving, or “zap til warm”. Garnish with parsley.
Rose box, p. 100
Later cards · 1990s–2000sHandwrittenSpecial praise

Delia’s Chicken Paprika

Noted “Delia” (Delia Smith; the metric measures are hers, with cups added by Grammy), “see p 199 in II for variations” and “see Cook’s soup & stew”

Yield Serves 4

Ingredients
  • 1 chicken (3 lb / 1.4 kg), cut into quarters
  • oil, for cooking (1 tbsp)
  • 2 medium-large onions, chopped or sliced, with 2 garlic cloves, chopped
  • 1½ tsp flour
  • 2 good pinches cayenne pepper
  • Hungarian paprika, 1 heaping tbsp
  • one 14-oz (395 g) tin Italian tomatoes (chopped tomatoes)
  • 150 ml chicken stock (¾ cup)
  • 1 medium green pepper, seeded and cut into strips (a red one works too)
  • 150 ml sour cream (¾ cup)
  • salt and pepper
Method
  1. Heat the oven to 325°F (160°C).
  2. Gently fry the chicken in the oil in a pot or skillet to a golden colour. Transfer with a slotted spoon to a casserole and season with salt and pepper.
  3. In the same oil, soften the onions (and garlic) for 10 minutes. Stir in the flour, cayenne and paprika with a wooden spoon. Add the tomatoes and stir a bit, then add the stock.
  4. Bring everything to a simmer and pour over the chicken in the casserole. Cover and bake 45 minutes.
  5. Stir in the pepper strips and cook 30 minutes more.
  6. Just before serving, spoon the sour cream all over and stir it in for a marbled effect. Sprinkle on a little more paprika.
  7. Serve with well-buttered noodles and a crisp green salad (or brown rice).

Marked “Delicious”, underlined, with “cooks 1 hr + 15 min!!” across the top. Also underlined: “cayenne pepper” (written in above the paprika), “1 heaping Tb.” (of paprika), and on the back “45 min” and “30 min more”.

Rose box, p. 101
Rose box, p. 102
Later cards · 1990s–2000sHandwrittenSpecial praise

Chicken Piccata

Noted “Cooks” (Cook’s Illustrated)

Ingredients
  • 2 large lemons
  • 1½ lb (675 g) boneless chicken breasts (preferably Bell & Evans), rinsed, dried thoroughly and trimmed of excess fat, each piece sliced flat horizontally into 2 pieces, ⅜ to ½ inch (1 cm) thick
  • salt and black pepper
  • ½ cup (70 g) flour
  • 4 tbsp vegetable oil
  • 1 shallot, minced (2 tbsp), or garlic (1 tsp)
  • 1 cup (240 ml) chicken stock
  • 3 tbsp (43 g) butter, softened
  • 2 tbsp small capers, drained
  • 2 tbsp minced fresh parsley
Method
  1. Set an oven rack in the lower-middle position, put a large plate on it and heat the oven to 200°F (95°C).
  2. Halve 1 lemon pole to pole. Trim the ends of one half and cut it into slices ⅛ to ¼ inch (3–5 mm) thick; set aside. Juice the rest to make ¼ cup (60 ml).
  3. Sprinkle both sides of the chicken generously with salt and pepper. Put the flour in a pie plate, coat each piece and shake off the excess.
  4. Heat a sauté pan over medium-high heat for 2 minutes. Add 2 tbsp oil and coat the pan.
  5. Lay half the chicken in the pan and sauté without moving it until lightly browned, 2 to 2½ minutes. Turn and do the second side, 2 to 2½ minutes. Move to the plate in the oven. Add 2 tbsp oil to the skillet and repeat.
  6. Add the shallot or garlic to the empty skillet over medium heat and sauté 30 seconds.
  7. Add the stock and lemon slices, raise the heat to high and scrape the bottom of the skillet to loosen the brown bits. Simmer until the liquid reduces to ⅓ cup (80 ml), about 4 minutes.
  8. Add the lemon juice and capers and reduce to ⅓ cup (80 ml) again (about 1 minute).
  9. Take the pan off the heat and swirl in the butter until melted and the sauce thickens. Swirl in the parsley. Spoon over the chicken on the plate and serve.

Marked “Delicious”, underlined. Underlined in the method: “generously” (salt and pepper), “med-hot”, “w/o moving them”, “med.” (heat), “high” and “Simmer”.

Rose box, p. 103
Rose box, p. 104
Later cards · 1990s–2000sHandwritten

Chicken and Tofu Stir-Fry

Marked “(Maria love)”: a favourite of Maria’s

Yield Serves 4

Ingredients
  • 5 chicken thighs, deboned, defatted and cut in pieces
  • 1 lb (450 g) extra-firm tofu, pressed
  • cashews
  • snow peas and sliced mushrooms, or bok choy
  • garlic oil: 3 cloves elephant garlic in 1 cup (240 ml) virgin olive oil
  • hoisin
  • white wine
  • Sauce
  • ¼ cup (60 ml) each soy sauce, hoisin and white wine (equal parts)
  • 1½ cloves elephant garlic, smashed
  • 1½ tsp red pepper flakes
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 tsp sugar
Method
  1. Sauté the tofu and chicken together in the garlic oil until cooked.
  2. Add the vegetables and cook until done, over medium heat.
  3. Mix the sauce and add it. (A margin note: chill and cover until ready.)

Underlined on the card: “thighs” (in blue, like the “Chicken” added to the title, which is also underlined) and “Sauce:”; the “lb” of the tofu is underlined twice.

Rose box, p. 105
Later cards · 1990s–2000sHandwritten

Roast Turkey (Gourmet, November 2000)

Noted “11/00 (Gourmet)”

Ingredients
  • one 12- to 14-lb (5.4–6.4 kg) kosher turkey (remove any feathers if necessary)
  • stuffing
  • salt and pepper
  • ¾ stick (85 g) butter, melted
  • ½ cup (120 ml) chicken broth with ½ cup (120 ml) water, for the stuffing
  • 2 tbsp (28 g) butter, to dot the stuffing
Method
  1. Heat the oven to 425°F (220°C).
  2. Rinse the turkey inside and out and pat dry. Season with salt and pepper inside and out.
  3. Loosely fill the neck cavity with stuffing, fold the skin under and fasten with small skewers. Loosely fill the body with stuffing. Tie the legs together with string and secure the wings to the body with small skewers.
  4. Put the turkey on a rack in a roasting pan in the middle of the oven for 30 minutes.
  5. Reduce the oven to 325°F (160°C). Pour the butter over the turkey and roast 3 to 3½ hours more, basting every 20 minutes, until the stuffing reaches 165°F (74°C) and the leg 170° to 180°F (77–82°C). (Unstuffed, the leg should be 170°F / 77°C.)
  6. Move the turkey to a heated platter and remove the skewers and string. Move the stuffing to a serving dish and keep warm.
  7. Let the turkey stand at least 30 minutes, up to 45.
  8. Increase the oven to 375° to 400°F (190–200°C). Drizzle the stuffing with the broth and water and dot with the butter.
  9. Bake 40 minutes: covered for moist stuffing, or uncovered for the last 10 minutes for a slightly crispy top.

The last line: “(make gravy now)”. Underlined on the card: “Kosher”, “30 min” (first in the oven), “325°”, and on the back “30 min” (standing time), “40 min” and “last 10 min”.

Rose box, p. 106
Rose box, p. 107
Later cards · 1990s–2000sHandwritten

B. Kafka’s Turkey (15 lb)

Barbara Kafka’s high-heat roasting method

Ingredients
  • a 15-lb (6.8 kg) turkey, stuffed or not
  • pepper
Method
  1. Put a rack on the second-lowest level and heat the oven to 500°F (260°C).
  2. Rinse the turkey, pat it dry and sprinkle the outside with pepper. Stuff it if you like.
  3. Put it in an 18 × 13 × 2-inch (46 × 33 × 5 cm) pan, breast side up, and slide it in legs first.
  4. Roast until the leg joint near the backbone wiggles easily, about 2 hours (see below). After 20 minutes, move the bird around with a wooden spoon to keep it from sticking.
  5. Move to a large platter and let it sit 20 minutes before carving.

Timings: 15 lb (6.8 kg) stuffed, 2 hours 30 minutes, unstuffed 2 hours; 20 lb (9.1 kg) stuffed, 3 hours 30 minutes, unstuffed 3 hours.

Rose box, p. 108
Later cards · 1990s–2000s

Grey Poupon Best-Ever BBQ Chicken

A Grey Poupon recipe card with a colour photograph of grilled chicken and corn. Grammy wrote “Leg-thighs” under the chicken breasts and “Cover” in the corner. Rewritten here.

Yield Serves 4

Ingredients
  • ½ cup (125 g) Grey Poupon mustard (the card says “yellow mustard”)
  • ⅓ cup (70 g) firmly packed brown sugar
  • 3 tbsp vegetable oil
  • 2 tbsp cider vinegar
  • 1 lb (450 g) boneless, skinless chicken breasts (Grammy: leg-thighs)
  • salt and pepper
Method
  1. Stir the mustard, brown sugar, oil and vinegar together and divide in half.
  2. Heat the grill. Season the chicken with salt and pepper.
  3. Grill over moderately high heat, basting often with one half of the glaze, until just cooked through, turning once (the minutes are lost from the card).
  4. Serve with the other half of the glaze on the side.
Rose box, p. 109
Later cards · 1990s–2000sHandwritten

Chicken with Honey-Mustard

Yield Serves 4

Ingredients
  • ⅓ cup (85 g) Dijon mustard
  • ⅓ cup (110 g) honey
  • 2 tbsp chopped dill (1 tbsp dried)
  • 1 tsp grated orange peel (zest)
  • 2 tbsp orange marmalade (optional)
  • a chicken (2½ lb / 1.1 kg), quartered, or pieces
Method
  1. Make the sauce ahead and refrigerate.
  2. Brush the chicken with the sauce and coat well, especially under the skin.
  3. Bake on a lined baking pan at 400°F (200°C) for about 30 minutes.

“(opt)” (the marmalade) is underlined twice.

Rose box, p. 110
Later cards · 1990s–2000sSpecial praise

Chicken à l’Orange

A Gourmet clipping, a reader’s recipe from Larry L. Leichtman of Phoenix, Arizona. Rewritten here.

Yield Serves 4; 25 minutes active, 1 hour in all

Ingredients
  • 12 skinless boneless chicken thighs (2½ lb / 1.1 kg), trimmed
  • salt and pepper
  • 3 tbsp (43 g) unsalted butter
  • ¼ lb (115 g) shallots (4 medium), thinly sliced
  • 2 tsp chopped fresh rosemary
  • 1½ cups (360 ml) fresh orange juice
  • ¾ cup (180 ml) heavy cream
  • chopped fresh parsley, to garnish
Method
  1. Heat the oven to 200°F (95°C), to keep the chicken warm later.
  2. Pat the chicken dry and season well on both sides.
  3. In a 12-inch (30 cm) skillet over moderately high heat, heat 1½ tbsp (21 g) butter until the foam subsides. Brown half the chicken, about 3 minutes a side, and lift it onto a plate. Brown the rest in the remaining butter.
  4. Return all the chicken to the skillet with the shallots, rosemary and orange juice. Cover and simmer until cooked through, 20 to 25 minutes. Move the chicken to an ovenproof platter and keep it warm in the oven.
  5. Boil the cooking liquid uncovered until reduced by half (about ¾ cup / 180 ml), about 3 minutes. Add the cream and boil, stirring, until slightly thickened, about 6 minutes.
  6. Pour the sauce over the chicken, sprinkle with parsley and serve at once.

Marked “Delicious”, underlined twice. “rice or pasta” is underlined.

The reader suggests serving it with rice or pasta and a simple tossed salad, and likes an Oregon Pinot Noir with it.

Rose box, p. 111
Later cards · 1990s–2000sHandwritten

Old-Fashioned Roast Turkey under Cheesecloth

An old, stained card, marked “OLD” in a later pen, with a timetable on the back

Ingredients
  • a turkey, stuffed
  • fat, for greasing and moistening the cheesecloth
Method
  1. Put the turkey breast side up. Grease the surface well and lay over it a fat-moistened cheesecloth large enough to drape down over the sides of the bird.
  2. Roast at 200°F (95°C) all night; or at 325°F (160°C). Do not add water. Baste once or twice with the fat drippings.
  3. Remove the cheesecloth for the last ½ hour to brown.
  4. Let it sit 30 to 45 minutes before carving.

Roasting times (presumably at 325°F / 160°C): 8 to 12 lb (3.6–5.4 kg), 4 to 4½ hours; 12 to 16 lb (5.4–7.3 kg), 4½ to 5½ hours; 16 to 20 lb (7.3–9.1 kg), 5½ to 7 hours; 20 to 24 lb (9.1–10.9 kg), 7 to 8½ hours.

Done temperatures noted later: 165° to 170°F (74–77°C) in the thigh (180° crossed out) and 170°F (77°C) in the breast; goose, 160°F (71°C). “Put dressing in bottom for last 2 hrs.”

“OLD” is circled, and “Stuff turkey” is underlined.

Rose box, p. 112
Rose box, p. 113
Later cards · 1990s–2000sHandwrittenSpecial praise

Sautéed Chicken with Tomatoes, Capers and Basil

Noted “(Joy)”: The Joy of Cooking

Ingredients
  • 4 chicken breast halves (1½ lb / 675 g)
  • salt and ground pepper
  • flour
  • 1½ tbsp (21 g) butter
  • 1½ tbsp olive oil
  • ⅓ cup (55 g) minced shallots
  • ¼ cup (60 ml) white wine or vermouth
  • 1 lb (450 g) tomatoes, seeded and chopped (2 cups)
  • 2 tbsp capers
  • 1 tbsp minced garlic
  • 2 tbsp shredded basil
Method
  1. Rinse and pat dry the chicken. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and coat with flour.
  2. Heat the butter until nut-brown, then add the oil. Arrange the chicken in the skillet and sauté 4 minutes, as hot as possible but not burning.
  3. Turn and cook until the flesh is firm to the touch and milky juice appears, 3 to 5 minutes more. Serve immediately.
  4. In 2 tbsp of the chicken fat, cook the shallots until soft (1 minute). Add the wine or vermouth, raise the heat and boil, stirring with a wooden spoon, until almost evaporated.
  5. Add the tomatoes, capers and garlic. Cook, stirring constantly, until thick (2 minutes).
  6. Off the heat, add the basil, salt and pepper. Spoon over the chicken.

“Delicious” is written in red over the title. “4 min” (the first side) is underlined.

Rose box, p. 114
Typed on her computer, 2005–16
Typed on her computer · 2005–16

Moroccan Chicken with Olives and Lemons

From Cook’s Illustrated, July 2007. Serves 4. Serve with couscous.

Grammy saved two options: (a) boneless, skinless breasts, or (b) a whole chicken in pieces. For (b), bone-in parts also work: use four thighs and two breasts split in half. Keep the dark meat, which flavours the broth.

Remove wide strips of zest with a vegetable peeler before juicing the lemon, trimming off any white pith (it is bitter). Rinse the olives if they are particularly salty.

Ingredients
  • 1¼ tsp sweet paprika
  • ½ tsp ground cumin
  • ¼ tsp cayenne pepper
  • ½ tsp ground ginger
  • ¼ tsp ground coriander
  • ¼ tsp ground cinnamon
  • 3 strips lemon zest (each about 2 × ¾ inch / 5 × 2 cm)
  • 3 tbsp fresh lemon juice (1–2 lemons)
  • 5 medium garlic cloves, minced (about 5 tsp)
  • (a) 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (8 oz / 225 g each), trimmed, or (b) 1 whole chicken (3½–4 lb / 1.6–1.8 kg), cut into 8 pieces (4 breast pieces, 2 thighs, 2 drumsticks; wings kept for another use) and trimmed
  • Table salt and ground black pepper
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 2 large onions, halved and cut into ¼-inch (5 mm) slices (about 3 cups / 350 g)
  • 1¾ cups (420 ml) low-sodium chicken broth
  • 1 tbsp honey
  • 6 medium carrots, peeled and cut into ½-inch (1 cm) coins, very large ones into half-moons (about 2 cups / 250 g)
  • 1 cup (135 g) Greek cracked green olives, pitted and halved
  • 2 tbsp chopped fresh cilantro
Method
  1. Combine the spices in a small bowl. Mince 1 strip of zest with 1 tsp of the garlic until reduced to a fine paste; set aside.
  2. Season the chicken liberally on both sides with salt and pepper. Heat the oil in a large, heavy Dutch oven over medium-high heat until beginning to smoke. - (a) Breasts: brown until lightly golden, about 2 minutes per side. Transfer to a large plate. - (b) Pieces: brown skin side down in a single layer until deep golden, about 5 minutes; turn and brown the second side, about 4 minutes. Transfer to a plate, and when cool enough, peel off and discard the skin. Pour off all but 1 tbsp fat.
  3. Add the onion and the 2 remaining zest strips and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions are browned at the edges but still hold their shape, 5–7 minutes (add 1 tbsp water if the pan gets too dark). Add the remaining 4 tsp garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add the spices and stir constantly until darkened and very fragrant, 45 seconds to 1 minute. Stir in the broth and honey, scraping up the browned bits.
  4. Add the carrots and arrange the chicken on top. Cover, reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer until the thickest part of the breast reads 160°F (71°C), 10–15 minutes, flipping the chicken halfway.
  5. Transfer the chicken to a plate and tent with foil. Add the olives, raise the heat to medium-high and simmer until the liquid has thickened slightly and the carrots are tender, 4–6 minutes.
  6. Return the chicken to the pot with the garlic-zest paste, cilantro and lemon juice. Stir, season with salt and pepper, and serve immediately.
Typed on her computer · 2005–16

Chicken Bouillabaisse

From Cook’s Illustrated. Serves 4–6.

A Provençal chicken version of the fish stew, with saffron, tomatoes, wine, fennel, leeks and garlic. The chicken skin stays above the broth so it crisps rather than going soggy, and a sharp rouille is stirred in for richness.

Bouillabaisse
  • 3 lb (1.4 kg) bone-in, skin-on chicken parts (breasts, thighs and drumsticks, or a mix; breasts cut in half), trimmed
  • Table salt and ground black pepper
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 large leek (white and light green parts), halved lengthwise, rinsed and sliced thin (about 1 cup / 90 g)
  • 1 small fennel bulb, halved, cored and sliced thin (about 2 cups / 180 g)
  • ¼ tsp saffron threads
  • ¼ tsp cayenne pepper
  • 1 tbsp all-purpose flour
  • 4 medium garlic cloves, minced (about 4 tsp)
  • 1 tbsp tomato paste
  • 1 cup (180 g) canned diced tomatoes, drained
  • ½ cup (120 ml) dry white wine
  • 3 cups (710 ml) low-sodium chicken broth
  • 1 strip orange zest, about 3 inches (8 cm) long, white pith removed
  • ¼ cup (60 ml) anise liqueur, such as Pernod or Ricard
  • ¾ lb (340 g) Yukon Gold potatoes (1 large or 2 small), in rough ¾-inch (2 cm) dice
  • 1 tbsp chopped fresh parsley or tarragon
Rouille and croutons
  • 3 tbsp water
  • ¼ tsp saffron threads
  • 1 baguette
  • 4 tsp lemon juice
  • 2 tsp Dijon mustard
  • 1 large egg yolk
  • ¼ tsp cayenne pepper
  • 2 small garlic cloves, minced (about 1½ tsp)
  • ½ cup (120 ml) vegetable oil
  • ½ cup (120 ml) plus 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  • Table salt and ground black pepper
Method
  1. Put racks in the middle and lower positions and heat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Pat the chicken dry and season. Heat the olive oil in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat until just smoking. Brown the chicken skin side down without moving, 5–8 minutes, then flip and brown the other side, about 3 minutes. Transfer to a plate.
  2. Add the leek and fennel and cook, stirring often, until they begin to soften, about 4 minutes. Add the saffron, cayenne, flour, garlic and tomato paste and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add the tomatoes, wine, broth, orange zest, liqueur and potatoes and bring to a simmer. Reduce to medium-low and simmer 10 minutes.
  3. Nestle the thighs and drumsticks into the liquid with the skin above the surface and cook uncovered 5 minutes. Nestle in the breast pieces the same way. Bake uncovered on the middle rack until the breasts read 145°F (63°C) and the thighs and drumsticks 160°F (71°C), 10–20 minutes.
  4. Rouille: while the chicken cooks, microwave the water and saffron until steaming, about 20 seconds, and let sit 5 minutes. Cut a 3-inch (8 cm) piece off the baguette, remove the crust and tear into 1-inch (2.5 cm) chunks (about 1 cup / 40 g). Soak the bread in the saffron water with the lemon juice for 5 minutes. Process the bread and its liquid, mustard, egg yolk, cayenne and garlic until smooth, about 15 seconds. With the machine running, slowly drizzle in the vegetable oil until it looks like mayonnaise. Transfer to a bowl, whisk in ½ cup (120 ml) olive oil in a steady stream and season.
  5. Croutons: cut the rest of the baguette into ¾-inch (2 cm) slices, lay on a rimmed baking sheet, drizzle with the remaining 2 tbsp olive oil and season. Bake on the bottom rack until light golden, 10–15 minutes (they can toast while the bouillabaisse is in the oven).
  6. Take out the bouillabaisse and croutons and heat the broiler. Return the bouillabaisse and broil until the skin is crisp and the breasts read 160°F (71°C) and the thighs and drumsticks 175°F (79°C), 5–10 minutes, removing pieces as they reach temperature.
  7. Transfer the chicken to a plate. Skim the fat from the broth, stir in the herbs and season. Ladle the broth and potatoes into a large shallow bowl or plates and top with the chicken. Float 2 croutons in each bowl and top with rouille.

If the rouille breaks while you drizzle in the oil: scrape it into a bowl, put 1 tsp water in the food processor and slowly drizzle the broken rouille back in.

Typed on her computer · 2005–16

Jody Adams’s Balsamic-Marinated Chicken Stuffed with Green Olives

Also known as Roxanne’s Roast Chicken. Chef Jody Adams of Rialto in Boston, from the same Wall Street Journal umami article (December 2007). Serves 4; marinate 8 hours to overnight.

Adams served a duck version at Rialto for about 20 years. Soy, balsamic, olives and poultry are all rich in umami, and the long marinade and slow roast magnify them.

Ingredients
  • ½ cup (120 ml) balsamic vinegar
  • ¼ cup (60 ml) soy sauce
  • ¼ cup (65 g) Dijon mustard
  • 1½ tsp mustard seeds
  • 1½ tsp dried rosemary
  • 1½ tsp freshly ground black pepper
  • ½ small white onion, cut into ¼-inch (5 mm) dice
  • 1 roasting chicken (4 lb / 1.8 kg)
  • 12 large pitted Sicilian green olives
Method
  1. Mix the vinegar, soy sauce, mustard, mustard seeds, rosemary, pepper and onion in a bowl large enough to hold the chicken.
  2. Remove the giblet package from the chicken. Rinse it inside and out over the sink, taking care not to splash, and dry thoroughly. Roll it in the marinade so plenty runs into the cavity. Cover and refrigerate 8 hours to overnight (or marinate in a large zip-lock bag).
  3. Bring the chicken to room temperature. Heat the oven to 375°F (190°C).
  4. Lift the chicken from the marinade, leaving on whatever clings, and keep the marinade. Put the olives in the cavity.
  5. Set the chicken breast side down on a non-stick or oiled rack in a roasting pan. Add ½ inch (1 cm) water to the pan so the juices don’t burn. Roast 50 minutes.
  6. Flip the bird, taking care not to lose the olives. Pour the reserved marinade over, tuck the wingtips underneath and roast about 40 minutes more. Tent the breast with foil if the skin browns too fast. It’s done when the leg bones have a little play when wiggled and the thickest part of the thigh reads 170°F (77°C).
  7. Rest 10 minutes before carving.
Jody Adams’s roast chicken with green olives, from the same article. The Wall Street Journal, 8 December 2007
Typed on her computer · 2005–16

Kir’s Chicken Karhai with Mint

Filed as Kir’s: a page from the tao belly blog (posted 29 June 2012, printed 14 May 2014), whose recipe comes from At Home with Madhur Jaffrey.

A karhai is the Indian wok: the chicken marinates in the spices, then is stir-fried quickly.

Marinade
  • 550 g (1 lb 3 oz) chicken thighs, cut into 2-cm (¾ in) pieces
  • 1 tsp salt
  • Freshly ground black pepper
  • ½ tsp ground cumin
  • 1 tsp ground coriander
  • ½ tsp cayenne pepper (only if you like it spicy)
  • 1½ tbsp lemon juice
  • 1 tsp garam masala
  • 1 tsp finely grated fresh ginger
  • 1 tbsp olive or canola oil
For cooking
  • 3 tbsp olive or canola oil
  • ½ [?] cup (80 g) chopped onions (the file says “2/4 cup”)
  • 3 tbsp chopped fresh mint
Method
  1. Mix all the marinade ingredients in a glass bowl. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes, or up to overnight.
  2. Heat the oil in a wok or large frying pan over medium-high heat and stir-fry the onions for a few minutes.
  3. Add the chicken and all its marinade and stir-fry for about 3 minutes more, until the chicken is just cooked through.
  4. Add the mint and stir-fry for a few seconds only. Serve with rice and vegetables.
Typed on her computer · 2005–16

Kir’s Chicken Curry (Sarasota)

Kir’s recipe, with no quantities: “Decide quantities yourself — you can’t go wrong!”

Ingredients
  • Onions, chopped
  • Garlic, crushed
  • (Fresh ginger, grated)
  • Curry powder
  • Red peppers, sliced
  • Chopped tomatoes from can
  • Coconut milk (maybe not all the watery contents)
  • Chicken thighs, skinless boneless, cut into pieces
  • Heavy cream (lots)
  • Salt (lots)
Method
  1. In large pot, fry onions in oil until softened and lightly colored. Add garlic, ginger, and curry powder and stir for one minute until all is fragrant. Avoid browning garlic. Add chopped tomatoes (to stop cooking) and set aside.
  2. Fry red peppers in oil until softened and add to large pot.
  3. Add all remaining ingredients to large pot. Simmer very gently for 30–60 minutes until chicken is cooked and tender.
  4. Serve with chopped fresh cilantro dumped on top, accompanied by rice.
Typed on her computer · 2005–16

Dave’s Grilled Chicken Tenders

Probably Dave’s, in his own words: it is one of the “Camp Grammy recipes” and reads just like his Italian Beef Sandwiches.

Ingredients
  • Chicken tenders (Karin & I usually buy 3–4 packages for our gatherings; Camp Grammy probably double)
  • Olive oil
  • Teriyaki sauce
  • Salt
  • Pepper
Method
  1. Lightly salt & pepper the chicken before arranging in rows/layers in a glass Pyrex dish. Between each layer drizzle olive oil & a light amount of teriyaki on the chicken. 2–3 layers per dish; cover with Saran Wrap & marinate for 1–2 hours or more.
  2. I usually microwave them on 30% 3–4 times for 3–4 minutes each time, turning the chicken between each time and checking the cooking. I look for them to start turning white, not fully cooked but maybe 30% white or so. I think this gets the cooking started before grilling & they don’t dry out.
  3. I finish them on the grill; it doesn’t take long as they have already started cooking. Chicken is juicy & has a great light flavor. Everyone loves it.

I forgot to spray the grill with Pam cooking oil last time & they stuck a little. I have read that you shouldn’t ‘ever’ spray your grill with oil; I disagree. I probably messed up seasoning our grill. Not sure.

We usually have some grilled French bread & some light sides with this. Always popular.

Typed on her computer · 2005–16

Green Goddess Roasted Chicken

From Melissa Clark in the New York Times and the Rachael Ray show, with Grammy’s notes. Serves 4.

Marinade
  • 1½ cups (360 ml) buttermilk or plain yogurt
  • 2 anchovy fillets (or paste)
  • 1 cup (25 g) packed parsley leaves
  • ½ cup (13 g) tarragon leaves (“or 1 cup basil leaves instead of parsley and tarragon”)
  • ¼ cup (15 g) packed chives, coarsely chopped
  • 2 garlic cloves, peeled
  • 1 scallion, white and green parts, coarsely chopped
  • Zest and juice of 1 lime
  • 2 tsp coarse kosher salt
  • 1 tsp black pepper
Chicken
  • 4–5 lb (1.8–2.3 kg) chicken, halved (“or leg/thigh quarters”), patted dry with paper towels
  • 1–2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil, for drizzling
Method
  1. Purée the buttermilk, anchovy, parsley, tarragon, chives, garlic, scallion, lime zest and juice, salt and pepper in a blender until smooth.
  2. Put the chicken in a large heavy-duty plastic bag with three-quarters of the marinade, keeping the rest for a sauce. Refrigerate for at least 6 hours or overnight, but no more than 24 hours.
  3. Heat the oven to 500°F (260°C). Lift the chicken out, shaking off as much marinade as possible, and lay it (“on rack?”) on a rimmed baking sheet. Pat the tops dry and drizzle generously with oil.
  4. Roast until deeply browned and cooked through, 30–45 minutes (“Thighs: 165°F. Breast: 160°F.”).
  5. Rest for 10 minutes before serving with the reserved marinade as a sauce. (Grammy added: “Serve with Roast Tomatoes and Green Beans (see over)”; both are given below.)

Roast Tomatoes: Toss 3 lb (1.4 kg) halved Roma tomatoes, or 3 pints (900 g) fat whole cherry tomatoes, with olive oil, 4 large crushed garlic cloves, several tarragon stems, and salt and pepper. Roast at 350°F (180°C) for 1 hour, let stand at room temperature, then move to a serving dish.

Roast Green Beans: Toss 1½ lb (675 g) green beans and 6 shallots, quartered into wedges, with olive oil, salt and pepper, and roast at 500°F (260°C) for 30 minutes while the chicken roasts. Transfer to a platter and top with crumbled blue cheese or smoked blue cheese.

Two earlier copies leave out the anchovy and the side dishes, and use 1 cup (25 g) packed basil leaves with the chives (or chervil and tarragon) in place of the parsley and tarragon.

Typed on her computer · 2005–16

Chicken Velveting

No source is named. A technique rather than a finished dish.

Ingredients
  • 450 g (1 lb) skinless chicken breasts, cut into strips 3 in × ½ in (8 cm × 1 cm) thick
  • 1 egg white
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 2 tsp cornstarch
Method
  1. Mix the chicken with the egg white, salt and cornstarch and leave it in the fridge for 20–30 minutes.
  2. The chicken is then ready to cook however you like: fried in oil, boiled in water or baked in the oven.
Typed on her computer · 2005–16

Chicken Korma

No source is named. The file doesn’t say which sauce or how much; the three steps are probably the directions for a ready-made korma sauce.

Ingredients
  • 2 chicken thighs, sliced
  • A little oil
  • Korma sauce
  • Rice, to serve
Method
  1. Stir-fry the chicken in the oil for 3 minutes.
  2. Add the sauce and simmer until the chicken is cooked through.
  3. Serve with rice.
Scanned into her computer · 2005–16

Chicken Thighs Baked with Lemon, Sage, Rosemary & Thyme

From Fine Cooking #46, August/September 2001, a recipe by Bill Devin, kept as a scan of the magazine card. Serves 6.

Start at least 2 hours ahead, or the day before: the thighs marinate in a garlic paste.

Ingredients
  • 2 large cloves garlic
  • Kosher salt or sea salt
  • 3–4 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
  • 12 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs, trimmed of excess fat, rinsed and patted dry
  • 2 large lemons, each cut into six ¼-inch (5 mm) rounds
  • 12 pieces fresh rosemary sprigs, each 2 inches (5 cm) long
  • 12 pieces fresh thyme sprigs, each 2 inches (5 cm) long
  • 12 fresh sage leaves
  • Freshly ground black pepper
Method
  1. Pound the garlic with a large pinch of salt in a mortar to a coarse paste (or mash it in a small bowl with the back of a spoon, or mince it very finely with the salt on a board). Work in the oil a few drops at a time, pounding and grinding, until the paste is thick, creamy and emulsified.
  2. Put the chicken in a bowl and rub the paste all over it, including under the skin. Cover and chill for at least 2 hours or overnight.
  3. Heat the oven to 425°F (220°C) with a rack in the middle. Lay the lemon slices in a single layer in a large, shallow roasting pan or baking dish (a 9 × 13-inch / 23 × 33 cm one is good) and top each with a piece of rosemary, a piece of thyme and a sage leaf. Set the thighs on top, skin side up, and season generously with salt and pepper.
  4. Bake for 45 minutes to 1 hour, until the skin is golden and the juices run clear when you pierce the chicken.
  5. If the pan is full of juices, make a quick sauce. Move the chicken, still on its lemon slices and herbs, to a plate and cover loosely with foil. Tilt the pan so the juices pool in one corner and spoon off the fat. Set the pan over medium heat (or pour the juices into a small skillet if the pan isn’t flameproof), scrape up the browned bits and boil until the juices thicken to a saucy consistency. Drizzle the sauce around the chicken, not over it, so the skin stays crisp.
The Fine Cooking recipe card she kept as a scan, with a green tab stuck over part of the introduction. Fine Cooking #46, August/September 2001 (photo: Scott Phillips)
Typed on her computer · 2005–16

Oven-Roasted Chicken Thighs

From Cook’s Illustrated, published November 1, 2011. Serves 4.

Trim off all visible fat, use a heavy-duty rimmed baking sheet, and heat the oven and the sheet fully before the chicken goes in. Cook’s Illustrated suggests sauces to go with the thighs, but those weren’t saved; the thighs can be served plain.

Ingredients
  • 8 bone-in chicken thighs (6–8 oz / 170–225 g each), trimmed
  • 1¼ tsp salt
  • Pepper
  • Vegetable oil spray
Method
  1. Set oven racks in the middle and lowest positions, put a rimmed baking sheet on the lower rack and heat the oven to 450°F (230°C).
  2. Prick the skin of each thigh 10–12 times with a metal skewer. Season both sides with the salt and pepper and spray the skin lightly with oil. Lay the thighs skin side down on the hot baking sheet and return it to the bottom rack.
  3. Roast until the skin is starting to brown and the meat reaches 160°F (71°C), 20–25 minutes, rotating the pan after 10 minutes. Take the chicken out and heat the broiler.
  4. Turn the thighs skin side up. Broil on the middle rack until the skin is crisp and well browned and the meat reaches 175°F (79°C), about 5 minutes, rotating the pan as needed so it browns evenly. Let rest on a platter for 5 minutes before serving.

Fish & Seafood

Shrimp in every form, from Liz’s make-ahead casserole and Richard’s cocktail to Mark Bittman’s grilled shrimp, then the later cards’ salmon and swordfish, a set of Simply Seafood photo cards and, from her typed files, Pam’s crab cakes.

36 handwritten25 early cards20 later cards10 typed on her computer

All 55 in this chapter
  1. Richard’s Shrimp Cocktail
  2. Mussels in Cream Sauce
  3. Fillet and Shrimp Roll-Ups
  4. Scallop Quiche and Sautéed Scallops Provençale
  5. Rita’s Shrimp and Green Peas
  6. Audrey Hurd’s Swordfish
  7. Rita’s Shrimp and Rice au Gratin
  8. Mark Bittman’s Spicy Grilled Shrimp
  9. Tuna-Chip Casserole
  10. Home-Cured “Smoked” Salmon
  11. Salmon with Caviar Sauce
  12. Richard’s Tuna on the Grill
  13. Richard’s Swordfish
  14. Grilled Scallops
  15. Delicious Fish Kabobs
  16. Lauri’s Shrimp Skewers
  17. Baltimore Crab Cakes
  18. Jinny’s Seafood Casserole
  19. Liz’s Shrimp Casserole
  20. Seviche
  21. Curried Shrimp
  22. Fried Shrimp
  23. Shrimp de Jonghe
  24. Scalloped Oysters
  25. Liz’s Shrimp Mold
  26. Seared Salmon with Balsamic Glaze
  27. How to Broil Seafood (Simply Seafood)
  28. Rita’s Fish (Flounder and Cod)
  29. Rok’s Saffron Dry Rub for Sea Bass, with Greek Salad
  30. Baked Salmon with Coconut-Tomato Sauce
  31. Salmon with Soy-Honey and Wasabi Sauces
  32. Almond-Crusted Salmon with Leeks and Lemon Cream
  33. Marian’s Salmon Fillets, with Garlic Rice
  34. Three Swordfish Marinades
  35. Swordfish with Curried Fruit Topping
  36. Rita’s Stuffed Fish
  37. Lillian’s Lime-Marinated Swordfish with Cilantro Butter
  38. Lillian’s Swordfish with Ginger Glaze
  39. Cindy’s Roasted Halibut with Mustard Crumb Crust on Zucchini and Red Onions
  40. Broiled Mustard-Dill Salmon (Simply Seafood)
  41. Poached Salmon with Mustard Sauce (Simply Seafood)
  42. Broiled Swordfish Steaks (Simply Seafood)
  43. How to Cook Whole Lobsters (Simply Seafood)
  44. Shrimp in Moroccan-Style Tomato Sauce
  45. BBQ Shrimp with Spicy Tomato BBQ Sauce
  46. Juicy Pan-Seared Scallops with Ginger Beurre Blanc
  47. Rokhsha’s Easy Shrimp Dish
  48. Grilled Baby Octopus with Coconut Rice
  49. Shrimp in Garlic
  50. Pam’s Classic Crab Cakes
  51. Pam’s Salmon and Spinach in Parchment Paper
  52. Fish with Crispy Red Onion Crust
  53. Fish with Pistachio Crumble
  54. Moroccan Grilled Salmon
  55. Sear-Roasted Salmon Fillets with Lemon-Ginger Butter
Early cards, 1950s–80s
Early and later cards · 1950s–2000sHandwritten

Richard’s Shrimp Cocktail

Richard (noted “A+A” [?])

Ingredients
  • 2 bay leaves
  • Old Bay seafood seasoning, from the can
  • shrimp
Method
  1. Bring water to a boil with the bay leaves and Old Bay seasoning.
  2. Put the shrimp in and don’t let the water boil again. The shrimp should be firm.

Underlined on the card: “Shrimp in”.

Also in the rose box: “Shrimp Cocktail”. On a stained card; “Hamburger” on the back. A faint pencilled number (“17” [?]) is at the top right. Differences from Richard’s card: salt and vinegar instead of bay leaves, and the cue is “when they curl”.

“before” is underlined twice, and “Old Bay Spice” is underlined.

Purple box, p. 60
Rose box, p. 148
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwritten

Mussels in Cream Sauce

On spiral-notebook paper

Yield Serves 4

Ingredients
  • 6 tbsp (85 g) butter
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • 3 tbsp chopped shallots (“oni” written above)
  • 2 small leeks, chopped
  • 1 small bay leaf
  • 36 fresh mussels
  • salt and pepper
  • ¾ cup (180 ml) white wine
  • 4 tbsp flour
  • ½ cup (120 ml) cream
  • 2 egg yolks
  • chopped parsley
Method
  1. In a deep kettle, heat 3 tbsp (43 g) butter. Add the garlic and shallots and cook over low heat 1 minute.
  2. Add the leeks and bay leaf and cook 2 minutes.
  3. Add the mussels, sprinkle with salt and pepper and add the wine. Cover and simmer.
  4. When the mussels open, remove the top shells and arrange the mussels in soup dishes.
  5. Strain the liquid and bring it to a boil. Thicken it with beurre manié: the other 3 tbsp (43 g) butter worked with the flour.
  6. Off the heat, add the cream mixed with the egg yolks. Heat the sauce without boiling and pour over the mussels. Sprinkle with parsley.

Underlined on the card: “1 min”, in “cook (low ht) 1 min”.

Purple box, p. 61
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwritten

Fillet and Shrimp Roll-Ups

Pencilled on memo paper printed “Memorandum from the desk of R. C. Kruse” and “MacRae’s Blue Book”

Yield Serves 4 to 6

Ingredients
  • 2 tbsp (28 g) butter
  • two 4-oz (115 g) cans shrimp, drained
  • one 3- to 4-oz (85–115 g) can mushrooms, drained
  • 1 large onion, minced
  • 2 tbsp snipped parsley
  • 8 sole fillets (about 3 lb / 1.4 kg)
  • ½ tsp salt
  • pepper and paprika
  • two 10-oz (285 g) cans mushroom soup
  • ¼ cup (60 ml) water (“use less water”)
  • ⅓ cup (80 ml) sherry
  • ½ cup (60 g) grated cheese
Method
  1. Melt the butter and sauté the shrimp, mushrooms, onion and parsley.
  2. Sprinkle the fillets with the seasonings. Spoon some of the mixture onto the end of each, roll up and fasten with a toothpick.
  3. In a medium bowl, combine the soup, water and sherry. Pour over the fillets in a baking dish and sprinkle with the cheese and paprika.
  4. Bake at 400°F (200°C) for 30 minutes, until flaky.

Circled at the top: “Rich!”

Purple box, p. 62
Purple box, p. 63
Early cards · 1950s–80s

Scallop Quiche and Sautéed Scallops Provençale

A newspaper clipping, “Scallops Show Their Versatility in Foreign Dishes”. The advertisements on the back (Valentino’s collection at Martha on Park Avenue, “tomorrow, February 23”; the Frank E. Campbell funeral chapel; John Fonda’s new “Mini-Cut”) date it to Manhattan in the late 1960s.

Scallop Quiche: serves 6

Ingredients
  • 1½ cups bay scallops or sliced sea scallops (about 1 lb / 450 g)
  • 2 tbsp finely chopped celery with leaves
  • 2 tbsp finely chopped parsley
  • ¼ cup (60 ml) dry white wine
  • ½ tsp salt
  • ¼ tsp freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 unbaked 9-inch (23 cm) pie shell, chilled
  • 5 eggs, lightly beaten
  • 1½ cups (360 ml) heavy cream, scalded
  • 2 tbsp freshly grated Parmesan
Method
  1. Quiche: heat the oven to 450°F (230°C). Mix the scallops, celery, parsley, wine, salt and pepper and spoon into the pie shell.
  2. Combine the eggs and cream, pour over and sprinkle with the cheese. Bake 10 minutes, then lower to 350°F (180°C) and bake 20 minutes more, until set. Serve hot, in wedges.

Sautéed Scallops Provençale: serves 4 to 6

Ingredients
  • 6 tbsp olive oil
  • 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
  • 1 shallot, finely chopped
  • 1½ lb (675 g) bay or sea scallops (quartered if large), rinsed and dried
  • 1 tsp lemon juice
  • 1 large ripe tomato, skinned, seeded and chopped
  • salt and pepper
  • ¼ cup (15 g) finely chopped parsley
Method
  1. Provençale: heat the oil in a heavy skillet and sauté the garlic and shallot until tender but not browned.
  2. Raise the heat, add the scallops and sauté until lightly browned and opaque, about 5 minutes.
  3. Add the lemon juice, tomato, salt, pepper and parsley and cook just long enough to heat through.

The article’s advice: a pound of scallops serves four, and three or four minutes’ sautéing is enough; overcooking toughens them.

Purple box, p. 64
Purple box, p. 65
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwritten

Rita’s Shrimp and Green Peas

Rita

Ingredients
  • 2 lb (900 g) shrimp
  • 3 tbsp salad oil
  • 3 scallions, sliced
  • 1½ tsp ginger
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1½ cups (220 g) canned tiny peas
  • 2 tsp cornstarch
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp sugar
  • 1 tsp soy sauce
  • 3 tbsp cold water
  • rice, to serve
Method
  1. Heat the oil in a skillet until it bubbles. Add the shrimp and brown quickly on both sides.
  2. Add the scallions, ginger, garlic and peas.
  3. Mix the cornstarch, salt, sugar, soy sauce and water to a smooth paste. Add gradually to the shrimp until it reaches the boil, and serve at once, with rice.

Above the title, underlined: “Chinese”.

Purple box, p. 66
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwritten

Audrey Hurd’s Swordfish

Audrey Hurd

Ingredients
  • fresh swordfish steaks
  • 1 cup (240 ml) dry vermouth
  • ¼ cup (60 ml) salad oil
  • 1 tsp tarragon
  • ginger
  • seasoned salt and pepper
Method
  1. Soak the steaks in the marinade all day.
  2. Grill on a hot grill 5 to 7 minutes a side. Or broil, as the card has it: “5″–7′ side + 7″” (the 7’ underlined twice).
Purple box, p. 67
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwritten

Rita’s Shrimp and Rice au Gratin

Rita

Ingredients
  • 2 tbsp (28 g) butter
  • 1 onion, minced
  • ½ clove garlic, crushed
  • 2 tbsp flour
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1½ tsp curry powder
  • ⅛ tsp nutmeg
  • ½ tsp tarragon
  • 1 tsp mustard
  • a pinch of cayenne
  • juice of ½ lemon
  • 1½ cups (360 ml) milk
  • ½ lb (225 g) mild cheese, grated
  • 1 lb (450 g) cooked shrimp
  • 2 cups (320 g) cooked rice
  • 1 cup (110 g) breadcrumbs, browned in 2 tbsp (28 g) butter
Method
  1. Melt the butter and sauté the onion and garlic until tender. Blend in the flour, seasonings and lemon juice.
  2. Slowly add the milk and heat, stirring, until thick and smooth. Add half the cheese and heat until melted.
  3. Combine the shrimp, rice and cheese sauce in a buttered 2-quart (1.9 litres) casserole. Top with the crumbs and the rest of the cheese.
  4. Bake at 350°F (180°C) for 15 to 20 minutes, until browned and bubbly.
Purple box, p. 68
Purple box, p. 69
Early and later cards · 1950s–2000s

Mark Bittman’s Spicy Grilled Shrimp

“The Minimalist” column by Mark Bittman, The New York Times, around the end of May 1999 (a drugstore coupon on the back expires 5/29/99). Rewritten here.

Yield Serves 4; 20 minutes once the grill is hot

Ingredients
  • 1 large clove garlic
  • 1 tbsp coarse salt (the 1 is scribbled out and “½” written beside it)
  • ½ tsp cayenne
  • 1 tsp paprika
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 2 tsp fresh lemon juice
  • 1½ to 2 lb (675–900 g) shrimp (15 to 18 per lb, or smaller if skewered), peeled, rinsed and dried
  • lemon wedges
Method
  1. Get a charcoal or gas grill as hot as it will go, or heat the broiler, with the rack close to the heat.
  2. Mince the garlic with the salt. Mix with the cayenne and paprika, then make a paste with the oil and lemon juice. Smear it on the shrimp.
  3. Grill or broil 2 to 3 minutes a side, turning once. Serve hot or at room temperature, with lemon wedges.

Bracketed in the margin and partly underlined: “I like to dump both shrimp and paste in a covered plastic container, shake them together to coat the shrimp, then carry the container to a party and grill the shrimp there.” Also underlined: “is fresh paprika”, “buying frozen shrimp and thawing them”, “don’t even bother to devein the shrimp” and “2 to 3 minutes a side”. “15-to-18-a-“ is circled, and a star is drawn by the shrimp drawing.

Also in the rose box: “Spiced Grilled Shrimp”. Grammy’s handwritten copy of the Bittman recipe, marked “Stan’s” [?] in the corner. Differences from the clipping in the purple box: two large cloves of garlic instead of one, and 2 lb (900 g) of shrimp on skewers.

“Stan’s” [?] in the corner is underlined.

Purple box, p. 70
Purple box, p. 71
Rose box, p. 33
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenWell used

Tuna-Chip Casserole

Titled “Tuna-Chips”

Ingredients
  • potato chips, broken up a little
  • 2 cans flaked tuna
  • chopped onion
  • ⅓ can cream of mushroom soup
  • sliced cheese
Method
  1. In a greased casserole, layer the potato chips, tuna (2 cans over 3 layers), chopped onion and a smear of mushroom soup.
  2. Make 3 layers, ending with potato chips, and put sliced cheese on top. Bake.

Underlined on the card: “greased”.

Purple box, p. 72
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwritten

Home-Cured “Smoked” Salmon

Titled “Smoked Salmon”

Ingredients
  • 1 salmon fillet
  • non-iodized salt
  • sugar (plenty)
  • Spice Islands hickory-smoked salt
Method
  1. Wash and dry the salmon and put it on Saran wrap.
  2. Dust it generously with a mixture of the salt, sugar and smoked salt.
  3. Wrap it up well and refrigerate, skin side down, for 3 full days. Turn it over and leave it 2 days more.

Final instruction: “Rinse, dry & eat!”

“saran” is underlined twice.

Purple box, p. 73
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwritten

Salmon with Caviar Sauce

Yield Serves 6

Ingredients
  • 6 salmon steaks (5 to 6 oz / 140–170 g each)
  • 1½ cups (360 ml) dry white wine
  • 10 tbsp red caviar
  • 2 tbsp flour
  • 2 tbsp (28 g) butter
  • 6 tbsp whipped cream
  • 6 tbsp hollandaise
  • ¼ tsp lemon juice
  • parsley and lemon slices
Method
  1. Poach the steaks gently in the wine until done, about 8 minutes. Move to a warm platter and spread each with 1 to 1½ tbsp caviar.
  2. Make a roux of the flour and butter and stir in the poaching wine. Stir until thickened.
  3. Gently stir in the whipped cream, hollandaise and lemon juice.
  4. Pour the sauce over the steaks and garnish with parsley. Top each steak with a slice of lemon and a bit of caviar (½ tsp).

Circled above the poaching note: “(8 min)”.

Purple box, p. 74
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwritten

Richard’s Tuna on the Grill

Richard (noted “A+A” [?])

Ingredients
  • tuna, in 1-inch (2.5 cm) slices
  • 3 parts soy sauce
  • 2 parts red wine vinegar [?]
  • ¼ tsp dry mustard
  • chopped shallots or scallions
Method
  1. Marinate the tuna all day.
  2. Grill 3 minutes a side for medium.
  3. Or smear the fish with a mixture of Grey Poupon mustard and light mayonnaise as it grills.

Underlined on the card: “or”.

Purple box, p. 75
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenWell used

Richard’s Swordfish

Richard; written sideways on the card

Ingredients
  • swordfish
  • ⅔ cup (160 ml) soy sauce [?]
  • ⅓ cup (80 ml) teriyaki sauce
  • ground ginger
  • garlic
Method
  1. Marinate the swordfish.
  2. Cook 10 to 15 minutes each side.

Underlined on the card: “Marinate Swordfish”.

Purple box, p. 76
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwritten

Grilled Scallops

In another hand

Yield Serves 4

Ingredients
  • 2 tbsp minced scallions
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • 2 tbsp fresh lime juice
  • ¼ cup (60 ml) extra-virgin olive oil
  • ¼ tsp black pepper
  • 1 lb (450 g) scallops
Method
  1. Combine the scallions, garlic, lime juice, oil and pepper in a large glass bowl. Add the scallops and marinate 30 minutes.
  2. Thread on 4 skewers and grill over medium heat about 8 minutes, until done, turning and basting with the rest of the marinade.
Purple box, p. 77
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwritten

Delicious Fish Kabobs

Ingredients
  • shrimp, scallops, and tuna or swordfish chunks
  • 1 cup (240 ml) orange juice
  • 1 cup (240 ml) pineapple juice
  • 1 tbsp grated ginger root
  • 2 tbsp soy sauce
  • garlic powder and pepper
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • bacon
  • sweet onions, green peppers and cherry tomatoes
Method
  1. Marinate the seafood overnight.
  2. Par-cook the bacon and wrap it around the scallops.
  3. Thread with sweet onions, green peppers and cherry tomatoes, and grill.

Underlined on the card: “Marinate” and “Add”.

Purple box, p. 78
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwritten

Lauri’s Shrimp Skewers

Lauri

Ingredients
  • shrimp
  • fresh pineapple chunks
  • sweet onion quarters
  • Dijon mustard, honey, lime juice, salt, pepper and oil
Method
  1. Thread the shrimp, pineapple and onion on skewers.
  2. Brush with the mustard, honey, lime juice, seasoning and oil, and grill.
Purple box, p. 79
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwritten

Baltimore Crab Cakes

Yield 12 cakes

Ingredients
  • 1½ lb (675 g) lump crabmeat
  • 6 tbsp (85 g) butter
  • ¼ cup (25 g) minced celery
  • ½ cup (75 g) minced green pepper
  • ¼ cup (40 g) grated onion
  • 1 tbsp lemon juice
  • 6 tbsp flour
  • 2 cups (475 ml) milk
  • 1 tsp salt
  • ½ tsp A.1. sauce
  • 2 drops Tabasco
  • 2 eggs, beaten
  • 1 cup (110 g) dry breadcrumbs
Method
  1. Pick out the cartilage, leaving the crab in large pieces.
  2. Melt 2 tbsp (28 g) butter in a skillet and sauté the celery and green pepper 10 minutes. Mix in the onion and lemon juice and take off the heat.
  3. Melt 4 tbsp (55 g) butter in a pan and blend in the flour, then the milk. Stir steadily to the boil and cook over low heat 5 minutes. Stir in the salt, A.1. and Tabasco.
  4. Beat the eggs and gradually add the hot sauce, stirring to prevent curdling. Cool 10 minutes, then stir in the crab and sautéed vegetables.
  5. Form into 12 cakes and roll in the breadcrumbs. Fry at 375°F (190°C) until brown. Serve with “cr. sauce” (perhaps cream sauce).

The “2” in “Melt 2 T. butter” is underlined twice. Two faint outline drawings, without words, are on the front: a rounded shape at the top and a wedge shape beside the ingredients.

Purple box, p. 80
Purple box, p. 81
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwritten

Jinny’s Seafood Casserole

Jinny’s card, and Grammy’s own copy in green ink marked “8 – lunch”

Yield Lunch for 8

Ingredients
  • 1¼ cups (240 g) raw brown rice, cooked according to the package
  • 1 cup (100 g) chopped celery
  • 1 green pepper, chopped (Grammy’s copy: 1 cup / 150 g)
  • 1 medium onion, grated
  • 1¼ cups (280 g) mayonnaise (Grammy’s copy: ¼ cup / 55 g)
  • 1 lb (450 g) mushrooms, sliced and sautéed
  • 2 lb (900 g) shrimp (or other seafood)
  • 1 tsp curry powder
  • 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
  • salt and pepper
  • 1 cup (110 g) buttered, seasoned breadcrumbs
Method
  1. Mix everything and bake ¾ hour in a 350°F (180°C) oven.
  2. Top with the breadcrumbs and brown under the broiler.

On the card marked “8 – lunch”, underlined: “¼ C raw” (rice), “Mix”, “Top” and “Brown”, and, in a different ink, “shrimp”; “(ch)” [?] is written above “grated”.

Purple box, p. 82
Purple box, p. 92
Purple box, p. 93
Early and later cards · 1950s–2000sHandwritten

Liz’s Shrimp Casserole

Liz; two cards, the second a neater copy

Yield Serves 12

Ingredients
  • 15 slices of bread
  • 1½ lb (675 g) Kraft “Old English” cheese (or Canadian cheddar; the older card says 1 lb / 450 g)
  • 1 tsp dry mustard
  • 1½ pints (710 ml) milk (3 cups; the older card has been altered and says 4 cups / 950 ml)
  • 3½ lb (1.6 kg) shrimp, defrosted and dried off
  • ½ cup (115 g) butter, melted
  • 6 eggs, beaten
  • ½ tsp salt
  • ½ lb (225 g) sliced cheese, for the top
  • paprika
Method
  1. Break the bread into quarter-sized pieces and the cheese into bite-sized pieces.
  2. Arrange the shrimp, bread and cheese in several layers in a large greased casserole. Pour the melted butter over all.
  3. Beat the eggs with the mustard and salt and add the milk. Mix and pour over the casserole.
  4. Lap the cheese slices over the top and sprinkle with paprika.
  5. Cover and let stand at least 3 hours, or overnight, in the refrigerator.
  6. Bake at 350°F (180°C) for 1 to 1½ hours.

On the neater card, “at least” and “covered” are both underlined; the older card underlines only “covered”.

On the older card, “15” is written above “12” (slices of bread), and the “½” of the butter is gone over heavily.

Also in the rose box: “Liz’s Shrimp Casserole (for 6)”. Liz; a well-used, stained card in Grammy’s hand, written “1 × 6”, with “Double for 8 – 3 lb sh[rimp]” [?] in the corner and “4 lb” [?] written below it. This is the smaller version of the purple box’s 12-serving card: no cheese slices or paprika on top, and 1 hour’s baking.

“at least” and “1 × 6” are underlined, and on the back so is “covered”.

Purple box, p. 83
Purple box, p. 86
Purple box, p. 87
Rose box, p. 153
Rose box, p. 154
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwritten

Seviche

On a printed Stylecraft recipe card (Baltimore), with a little kitchen-tool border

Yield Serves 4

Ingredients
  • 8 to 10 large fresh sea scallops
  • 1 fresh lime
  • salt and pepper
  • ½ tbsp minced shallots or green onion
  • 2 tbsp chopped parsley
  • 2 tbsp chopped green pepper
  • 3 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 ripe avocado, diced
Method
  1. Wash and drain the scallops and slice them 3/16 inch (5 mm) thick.
  2. Toss with the lime juice, a sprinkling of salt and pepper, the onion, green pepper, parsley and oil.
  3. Marinate 1 hour or more. Add the avocado to serve.

Circled in pen beside the bracketed parsley, green pepper and olive oil: “ad” [?].

Purple box, p. 84
Purple box, p. 85
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwritten

Curried Shrimp

Yield Serves 4

Ingredients
  • 1 can mushroom soup
  • one 4-oz (115 g) can mushrooms, with their juice
  • ½ tsp Worcestershire sauce
  • ¼ tsp dry mustard
  • ½ tsp curry powder
  • ⅛ tsp pepper
  • ¾ lb (340 g) fresh cooked shrimp, or 2 to 3 cans, drained
  • ½ cup (60 g) slivered almonds, toasted in butter
Method
  1. Mix the soup, mushrooms and seasonings. Add the shrimp and refrigerate.
  2. Heat in a double boiler until piping hot. Add the nuts.
  3. Serve over rice, with a green salad and chutney.
Purple box, p. 88
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwritten

Fried Shrimp

Ingredients
  • Batter
  • 1 cup (125 g) flour
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 1 egg
  • a pinch of baking powder
  • 1 cup (240 ml) milk
  • Sauce
  • 1 cup (225 g) mayonnaise
  • dill pickles, chives and onions, chopped
Method
  1. Mix the batter, dip the shrimp and fry.
  2. Mix the sauce ingredients to serve alongside.
Purple box, p. 89
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwritten

Shrimp de Jonghe

Written sideways across the card

Ingredients
  • 3 lb (1.4 kg) shrimp (“par cooked”, circled)
  • ¾ cup (170 g) butter, melted
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • 1 cup (110 g) dry breadcrumbs
  • ¼ cup (15 g) minced parsley
  • ½ cup (120 ml) sherry
  • a dash each of cayenne and paprika
  • lemon (½ per serving)
Method
  1. Mix the butter, salt, garlic, crumbs, parsley, sherry and spices.
  2. Layer the shrimp and crumb mixture, ending with crumbs on top.
  3. Bake at 350°F (180°C) for 30 minutes. Serve with lemon.
Purple box, p. 90
Purple box, p. 91
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwritten

Scalloped Oysters

Ingredients
  • ⅔ cup (33 g) soft breadcrumbs
  • 1 cup (85 g) fine cracker crumbs
  • ½ cup (115 g) butter, melted
  • 1½ pints (710 ml) small oysters, or 18 large
  • ¾ tsp salt
  • freshly ground black pepper
  • 2 tbsp chopped parsley
  • ½ tsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 3 tbsp milk or cream
Method
  1. Heat the oven to 350°F (180°C). Mix the breadcrumbs, cracker crumbs and butter. Put half in the bottom of a greased 1-quart (950 ml) casserole.
  2. Add half the oysters, saving their liquor, and sprinkle with half the salt, pepper and parsley. Add the rest of the oysters and seasonings.
  3. Mix ⅓ cup (80 ml) oyster liquor with the Worcestershire and milk and pour over the oysters. Top with the rest of the crumbs.
  4. Bake uncovered until puffy and brown, about 45 minutes.
Purple box, p. 94
Purple box, p. 95
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwritten

Liz’s Shrimp Mold

Liz

Ingredients
  • 2 envelopes Knox gelatin, softened in ½ cup (120 ml) cold water
  • 1 can tomato soup
  • 2 packages (6 oz [?] / 170 g) cream cheese
  • 1 tbsp minced green onion
  • 1 cup (100 g) minced celery
  • ¼ cup (38 g) minced green pepper
  • 1 large can cleaned shrimp (1 lb / 450 g)
Method
  1. Heat the soup, mix with the gelatin and cool.
  2. Mash the cream cheese and add to the soup. Add the minced vegetables and the shrimp.
  3. Mix and pour into a greased mould. Chill.
Purple box, p. 344
Later cards, 1990s–2000s
Later cards · 1990s–2000sHandwrittenWell used

Seared Salmon with Balsamic Glaze

Noted “Gourmet”; a much-spattered card

Ingredients
  • ¼ cup (60 ml) balsamic vinegar
  • ¼ cup (60 ml) water
  • 1½ tbsp lemon juice
  • 4 tsp packed light brown sugar
  • 2 center-cut salmon fillets (8 oz / 225 g)
  • 1 tsp vegetable oil (changed from 1 tbsp)
  • salt and pepper
Method
  1. Stir together the vinegar, water, lemon juice and brown sugar.
  2. Pat the salmon dry and season with salt and pepper.
  3. Heat the oil in a nonstick skillet over medium-high heat until hot. Raise the heat to high and sear the salmon, skin side up, until well browned, about 3 minutes.
  4. Turn the fish over and sear until just cooked through, 3 to 4 minutes more. Move to plates.
  5. Carefully add the vinegar mixture to the skillet (it will bubble and steam). Simmer, stirring, until thickened and reduced to about ⅓ cup (80 ml), about 2 minutes. Spoon over the salmon.

Circled beside the vinegar: “Double for 2” [?].

Underlined on the card: “Season w/S+p”, “med. hi heat” and “high”.

Her later typed copy

Her typed copies make the glaze first, simmering it in a small pan to about ⅓ cup (80 ml), 2+ minutes (“I double recipe because it keeps well in refrig.”). The salmon sears 3–5 minutes skin side up, depending on thickness, then 3–4 minutes. Serves 2. “Plate with Chinese Black Rice as bed on which salmon is placed and glaze is poured over fillet.”

Rose box, p. 116
Later cards · 1990s–2000s

How to Broil Seafood (Simply Seafood)

A two-sided technique card (C-2) from Simply Seafood magazine, with step photographs. Rewritten here.

Method
  1. Good for broiling: fillets or steaks ¼ to 1½ inches (5 mm–4 cm) thick, and shrimp, scallops or squid (preferably on skewers). Oily, full-flavoured fish such as salmon, sea bass, bluefish, tuna, shark and swordfish broil best; mild, delicate fish dry out more easily, so marinate them first.
  2. Mix a marinade in a shallow dish and turn the seafood in it, or just season it lightly with salt and pepper.
  3. Set the oven rack 3 to 4 inches (8–10 cm) from the heat and preheat the broiler. Line a broiler pan with foil and oil it lightly. Lay the seafood on it.
  4. Broil a few minutes, as the recipe says. Turn, and spoon over any reserved marinade.
  5. Keep broiling until the seafood is just opaque in the thickest part (cut to test), then serve on individual plates.
Rose box, p. 117
Rose box, p. 118
Later cards · 1990s–2000sHandwritten

Rita’s Fish (Flounder and Cod)

Rita

Ingredients
  • Flounder, etc.
  • fillets, milk, flour seasoned with salt and pepper only, butter, lemon slices
  • Cod (or hake)
  • cod or hake, cut in slices; butter; salt and pepper only; lemon juice
Method
  1. Flounder: wash and dry the fish, dip in milk, then the seasoned flour. Fry in butter until just done. Serve with lemon slices.
  2. Cod: line a pan with buttered foil. Wash and dry the fish, brush with butter and season with salt, pepper and lemon juice. Broil hot, about 8 minutes [?].
  3. Serve with browned butter and lemon juice on the side.

“only” is underlined both times it appears (in “seasoned w/ s+p only” for the flounder and “s+p only” for the cod).

Rose box, p. 119
Later cards · 1990s–2000sHandwritten

Rok’s Saffron Dry Rub for Sea Bass, with Greek Salad

Marked “(Rok)”, short for Rokhsha, who gave the sesame green beans. The back has the menu and a little drawing of the plate.

Ingredients
  • Seasoning (dry rub)
  • saffron, soaked in a very, very small amount of hot water
  • salt and pepper
  • garlic powder
  • To serve
  • sour pickles, salsa and olives
  • bread (add garlic)
  • Greek salad: cucumbers (“(1 ts)” [?] written above), red onions, feta, olive oil, tomatoes, dried mint and lemon juice
Method
  1. Mix the seasoning together.
  2. Wash and dry the sea bass or other white fish, pat on the seasoning and let it sit 30 minutes. Cook it.
  3. Serve with mango salsa or lime juice, and with the pickles, salsa, olives, garlic bread and Greek salad.

On the back is a drawing of a plate: a cloud shape marked “pp”, “Greek Salad” surrounded by little crosses, “Bread”, and a smiley face at the bottom. Two long lines cross the back in an X, one of them ending at the “pp”. “Grey Goose” is written sideways in the corner of the front.

On the front, “Seasoning” is circled. Underlined on the back: “Serve”, “garlic” (twice, in “add garlic”), “Greek salad”, “feta” and “lemon juice”.

Rose box, p. 120
Rose box, p. 121
Later cards · 1990s–2000sHandwritten

Baked Salmon with Coconut-Tomato Sauce

The New York Times, March 2008

Yield Serves 4

Ingredients
  • Sauce
  • 1½ tsp canola oil
  • 1 tbsp finely diced garlic
  • 2 tbsp finely diced onion
  • ½ cup (120 ml) canned tomato sauce
  • ½ cup (120 ml) coconut milk
  • salt and pepper
  • Salmon
  • 4 salmon fillets
  • 2 tbsp (28 g) butter [?] (the card doesn’t say what)
Method
  1. Heat the oven to 400°F (200°C).
  2. Put the 2 tbsp in a pan just large enough for the 4 fillets and add ¼ inch (5 mm) of water. Bring to a boil over medium heat.
  3. Add the salmon and cover snugly with foil. Put in the oven and cook 5 minutes for medium-rare. Lift out the fillets and drain on paper towels.
  4. Sauce: heat the oil in a saucepan, add the garlic and onion and sauté until soft, about 3 minutes. Add the tomato sauce, coconut milk, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil, then simmer on low until slightly reduced, about 10 minutes. Keep warm.
  5. To serve: reheat the sauce. Put a portion of creamy jasmine rice in the centre of each plate and top with a fillet. Pour the sauce around the rice and salmon and serve hot.

“Sauce:” and “Salmon” are underlined, and “ovr” [?] is written at a slant on the right; on the back, “To Serve” is underlined.

See also Creamy Jasmine Rice

Rose box, p. 122
Rose box, p. 123
Later cards · 1990s–2000s

Salmon with Soy-Honey and Wasabi Sauces

A magazine clipping on two cards, with a large colour photograph of the glazed salmon; noted “Bon Appétit” [?]. Rewritten here.

Yield Serves 4; 20 minutes active, 30 minutes in all

Ingredients
  • Salmon
  • ½ cup (120 ml) mirin (Japanese sweet rice wine)
  • 2 tbsp soy sauce
  • ¼ cup (60 ml) rice vinegar (not seasoned)
  • 1 tbsp finely grated peeled fresh ginger
  • 4 pieces salmon fillet (6 oz / 170 g each)
  • Sauces
  • 2 tbsp soy sauce
  • ¼ cup (85 g) honey
  • 1 tbsp fresh lime juice
  • 2 tsp wasabi powder
  • 1 tbsp water
  • lime wedges, to serve
Method
  1. Mix the mirin, soy sauce, vinegar and ginger in a shallow dish. Add the fish skin side up and marinate, covered, at room temperature 10 minutes. Heat the broiler.
  2. Boil the soy sauce, honey and lime juice in a small saucepan, stirring often, until thickened, about 4 minutes. Stir the wasabi powder and water together in a small bowl.
  3. Broil the fish skin side down on the oiled rack of a broiler pan, 5 to 7 inches (13–18 cm) from the heat, until just cooked through, about 6 minutes.
  4. Drizzle with both sauces and serve with lime wedges.

The clipping says the Asian ingredients only slightly show in the end result; rice and asparagus go well alongside. Both sauces can be made 2 hours ahead and kept covered at room temperature.

Rose box, p. 124
Rose box, p. 125
Later cards · 1990s–2000sHandwrittenSpecial praise

Almond-Crusted Salmon with Leeks and Lemon Cream

Noted “Cindy & Alan” [?]

Yield Serves 4

Ingredients
  • 4 tbsp (55 g) butter
  • 2 medium leeks, halved and thinly sliced (white and pale green parts only)
  • 3 tbsp fresh lemon juice
  • 1 cup (240 ml) whipping cream
  • 1 cup sliced almonds, chopped (100 g)
  • ¼ cup (15 g) chopped fresh parsley
  • 1 tbsp grated lemon peel (zest)
  • ½ tsp salt
  • ⅛ tsp pepper
  • ½ cup (65 g) flour
  • 4 salmon fillets (6 oz / 170 g each)
  • 1 large egg, beaten to blend
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
Method
  1. Sauce (it can be made 1 day ahead): melt 2 tbsp (28 g) butter in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the leeks and sauté 2 minutes. Reduce the heat to low, cover and cook until the leeks are very tender, stirring occasionally, about 20 minutes.
  2. Raise the heat to medium. Add the lemon juice and stir until the liquid evaporates, about 1 minute. Mix in the cream and simmer until slightly reduced, about 2 minutes. Cool slightly, blend until smooth and season with salt and pepper. (Cover and refrigerate if making ahead.)
  3. Mix the almonds, parsley, lemon zest, ½ tsp salt and ⅛ tsp pepper on a plate. Put the flour on another plate.
  4. Sprinkle the salmon with salt and pepper. Dredge in flour and shake off the excess. Lightly brush one side with egg and press that side into the almond mixture so it sticks. Arrange on a baking sheet, nut side up.
  5. Melt 1 tbsp (14 g) butter with 1 tbsp oil in each of 2 large heavy skillets over medium heat. Add half the salmon to each skillet, almond side down, and cook until the crust is brown, about 5 minutes.
  6. Turn the salmon over and sauté until cooked through and opaque in the centre, about 5 minutes. Plate.
  7. Reheat the sauce, stirring over medium heat, and spoon over the salmon.

Marked “Delicious”, underlined twice and circled; “Sauce” is underlined. On the back, a note squeezed in under “Press this side into almond mixture”, with an arrow: “(on side too)”; and “almond side down” is underlined.

Rose box, p. 126
Rose box, p. 127
Later cards · 1990s–2000sHandwrittenSpecial praise

Marian’s Salmon Fillets, with Garlic Rice

Marian

Ingredients
  • salmon fillets
  • soy sauce (lite)
  • chopped scallions
  • grated ginger
  • grated garlic
  • olive oil, and water if needed
Method
  1. Marinate the fillets 30 minutes in the soy sauce, scallions, ginger, garlic and oil (taste to correct).
  2. Serve with garlic rice: sauté garlic in a little olive oil, then add the water and rice and cook as usual.

Written across the card: “A chef uses Balsamic Vinaigrette & bastes salmon as it’s grilled – Delicious.”

“Serve w/ garlic rice!”, with “garlic rice” underlined in blue.

See also Garlic Rice

Rose box, p. 128
Later cards · 1990s–2000sHandwritten

Three Swordfish Marinades

Method
  1. Marinate the swordfish 15 to 30 minutes, turning once.

1. Lime and herb

Ingredients
  • ¼ cup (60 ml) lime juice
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 tbsp minced herb (dill, rosemary, cilantro or thyme)
  • ½ tsp minced garlic
  • a large pinch of pepper
  • 2. Balsamic and Dijon
  • 3 tbsp balsamic vinegar
  • 3 tbsp olive oil
  • 2 tsp minced shallots (or onion)
  • ½ tsp Dijon mustard
  • a large pinch of pepper
  • 3. White wine
  • ¼ cup (60 ml) dry white wine
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 2 tsp minced green onion
  • a pinch of dried red pepper flakes
Rose box, p. 129
Later cards · 1990s–2000sHandwritten

Swordfish with Curried Fruit Topping

Ingredients
  • 1 tsp canola oil
  • 1 cup (125 g) diced pear or apple
  • ⅓ cup (55 g) minced onion
  • ¼ cup (36 g) raisins
  • ¼ cup (60 ml) dry white wine
  • 1 tbsp curry powder
  • salt and pepper
  • grilled or broiled swordfish
Method
  1. Heat the oil, fruit and onion together, stirring, about 5 minutes.
  2. Stir in the raisins, wine, curry powder, salt and pepper. Simmer over medium heat until the raisins are plump and the mixture begins to thicken, about 5 minutes longer.
  3. Serve warm over grilled or broiled swordfish.

“Idea”: top with heated tapenade.

Rose box, p. 130
Later cards · 1990s–2000sHandwritten

Rita’s Stuffed Fish

Rita; written in blue ink on a small yellow sticky note headed “Stuff a fish”

Ingredients
  • a 1½-lb (675 g) branzino or sea bass, cleaned and deboned
  • dried sun-dried tomatoes
  • dried black olives
  • onions, sautéed in olive oil
  • salt and pepper
  • kitchen twine
Method
  1. Stuff the fish with the tomatoes, olives and onions, and season.
  2. Tie it with twine and bake 20 to 25 minutes at 350°F (180°C).

“Rita’s” is underlined twice, and “lb” (in “1½ lb”) is underlined.

Rose box, p. 131
Later cards · 1990s–2000sHandwritten

Lillian’s Lime-Marinated Swordfish with Cilantro Butter

Lillian

Yield Serves 4

Ingredients
  • 4 swordfish steaks, 6 oz (170 g) and 1 inch (2.5 cm) thick
  • 2½ tbsp lime juice
  • salt and ground pepper
  • ½ cup (115 g) butter
  • 1 garlic clove, minced
  • ¾ cup (45 g) fresh cilantro, finely chopped
  • ½ tsp dried red pepper flakes
  • lime wedges
Method
  1. Put the swordfish in a non-aluminium dish and pour the lime juice over. Season with salt and pepper. Marinate 20 minutes, turning once.
  2. Melt the butter, add the garlic and cook 30 seconds. Mix in the cilantro and pepper flakes and cook 1 minute.
  3. Grill the swordfish until just opaque, 7 minutes per side, basting often with the cilantro butter.
  4. Serve with lime wedges.

Underlined on the card: “flakes” (the red pepper) and, on the back, “basting”.

Rose box, p. 132
Rose box, p. 133
Later cards · 1990s–2000sHandwritten

Lillian’s Swordfish with Ginger Glaze

Lillian

Yield Serves 2

Ingredients
  • 2 swordfish steaks, 8 oz (225 g) and 1½ inches (4 cm) thick
  • soy sauce
  • Oriental sesame oil
  • ground pepper
  • 6 tbsp strained orange juice
  • 6 tbsp strained lemon juice
  • 2 tbsp orange marmalade
  • 2 tsp minced ginger
  • ¼ cup (60 ml) olive oil
  • orange slices
Method
  1. Brush both sides of the swordfish with soy sauce and sesame oil, top with pepper and let stand.
  2. Glaze: boil the orange juice, lemon juice, marmalade and ginger until reduced to 4 tbsp, about 4 minutes, stirring occasionally. Cool slightly and mix in the olive oil.
  3. Arrange the fish on a foil-lined broiler pan. Brush with half the glaze and cook under a preheated broiler 3 minutes.
  4. Turn, brush with the rest of the glaze and cook until just opaque (6 to 8 minutes in all).
  5. Garnish with orange slices.

Underlined on the card: “Glaze” and, on the back, “just” (opaque).

Rose box, p. 134
Rose box, p. 135
Later cards · 1990s–2000sHandwritten

Cindy’s Roasted Halibut with Mustard Crumb Crust on Zucchini and Red Onions

Cindy; “Serve w/ new pots & a salad”

Yield Serves 4

Ingredients
  • 3 medium zucchini (2 green, 1 yellow), cut in 1-inch (2.5 cm) pieces
  • 2 red onions, halved, then each half cut in thirds through the root
  • 4 plum tomatoes, quartered
  • 3 tbsp olive oil, plus 1 tbsp for the mustard mixture
  • 1 tsp fresh thyme
  • 1 tsp lemon zest
  • 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
  • 1 tbsp grainy mustard
  • 1 tbsp soy sauce
  • 4 halibut steaks, 6 oz (170 g) each (good quality)
  • salt and pepper
  • Crumb crust
  • 2 tbsp (28 g) butter
  • 2 tsp finely chopped garlic
  • 1 cup (50 g) fresh breadcrumbs
  • 2 tbsp chopped Italian parsley
Method
  1. Heat the oven to 425°F (220°C). Toss the vegetables in the 3 tbsp olive oil, put them in a low baking dish and bake 25 minutes, until softened.
  2. Mix the thyme, lemon zest, mustards and soy sauce with 1 tbsp olive oil. Season the fish with salt and pepper and brush with the mustard mixture.
  3. Crust: melt the butter in a medium skillet, add the garlic and sauté 1 minute. Stir in the crumbs and cook until light golden, about 2 minutes. Mix in the parsley, season and pat onto the top of the fish.
  4. When the vegetables are ready, lay the fish on top and return to the oven. Bake 10 minutes, or until white juices appear.

Underlined on the card: “Cindy”, “thru root” and “fresh” (thyme); “425°” is circled.

Rose box, p. 136
Rose box, p. 137
Later cards · 1990s–2000s

Broiled Mustard-Dill Salmon (Simply Seafood)

A Simply Seafood magazine recipe card (B2), “the magazine that makes fish & shellfish easy”, with a colour photograph on a blue plate; “Great for the grill, too”. Rewritten here.

Yield Serves 4; 15 minutes

Ingredients
  • 1 lb (450 g) salmon fillet
  • 1 lemon
  • 2 tbsp stone-ground mustard
  • 1 tbsp chopped fresh dill (or ¾ tsp dried)
Method
  1. Heat the broiler with the rack 4 to 5 inches (10–13 cm) from the element. Rinse the fish, pat dry and lay it skin side down on a baking sheet.
  2. Zest the lemon (yellow part only) and squeeze 1 tbsp juice. Mix the zest, juice, mustard and dill and brush over the salmon.
  3. Broil until opaque in the centre: 5 to 6 minutes for a ½-inch (1 cm) fillet, 10 to 12 minutes for a 1-inch (2.5 cm) fillet.

The card suggests halibut, cod or catfish instead.

Rose box, p. 138
Rose box, p. 139
Later cards · 1990s–2000s

Poached Salmon with Mustard Sauce (Simply Seafood)

A Simply Seafood magazine recipe card (B12), with a colour photograph on a turquoise plate; “Elegant but so easy!” Rewritten here.

Yield Serves 4; 12 minutes

Ingredients
  • 2 tbsp nonfat plain yogurt or sour cream
  • 1 tbsp mayonnaise
  • 1 tsp Dijon-style mustard
  • ½ tsp minced or grated fresh ginger
  • ¼ tsp honey or sugar
  • 1½ lb (675 g) salmon fillet, cut in 4 pieces
  • minced fresh chives or parsley
Method
  1. Mix the yogurt, mayonnaise, mustard, ginger and honey in a small bowl and set aside.
  2. Rinse the salmon and pat dry. Bring about 2 inches (5 cm) of water to a boil in a large pan, add the fish and lower the heat so the water just simmers.
  3. Simmer until the fish is just slightly translucent in the centre, 8 to 10 minutes for a 1-inch (2.5 cm) piece. Lift out, drain and gently pat dry.
  4. Plate the fish, spoon the sauce over and sprinkle with chives or parsley.

Alternatives on the card: swordfish, trout fillets, cod or orange roughy.

Rose box, p. 140
Rose box, p. 141
Later cards · 1990s–2000s

Broiled Swordfish Steaks (Simply Seafood)

A Simply Seafood magazine recipe card (B10), with a colour photograph on a blue-and-white plate; “Lots of flavor, little work”. Rewritten here.

Yield Serves 4; 10 minutes plus 15 minutes’ marinating

Ingredients
  • ½ cup (120 ml) low-calorie or regular Italian salad dressing
  • 1 tsp dried tarragon leaves (or 2 tsp minced fresh)
  • 4 swordfish steaks (about 6 oz / 170 g each)
Method
  1. Heat the broiler with the rack 4 to 5 inches (10–13 cm) from the element.
  2. Pour the dressing into a shallow dish and stir in the tarragon. Turn the swordfish in it to coat both sides and marinate 15 minutes.
  3. Arrange on a rimmed baking sheet and spoon a little marinade over. Broil 3 minutes.
  4. Turn, spoon over more marinade and broil until just slightly translucent in the centre (cut to test), 2 to 3 minutes longer for ¾-inch (2 cm) steaks.

Alternatives on the card: tuna, salmon or sea bass.

Rose box, p. 142
Rose box, p. 143
Later cards · 1990s–2000s

How to Cook Whole Lobsters (Simply Seafood)

A two-sided technique card (C-8) from Simply Seafood magazine, with step photographs. Rewritten here.

Method
  1. Buy live American (“Maine”) lobsters: lift one by the body shell and check that the legs and tail move. It must be alive when cooked, as the meat spoils quickly once it dies.
  2. Use a pan big enough to cover the lobster completely, and cook several in batches. Bring plenty of salted water to a boil and plunge the lobster in head first. Cover and simmer 5 minutes for the first pound and 3 minutes for each pound after that (a 1½-lb / 675 g lobster takes 7 to 9 minutes). It’s done when an antenna pulls out easily.
  3. Lift out, drain and cool 5 to 10 minutes. Twist off the front legs and pull the claws away from them.
  4. Bend back the tail to separate it from the body. Snip the underside of the tail with kitchen shears and take out the meat.
  5. Gently crack the claws with a mallet or crab cracker, remove the small pincer shell and take out the claw meat. Break open the body for the white meat. A 1½-lb (675 g) lobster gives about 1⅓ cups (185 g) of meat.
Rose box, p. 144
Rose box, p. 145
Later cards · 1990s–2000s

Shrimp in Moroccan-Style Tomato Sauce

A New York Times clipping, in pieces, from a food column written in the first person. Rewritten here.

Yield 4 servings; 40 minutes

Ingredients
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 tbsp minced ginger
  • 1 tbsp ground cumin
  • 2 tsp ground coriander
  • 1 fresh lime leaf, minced, or 1 tsp minced lime zest
  • one 28-oz (800 g) can chopped tomatoes, drained, or 3 cups (550 g) chopped fresh tomatoes
  • salt and pepper
  • 1½ lb (675 g) peeled shrimp
  • minced fresh cilantro, to garnish
  • lime wedges
Method
  1. Put the oil in a deep skillet over medium-high heat. A minute later, add the ginger and cook, stirring, about a minute. Add the spices and stir 30 seconds.
  2. Add the tomatoes, salt and pepper, stir and bring to a boil. Reduce to medium and cook, stirring occasionally, until nearly dry, about 15 minutes.
  3. Add the shrimp and cook, stirring occasionally, until cooked through, 5 to 10 minutes.
  4. Adjust the seasoning and serve over white rice, with cilantro and lime wedges.

Underlined: “minced lime zest” and “scallops or squid”. Brackets mark the first lines of the paragraph on the cooking process (“exactly as it would be for making the usual dish of seafood in tomato sauce”).

The writer says minced lime zest works well if you can’t find (or can’t be bothered to look for) a lime leaf, and scallops or squid can go in at the same time as the shrimp. The writer prefers it over mounds of soft white rice rather than pasta.

Rose box, p. 150
Later cards · 1990s–2000sHandwritten

BBQ Shrimp with Spicy Tomato BBQ Sauce

Noted “Gourmet” and “(#45)”; the sauce is on the back

Ingredients
  • 3 lb (1.4 kg) large shrimp, shelled with the tails left on, butterflied and deveined
  • 2 cups (475 ml) spicy tomato sauce (below; a note beside it reads “Hey, Dog” [?], with “not” written above)
  • 10-inch (25 cm) bamboo skewers
  • Spicy tomato BBQ sauce (2 cups / 475 ml)
  • 1 onion, quartered
  • 1½ cups (360 ml) white vinegar
  • 1 cup (240 ml) catsup
  • ¼ cup (60 ml) apple juice
  • ¼ cup (55 g) dark brown sugar
  • ¼ cup (60 ml) vegetable oil
  • 2 small garlic cloves, chopped
  • 1 sweet gherkin, chopped
  • 2 tbsp sweet pickled gherkins [?]
  • 2 tbsp Dijon mustard
  • 1½ tbsp celery seed
  • 1½ tbsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 2 tsp cayenne
  • ½ tsp turmeric
  • 2 tsp Tabasco
Method
  1. Sauce: purée the onion with the vinegar in the Cuisinart. Add everything else and blend until smooth.
  2. Bring to a boil, stirring, then simmer, stirring, for 20 minutes. Let cool and keep chilled (up to 1 week).
  3. Shrimp: push a skewer in at the tail end of each shrimp and thread the shrimp onto it. Brush with sauce and arrange on a large platter.
  4. Just before grilling, brush the shrimp again. Grill on a rack over glowing coals 1 minute each side, until pink and springy to the touch.
  5. Serve warm or at room temperature.

“1 min” is underlined, and the line under the title ends in an arrowhead pointing left.

Rose box, p. 151
Rose box, p. 152
Typed on her computer, 2005–16
Typed on her computer · 2005–16

Juicy Pan-Seared Scallops with Ginger Beurre Blanc

From Cook’s Illustrated. Serves 4.

Buy “dry” scallops (no additives such as tripolyphosphate/STP). If you can only find “wet” (treated) scallops, soak them for 30 minutes in 1 quart (950 ml) cold water with ¼ cup (60 ml) lemon juice and 2 tbsp table salt before step 3. Cook the scallops in 2 batches, sorted by size so each batch cooks at a similar rate.

Not sure if yours are wet or dry? Microwave one on a paper towel-lined plate on high for 15 seconds. A dry scallop exudes very little water; a wet one leaves a noticeable ring of water.

Ginger beurre blanc
  • ½ cup (120 ml) Chardonnay
  • 2 tbsp white wine vinegar or rice wine vinegar
  • 1 tbsp minced fresh ginger
  • 1 tbsp minced garlic
  • 1 tbsp minced shallots
  • ¼ cup (60 ml) heavy cream
  • 12 tbsp (170 g) cold unsalted butter, cut into ½-inch (1 cm) pieces
  • ½ tsp table salt
  • Pinch cayenne pepper
Scallops
  • 1½ lb (675 g) dry sea scallops (10–20 per lb), small side muscles removed
  • Table salt and ground black pepper
  • 2 tbsp vegetable oil
  • 2 tbsp (28 g) unsalted butter
Method
  1. Sauce: boil the wine, vinegar, ginger, garlic and shallots in a small saucepan, then reduce by half over medium-high heat, about 5 minutes. Add the cream and reduce by half again, 2–3 minutes.
  2. Strain through a fine sieve into a second small saucepan over medium heat. Whisk in the butter 2 pieces at a time, waiting until each addition is fully incorporated. Stir in the salt and cayenne, cover and keep warm.
  3. Scallops: lay them on a rimmed baking sheet lined with a clean kitchen towel, put a second towel on top and press to blot. Leave 10 minutes at room temperature while the towels absorb the surface moisture.
  4. Season both sides with salt and pepper (pepper only for wet scallops). Heat 1 tbsp oil in a 12-inch (30 cm) non-stick skillet over high heat until just smoking. Add half the scallops, flat side down, in a single layer and cook without moving until well browned, 1½–2 minutes.
  5. Add 1 tbsp (14 g) butter. Flip the scallops, tilt the pan so the butter pools near the handle, and baste with it until the sides are firm and the centres opaque, 30–90 seconds (remove smaller ones as they finish). Transfer to a plate and tent with foil.
  6. Wipe out the skillet and repeat with the remaining oil, scallops and butter. Serve at once with the beurre blanc.
Typed on her computer · 2005–16

Rokhsha’s Easy Shrimp Dish

Rokhsha’s recipe.

Ingredients
  • 1 large onion, diced
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 tbsp (14 g) butter
  • 3 garlic cloves, mashed
  • 2 lb (900 g) frozen uncooked shrimp, defrosted and dried
  • Red pepper flakes
  • 28-oz (800 g) can diced tomatoes
  • 1 cup (240 ml) dry white wine
  • 2 garlic cloves, diced finely
  • Cooked rice or spaghetti
Method
  1. Sauté the onion in the oil and butter until soft and golden. Add the mashed garlic and sauté briefly.
  2. Add the shrimp and red pepper flakes and sauté 15 minutes over medium heat.
  3. Meanwhile, simmer the tomatoes with ½ cup (120 ml) of the wine in a small saucepan for 10 minutes to reduce the liquid somewhat.
  4. Add to the shrimp with another ½ cup (120 ml) wine (or so). Salt to taste.
  5. Put the whole pan in a 350°F (180°C) oven for 20 minutes.
  6. Stir in the diced garlic. Serve over rice if using large shrimp, or spaghetti if using small shrimp.
Typed on her computer · 2005–16

Grilled Baby Octopus with Coconut Rice

From CIA Taste, Summer/Fall 2008, in its “CIA Sophisticated Palate Courses and Recipes” section. The recipe comes from The CIA’s Grilling cookbook. Serves 8.

Braising the octopus gently before it goes on the grill makes it tender. Keep the braising liquid: it makes a good base for a seafood soup or stew.

Octopus
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • ½ cup (80 g) diced yellow onion
  • ½ cup (65 g) diced carrot
  • ¼ cup (25 g) diced celery
  • 1½ tsp minced garlic
  • 2 lb (900 g) baby octopus
  • ½ cup (120 ml) dry white wine
  • 1½ cups (360 ml) water
  • 1 cup (240 ml) tomato juice
  • 4 thyme sprigs
  • 2 rosemary sprigs
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp ground black pepper
Marinade
  • ½ cup (120 ml) olive oil
  • ¼ cup (10 g) thyme leaves
  • ¼ cup (25 g) thinly sliced scallions
  • 1 tbsp minced garlic
  • Salt and black pepper
Coconut rice
  • ¼ cup (55 g) butter
  • 1 tbsp minced garlic
  • 2 tbsp minced ginger
  • 3 cups (575 g) long-grain white rice
  • 2 cups (475 ml) coconut milk
  • 4 cups (950 ml) water
  • 1 tsp salt
  • ½ tsp ground black pepper
  • 1 cup (145 g) golden raisins
  • 1 cup (90 g) toasted sliced almonds
Method
  1. Octopus: soften the onion, carrot and celery in the oil over medium heat, about 8 minutes, then add the garlic for a minute. Add the octopus and turn it until it stiffens all over, about 5 minutes.
  2. Pour in the wine and simmer until reduced to a third. Add the water, tomato juice, herbs, salt and pepper and braise, uncovered, over very low heat until tender, about 1 hour. Discard the bay leaves and herb sprigs and leave the octopus to cool in its liquid.
  3. Marinade: mix the oil, thyme, scallions and garlic, and season with salt and pepper.
  4. Rice: melt the butter, cook the garlic and ginger until fragrant, about 2 minutes, then stir in the rice until it is coated and smells toasty. Add the coconut milk, water, salt and pepper, bring to a boil, cover and simmer gently until tender, about 18 minutes. Fluff with a fork, toss in the raisins and almonds and keep warm, covered.
  5. Heat a gas grill to high (or let a charcoal fire burn down to glowing coals with a light coat of white ash) and clean the grate. Drain the octopus, roll it in the marinade and grill until marked and very hot, 2–3 minutes a side. Serve at once with the rice.
Grilled baby octopus with coconut rice. CIA Taste, Summer/Fall 2008, page 32
The recipe page as printed in Taste (page 32). CIA Taste, Summer/Fall 2008, page 32
Typed on her computer · 2005–16

Shrimp in Garlic

From CIA Taste, Summer/Fall 2008, where it is pictured on the cover and printed in the “CIA Books and DVDs” section. The recipe comes from The CIA’s Spain and the World Table cookbook, and shrimp in garlic was on the menu of the CIA’s “Spain and the World Table” demonstration at its Astor Center in New York on 17 September 2008. Serves 8.

Gambas al ajillo, a classic Spanish tapa, also made across Latin America as camarones al ajillo. The magazine’s advice: keep a few breath mints handy.

Ingredients
  • 6 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
  • ¼ tsp red pepper flakes
  • 10 garlic cloves, sliced very thin
  • 16 shrimp (26–30 per lb), peeled and deveined
  • 2 tsp salt, divided
  • ⅛ tsp freshly ground black pepper
  • 10 tbsp white wine or lemon juice
  • ¼ cup (15 g) roughly chopped flat-leaf parsley
Method
  1. Heat the oil in a very large sauté pan over medium-high heat. Cook the pepper flakes and garlic for a minute, then add the shrimp and sauté 1–2 minutes more. Season with 1 tsp salt and a pinch of pepper.
  2. As soon as the shrimp are just cooked through, lift them out with a slotted spoon. Take the garlic out too, just as it starts to brown, and set it aside.
  3. Add the wine or lemon juice to the pan and, keeping the heat at medium-high, boil until reduced by three-quarters, 4–5 minutes, shaking the pan often so the sauce comes together. Season with the remaining salt and a pinch of pepper and stir in the parsley.
  4. Arrange the shrimp on a platter and spoon the sauce and fried garlic over them.
Shrimp in garlic (gambas al ajillo), the dish on the cover. CIA Taste, Summer/Fall 2008, page 60
The recipe page as printed in Taste (page 60). CIA Taste, Summer/Fall 2008, page 60
Typed on her computer · 2005–16

Pam’s Classic Crab Cakes

Pam’s recipe.

Crab Cakes
  • 12 oz (340 g) of lump crab meat
  • 2 slices of white bread, broken into very small pieces
  • 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
  • 2 tsp Old Bay Seasoning
  • 1 tsp of Worcestershire sauce
  • 2 medium jalapeño peppers, seeded and minced
  • 3 tbsp of cilantro
  • 1 large egg, beaten
  • 1 large shallot, chopped fine
  • 2 tbsp mayonnaise
  • Zest of 1 lemon
  • Freshly ground black pepper
  • 3–4 tbsp canola oil
  1. Combine crabmeat and bread. Add mustard, Worcestershire, Old Bay, jalapeño, cilantro, egg, shallot and mayonnaise. Stir. Add pepper. Shape into half-dollar rounds. (The method never adds the lemon zest; stir it in with the mayonnaise.)
  2. Heat 3 tbsp of canola oil. Cook 1 minute on each side until brown. Can be kept warm in oven for up to 30 minutes. Serve with Remoulade Sauce.
Remoulade Sauce à la New Orleans
  • 1 cup (225 g) of mayonnaise
  • ¼ cup [?] (60 ml) chili sauce (the file says “1/4 chili sauce”)
  • 2 tbsp Creole mustard (Pam adds: “haven’t found so use spicy or yellow mustard”)
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 2 tbsp Louisiana-style hot sauce [?] (the file says “hot house”)
  • 2 tbsp fresh lemon
  • 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 2 medium scallions, chopped fine
  • 2 tbsp of parsley
  • 2 tbsp green olives
  • 2 tbsp of celery, minced
  • 1 clove of garlic, minced
  • ½ tsp chili powder
  • ½ tsp pepper
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp capers, chopped

Mix all ingredients. Cover and refrigerate for several hours before serving.

Typed on her computer · 2005–16

Pam’s Salmon and Spinach in Parchment Paper

Probably Pam’s, as it is typed just like her crab cakes; she notes, “I have made this often and don’t have exact recipe any more.” Serves 4.

Ingredients
  • 4 fillets of salmon (4–6 oz / 115–170 g each)
  • 4 cups (120 g) of baby spinach
  • 1 cup (70 g) of mushrooms of your choice, sliced (I like to mix cremini, small bellas etc.)
  • Alouette or Boursin cheese (garlic and herbs), or any soft garlic and herb cheese
  • 4 tbsp (55 g) butter
  • 1 lemon
  • Parchment paper
Method
  1. Cut parchment paper into large semi-circles or 16-inch-long (41 cm) sheets.
  2. On each parchment paper, place 1 tbsp (14 g) of butter in the middle and top with 1 cup (30 g) of spinach.
  3. Place 1 salmon fillet on top of the spinach. Coat the salmon with garlic and herb cheese. Top with mushrooms. Place 2 thin slices of lemon on top of the mushrooms.
  4. Close up the parchment (have trouble doing this… stapling shut works).
  5. Bake at 350°F (180°C) for 25–30 minutes.

You can do this with one large fillet of salmon but need to bake 45–60 minutes.

Typed on her computer · 2005–16

Fish with Crispy Red Onion Crust

No source is named. Serves 4.

Ingredients
  • 4 fillets of firm-fleshed white fish
  • 6 flat anchovy fillets, drained
  • 2 tbsp finely minced garlic
  • 2 tsp squeezed lemon juice
  • 2 tbsp dry white wine
  • ½ tsp kosher salt
  • 1 tsp white pepper
  • 2 large eggs
  • ½ cup (65 g) flour
  • 1 small red onion, very thinly sliced
  • ¼ cup (60 ml) extra-virgin olive oil
  • 2 tbsp tiny capers, drained
  • ½ recipe lemon beurre blanc (see Fish with Pistachio Crumble)
  • 3 tbsp chives, cut into ½-inch (1 cm) pieces
Method
  1. Heat the oven to 350°F (180°C). Dry the fish fillets thoroughly on paper towels.
  2. Whizz the anchovies, garlic, lemon juice, wine, salt and pepper in a food processor until smooth. Scrape into a shallow bowl and whisk in the eggs until well blended. Put the flour in a second shallow bowl.
  3. Dip the top of each fillet lightly in the flour, shake off the excess, then dip it in the egg mixture. Set the fillets on a large plate, cover the tops with the onion slices and pat them on lightly.
  4. Heat the oil in a large nonstick, ovenproof skillet over medium to medium-high heat. Add the fillets onion side down and cook until the onions begin to brown, about 2 minutes. Turn them carefully and put the skillet in the oven. Roast until the fish is opaque throughout, 5–7 minutes.
  5. Transfer to warmed plates. Stir the capers into the lemon sauce, spoon it around the fish and garnish with the chives.

See also Fish with Pistachio Crumble, Beurre Blanc

Typed on her computer · 2005–16

Fish with Pistachio Crumble

No source is named. Serves 4.

Ingredients
  • 4 fresh or black grouper fillets, or other firm-fleshed white fish, 6 oz (170 g) each
  • 2 slices 8-grain bread, or panko
  • ½ cup (60 g) shelled unsalted pistachios, 5 oz [?] (140 g) (every copy says “5 oz”, though ½ cup weighs less)
  • 1 tsp kosher salt
  • ½ tsp white pepper
  • ½ cup (65 g) flour
  • ½ cup (120 ml) half & half
  • ¼ cup (60 ml) canola oil
  • ½ recipe lemon beurre blanc (below)
  • Sprigs of cilantro, to garnish
Method
  1. Heat the oven to 350°F (180°C). Dry the fillets thoroughly on paper towels.
  2. Toast the bread lightly until dry, then pulse it in a food processor with the pistachios, salt and pepper until coarsely chopped. Tip into a shallow bowl. Put the flour in a second bowl and the half & half in a third.
  3. Coat only the top (the flesh side, not the skin side) of each fillet: dip it lightly in the flour and shake off the excess, then dip it in the half & half and finally in the pistachio mixture.
  4. Heat the oil in a large nonstick, ovenproof skillet over medium to medium-high heat. Add the fillets crust side down, without crowding, and cook until lightly browned, about 2 minutes. Turn them carefully with a large spatula and put the skillet in the centre of the oven. Roast until the fish is opaque throughout, 5–7 minutes more.
  5. Keep the fish warm. Spoon some beurre blanc onto each plate and garnish with a sprig of cilantro.
Lemon beurre blanc
  • ½ cup (120 ml) fresh lemon juice
  • ½ cup (120 ml) white wine
  • ½ tsp kosher salt
  • ¼ tsp white pepper
  • ½ small bay leaf
  • ½ cup (120 ml) heavy cream
  • 2 cups (450 g) butter, cut into tbsp-sized pieces, lightly chilled
  1. In a heavy saucepan, cook the lemon juice, wine, salt, pepper and bay leaf over medium heat until reduced by half. Add the cream, bring to a boil and reduce by half again. Discard the bay leaf and let the reduction cool slightly.
  2. Over the lowest heat, add the butter 3 tbsp at a time, whisking constantly and letting each addition be absorbed completely before adding more, until the sauce is smooth and creamy. Taste, adjust the seasoning and keep warm.

An earlier copy suggests sea bass, swordfish or halibut, chops the bread and pistachios finely, browns the crust for only about 1 minute and says the beurre blanc makes 2½ cups (590 ml); the first copy, titled Pistachio Crusted Fish, uses hearty multi-grain bread and has no beurre blanc recipe.

See also Fish with Crispy Red Onion Crust, Beurre Blanc

Typed on her computer · 2005–16

Moroccan Grilled Salmon

No source is named. Serves 2.

The spiced yogurt, built on the flavourings of chermoula (a Moroccan seasoning), does double duty as marinade and sauce. For more heat, add a pinch of cayenne. About 20 minutes’ work, 40 minutes in all.

Ingredients
  • 4 tbsp low-fat or nonfat plain yogurt
  • 4 tbsp chopped fresh parsley
  • 4 tbsp chopped fresh cilantro
  • 2 tbsp lemon juice
  • 3 tsp extra-virgin olive oil
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1½ tsp paprika
  • 1 tsp ground cumin
  • ¼ tsp salt
  • Freshly ground pepper, to taste
  • 8 oz (225 g) center-cut salmon fillet, skinned and cut into 2 portions
  • 2 lemon wedges
Method
  1. To skin the salmon, lay it skin side down on a board. Starting at the tail end, slide a long, sharp knife between flesh and skin, holding the skin down firmly, and push the blade along at a 30° angle until the fillet comes free.
  2. In a small bowl, mix the yogurt, herbs, lemon juice, oil, garlic, paprika, cumin, salt and pepper. Cover and refrigerate 2 tbsp of it for the sauce. Put the salmon in a medium resealable plastic bag, add the rest of the yogurt mixture, seal and turn to coat. Refrigerate for 10 minutes (or up to 30).
  3. Meanwhile, heat the grill to medium-high.
  4. Oil the grill rack. Lift the salmon out of the marinade, blotting off the excess, and grill until browned and just cooked through, 4–5 minutes per side. Top with the reserved sauce and serve with the lemon wedges.
Scanned into her computer · 2005–16

Sear-Roasted Salmon Fillets with Lemon-Ginger Butter

From Fine Cooking #31, February/March 1999, a recipe by Isabelle Alexandre, kept as a scan of the magazine card. Serves 4.

Lemon-ginger butter
  • 6 tbsp (85 g) butter, well softened at room temperature
  • 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice, warmed slightly
  • 2 tbsp minced fresh ginger
  • 2 tbsp snipped fresh chives
Salmon
  • Olive oil for the pan
  • 4 salmon fillets (5 oz / 140 g each), skinned if you like, patted dry
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
Method
  1. Blend the butter, lemon juice, ginger and chives together in a bowl and leave at room temperature.
  2. Heat the oven to 500°F (260°C). Put a large ovenproof skillet over medium-high heat with just enough oil to film the bottom. Season the salmon lightly with salt and pepper.
  3. When the oil is very hot, lay the fillets in skin side up and sear until nicely browned, about 1 minute. Turn them over and put the skillet in the oven: 2 minutes for medium-rare, 4 minutes for medium-well. Check with the tip of a knife.
  4. Move the salmon to dinner plates and top each fillet straight away with a dab of the lemon-ginger butter.
The Fine Cooking recipe card she kept as a scan. Fine Cooking #31, February/March 1999 (photos: Ben Fink, Scott Phillips)

Pasta, Rice & Grains

Rice two dozen ways, among them Rokhsha’s Persian rice with its crisp tahdig crust and Kirsten’s basmati. There are lasagnes from Elizabeth Mynatt, Pat Ricks and Grammy herself, and a spaghetti sauce typed on railway letterhead “for you and John”.

32 handwritten42 early cards1 later card12 typed on her computer

All 55 in this chapter
  1. Kir’s Rice Ring
  2. Rokhsha’s Persian Rice (Chelow with Tahdig)
  3. Marci’s Pasta Salad
  4. Black Chinese (Forbidden) Rice
  5. Tilda Rice
  6. Garlic Rice
  7. Kirsten’s Basmati Rice
  8. Brown Basmati
  9. Creamy Jasmine Rice
  10. Kir’s Green Risotto
  11. Delia’s Risotto with Wild Mushrooms
  12. Pat Lillian’s Noodle Casserole
  13. Gnocchi with Scallops
  14. Lindy’s Pasta with Brie, Tomatoes and Arugula
  15. Macaroni and Cheese Arrabbiata
  16. Gorgonzola Cream Sauce with Angel-Hair Pasta
  17. Fusilli Primavera with Shrimp
  18. Rita’s Pasta Dish
  19. Fresh Pasta (Gotham)
  20. Baked Orzo with Shrimp, Tomato Sauce and Feta
  21. Rice Simmered with Broth and Garlic
  22. Uncle Ben’s Rice
  23. Basmati Rice with Coconut Milk and Ginger
  24. Ginny W.’s Orzo
  25. Elizabeth Mynatt’s Lasagne (and Grammy’s “Pat’s Spaghetti – Lasagne”)
  26. Spaghetti Meat Sauce, on Great Northern Railway paper
  27. Rita’s Spaghetti
  28. Italian Spaghetti and Meatballs (with typed asides)
  29. Pat Ricks’s Cottage Lasagna
  30. Inez Langille’s Noodles or Rice Casserole
  31. Brown Rice and Mushroom Dressing
  32. Fried Rice (baked)
  33. Bete’s Deluxe Rice Casserole
  34. Rice Pilaf
  35. Rice Ring
  36. Parsley Rice
  37. Emmy’s Rice and Carrots
  38. Select Origins Rice Blend (Very Special Rice with Madeira; Rice Salad with Smoked Turkey)
  39. Mushrooms and Rice
  40. Sesame Noodles
  41. Indian Rice
  42. Jacques Pépin’s Rice Pilaf
  43. Mark Bittman’s Farfalle with Gorgonzola, Arugula and Cherry Tomatoes
  44. Spinach Lasagna
  45. Pasta with Garlic, Broccoli and Sun-Dried Tomatoes
  46. Marinated Grilled Tofu
  47. Capellini with Grilled Vegetables
  48. Chayote and Pineapple Chimichangas
  49. Spinach & Feta Pasta
  50. Jamie Oliver’s Baked Pasta with Tomatoes and Mozzarella
  51. CIA’s Vegetable Stew
  52. Jamie Oliver’s Eggplant Parmigiana
  53. Pasta with Roasted Cauliflower, Garlic, and Walnuts
  54. Easy Baked Risotto
  55. Mac and Cheese
Early cards, 1950s–80s
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegan

Kir’s Rice Ring

Kir

Ingredients
  • Thai fragrant long-grain rice, not washed (so it stays sticky), cooked as the package says
  • 100 g (3½ oz) pine nuts
  • 100 g (3½ oz) raw pistachios
  • 100 g (3½ oz) raw almonds
  • sunflower oil and salt
Method
  1. Chop the nuts roughly into large pieces. Fry gently in sunflower oil with salt until lightly toasted and set aside.
  2. Put the nuts in the bottom of a ring mould and pack the rice on top. Turn out, with extra nuts on the side.
  3. To reheat, put it in the oven.

Underlined on the card: “roughly”.

Purple box, p. 101
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegetarian

Rokhsha’s Persian Rice (Chelow with Tahdig)

Marked “Rokhsha”

Yield Serves 6 to 8

Ingredients
  • 2 cups (380 g) Iranian basmati rice
  • 1½ tsp salt
  • 1 tbsp (14 g) butter and 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 3 tbsp (43 g) melted butter
  • 1 tsp saffron, a pinch of sugar and 1 tbsp hot water, mixed and set aside
  • ¼ stick (2 tbsp; 28 g) butter, for the crust
Method
  1. Put the rice in a bowl and fill with warm water. Stir and pour off the cloudy water, 4 times. Cover with clean cold water and soak 15 minutes.
  2. In a 3-quart (2.9 litres) stainless pan, combine 5 cups (1.2 litres) water with the salt, butter and olive oil. Drain the rice and add it; the water should be ½ inch (1 cm) over the rice.
  3. Bring to a boil over high heat, stirring a couple of times to mix. Cook uncovered over medium-high heat, without stirring, until the rice is not quite tender and the water is gone, about 6 minutes.
  4. Tahdig: melt the ¼ stick (28 g) butter around the inside of the pan. Poke holes in the rice with a wooden spoon handle and put the saffron mixture on top. Pour 2 tbsp (28 g) melted butter over the rice.
  5. Wrap a towel around the underside of the lid and secure it on top. Return the pan to medium heat for 10 minutes, then reduce to very low and cook 25 minutes more.
  6. Take the pan off the heat and set the bottom inch in cold water for 5 minutes to loosen the crust. Uncover, put a flat plate on top and invert.

Underlined on the card: “hot” (water) and “Tadik:”.

Purple box, p. 103
Purple box, p. 104
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegetarian

Marci’s Pasta Salad

Marci [?]

Ingredients
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced, in 1 inch (2.5 cm) of olive oil to cover, in a small dish
  • 1 zucchini, sliced and quartered
  • 1 red pepper, in small pieces
  • 6 to 8 large mushrooms
  • 1 Vidalia onion, cut up
  • 1 large or 2 small yellow squash, in small chunks
  • olive or canola oil
  • 1 lb (450 g) fusilli, cooked, rinsed and tossed with salt, pepper, Parmesan and olive oil
  • dried basil
  • ¼ cup (25 g) grated Parmesan
  • grape tomatoes, edamame, black olives, artichoke hearts and sun-dried tomatoes
  • ½ cup (120 ml) balsamic dressing (or more), from the refrigerator
  • ½ ball fresh mozzarella, cubed
Method
  1. Sauté the vegetables in olive or canola oil until done but still firm, not soft. Add the garlic in its oil after they’re firm.
  2. Mix the fusilli with salt, pepper, dried basil and the Parmesan. Add the tomatoes, edamame, olives, artichoke hearts and sun-dried tomatoes.
  3. Dress with the balsamic dressing. Add the mozzarella just before serving.
  4. If making the day before, add the cold vegetables with the mozzarella about ½ hour before serving and refrigerate again. Hard-boiled eggs are a good addition.
Purple box, p. 105
Purple box, p. 106
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegan

Black Chinese (Forbidden) Rice

Yield Serves 4

Ingredients
  • ½ cup (95 g) black rice
  • 1½ cups (360 ml) boiling water
  • ½ tsp salt
Method
  1. Put the rice in a pan and cover with three times its volume of boiling water. Add the salt.
  2. Cover and simmer until tender, 30 to 45 minutes. Let stand 10 minutes off the heat, covered.
  3. Rinse with boiling water, drain, fluff with a fork and serve.

A magazine clipping by J.D.L. is pasted to the card. It says Forbidden Rice is one of more than 100 black rices and is unmilled: the bran turns purplish black when cooked and the inside stays creamy white. It is sold by Kalustyan’s and by its importer, Lotus Foods.

“boiling” is underlined, in “(1½ c) boiling water”, and on the clipping “varieties of black rice” is circled in pen.

Purple box, p. 107
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegetarian

Tilda Rice

Yield Serves 6 to 8

Ingredients
  • 1 litre (about 4 cups) rice
  • 1 onion, chopped
  • garam masala
  • salt
  • butter
  • 1.1 litres (4⅔ cups) boiling water
Method
  1. Wash the rice in a strainer with cold water until the loose starch is gone. Give it a last rinse with boiling water.
  2. Sauté the onion with garam masala and salt in butter until very soft.
  3. Add the boiling water on top of the onions, then the washed rice. Stir gently.
  4. Bring to a vigorous boil over high heat and boil 2 minutes, until no surface water shows, just holes in the rice.
  5. Turn the heat down to a simmer, put a tight lid on and cook 20 minutes. Don’t peek.
  6. Toss lightly and let sit with the lid on until ready to eat.

Underlined on the card: “boiling”.

Purple box, p. 108
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegetarian

Garlic Rice

Method
  1. Sauté garlic in butter and olive oil. Add the water, rice and salt and cook as usual.
Purple box, p. 109
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegetarian

Kirsten’s Basmati Rice

Kirsten; for brown or white basmati

Ingredients
  • 2 cups (380 g) basmati rice
  • 2 cups (475 ml) water, plus 2 tbsp
  • ½ stick (55 g) butter (first sauté a chopped onion in it until soft)
Method
  1. Rinse the rice in cold water until it runs clear, then soak it in boiling water and drain (unless you want stickier rice).
  2. Add the rice to the boiling water and butter mixture and stir gently.
  3. Boil vigorously for 2 minutes only. Cover tightly and simmer on very low heat for 20 minutes.
  4. Turn off the heat and let stand 10 minutes, checking that the bottom is dry. Loosen the rice with a fork.

“Idea”: add a cinnamon stick and a bay leaf to the water.

In the margin: use an equal volume of water and rice.

“Boil vigorously for 2 min. only!” At the bottom, “Idea” is underlined.

Purple box, p. 110
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegan

Brown Basmati

Method
  1. Wash the rice in cold water in a sieve to get the starch off. Rinse again in boiling water if you don’t want sticky rice. Set aside.
  2. Sauté a chopped onion until soft. Add twice the rice’s volume of water, plus a little more, and bring to the boil. (The card says “equal vol. of water (& bit more)”, with “(twice)” written in above a crossed-out “& rice”; “equal” is not crossed out.)
  3. Add the rice and stir gently. Boil vigorously 2 minutes.
  4. Turn to very low heat and cover tightly. Don’t open for 20 minutes.

Underlined on the card: “v. low”.

Purple box, p. 111
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegetarian

Creamy Jasmine Rice

The New York Times, March 2008; “for under baked salmon, etc.”

Yield Serves 4

Ingredients
  • 2 tbsp (28 g) butter
  • 1 cup (190 g) jasmine rice
  • ½ cup (120 ml) whole milk
  • ½ cup (120 ml) coconut milk
  • salt and ground white pepper
Method
  1. In a medium saucepan, bring 1½ cups (360 ml) water and the butter to a boil. Add the rice and reduce the heat to low.
  2. Simmer uncovered for 12 minutes. Take off the heat, cover snugly with foil and leave another 12 minutes.
  3. Bring the milk and coconut milk to a simmer in a small pan. Stir in the rice, season and keep warm.

Underlined on the card: “un” in “uncovered”.

Purple box, p. 112
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwritten

Kir’s Green Risotto

Kir

Ingredients
  • 1 cup (25 g) fresh mint leaves
  • 500 g (1 lb 2 oz) fresh baby spinach
  • 350 g (12½ oz) frozen peas
  • onion and garlic
  • 5 slices bacon (300 g / 10½ oz)
  • risotto rice, vermouth and broth
  • butter and Parmesan
  • 6 tbsp chopped fresh basil
Method
  1. Blanch the mint, spinach and peas in the microwave and purée with a wand blender.
  2. Cook a risotto your usual way, without saffron: sauté the onion, garlic and bacon, then cook the rice with vermouth and broth.
  3. At the end, stir in butter and Parmesan, the warm purée and the basil.

Underlined on the card: “warm”, in “warm puree”.

Purple box, p. 113
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegetarian

Delia’s Risotto with Wild Mushrooms

Noted “Delia – X 101”, most likely Delia Smith’s Christmas, page 101

Ingredients
  • 6 oz (170 g) arborio rice
  • 1 pint (570 ml) boiling water
  • ½-oz (14 g) packet dried porcini mushrooms
  • 8 oz (225 g) fresh mushrooms, chopped
  • 1 onion, finely chopped
  • 1 glass dry white wine
  • 2½ oz (70 g) butter
  • 2 tbsp grated Parmesan, plus more to serve
  • salt and pepper
Method
  1. Pour the boiling water over the dried mushrooms and soak 30 minutes.
  2. Melt 2 oz (55 g) butter in a large heavy pan. Add the onion and fresh mushrooms and cook very gently until the onion is pale gold.
  3. Drain the porcini, saving the liquid, and squeeze out the water with your hands. Chop very small and add to the onion mixture.
  4. Stir in the rice to coat it evenly. Add the wine, salt and pepper and stir. Over low heat, uncovered, let the rice absorb the wine, about 10 minutes.
  5. Boil the mushroom liquid and add it a spoonful at a time, stirring gently until each is absorbed. You will probably use only about 425 ml (15 fl oz).
  6. It should be creamy with little visible liquid, but just enough to keep it soupy rather than sticky.
  7. At the end, stir in the last ½ oz (14 g) butter, the Parmesan and seasoning. Serve with more Parmesan.

Underlined on the card: “soupy”.

Purple box, p. 114
Purple box, p. 115
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegetarian

Pat Lillian’s Noodle Casserole

Pat Lillian [?]

Yield Serves 6

Ingredients
  • 2 eggs (or 4)
  • 3 tbsp sugar (or ¾ cup / 150 g)
  • ¼ tsp cinnamon
  • a pinch of salt
  • 8 oz (225 g) broad egg noodles (Mrs. Weiss’s 2-inch / 5 cm curly), cooked and drained
  • 4 tbsp (55 g) butter (or ½ cup / 115 g)
  • ½ cup (75 g) raisins (or ¾ cup / 110 g)
Method
  1. Combine the eggs, cinnamon and salt. Add to the noodles with the butter and raisins.
  2. Bake in a buttered casserole at 400°F (200°C) until lightly browned, 30 to 45 minutes.

The bracketed amounts are a richer, sweeter version written beside the originals, in the same pen.

Purple box, p. 116
Early cards · 1950s–80s

Gnocchi with Scallops

A New York Times clipping pasted on a card (“Gourmet” crossed out). Rewritten here.

Yield Serves 4 to 6

Ingredients
  • 2 lb (900 g) potatoes
  • salt and pepper
  • 1½ cups (190 g) all-purpose flour, plus extra for shaping
  • ¼ cup (25 g) freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano
  • 1 egg, lightly beaten
  • 16 large sea scallops
  • 2 medium yellow squash
  • 2 medium zucchini
  • 2 oz (55 g) unsalted butter
  • 1 large clove garlic, minced
  • ⅛ tsp grated nutmeg
  • lemon and orange zest, to garnish
Method
  1. Cover the unpeeled potatoes with cold water, add 2 tsp salt, cover and simmer over medium heat until tender, about 40 minutes. Drain and peel while hot.
  2. Pass through a ricer or food mill into a high mound in a bowl. Sprinkle with 1 cup (125 g) flour and the cheese. Make a crater in the centre and add the egg.
  3. By hand, gradually draw the potatoes into the egg and knead, sprinkling with ½ cup (65 g) more flour. Knead in the bowl until smooth, about 3 minutes.
  4. Divide into 8 pieces. With floured hands, roll each into a 1-inch (2.5 cm) rope and cut into ¾-inch (2 cm) pieces. Press each lightly on a floured grater or fork so a fingertip leaves a dent.
  5. Bring a large kettle of water to a boil. Meanwhile, slice the scallops, squash and zucchini into ½-inch (1 cm) rounds and quarter them. Sauté in the butter with the garlic over medium-low heat about 10 minutes.
  6. Cook the gnocchi in about 4 batches until they float, then 30 seconds more. Lift out, drain and keep warm on a platter.
  7. Season the scallop mixture with the nutmeg, salt and pepper, pour over the gnocchi and garnish with the zest.
Purple box, p. 117
Purple box, p. 118
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegetarian

Lindy’s Pasta with Brie, Tomatoes and Arugula

Lindy

Yield Serves 4 to 6

Ingredients
  • 1 pint (300 g) grape tomatoes, quartered
  • salt (½ tsp) and pepper (a liberal 1 tsp)
  • ½ lb (225 g) Brie, rind removed, cut into ½-inch (1 cm) pieces (or ¼ lb / 115 g Gorgonzola, melted over low heat in 2 tbsp / 28 g butter)
  • 1 bunch arugula (6 oz / 170 g, or 1½ cups), torn into large pieces
  • ⅓ cup (80 ml) olive oil
  • ¼ cup (15 g) finely chopped basil
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • ¾ lb (340 g) elbow macaroni or bow ties
Method
  1. In a large bowl, toss the tomatoes with salt and pepper. Add the Brie, arugula, olive oil, basil and garlic.
  2. Cook the pasta, reserving ¼ cup (60 ml) of the cooking water. Put the pasta in a warm serving bowl.
  3. Add the tomato mixture and the water and toss until the cheese melts and turns creamy.

Underlined on the card: “torn” (twice) and “¼ C. cooking water”.

Purple box, p. 119
Early cards · 1950s–80sVegetarian

Macaroni and Cheese Arrabbiata

Newspaper clipping, pasted on a card (“whole” tomatoes changed to “diced”)

Yield Serves 5 to 6 as a main dish

Ingredients
  • ½ lb (225 g) penne
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • one 16-oz (450 g) can diced tomatoes, drained and chopped fine
  • ¼ tsp coarse-ground black pepper
  • 1 tsp crushed red pepper
  • ¾ cup (100 g) pitted kalamata olives, chopped
  • ½ tsp dried basil
  • 3 tbsp (43 g) butter
  • 3 tbsp flour
  • 1½ cups (360 ml) milk
  • ¾ cup (85 g) grated fontina
  • ¼ cup (25 g) plus 2 tbsp grated Parmesan
  • salt
Method
  1. Cook the pasta in boiling salted water until al dente.
  2. Meanwhile, heat the oil in a medium skillet and sauté the garlic until golden. Add the tomatoes and both peppers and simmer uncovered over medium heat 5 minutes, until almost mushy. Stir in the olives and basil and set aside.
  3. Melt the butter in a heavy saucepan, stir in the flour and whisk over medium heat 1 minute. Add the milk all at once, whisking hard until smooth. Cook and stir until thick and bubbly.
  4. Stir in the fontina and ¼ cup (25 g) Parmesan, take off the heat and stir until melted. Salt to taste and stir in the tomato mixture.
  5. Drain the pasta very well. Return it to the pot and stir over low heat until any moisture evaporates. Add the sauce and stir to coat.
  6. Turn into a buttered 9 × 13-inch (23 × 33 cm) pan or an oval gratin dish, sprinkle with the remaining Parmesan and bake at 400°F (200°C) for 20 minutes, until golden brown.
Purple box, p. 120
Early cards · 1950s–80sVegetarian

Gorgonzola Cream Sauce with Angel-Hair Pasta

Newspaper clipping, with a nutritional analysis (605 calories a serving). Rewritten here.

Yield Serves 4; 20 to 25 minutes

Ingredients
  • 3 quarts (2.9 litres) water
  • 2 tbsp cornstarch
  • 2 cups (475 ml) low-fat buttermilk
  • ¼ cup (35 g) Gorgonzola
  • ⅛ tsp ground nutmeg
  • 1 lb (450 g) fresh angel-hair pasta
  • 1 cup (145 g) fresh or frozen peas
  • ¼ cup (30 g) toasted chopped walnuts
  • 4 tbsp freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano
Method
  1. Bring the water to a boil in a covered pot.
  2. Mix the cornstarch with a tablespoon of the buttermilk to a smooth paste. In a heavy saucepan, combine it with the rest of the buttermilk, the Gorgonzola and the nutmeg.
  3. Cook over medium heat, stirring almost constantly, to melt the cheese and thicken. As it begins to thicken, stir in the peas and cook just long enough to heat them.
  4. Cook the pasta in the boiling water about 45 seconds, or as the package says, and drain.
  5. Stir in the walnuts and serve over the pasta, with the Parmigiano.
Purple box, p. 121
Early cards · 1950s–80s

Fusilli Primavera with Shrimp

The New York Times, clipping pasted on a card. Rewritten here.

Ingredients
  • ½ lb (225 g) thin string beans
  • 6 oz (170 g) baby carrots, peeled
  • 15 asparagus tips
  • 12 oz (340 g) medium shrimp, peeled and deveined
  • 10 oz (285 g) cherry tomatoes, halved if large
  • 1 yellow bell pepper, seeded and sliced
  • 6 large radishes, sliced
  • 1 lb (450 g) fusilli
  • ¼ cup (15 g) chopped fresh parsley
  • ¼ cup (60 ml) extra-virgin olive oil
  • salt and pepper
Method
  1. Cook the string beans in lightly salted boiling water about 5 minutes and cool in ice water. In the same water, cook the carrots about 5 minutes and the asparagus about 3 minutes, cooling each the same way.
  2. Cook the shrimp in about 1 cup (240 ml) lightly salted boiling water until pink, about 3 minutes. Drain and cool.
  3. Cook the pasta al dente, keeping about 1 cup (240 ml) of the cooking water. Drain, cool and put in a serving bowl.
  4. Add the cooked vegetables, the raw tomatoes, pepper and radishes, and the shrimp. Sprinkle with parsley and oil, season and toss.
  5. Add a little pasta water and toss again. Adjust the seasoning.

Drawn in pen at the end of the clipped title: a mark like a “4” [?].

Purple box, p. 122
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegetarian

Rita’s Pasta Dish

Rita

Ingredients
  • 6 ripe plum tomatoes, chopped in ¼-inch (5 mm) pieces
  • basil, chopped (lots)
  • 3 to 4 cloves garlic, crushed or chopped
  • olive oil, enough to wet everything
  • salt and pepper
  • feta, to top
  • hot pasta
Method
  1. Mix the tomatoes, basil, garlic, oil, salt and pepper.
  2. Toss with the hot pasta, straight from the pot, shaking it with the pasta in the pot.
  3. Serve in a warmed bowl with feta on top.
Purple box, p. 123
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegetarian

Fresh Pasta (Gotham)

Noted “Gotham”, probably the Gotham Bar and Grill cookbook, and “see J. Oliver” (Jamie Oliver)

Yield 1½ lb (675 g)

Ingredients
  • 1¼ cups (155 g) unbleached flour, plus more for dusting
  • 1¼ cups (205 g) durum semolina
  • 4 large eggs, at room temperature
  • ½ tsp olive oil
  • 2 tbsp water, as needed
Method
  1. In a food processor with the metal blade, pulse the flour and semolina 40 seconds to combine.
  2. Mix the eggs with the oil and pour through the feed tube with the motor running. Add water just until the dough comes together, about 1 minute.
  3. Check it: if too soft, add a tablespoon or more of flour; if dry and crumbly, a tablespoon or more of water. Process 30 seconds and check again.
  4. Knead on a lightly floured surface until smooth and resilient, 5 to 10 minutes. Wrap in Saran and rest 60 minutes in the refrigerator.
  5. Set the pasta machine rollers to the widest setting, with flour nearby. Cut the dough into 4 parts and work one at a time.
  6. Pat each into a thick oblong and run it through the machine. Fold in thirds and repeat until the dough has straight, even sides the width of the rollers, supporting it as it comes out. Dust with flour as needed.
  7. Narrow the setting gradually down to almost the last, until the dough is 1/16 inch (1.5 mm) thick. Lay the sheets on a lightly floured surface.
  8. Let the sheets dry until slightly leathery but still pliable, 15 to 60 minutes.
  9. Cut fettuccine with the widest cutter and linguine with the narrower one. For pappardelle, “see bk pg 175”.

It can wait at room temperature up to 8 hours.

“keep flour near pasta machine!” Underlined on the card: “lg.” (eggs), “widest” and, twice, “1/16″”.

Purple box, p. 124
Purple box, p. 125
Early cards · 1950s–80s

Baked Orzo with Shrimp, Tomato Sauce and Feta

Gourmet, clipped from a book page and pasted on a card. The card is backed with a colour photograph of a salad with blue cheese, bacon and dried cranberries.

Yield Serves 6; 25 minutes active, 45 minutes in all

Ingredients
  • 1 medium onion, finely chopped
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • ½ tsp dried oregano, crumbled
  • ¼ tsp dried hot red pepper flakes
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • ½ cup (120 ml) dry white wine
  • one 28- to 32-oz (800–900 g) can crushed tomatoes
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1½ lb (675 g) large shrimp (about 36), shelled and deveined
  • 1 lb (450 g) orzo
  • ½ cup (70 g) Kalamata or other brine-cured black olives, pitted and chopped
  • 1 lb (450 g) feta, patted dry and crumbled (3 cups)
Method
  1. Heat the oven to 425°F (220°C).
  2. In a 4-quart (3.8 litres) heavy pot over moderately high heat, cook the onion, garlic, oregano and pepper flakes in 1 tbsp oil, stirring, until soft, about 3 minutes.
  3. Add the wine and boil until reduced by half, about 3 minutes. Stir in the tomatoes and salt and simmer briskly, stirring often, until slightly thickened, about 8 minutes.
  4. Stir in the shrimp and simmer, stirring now and then, until just cooked through, about 3 minutes.
  5. Meanwhile, cook the orzo in a 6-quart (5.7 litres) pot of boiling salted water until al dente. Keep ½ cup (120 ml) of the water and drain the orzo.
  6. Return the orzo to the pot and toss with the other tablespoon of oil. Stir in the sauce with shrimp, the reserved water, the olives, and salt and pepper to taste.
  7. Spoon half into an oiled 13 × 9 × 2-inch (33 × 23 × 5 cm) glass baking dish and sprinkle with half the feta. Top with the rest of the pasta and feta.
  8. Bake uncovered in the middle of the oven until the cheese is slightly melted and the pasta is hot, 10 to 15 minutes.
Purple box, p. 126
Purple box, p. 127
Early cards · 1950s–80s

Rice Simmered with Broth and Garlic

Newspaper clipping, pasted on a card. Rewritten here.

Yield “Plenty for 4”

Ingredients
  • 3 tbsp (43 g) butter
  • 2 cloves garlic, lightly crushed
  • 2 shallot lobes, chopped
  • sea salt and black pepper
  • 2 cups (380 g) arborio rice
  • 5 cups (1.2 litres) chicken broth
Method
  1. Heat the oven to 350°F (180°C). In a medium ovenproof skillet, heat 2 tbsp (28 g) butter until foaming.
  2. Add the garlic and shallot, season and cook until soft but not brown, about 5 minutes.
  3. Add the rice and stir to coat. Pour in the broth, bring to a boil, cover and move to the oven.
  4. Cook until the liquid is absorbed and the rice tender, 18 to 20 minutes, adding more broth if needed.
  5. Correct the seasoning, stir in the rest of the butter and serve.
Purple box, p. 130
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegetarian

Uncle Ben’s Rice

Method
  1. Put the rice in plenty of boiling water (2 to 3 times its volume). Boil 10 minutes once it comes back to the boil.
  2. Strain, drain and toss with butter.

For more separate grains, rinse the rice in boiling water first.

“Boil” is underlined twice.

Purple box, p. 131
Early cards · 1950s–80s

Basmati Rice with Coconut Milk and Ginger

Newspaper clipping on a card, starred. Rewritten here.

Yield Serves 4; 20 minutes

Ingredients
  • 2 cups (380 g) basmati rice
  • 1½ cups (360 ml) coconut milk
  • 1 cup (240 ml) chicken broth
  • 1 tsp kosher salt, more to taste
  • 3 scallions, thinly sliced
  • 2 tbsp finely chopped ginger
Method
  1. Rinse the rice in a fine strainer under cold water until it runs clear. Put it in a medium saucepan with 1 cup (240 ml) water, the coconut milk, broth and salt.
  2. Cover and bring to a boil over medium-high heat, then simmer until the liquid is absorbed and the rice tender, about 15 minutes.
  3. Off the heat, stir in the scallions and ginger, adding a little more coconut milk if the rice is dry. Season and serve.

The word “chopped” in the ginger line is underlined, and below the clipping is written: “(1st slice peeled ginger crosswise; stack few slice & pound w/side of chef’s knife)”

Purple box, p. 132
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwritten

Ginny W.’s Orzo

Ginny W.; “Best w/ lamb”

Yield Serves 8

Ingredients
  • 1 onion
  • 1 to 2 tomatoes
  • 2 to 3 cloves garlic
  • olive oil
  • 1 box orzo
  • several tbsp fresh parsley and mint
  • a squirt of lemon
  • salt and pepper
Method
  1. Chop the onion, tomatoes and garlic finely and sauté in olive oil until soft.
  2. Boil the orzo separately, in advance, and combine with the vegetables.
  3. Just before serving, add the fresh parsley and mint, the lemon, salt and pepper.
  4. Pour the drippings from the sliced leg of lamb over the orzo.

Underlined on the card: “Chop”, “Boil”, “Add” and “fresh” (parsley and mint).

Purple box, p. 134
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenWell used

Elizabeth Mynatt’s Lasagne (and Grammy’s “Pat’s Spaghetti – Lasagne”)

Elizabeth Mynatt, on her printed “My PetRecipe… A PetRecipe from Elizabeth Mynatt” card. Grammy’s own copy is headed “Pat’s Spaghetti – Lasagne”, with a note in ink at the top right that seems to read “uses Liz’s & Rosa’s” [?].

Yield 2 large pans

Ingredients
  • Sauce
  • 2 lb (900 g) ground round (Grammy: 2 lb / 900 g ground round, 1 lb / 450 g sweet sausage and ½ lb / 225 g hot sausage)
  • 1 lb (450 g) hot Italian sausage
  • 1 large can tomato paste
  • 1 large can tomato sauce (Grammy: 2 large cans tomato purée, or plum tomatoes)
  • 1 jumbo can Italian plum tomatoes
  • 1 cup (160 g) chopped onion
  • ¼ cup (60 ml) olive oil
  • 1 green pepper, chopped
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 tsp salt and some pepper
  • 6 bay leaves
  • 1 tsp oregano
  • ½ tsp allspice
  • crushed red pepper
  • ¼ cup (15 g) chopped parsley
  • 1 small can mushrooms
  • Layers
  • 1 lb (450 g) lasagne noodles
  • 1 tbsp oil
  • 1½ lb (675 g) ricotta, 2 tbsp parsley, 2 tsp oregano and 4 well-beaten eggs, mixed
  • 1½ cups (150–175 g) each grated Romano and mozzarella, mixed
Method
  1. Sauce: fry the meat in the olive oil. Add the pepper and onion and cook until tender. Add the rest and simmer 2 hours (Grammy: 3 hours). Best made a day ahead for full flavour.
  2. Cook the noodles in boiling salted water with the oil. Drain.
  3. In 2 large pans, make thin layers of sauce, noodles (6 to 8 to a layer), the ricotta mixture and the Romano and mozzarella mixture. Repeat, ending with sauce on top.
  4. Bake at 350°F (180°C) for 30 minutes.

Elizabeth’s freezer note: “Freezes well – place foil in pan, make lasagne freeze, remove from pan, wrap with more foil. If cooked frozen, takes about 1½ hrs. Keep wrapped til last ½ hr.”

On Elizabeth’s card, a line is drawn under “+ preferably” (make 1 day ahead), just above “Assembly:”.

On the “Pat’s” card, underlined: “Brown”, both “Add”s and “Simmer 3 hrs.”

On its back: “little”, in “sauce (little)”, is underlined twice in brown ink; “Bake – 350 – 30 min” is underlined, with “frozen 350 – 1½ hr” below it.

Purple box, p. 136
Purple box, p. 137
Purple box, p. 167
Purple box, p. 168
Early cards · 1950s–80s

Spaghetti Meat Sauce, on Great Northern Railway paper

Typed on Great Northern Railway letterhead (“Great for Travel • Great for Freight”, form 6075-1959), with the goat emblem. It was written for Grammy, so the sender may have been family or a friend who worked for the railway.

Ingredients
  • ½ lb (225 g) ground meat
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 small onion, chopped
  • 1 cup (240 ml) catsup
  • 1½ cups (360 ml) tomatoes or Hunt’s Tomato Sauce (plus a can of water, added in green ink)
  • ¼ tsp pepper
  • lard, to brown the meat and onions
Method
  1. Brown the meat and onions in the lard. Add the rest and cook slowly until well blended, an hour or so.

The sender’s typed advice: “I would make at least twice this receipe for you and John. I also like about 1/4 tsp sugar. Helps the taste.”

Purple box, p. 138
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwritten

Rita’s Spaghetti

Rita; two cards

Ingredients
  • 1½ lb (675 g) Italian sweet sausage
  • 1 lb (450 g) hamburger
  • salt and pepper
  • 1 onion
  • 1 clove garlic, mashed
  • 1 green pepper
  • mushrooms
  • olive oil
  • 2 large cans plum tomatoes
  • 1 can tomato paste
  • 1 can tomato sauce
  • hot pepper flakes and oregano, to taste
Method
  1. Brown the sausage first, then add the hamburger, with salt and pepper. Take it out.
  2. Sauté the onion, garlic, green pepper and mushrooms in olive oil until soft. Put everything together.
  3. Add the tomatoes, paste, sauce, pepper flakes and oregano, and season to taste.
  4. Simmer 3 hours, uncovered. (The second card adds “(pres. cooker)”.)

On the first card, the title is written “Spagetti!” [?] and underlined; “Saute”, “Brown” and “Add” are underlined, with circled numbers beside them: “2”, “1” and “3”.

Underlined on the second card: “soft” and “to taste”.

Purple box, p. 139
Purple box, p. 169
Early cards · 1950s–80s

Italian Spaghetti and Meatballs (with typed asides)

Four typed cards, in the same style and humour as Pat Ricks’s Cottage Lasagna

Yield Serves 4

Ingredients
  • Sauce
  • 2 cans Contadina tomato paste
  • 1 large can stewed or Italian tomatoes
  • 1 medium onion
  • 3 to 4 cloves garlic
  • salt and pepper (about 1 tbsp salt and ½ tsp pepper)
  • 1 tbsp sugar
  • cooking oil
  • ½ green pepper and mushrooms, if you like
  • Meatballs
  • the other half of the onions and garlic
  • a “pinch” of milk
  • 1 cup (85–110 g) bread or cracker crumbs
  • 1 egg (whole)
  • parsley flakes
  • salt and pepper
  • grated cheese, if desired
  • 1 lb (450 g) hamburger (or 1½ lb / 675 g), figuring 2 meatballs per person
  • spaghetti
Method
  1. Put the tomatoes in a colander over a bowl and press out the juice. Throw away the pulp.
  2. Put the juice in a saucepan with the tomato paste and about 2 cans of water for each can of paste. Stir together over medium heat.
  3. Season with salt and pepper and cook about 15 minutes. Add the sugar, and keep cooking while you make the meatballs.
  4. Dice the garlic and onions. Put half in a large mixing bowl and save the rest.
  5. Add all the meatball ingredients and mix well with your hands.
  6. Heat just enough oil to cover the bottom of a frying pan. With wet hands, shape the meatballs and brown them well, turning so all sides brown.
  7. Add the browned meatballs to the sauce and baste them.
  8. Fry the rest of the onions and garlic in the oil and put the whole “works”, oil and all, into the sauce.
  9. Baste occasionally and cook 1 to 1½ hours. The longer it cooks, the thicker it gets; covering the pan speeds the thickening.
  10. After the spaghetti has boiled and cold water has been run through it in the colander, pour some heated water over it so it isn’t so cold, and stir in a little sauce so it doesn’t look so white.

Typed asides: “Sometimes I make more to have in sandwiches later”; “dice garlic and ionions (spell, much?)”.

The sign-off: “after you have made this a few times, you will know how much onion and garlic you want to add. Also the spicies. We like ours quite spicey… Good Luck! (You can offer your guests a stick of gum following the meal. Smell is worse than cigarette smell! Ha)”

Purple box, p. 156
Purple box, p. 157
Purple box, p. 158
Purple box, p. 159
Early cards · 1950s–80s

Pat Ricks’s Cottage Lasagna

Pat Ricks, typed on three cards

Yield 8 servings

Ingredients
  • ½ lb (225 g) Italian sweet sausage (“I used Vienna sausages”)
  • ½ lb (225 g) ground beef (“I used lb.”)
  • 1 envelope spaghetti sauce mix
  • 2 cans (8 oz / 225 g each) tomato sauce
  • 1 can tomato paste
  • 1½ cups (360 ml) water
  • 2 tbsp grated Parmesan
  • ½ lb (8 oz; 225 g) lasagna noodles
  • 1 lb (450 g) cottage cheese
  • 2 tbsp chopped parsley
  • 1 package (8 oz / 225 g) sliced mozzarella or Muenster
Method
  1. Remove the casing from the sausage, cut into small pieces and brown in a skillet over medium heat.
  2. Add the beef and cook until it loses its pink colour, tossing lightly with a fork. Drain off the fat.
  3. Stir in the sauce mix, tomato sauce, paste, water and Parmesan and simmer 10 minutes.
  4. Cook the noodles as the package directs and drain.
  5. Spoon enough sauce into a 7 × 11 × 2-inch (18 × 28 × 5 cm) dish to cover the bottom. Layer half the noodles, half the cottage cheese and half the parsley, and cover with sauce. Repeat.
  6. Cut the mozzarella into wide strips and arrange in a cross-bar design on top.
  7. Bake at 350°F (180°C) for 30 minutes, until the cheese melts and the sauce bubbles.

Pat’s notes: “I use my own spaghetti sauce recipe and I included ONE can of tomato sauce. But won’t next time, as I felt the sauce was too tomatoey.” And at the end: “(403 calories per serving. Just an added tid-bit of information! ha!)”

Thin lines strike through the sauce-mix, tomato-sauce, tomato-paste and water lines, and through “Stir in spaghetti sauce mix, tomato sauce, tomato paste, water,” in the method.

Purple box, p. 160
Purple box, p. 161
Purple box, p. 162
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwritten

Inez Langille’s Noodles or Rice Casserole

On Inez Langille’s printed “from the recipe file of” card, with an old cast-iron stove

Ingredients
  • ½ lb (225 g) noodles, cooked lightly in salted water, or 2 cups (380 g) rice cooked in 2 cups (475 ml) water with 2 bouillon cubes
  • 1 cup (225 g) cottage cheese
  • ½ cup (115 g) Philadelphia cream cheese
  • ¼ cup (60 g) sour cream
  • ⅓ cup (33 g) chopped green onions
  • 1 tbsp green pepper
  • 2 tbsp (28 g) melted butter
  • 2 tbsp (28 g) butter
  • Top
  • 1 lb (450 g) ground beef, sautéed in 1 tbsp (14 g) butter
  • two 8-oz (225 g) cans Hunt’s tomato paste, or tomato soup
Method
  1. Combine the cottage cheese, cream cheese and sour cream. Add the green onions, pepper and melted butter.
  2. Put half the noodles in a flat buttered baking dish. Add all the cheese mixture and sprinkle with 2 tbsp (28 g) butter.
  3. Sauté the beef in the butter and stir in the tomato paste or soup. Pour over the cheese.
  4. Top with the rest of the noodles or rice. Chill before baking.
  5. Start in a cold oven at 375°F (190°C) and bake 1 hour.

“Can be made nite before.”

Underlined on the card: “Combine” and “Add”.

Purple box, p. 165
Purple box, p. 166
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegetarian

Brown Rice and Mushroom Dressing

Ingredients
  • 3 to 4 onions, diced
  • 2 celery stalks, diced (“soften [?] a bit at last”)
  • 1 green pepper, diced
  • ¼ lb (115 g) butter
  • 3 tbsp or more instant onion powder (a jar of “Croydon” [?])
  • 2 boxes brown rice, cooked and drained
  • 2 cans water chestnuts, sliced
  • 1 small can mushrooms, drained well
Method
  1. Sauté the onions, celery and pepper in the butter until soft.
  2. Add the onion powder and stir until smooth. Turn off the heat.
  3. Add to the cooked brown rice, then the water chestnuts and mushrooms.

The “C” of “Croydon” [?] and the “2” in “(2 box)” (brown rice) are gone over heavily in darker ink.

Purple box, p. 213
Purple box, p. 214
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegetarian

Fried Rice (baked)

On the back of a mailing-list form

Ingredients
  • 2 tbsp salad oil
  • 1 bunch green onions, chopped (with some of the green)
  • 1 cup (100 g) diced celery
  • 2 cups (320 g) cooked rice
  • salt
  • 2 tbsp soya sauce
  • chopped blanched almonds, browned in butter
Method
  1. Sauté the onions and celery in the oil, but do not brown.
  2. Add the rice, salt and soy sauce. Mix and put in a casserole.
  3. Bake at 380°F (195°C) for ½ hour. Toss the almonds on top just before serving.
Purple box, p. 217
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwritten

Bete’s Deluxe Rice Casserole

Bete [?]; “Deluxe” added over the title

Ingredients
  • 1 cup (190 g) rice
  • ¼ lb (115 g) butter
  • 1 cup (160 g) onions
  • 1 lb (450 g) mushrooms
  • 1 cup (135 g) black olives (seedless)
  • 1 can beef consommé
  • 1 can water
  • Parmesan cheese, salt, pepper and garlic salt
Method
  1. Brown the rice, mushrooms, olives and onions in the butter. Season.
  2. Pour the consommé and water over. Cover and bake at 350°F (180°C).
  3. When it thickens, sprinkle with cheese generously.

“Brown” is underlined twice.

Purple box, p. 231
Purple box, p. 232
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegetarian

Rice Pilaf

Yield Serves 6

Ingredients
  • 2 cups (380 g) rice
  • 1 cup (225 g) butter
  • 1 onion, chopped
  • 1 garlic clove, chopped
  • 12 cloves
  • 12 cardamom seeds
  • whole allspice
  • 1-inch (2.5 cm) stick cinnamon
  • ½ tsp ground turmeric
  • 2 tsp salt
  • ¼ cup (35 g) almonds
  • ½ cup (75 g) raisins
Method
  1. Sauté the onion in ½ cup (115 g) butter for 5 minutes. Add the rice and cook 5 minutes, stirring constantly.
  2. Add 4 cups (950 ml) boiling water and all the spices. Cover and simmer 30 minutes, until all the water is absorbed.
  3. Melt the other ½ cup (115 g) butter in a skillet, add the almonds and cook, stirring constantly, until golden brown.
  4. Stir the almonds and raisins into the cooked rice.

The “2” of “2 c. rice” is written over another figure in a darker ink.

Purple box, p. 243
Purple box, p. 244
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegan

Rice Ring

Method
  1. Boil 2 cups (380 g) dry rice (4 cups / 650 g cooked) until done. Pack into a greased Bundt mould.
  2. Set in a pan ¼ full of hot water and bake 1 hour at 350°F (180°C).
  3. Unmould and fill the centre.

In “pan ¼ full of hot water”, “hot” is underlined.

Purple box, p. 246
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwritten

Parsley Rice

Yield 5 servings

Ingredients
  • 1 cup (190 g) uncooked rice
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 2 chicken bouillon cubes
  • 2 cups (475 ml) water
  • ¼ cup (25 g) sliced green onion
  • ⅓ cup (50 g) diced green pepper
  • ¼ cup (29 g) slivered unblanched almonds
  • 2 tbsp (28 g) butter
  • ½ cup (30 g) chopped parsley
Method
  1. Combine the rice, salt, bouillon cubes and water and bring to a boil. Stir, cover and cook over very low heat 14 minutes, until tender.
  2. Heat the onion, pepper and almonds in the butter until the almonds brown.
  3. Fold into the freshly cooked rice with the parsley.

Underlined on the card: “Combine”, “Cook”, “Heat” and “Fold”.

Purple box, p. 247
Purple box, p. 248
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwritten

Emmy’s Rice and Carrots

Emmy

Yield Serves 12

Ingredients
  • 2 cups (380 g) long-grain rice
  • ⅔ stick (75 g) butter
  • 4 cups (950 ml) chicken broth
  • 1 tbsp salt
  • ¾ cup (85 g) finely grated carrot
  • ½ cup (50 g) green onion, chopped fine
  • 1 cup (115 g) slivered almonds
Method
  1. Wash and drain the rice. Brown it in the butter in a large skillet, stirring until well coated. Add the salt.
  2. Pour the rice into a casserole and pour the broth over.
  3. Bake covered 30 minutes at 375°F (190°C). Add the onion, carrots and almonds and bake 30 minutes more.

In “Bake covered 30 min”, “covered” is underlined.

Purple box, p. 254
Early cards · 1950s–80s

Select Origins Rice Blend (Very Special Rice with Madeira; Rice Salad with Smoked Turkey)

The leaflet from a packet of Select Origins’ Rice Blend (long-grain brown rice, California Wehani and Canadian wild rice), with the company’s herbs-and-spices seal

Basic cooking

Ingredients
  • 1 cup (8 oz; 190 g) rice blend
  • 2 cups (475 ml) water or broth
  • 1 tbsp (14 g) butter (optional)
Method
  1. Bring the rice and water or broth to a boil in a 3-quart (2.9 litres) saucepan. Stir, cover tightly and simmer over low heat 25 to 30 minutes. Fluff with a fork and stir in butter if you like. 1 cup (190 g) raw makes 3 cups (475 g) cooked.

Very Special Rice with Madeira: serves 4

Ingredients
  • 2 medium onions, chopped
  • 5 to 6 tbsp (70–85 g) butter
  • ½ cup (60 g) slivered almonds
  • ½ cup (50 g) finely chopped celery
  • ½ cup (75 g) raisins
  • 5 whole cloves
  • ½ cup (30 g) chopped parsley
  • 2 cups (320 g) cooked rice blend
  • ½ cup (120 ml) Madeira
  • salt and pepper
Method
  1. Sauté the onions in the butter until transparent. Add the almonds and cook until golden. Add the celery and sauté 3 minutes more.
  2. Add the raisins, cloves, parsley, rice and Madeira and mix well. Simmer, partly covered, 10 minutes more. It can be made ahead and gently reheated.

Rice Salad with Smoked Turkey: serves 6 to 8

Ingredients
  • 3 cups (475 g) cooked rice blend
  • 1 lb (450 g) smoked turkey (or chicken), in bite-size chunks
  • 2 medium ripe avocados, in ½-inch (1 cm) cubes
  • 1 tbsp lemon juice
  • 8 to 10 sun-dried tomatoes in oil, in thin strips
  • ¾ cup (120 g) finely chopped onion
  • ¼ cup (60 ml) red wine vinegar
  • ½ cup (120 ml) good olive oil
  • salt and pepper
  • ¼ cup (15 g) chopped parsley
Method
  1. Sprinkle the avocado with the lemon juice. Cool the rice in a mixing bowl and add the turkey.
  2. Toss, then add the avocados and everything else. Toss gently and serve at room temperature.

The leaflet promises the Madeira rice is “a knock-out with chicken, turkey or roast pork”.

Purple box, p. 275
Purple box, p. 276
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwritten

Mushrooms and Rice

On a folded slip and the back of a mailing-list form

Ingredients
  • 2⅔ cups (250 g) precooked rice
  • 6 tbsp salad oil
  • 2 small cans mushrooms, drained
  • green onions, chopped
  • 2 cans beef consommé
  • 2 tbsp soya sauce
  • ½ tsp salt
Method
  1. Mix and bake uncovered at 350°F (180°C) until the liquid is absorbed, 30 to 45 minutes. Do not stir.
  2. Add the liquids just before baking.
Purple box, p. 278
Purple box, p. 279
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegetarian

Sesame Noodles

Ingredients
  • tahini and peanut butter, ⅔ tahini to ⅓ peanut butter
  • oil
  • soy sauce, salt and pepper
  • garlic paste
  • scallion greens, cut, plus more scallion to finish
  • cooked noodles
  • sesame seeds
Method
  1. Heat a little oil in a saucepan with the two pastes, soy sauce, salt, pepper, garlic paste and scallion greens.
  2. Add the cooked noodles to the sauce and heat. Add sesame seeds and scallion.
Purple box, p. 282
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegetarian

Indian Rice

Ingredients
  • rice
  • 2 tbsp oil and salt, for the water
  • oil, about ½ cup (120 ml) for 3 lb (1.4 kg) rice
  • raisins and butter
Method
  1. Bring lots of water to the boil with the oil and salt. Add the rice and cook about 15 minutes, tasting, until almost cooked. Drain.
  2. Put oil in a pan and stir in the rice.
  3. Raisins: put butter in a frying pan and heat them gently.

In “til almost cooked”, “almost” is underlined.

Purple box, p. 301
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegetarian

Jacques Pépin’s Rice Pilaf

Noted “(p90 – Peppin)”

Yield Serves 6

Ingredients
  • 1 tbsp (14 g) butter
  • ½ cup (80 g) chopped onion
  • ½ tsp dried thyme
  • 1½ cups (290 g) long-grain rice
  • 3 cups (710 ml) water
  • ½ tsp salt
Method
  1. Melt the butter in a saucepan. Add the onion and thyme, mix well and sauté about 1 minute.
  2. Add the rice and stir to coat with butter.
  3. Add the water and salt and stir until the mixture boils. Reduce the heat to very low, cover and cook 20 minutes.
Purple box, p. 302
Later cards, 1990s–2000s
Later cards · 1990s–2000sVegetarian

Mark Bittman’s Farfalle with Gorgonzola, Arugula and Cherry Tomatoes

“The Minimalist” column by Mark Bittman (“Cheesy Pasta, Redressed”), The New York Times, probably winter 2007. On the back is Eric Asimov’s “The Pour” on brown ales. Rewritten here.

Yield 3 to 6 servings; 30 minutes

Ingredients
  • salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 cup (240 ml) half-and-half, cream or milk
  • 1 cup (140 g) crumbled Gorgonzola or other good blue cheese
  • 1 lb (450 g) farfalle or other pasta
  • 2 cups (60 g) arugula, thick stems trimmed, washed, dried and chopped (watercress works too)
  • 1 cup (180 g) cherry or grape tomatoes, halved
  • freshly grated Parmesan, optional
Method
  1. Bring a large pot of water to a boil and salt it.
  2. In a small saucepan, gently warm the half-and-half and Gorgonzola just until the cheese melts a bit and the mixture thickens; chunky is fine.
  3. Cook the pasta until just tender but not mushy (slightly undercook it, since it finishes in the sauce). Drain and return to the pot over low heat.
  4. Stir in the Gorgonzola sauce with the arugula, tomatoes and plenty of black pepper. Taste, add salt if needed and serve at once, with Parmesan if you like.

Bittman’s notes: the thicker the liquid, the richer the sauce (he usually uses whole milk, “but truth be told, a bit of cream is very nice here”). Blue d’Auvergne, Maytag blue, good Roquefort or mature Stilton can stand in for the Gorgonzola.

Rose box, p. 3
Rose box, p. 4
Typed on her computer, 2005–16
Typed on her computer · 2005–16Vegetarian

Spinach Lasagna

From Cook’s Illustrated, March 2004. Serves 6–8.

Use Italian fontina, not bland, rubbery Danish or American fontina; if you can’t find it, use whole-milk mozzarella. Freeze the cheese for 30 minutes to make it easier to shred. If you don’t have fresh nutmeg, use only ½ tsp ground. The lasagna is browned under the broiler at the end, so use a broiler-safe dish.

Spinach
  • 1 tbsp table salt
  • 20 oz (575 g) curly spinach (2 bags), stemmed and rinsed
Béchamel
  • 5 tbsp (70 g) unsalted butter, plus 1 tbsp for the baking dish
  • 5 large shallots, minced (about 1 cup / 160 g)
  • 4 medium garlic cloves, minced (a generous tbsp)
  • ¼ cup (36 g) unbleached all-purpose flour
  • 3½ cups (830 ml) whole milk
  • 2 bay leaves
  • ¾ tsp freshly grated nutmeg
  • ½ tsp table salt
  • ¼ tsp ground black pepper
  • 1 oz (28 g) grated Parmesan (about ½ cup)
Cheeses and pasta
  • 8 oz (225 g) whole-milk cottage cheese
  • 1 large egg
  • ¼ tsp table salt
  • 12 no-boil lasagna noodles (from 1 box)
  • 2 oz (55 g) grated Parmesan (about 1 cup)
  • 8 oz (225 g) Italian fontina, shredded (about 2 cups)
Method
  1. Spinach: fill a large bowl with ice water. Bring 4 quarts (3.8 litres) water to a boil, add the salt and spinach and stir until just wilted, about 5 seconds. Lift the spinach into the ice water with a skimmer and cool completely, about 1 minute. Drain, wrap tightly in a clean kitchen towel and wring dry. Chop medium.
  2. Béchamel: melt 5 tbsp (70 g) butter over medium heat until foaming. Add the shallots and garlic and cook, stirring often, until translucent, about 4 minutes. Add the flour and stir constantly for about 1½ minutes without browning. Gradually whisk in the milk. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat and whisk in the bay leaves, nutmeg, salt and pepper. Simmer on low 10 minutes, whisking occasionally. Whisk in the Parmesan and discard the bay leaves. Transfer to a bowl and press plastic wrap onto the surface.
  3. Blend the cottage cheese, egg and salt until very smooth, about 30 seconds.
  4. Heat the oven to 425°F (220°C) with a rack in the middle. Soak the noodles in the 13 × 9-inch (33 × 23 cm) dish in hot tap water for 5 minutes, moving them occasionally so they don’t stick. Lay them out on a towel. Dry the dish and butter it.
  5. Spread ½ cup (120 ml) béchamel in the dish and top with 3 noodles. Stir the spinach into the remaining béchamel, breaking up clumps (about 4 cups / 950 ml).
  6. Layer: 1 cup (240 ml) spinach mixture, the Parmesan, 3 noodles; 1 cup (240 ml) spinach mixture, 1 cup (115 g) fontina, 3 noodles; 1 cup (240 ml) spinach mixture, the cottage cheese mixture; then the last 3 noodles, the remaining spinach mixture and the remaining fontina.
  7. Cover with foil sprayed with non-stick spray. Bake until bubbling, about 20 minutes. Remove the foil, move the rack to the top position (about 6 inches / 15 cm from the element) and broil until spotty brown, 4–6 minutes. Cool 10 minutes before cutting.

Béchamel tips saved with the recipe: cook the white roux 1½–2 minutes to lose the floury taste, but don’t brown it. Whisk the milk in slowly; there’s no need to scald it first. Simmer about 10 minutes: the finished sauce should be glossy, with the consistency of heavy cream.

Béchamel 101: melt the butter until foaming, whisk in the flour and cook the roux 1½ to 2 minutes without browning. Cook’s Illustrated, March 2004
Whisking constantly, add the milk slowly (no need to scald it first). Cook’s Illustrated, March 2004
Bring to a low boil and simmer about 10 minutes, until glossy and as thick as heavy cream. Cook’s Illustrated, March 2004
Typed on her computer · 2005–16Vegetarian

Pasta with Garlic, Broccoli and Sun-Dried Tomatoes

Serves 4.

Ingredients
  • 5 cups (450 g) broccoli florets (from 1 large bunch)
  • 1 lb (450 g) fusilli or rotini
  • ½ cup (55 g) chopped oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes, drained, plus 2 tbsp oil from the jar
  • ¼ cup (60 ml) olive oil
  • ½ cup (70 g) chopped garlic (about 12 large cloves)
  • 2 large tomatoes, chopped, or a 14.5-oz (400 g) can diced tomatoes
  • ½ tsp crushed red pepper flakes
  • 1 cup (100 g) grated Parmesan, plus more to serve
  • ⅓ cup (20 g) chopped fresh basil, or 1 tbsp dried
  • Salt and pepper
Method
  1. Cook the broccoli in a large pot of boiling salted water until just tender, about 5 minutes. Lift out with a slotted spoon and drain.
  2. Cook the pasta in the same pot until just tender but still firm to the bite. Drain, transfer to a large bowl and toss with the sun-dried tomato oil.
  3. Heat the olive oil in a heavy large pan. Sauté the garlic 2 minutes.
  4. Add the sun-dried tomatoes, fresh or canned tomatoes, pepper flakes and broccoli and sauté until heated through, about 2 minutes.
  5. Add the pasta, Parmesan and basil and toss until well blended. Season with salt and pepper and serve with more Parmesan.
Early cards · 1950s–80sTyped on her computer · 2005–16HandwrittenVegan

Marinated Grilled Tofu

Tofu marinated in sesame oil and rice vinegar with scallions.

Buy tofu labelled “firm”. Drain off the liquid and press it between several layers of paper towels with a weight on top for 1–3 hours.

Ingredients
  • Two 1-lb (450 g) packages firm tofu, drained
  • 2 tbsp dark sesame oil
  • 3 tbsp rice vinegar or distilled white vinegar
  • 4 tbsp tamari or soy sauce
  • Scallions
Method
  1. Cut the drained tofu into four ¾-inch (2 cm) slices.
  2. Mix the sesame oil, vinegar and tamari. Marinate the tofu for 1 hour, turning frequently.
  3. Soak two wooden skewers in water for 15 minutes. With the tofu lying flat, push the skewers horizontally through it, parallel to each other.
  4. Grill over a medium-hot fire for 5 minutes, turn and cook another 8 minutes, until slightly crisp and brown outside.

The same recipe is on a card in the purple box.

In the top corner: “(8xs)”.

Underlined on the card: “Mix:”, “Marinate 1 hr”, “Grill” and “Cook”.

Purple box, p. 53
Typed on her computer · 2005–16Vegetarian

Capellini with Grilled Vegetables

From CIA Taste, Summer/Fall 2008, in its “CIA Boot Camp Courses and Recipes” section. The recipe comes from The CIA’s Gourmet Meals in Minutes cookbook. Serves 8.

The vegetables can be grilled ahead and left at room temperature, or cooked under the broiler instead.

Ingredients
  • ½ cup (120 ml) balsamic vinegar
  • ⅔ cup (160 ml) olive oil, plus 1 tbsp
  • 2 tsp salt, or to taste
  • 1 tsp freshly ground black pepper, or to taste
  • 2 red onions, cut into ½-inch (1 cm) rings
  • 2 zucchini, cut into ½-inch (1 cm) slices
  • 2 yellow squash, cut into ½-inch (1 cm) slices
  • 1 fennel bulb, cut into ½-inch (1 cm) rings
  • 1 lb (450 g) capellini
  • 1 shallot, minced
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 2 lb (900 g) grape tomatoes, halved lengthwise
  • ½ cup (120 ml) white wine
  • 1 tbsp chopped parsley
  • 1 tbsp chopped basil
  • ½ cup (120 ml) vegetable broth
  • 6 oz (170 g) Gorgonzola, broken into small pieces
Method
  1. Heat the grill and put a large pot of salted water on to boil for the pasta.
  2. Whisk the vinegar with the ⅔ cup (160 ml) oil, the salt and the pepper. Toss the onions, zucchini, squash and fennel in it and grill until tender. When they are cool enough to handle, cut into 1½-inch (4 cm) pieces.
  3. Cook the capellini until al dente, 6–8 minutes, and drain well.
  4. Meanwhile, heat the last tablespoon of oil in a sauté pan and cook the shallot and garlic until fragrant. Add the grilled vegetables, tomatoes and wine and heat through. Season with the herbs, salt and pepper, loosening with a little broth if needed.
  5. Toss the pasta with about half the Gorgonzola, spoon the vegetables over and finish with the rest of the cheese.
Capellini with grilled vegetables, grape tomatoes and Gorgonzola. CIA Taste, Summer/Fall 2008, page 22
The recipe page as printed in Taste (page 22). CIA Taste, Summer/Fall 2008, page 22
Typed on her computer · 2005–16Vegetarian

Chayote and Pineapple Chimichangas

From CIA Taste, Summer/Fall 2008, in its “CIA Flavors of Latin Cuisine Courses and Recipes” section. The recipe comes from The CIA’s Vegetables cookbook. Serves 8 (2 chimichangas each).

Chayote and jícama both came from Mexico and South America and only recently became common in US markets. Peel chayote with a vegetable peeler. For jícama, halve or quarter it lengthwise, then cut away the skin and the fibrous layer just under it with a paring knife.

Filling
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 2 cups (320 g) small-dice onions
  • 1 tbsp minced garlic
  • 1 tbsp minced jalapeño
  • ¾ cup (115 g) small-dice red peppers
  • 1⅓ cups (200 g) small-dice yellow peppers
  • ½ cup (75 g) small-dice roasted poblanos
  • 3 cups (390 g) small-dice chayote, peeled and seeded
  • 1 cup (130 g) small-dice jícama, peeled
  • 1 cup (165 g) corn kernels, fresh or frozen
  • 1 cup (165 g) small-dice fresh pineapple
  • 1 tbsp ground cumin
  • 1 tsp coriander
  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon
  • ¼ tsp cayenne
  • ¼ cup (15 g) chopped cilantro
  • ¼ cup (15 g) chopped flat-leaf parsley
  • Salt and pepper
Dough
  • 5 cups (625 g) all-purpose flour
  • 2 cups (230–300 g) masa harina or fine cornmeal
  • 1 tbsp salt
  • ½ cup (120 ml) vegetable oil
  • 2 cups (475 ml) water
To finish
  • 4 cups (450 g) grated Monterey Jack or Cheddar
  • 1 cup (240 ml) peanut oil, plus more as needed for frying
  • Guacamole and pico de gallo (optional)
Method
  1. Heat the oven to 200°F (95°C) and put a heatproof platter in to warm.
  2. Filling: sauté the onions and garlic in the oil over medium-high heat until translucent, about 2 minutes. Add the jalapeño and the red and yellow peppers and cook until they just begin to soften, about 3 minutes. Add the poblanos, chayote and jícama and cook until tender, about 5 minutes. Add the corn, pineapple and spices and heat through, about 3 minutes. Off the heat, stir in the cilantro and parsley and season.
  3. Dough: in a stand mixer with the paddle, mix the flour, masa and salt, then the oil. Add the water and mix until it gathers into a ball, about 5 minutes. (It keeps overnight in the refrigerator, tightly wrapped.)
  4. Divide into 16 pieces, roll into balls and keep them covered with a towel. One at a time, flatten each with your palm and roll it out into a 10-inch (25 cm) tortilla.
  5. Put about ⅓ cup (80 ml) filling and 2 tbsp cheese in the middle of each tortilla, fold in the sides and roll up from the top. Set seam side down on a platter or baking sheet.
  6. Heat ½ inch (1 cm) of peanut oil in a skillet over medium-high heat until it shimmers. Fry 4 at a time, seam side down, until golden underneath, about 2 minutes, then turn with tongs and fry until crisp and golden all over, about 6 minutes more. Drain briefly on paper towels and keep warm in the oven while you fry the rest.
  7. Serve with guacamole and pico de gallo if you like.
A chayote and pineapple chimichanga, cut open. CIA Taste, Summer/Fall 2008, page 37
The recipe page as printed in Taste (page 37). CIA Taste, Summer/Fall 2008, page 37
Typed on her computer · 2005–16Vegetarian

Spinach & Feta Pasta

Grammy’s recipe, headed with her name, “Patricia Engel”. Serves 8–10.

Ingredients
  • 1 tbsp (14 g) butter
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • ⅓ cup (47 g) pine nuts, toasted
  • 5 garlic cloves, chopped
  • 3 green onions, chopped
  • Two 10-oz (285 g) packages of chopped spinach, thawed and drained
  • 1 lb (450 g) pasta (bowties or fusilli), cooked and drained (makes 3 cups)
  • Two 28-oz (800 g) cans of diced tomatoes
  • Two 12-oz (340 g) packages of feta cheese
Method
  1. In dry pan toast pine nuts until light brown; set aside.
  2. Melt butter with olive oil in large skillet or chef’s pan. Sauté garlic and green onions until soft.
  3. Add drained spinach and tomatoes with juice and heat through (approx 3 minutes). Season with salt and pepper.
  4. Add pasta, crumbled feta cheese and pine nuts and stir to mix.
  5. Pour into large casserole; heat through at 350°F (180°C).
Typed on her computer · 2005–16

Jamie Oliver’s Baked Pasta with Tomatoes and Mozzarella

Jamie Oliver’s recipe, with Kir’s notes (initialled KC), as Grammy rewrote it in US measures. Serves 4.

Ingredients
  • Sea salt and ground black pepper
  • Couple of lugs of EVOO (~3 tbsp)
  • 1 white onion, peeled and finely chopped
  • 2 cloves of garlic, peeled and finely sliced
  • 1 or 2 dried red chilies, crumbled
  • 3+ 14-oz (395 g) cans of diced tomatoes
  • Large handful of fresh basil leaves
  • 1 tbsp red wine vinegar
  • 14-oz (395 g) bag of dried orecchiette
  • 1 lb (450 g) sweet Italian sausage chunks, cooked first
  • 4 big handfuls of freshly grated Parmesan cheese (~½ cup / 50 g each)
  • 1 lb (450 g) fresh mozzarella, sliced thin
Method
  1. Heat the oven to 400°F (200°C). Warm the oil in a Dutch oven and fry the onion, garlic and chili gently over medium-low heat for 10 minutes, until soft but not coloured.
  2. Add the tomatoes and a small glass of water (~½ cup / 120 ml), bring to the boil and simmer for 20 minutes, then blend (“Use hand blender to make a lumpy sauce.”). Tear in the basil and season with salt, pepper and the vinegar.
  3. Cook the orecchiette in a large pot of boiling salted water as the package directs. Drain, and toss with half the sauce and a handful of Parmesan.
  4. Oil a large baking pan. Layer in a third of the pasta, a third of the remaining sauce, a third of the sausage, a handful of Parmesan and a third of the mozzarella; repeat twice more, ending with a good layer of cheese.
  5. Bake for 30 minutes, until golden, crisp and bubbling.

Kir adds: use good-quality pasta and, if you can’t find orecchiette, “go for another chunky style”; reheat any leftovers thoroughly (to 74°C / 165°F); and with no suitable baking pan, serve it as ‘pasta with sauce’, mixed in a big warm pot, with thinner slices or shreds of mozzarella so they melt in: “The result won’t be quite as scrummy as the real deal, but it will be very acceptable.”

Kir’s annotated copy of Jamie’s original uses 1.5 kg/3½ lb ripe tomatoes (skinned and seeded) or three 400 g/14 oz cans of plum tomatoes, 400 g/14 oz orecchiette and three 150 g/5 oz balls of mozzarella, with 500 g (1 lb 2 oz) cooked sausage chunks as her option, and bakes it for 15 minutes (Kir: “Could take 30 mins or so.”).

Typed on her computer · 2005–16Vegan

CIA’s Vegetable Stew

From the Culinary Institute of America, with Grammy’s notes. Serves 8.

Stew
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 2 leeks, cleaned, sliced
  • 2 tbsp garlic, minced
  • 1 tsp red curry paste
  • ½ lb (225 g) butternut squash, peeled, diced
  • 1 lb (450 g) chickpeas, rinsed, drained
  • ½ cup (90 g) fava beans, shelled (“we used edami”)
  • 3 cups (710 ml) vegetable broth
  • 2 cups (250 g) zucchini, diced
  • 2½ cups (200 g) eggplant, peeled, diced
  • 1½ cups (190 g) carrots, diced
  • ¾ cup (75 g) celery, diced
  • ⅓ cup (48 g) currants
  • 3 tbsp tomato purée, canned (“we used tomato paste”)
  • 2 tsp lemon juice
  • 1½ tsp lemon zest, grated
  • ¼ tsp salt, or to taste
  • Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  1. Heat the oil in a Dutch oven and sauté the leeks and garlic until translucent, 3–5 minutes. Add the curry paste and sauté until fragrant.
  2. Stir in the squash, chickpeas and beans, add just enough broth to cover and simmer for 10 minutes.
  3. Add the rest of the broth with the zucchini, eggplant, carrots, celery, currants and tomato purée, and simmer until the vegetables are tender, about 20 minutes.
  4. Stir in the lemon juice and zest and season with salt and pepper. Serve over a bed of the herbed couscous.
Herbed Israeli Couscous
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 2 cups (350 g) Israeli couscous
  • 4 cups (950 ml) chicken or vegetable broth
  • ¼ cup (15 g) parsley, chopped
  • 1 tbsp tarragon, chopped
  • 1 tbsp rosemary, chopped
  • ¼ cup (60 ml) lemon juice
  • 1 tsp salt, or to taste
  • ½ tsp freshly ground black pepper, or to taste
  1. Heat the oil in a 2-quart (1.9 litres) saucepan over medium heat, then add the couscous and toast it, stirring constantly, until well coated and aromatic, 2–3 minutes.
  2. Add the broth and bring to a boil, then lower the heat to medium-low and simmer until just tender, 10–12 minutes.
  3. Stir in the herbs and lemon juice and season with salt and pepper.

Grammy also saved the couscous on its own.

Typed on her computer · 2005–16Vegetarian

Jamie Oliver’s Eggplant Parmigiana

From Jamie Oliver, with Grammy’s notes and her US can sizes.

Ingredients
  • 3 large firm aubergines, cut into ½-inch-thick (1 cm) slices
  • Olive oil
  • 1 onion, peeled and finely chopped
  • 1 clove of regular garlic, peeled and finely sliced
  • 1 heaped tsp dried oregano
  • 2 (28-oz / 800 g) cans good-quality diced tomatoes
  • Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • A little wine vinegar (approx. 1 tbsp, Grammy noted)
  • A large handful of fresh basil
  • 4 large handfuls of freshly grated Parmesan cheese
  • 2 handfuls of dried breadcrumbs (optional)
  • A little fresh oregano, leaves chopped
  • 1 × 150 g (5½ oz) ball of fresh buffalo mozzarella (optional)
Method
  1. Get a griddle pan, grill or broiler really hot. Meanwhile, heat 2 or 3 glugs of olive oil in a large pan over medium heat and cook the onion, garlic and dried oregano for 10 minutes, until the onion is soft and the garlic just coloured.
  2. Add the tomatoes, stir well and simmer gently, uncovered, for 15 minutes.
  3. Meanwhile, grill the aubergine slices on both sides until lightly charred, in batches, moving them to a tray as they are done.
  4. When the sauce has reduced and tastes sweet, season it carefully with salt, pepper and a small splash of the vinegar, then add the basil. Leave it chunky or purée it.
  5. In an earthenware-type dish (10 × 6 inches / 25 × 15 cm, Grammy noted), layer a little sauce, a thin scattering of Parmesan and a single layer of aubergine. Repeat until everything is used, finishing with sauce and a good sprinkling of Parmesan.
  6. If you like, toss the breadcrumbs with a little olive oil and the fresh oregano and scatter them over the Parmesan; torn mozzarella on top is good too.
  7. Bake at 190°C/375°F/gas 5 for 30 minutes, until golden, crisp and bubbling. It is best rested for 15 minutes, but can be served straight away, or cold.

The same method works with courgettes or fennel in place of the aubergines.

Typed on her computer · 2005–16Vegetarian

Pasta with Roasted Cauliflower, Garlic, and Walnuts

Probably from Cook’s Illustrated (the file doesn’t name it), with Grammy’s choice of pasta.

Ingredients
  • 2 heads garlic, papery skins removed, top quarter of heads cut off and discarded
  • 6 tbsp plus 1 tsp extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 head cauliflower (about 1½ lb / 675 g)
  • Table salt and ground black pepper
  • ¼ tsp sugar
  • 1 lb (450 g) pasta (Grammy used fusilli)
  • ¼ tsp red pepper flakes
  • 2–3 tbsp juice from 1 lemon
  • 1 tbsp fresh parsley leaves, chopped
  • 2 oz (55 g) Parmesan cheese, grated (about 1 cup)
  • ¼ cup (30 g) chopped walnuts, toasted
Method
  1. Put an oven rack in the middle position with a large rimmed baking sheet on it, and heat the oven to 500°F (260°C).
  2. Set the garlic heads cut side up in the centre of a 12-inch (30 cm) sheet of foil, drizzle each with ½ tsp oil and seal the packet. Roast it on the oven rack until the garlic is very tender, about 40 minutes, then open the packet and let cool.
  3. Meanwhile, trim the outer leaves of the cauliflower and cut the stem flush with the base. Cut the head from pole to pole into 8 equal wedges and toss in a large bowl with 2 tbsp oil, 1 tsp salt, pepper to taste and the sugar.
  4. Take out the hot baking sheet, spread the wedges on it cut sides down and roast until well browned and tender, 20–25 minutes. When cool enough to handle, chop into rough ½-inch (1 cm) pieces.
  5. While the cauliflower roasts, bring 4 quarts (3.8 litres) water to a boil, add 1 tbsp salt and the pasta and cook until al dente. Squeeze the roasted garlic from its skins into a small bowl and mash to a smooth paste with a fork; stir in the pepper flakes and 2 tbsp lemon juice, then slowly whisk in the remaining ¼ cup (60 ml) oil.
  6. Drain the pasta, keeping 1 cup (240 ml) of the cooking water, and return it to the pot. Stir in the cauliflower, garlic sauce, ¼ cup (60 ml) of the cooking water, parsley and ½ cup (28 g) of the cheese. Loosen with more cooking water as needed and season with salt, pepper and more lemon juice. Serve at once, sprinkled with the remaining cheese and the walnuts.
Typed on her computer · 2005–16

Easy Baked Risotto

From America’s Test Kitchen, dated April 2010. Serves 6–8.

Ingredients
  • 5 cups (1.2 litres) low-sodium chicken broth (regular broth makes the risotto too salty)
  • ½ cup (120 ml) water
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 4 tbsp (55 g) unsalted butter
  • 1 onion, minced
  • Salt and pepper
  • 2 cups (380 g) Arborio rice
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • ½ cup (120 ml) dry white wine
  • 1¼ cups (125 g) grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1 tbsp chopped fresh parsley
Method
  1. Heat the oven to 400°F (200°C) with a rack in the middle. Bring the broth, water and bay leaves to a simmer in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat, then cover and keep warm over the lowest heat.
  2. Meanwhile, melt the butter in a Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the onion and ½ tsp salt and cook until it is lightly browned, about 6 minutes. Stir in the rice and cook until the grains turn translucent at the edges, about 2 minutes. Add the garlic for about 30 seconds, until fragrant, then the wine, stirring until it is all absorbed, about 1 minute.
  3. Pour the warm broth over the rice. Press a sheet of heavy-duty foil down onto the surface of the broth, crimp it around the edges and put the lid on for a tight seal. Bake, without stirring, until the rice is tender and the liquid absorbed, about 15 minutes.
  4. Discard the bay leaves, stir in the Parmesan and parsley, season with salt and pepper and serve.
Typed on her computer · 2005–16Vegetarian

Mac and Cheese

From Martha Stewart. Fills a 3-quart (2.9 litres) casserole.

Ingredients
  • 8 tbsp (1 stick; 115 g) unsalted butter, plus more for the dish
  • 6 slices good white bread, crusts removed, torn into ¼- to ½-inch (5 mm–1 cm) pieces
  • 5½ cups (1.3 litres) milk
  • ½ cup (65 g) all-purpose flour
  • 2 tsp salt
  • ¼ tsp freshly grated nutmeg
  • ¼ tsp freshly ground black pepper
  • ¼ tsp cayenne pepper, or to taste
  • 4½ cups grated sharp white cheddar cheese (about 18 oz / 500 g)
  • 2 cups grated Gruyère cheese (about 8 oz / 225 g), or 1¼ cups grated Pecorino Romano cheese (about 5 oz / 140 g)
  • 1 lb (450 g) elbow macaroni
Method
  1. Heat the oven to 375°F (190°C) and butter a 3-quart (2.9 litres) casserole. Put the bread in a medium bowl, pour over 2 tbsp of the butter, melted, and toss. Set the crumbs aside.
  2. Heat the milk in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Melt the remaining 6 tbsp (85 g) butter in a high-sided skillet over medium heat; when it bubbles, add the flour and whisk for 1 minute. Pour in the hot milk slowly, whisking, and keep whisking until the sauce bubbles and thickens.
  3. Off the heat, stir in the salt, nutmeg, black pepper, cayenne, 3 cups (350 g) of the cheddar and 1½ cups (175 g) of the Gruyère (or 1 cup / 100 g of the Pecorino). Set aside.
  4. Boil the macaroni in a large pan of water for 2–3 minutes less than the package says, so the outside is cooked but the inside still underdone (brands vary, so read the package). Drain in a colander, rinse under cold running water, drain well and stir into the cheese sauce.
  5. Pour into the buttered dish. Scatter the remaining 1½ cups (175 g) cheddar, ½ cup (60 g) Gruyère (or ¼ cup / 25 g Pecorino) and the buttered crumbs over the top. Bake until browned on top, about 30 minutes. Cool on a wire rack for 5 minutes and serve hot.

Vietnamese & Thai

Three dishes from Mai Pham’s The Best of Vietnamese & Thai Cooking, saved in the typed files, and the Vietnamese salad rolls from CIA Taste magazine.

4 typed on her computer

All 4 in this chapter
  1. Thai Hot and Sour Soup (Tom Yum Kung)
  2. Warm Vegetables on Cool Noodles
  3. Grilled Shrimp Paste on Sugar Cane (Chao Tom)
  4. Vietnamese Salad Rolls
Typed on her computer · 2005–16

Thai Hot and Sour Soup (Tom Yum Kung)

Mai Pham. Serves 8–10.

Ingredients
  • 1½ lb (675 g) shrimp (21/25 count)
  • 1 tbsp oil
  • 1 tbsp red curry paste
  • 2 quarts (1.9 litres) chicken stock
  • 2 stalks lemongrass
  • 1 tbsp minced galangal
  • 6 kaffir lime leaves
  • 4 plum tomatoes, cut into eighths
  • 4 Thai bird’s eye chillies, thinly sliced
  • 1 can straw mushrooms, halved
  • ⅓ cup (80 ml) fish sauce
  • 1 tbsp sugar
  • ½ cup (120 ml) lime juice
  • ½ cup (30 g) coarsely cut cilantro
Method
  1. Peel and devein the shrimp and slice them in half. Rinse the shells and keep them.
  2. Trim the lemongrass at the root and ½ inch (1 cm) off the top, halve lengthwise and cut into 1-inch (2.5 cm) lengths.
  3. Heat the oil and toast the curry paste for 1 minute without browning. Add the shrimp shells, stock, lemongrass, galangal and lime leaves. Boil, simmer 10 minutes and strain into a clean pot.
  4. Add the tomatoes, mushrooms, chillies, fish sauce and sugar and bring to a boil.
  5. Add the shrimp and simmer until done. Stir in the lime juice and adjust with more fish sauce and lime juice if needed. (The cilantro isn’t mentioned in the method; scatter it over to serve.)
Typed on her computer · 2005–16Vegan

Warm Vegetables on Cool Noodles

Mai Pham. Serves 4.

Noodles
  • ½ lb (225 g) dried rice vermicelli
  • 2 cups (200 g) bean sprouts
  • ½ small cucumber, halved, seeded and thinly sliced
  • ¼ cup (6 g) mint leaves, halved
  • 3 romaine lettuce leaves, shredded
Topping
  • 1 cup (110 g) julienned carrots
  • 2 cups (180 g) broccoli florets
  • 2 tbsp vegetable oil
  • 1 small yellow onion, sliced
  • 6 dried black mushrooms, soaked until soft and thinly sliced
  • 2 cups (140 g) shredded napa cabbage
  • 1 red bell pepper, julienned
  • 3 tbsp soy sauce
  • 2 tsp chopped roasted peanuts
  • 1 cup (240 ml) cilantro-lime soy sauce (below), to serve
Method
  1. Cook the vermicelli in boiling water for 4–5 minutes. Rinse well and drain.
  2. Once cool, toss gently with the bean sprouts, cucumber, mint and lettuce and divide among bowls.
  3. Blanch and shock the carrots and broccoli, then drain.
  4. Just before serving, heat the oil in a wok over high heat until smoking. Carefully add the onion (it may spatter) and stir until it begins to soften, about 30 seconds. Add the mushrooms and sauté 1 minute.
  5. Add the carrots, broccoli, cabbage and red pepper and stir-fry 2–3 minutes, until very hot and sizzling. Add the soy sauce, toss for a minute and take off the heat.
  6. Top the noodles with the vegetables and garnish with the peanuts. Each person drizzles about 3 tbsp of the sauce over and tosses gently before eating.

Cilantro-lime soy sauce (makes ⅔ cup / 160 ml; keeps 2 weeks in the fridge)

  • 1 garlic clove
  • 2 fresh Thai bird chillies and/or 1 tsp ground chilli paste, to taste
  • 1-inch (2.5 cm) piece fresh ginger, peeled and thinly sliced
  • 2 tbsp finely chopped cilantro
  • ¼ cup (60 ml) soy sauce
  • 2 tbsp fresh lime juice, with pulp
  • 3 tbsp water
  • 2 tbsp sugar

Blend everything until smooth. It looks cloudy at first but settles. Serve in small ramekins.

Typed on her computer · 2005–16

Grilled Shrimp Paste on Sugar Cane (Chao Tom)

Mai Pham. Serves 6–8.

Shrimp paste
  • 4 oz (115 g) lard
  • 2 tbsp peanut oil
  • ½ cup (80 g) chopped yellow onion
  • 5 shallots, minced
  • 2 tbsp fish sauce
  • ½ tsp kosher salt
  • 1 tbsp sugar
  • 2 tsp minced garlic
  • 1 egg
  • ½ tsp ground white pepper
  • 1 fl oz (30 ml) cornstarch
  • ¾ lb (340 g) raw shrimp, peeled, deveined and patted dry
  • 4 scallions, chopped
To serve
  • One 20-oz (575 g) can sugar cane, in 4-inch (10 cm) pieces
  • Hoisin-peanut sauce (below)
  • 16 six-inch rice papers, softened
  • 1 head red lettuce
  • 1 cucumber, finely cut
  • 1 bunch mint
Method
  1. Heat the lard in a small saucepan over moderate heat. Sauté the onion and shallots until slightly wilted, about 1 minute, and transfer to a small bowl. Add the fish sauce, salt, sugar, garlic, egg, white pepper and cornstarch and blend with a fork.
  2. Pulse with the shrimp in a food processor to a lumpy paste. Stir in the scallions and taste.
  3. Cut the sugar cane lengthwise into ¼-inch (5 mm) sticks. With wet hands, form about 2 tbsp of paste into a ball, flatten it and wrap it around a cane stick about ½ inch (1 cm) thick, leaving ½ inch (1 cm) of cane bare at each end as handles. Press so it sticks, smooth with oiled hands and set on an oiled plate. Repeat.
  4. Steam for 5 minutes.
  5. Just before serving, grill until nicely browned on each side.
  6. To eat, pull the shrimp paste off the cane and lay it on a wet rice paper layered with lettuce, cucumber and mint. Roll up, dip in the sauce and enjoy.

Hoisin-peanut sauce (makes 2 cups / 475 ml)

  • 1 cup (240 ml) hoisin sauce
  • ½ cup (120 ml) water
  • ¼ cup (60 ml) rice wine vinegar
  • ⅓ cup (55 g) yellow onion, puréed or finely minced
  • 1 tbsp ground chilli paste, or to taste
  • 1 tbsp chopped roasted peanuts, to garnish

Bring the hoisin, water, vinegar and onion to a boil, then simmer 5–7 minutes, adding a little water if too thick. Cool. Serve in a dish garnished with the chilli paste and peanuts.

Typed on her computer · 2005–16

Vietnamese Salad Rolls

From CIA Taste, Summer/Fall 2008, in its “CIA at Astor Center Courses and Recipes” section. The recipe comes from The CIA’s One Dish Meals cookbook. Serves 8.

Rau ram, sold as Vietnamese mint or hot mint, isn’t a mint at all but a relative of buckwheat, with long smooth leaves on purple-tinged stems and a lemony, peppery bite. Ordinary mint will do instead.

Dipping sauce
  • ¼ cup (60 ml) fish sauce
  • ¼ cup (50 g) sugar
  • ¼ cup (60 ml) water
  • 3 tbsp rice vinegar
  • 4 tsp chili sauce
  • 2 tsp minced garlic
  • Juice of 1 lime
Salad rolls
  • 4 oz (115 g) rice noodles
  • 2 cups (220 g) julienned carrot
  • 2 tsp salt
  • ½ bunch green-leaf lettuce, cut in thin strips
  • ¼ bunch mint leaves (or rau ram), torn in thin strips
  • 4 cups (950 ml) warm water mixed with 2 tbsp sugar
  • 8 rice-paper rounds, 12 inches (30 cm) across
  • 16 small cooked shrimp (30–35 per lb), peeled, deveined and halved lengthwise
  • ¼ bunch cilantro leaves
Method
  1. Sauce: mix the fish sauce, sugar, water, vinegar, chili sauce, garlic and lime juice. Chill if made ahead; it keeps for up to 24 hours.
  2. Cook the noodles in boiling salted water until tender, about 3 minutes. Rinse under cool water until cold and drain well.
  3. Toss the carrot with the salt and leave 10 minutes, then rinse and squeeze out the juice. Mix the noodles, carrot, lettuce and mint for the filling.
  4. Dip a rice paper in the sweetened warm water until it softens, about 10 seconds. Blot on a paper towel and lay it flat. Spoon ½ cup (120 ml) filling into the centre and roll it halfway.
  5. Lay two pieces of shrimp and two or three cilantro leaves on the unrolled part and finish rolling. Repeat with the rest.
  6. Cut each roll in half and serve on chilled plates with the dipping sauce.
Vietnamese salad rolls with shrimp and dipping sauce. CIA Taste, Summer/Fall 2008, page 46
The recipe page as printed in Taste (page 46). CIA Taste, Summer/Fall 2008, page 46

Vegetables

The longest chapter. The early cards’ 1960s casseroles and 1980s Gourmet clippings give way, on the later cards, to Kir’s roasted vegetables, six ways with asparagus and Madhur Jaffrey’s spinach.

80 handwritten46 early cards43 later cards12 typed on her computer

All 101 in this chapter
  1. Dru’s Rice-Nut Loaf
  2. Dru’s Artichoke Lasagna
  3. Baked Acorn Squash
  4. Baked Squash Parmesan
  5. Green Bean Casserole
  6. Deviled Carrots
  7. Baked Stuffed Mushrooms
  8. Broccoli Parmesan
  9. Pickled Beets
  10. Celery Amandine
  11. Epicurean Peas
  12. Celery Cabbage with Soy
  13. Sour Cream Cabbage
  14. Spinach à la Hambourg [?]
  15. Acorn Squash with Green Peas
  16. Zucchini with Cherry Tomatoes
  17. Sweet-Sour Green Beans
  18. Green Beans with Mushrooms and Sour Cream
  19. Eggplant Casserole
  20. Baked Zucchini Siena
  21. Creamed Onions
  22. Golden Onion Rings
  23. Ruth’s Green Beans with Sour Cream
  24. Elizabeth Mynatt’s Green Bean and Mushroom Casserole
  25. Beet and Carrot Salad
  26. Carol’s Pie (Zucchini Cheese Puff)
  27. Zucchini and Bacon Bake
  28. Piquant Beans
  29. Cheese-Stuffed Zucchini
  30. Cucumbers and Mushrooms with Smetana
  31. Mexican Squash
  32. Fennel Gratin
  33. Corn on the Cob
  34. Eggplant Side Dish
  35. Ratatouille (the classic method)
  36. Alex’s “Rattatovie (?)”
  37. How to Nuke Artichokes
  38. Sautéed Brussels Sprouts with Bacon
  39. Brussels Sprouts with Browned Butter
  40. Parsleyed Baby Carrots
  41. Sesame Green Beans and Peas
  42. Zucchini and Onion Gratin
  43. Corn Soufflé
  44. Chinese Green Peas
  45. Jacques Pépin’s Herbed Zucchini
  46. Christopher Idone’s Corn Column: Chowder, Succotash, Corn Pudding and Cocada
  47. Acorn Squash with Apples, Pear and Bourbon
  48. Broiled Asparagus
  49. Kir’s Asparagus
  50. Balsamic-Glazed Asparagus
  51. Kir’s Roasted Asparagus and Basil (after Jamie Oliver)
  52. Stan’s Asparagus, Tomatoes and Olives
  53. Skillet Asparagus with Black Sesame Seeds
  54. Roasted Carrots (with a maple-butter option)
  55. Caramelized Cauliflower
  56. Kir’s Haricots Verts with Parmesan
  57. Rokhsha’s Green Beans
  58. Roasted Green Beans as Finger Food
  59. Haricots Verts with Lemon
  60. Madhur Jaffrey’s Indian Green Beans
  61. Green Beans with Red Onion and Mustard Seed Vinaigrette
  62. Tori Spelling’s Green Bean Bundles
  63. Glazed Carrots and Pearl Onions
  64. Sweet-and-Sour Baby Carrots
  65. Rutabaga and Carrot Purée
  66. Kir’s Roasted Garlic
  67. Roasted Garlic, Cloves and Whole Heads
  68. Kir’s Puy Lentils with Bacon
  69. Grilled Portabellos
  70. Vera’s Portabella Mushrooms or Eggplant
  71. Roasted Wild Mushrooms in Red-Wine Reduction
  72. Grilled Red Onion
  73. Red Pearl Onions (for Turkey)
  74. Compote of Glazed Shallots
  75. Peas with Mint and Orange Rind
  76. Petits Pois à la Française
  77. Sugar Snap Peas with Ginger and Garlic
  78. Roasted Red Peppers
  79. Kir’s Spinach
  80. Madhur Jaffrey’s Spinach with Onions (“Special Spinach”)
  81. Lillian P.’s Butternut Squash and Apple Casserole
  82. Kir’s Grape Tomato Crush
  83. Grilled Veggie Skewers
  84. Roasted New Vegetables
  85. Patrick’s Marinated Veggies
  86. Grilled Veggies (Food TV)
  87. Kir’s Honey-Roast Vegetables
  88. Grilled Vegetables with Lemon-Cilantro Oil
  89. Slow-Roasted Heirloom Tomatoes with Fresh Thyme
  90. Zucchini & Summer Squash Gratin with Parmesan & Fresh Thyme
  91. Squash Soufflé
  92. Caramelised Butternut Squash
  93. Corn Casserole
  94. Make-Ahead Garlic Green Beans
  95. Roasted Asparagus with Sweet Onion
  96. Honeyed Cauliflower with Toasted Almonds
  97. Special Spinach
  98. Spinach Sautéed with Roasted Garlic
  99. Mom’s Caramelised Onions
  100. Roasted Cauliflower
  101. Vidalia Onion Casserole
Early cards, 1950s–80s
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegetarian

Dru’s Rice-Nut Loaf

Marked “DRU”

Yield One 9-inch (23 cm) loaf

Ingredients
  • 1½ cups (240 g) cooked brown rice
  • ½ cup (60 g) wheat germ
  • ¾ cup (90 g) chopped walnuts
  • ¼ cup (35 g) chopped sunflower seeds
  • 1 large onion, chopped
  • ½ lb (225 g) sharp Cheddar, shredded (about 2 cups)
  • ½ tsp salt
  • pepper
  • 1 tbsp nutritional yeast (optional)
  • 4 eggs, lightly beaten
Method
  1. Combine everything and pack into an oiled 9-inch (23 cm) loaf pan.
  2. Bake at 350°F (180°C) until firm, about 50 minutes. Cool 10 minutes, unmould and slice.
  3. Serve with brown gravy, or with tomato or mushroom sauce.

After “brown gravy”: “(I use the no fat pkg. stuff usually)”.

Purple box, p. 99
Purple box, p. 100
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenSpecial praise

Dru’s Artichoke Lasagna

Dru; headed “Vegetarian Dish”

Yield One 11 × 13-inch (28 × 33 cm) pan

Ingredients
  • 2 packages frozen artichokes, cooked
  • 8 oz (225 g) lasagna noodles, cooked
  • Cheddar cheese, grated
  • ¼ cup (55 g) butter
  • 2 tbsp onion
  • ¼ cup (31 g) flour
  • 1½ tsp instant chicken bouillon
  • ⅛ tsp pepper
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 cup (240 ml) half-and-half
  • 1 cup (240 ml) milk
  • 2 cups (450 g) cottage cheese
  • 2 eggs, slightly beaten
  • ¼ cup (25 g) Parmesan, plus ¼ cup (25 g) for the top
Method
  1. Cook the butter, onion, flour, bouillon, pepper and salt until bubbly, 2 minutes.
  2. Heat the half-and-half and milk to almost boiling, add to the sauce and boil 1 minute.
  3. Beat together the cottage cheese, eggs and ¼ cup (25 g) Parmesan and add to the sauce.
  4. Assemble in an 11 × 13-inch (28 × 33 cm) pan: ⅓ of the noodles, ⅓ of the sauce, ½ the artichokes and ½ the Cheddar. Repeat, then top with the last of the noodles and sauce and ¼ cup (25 g) Parmesan.
  5. Bake at 350°F (180°C) for 35 to 40 minutes. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.

Marked “V. good”.

Underlined at the top: “Vegetarian Dish” and “Dru”.

Purple box, p. 128
Purple box, p. 129
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegetarian

Baked Acorn Squash

Ingredients
  • acorn squash
  • per half: a chunk of butter (1 tbsp), ⅛ tsp salt, paprika, 1 tsp sherry and 1 tsp brown sugar
Method
  1. Cut the squash into halves and remove the seeds.
  2. Season each half with the butter, salt, paprika, sherry and brown sugar.
  3. Bake at 350°F (180°C) for 45 minutes.

The “50” of “350” is written in blue over earlier figures, and “1 Tb” (for the butter) is written in blue and circled.

Purple box, p. 200
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegetarian

Baked Squash Parmesan

Ingredients
  • squash
  • salt and pepper
  • per half: 1 tbsp or more butter and 1 tsp or more Parmesan
Method
  1. Scrub the squash and cut in half lengthwise. Remove the seeds and strings. Put in a shallow pan and sprinkle with salt and pepper.
  2. Put the butter and cheese in each half.
  3. Bake at 325°F (160°C) for 1 hour or more, until tender.

“(Be generous.”

Underlined on the card: “lengthwise” and “325°”.

Purple box, p. 201
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenWell usedVegetarian

Green Bean Casserole

Written on the back of an “Advertising Mailing List” form (Sales 260, Rev. 8-60). Grammy used a pad of these as scrap paper for several vegetable recipes.

Ingredients
  • 1 lb (450 g) green beans, in 1-inch (2.5 cm) pieces
  • 1 cup (180 g) chopped fresh tomato
  • 2 tbsp chopped green pepper
  • 1 tbsp chopped onion
  • ½ tsp salt
  • ¼ tsp pepper
  • ¾ cup (38 g) soft breadcrumbs, browned in 2 tbsp (28 g) butter
  • ¼ cup (29 g) grated sharp cheese
Method
  1. Cook the beans in salted water until tender, about 8 minutes (10 is crossed out).
  2. Sauté the pepper and onion and add to the beans with the tomato, salt and pepper.
  3. Put the cheese and breadcrumbs on top.
  4. Bake 25 minutes at 350°F (180°C).

An L-shaped mark in red stands in the margin beside the breadcrumbs line.

Purple box, p. 202
Purple box, p. 204
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegetarian

Deviled Carrots

Yield Serves 6

Ingredients
  • 6 large carrots, quartered lengthwise
  • ½ cup (115 g) butter
  • 2 tbsp brown sugar
  • 2 tsp dry mustard
  • 2 drops Tabasco sauce
  • ½ tsp salt
  • freshly ground black pepper
Method
  1. Sauté the carrots in the butter for 5 minutes.
  2. Add the brown sugar, mustard, Tabasco, salt and pepper. Cook 10 minutes, until tender.

The “6” at the top is circled.

Purple box, p. 206
Early cards · 1950s–80sVegetarian

Baked Stuffed Mushrooms

A printed recipe card

Yield Serves 6

Ingredients
  • 1 lb (450 g) (about 12) medium mushrooms
  • 1 cup (120 g) finely chopped pecans
  • 3 tbsp chopped parsley
  • ¼ cup (55 g) soft butter
  • 1 clove garlic, crushed
  • ¼ tsp thyme
  • ½ tsp salt
  • pepper
  • ½ cup (120 ml) heavy cream
Method
  1. Remove the stems. Wipe the caps with a damp cloth and arrange hollow side up in a shallow baking dish.
  2. Chop the stems (about 1 cup / 120 g) and mix well with the pecans, parsley, butter, garlic, thyme, salt and pepper. Heap into the caps.
  3. Pour the cream over. Cover and bake at 350°F (180°C) for 30 to 45 minutes, until tender, basting once or twice with the cream in the dish.
Purple box, p. 207
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwritten

Broccoli Parmesan

Yield Serves 6 to 8

Ingredients
  • 1 bunch fresh broccoli
  • 3 tbsp (43 g) butter
  • 2 tbsp minced onion
  • ¾ tsp salt
  • a dash of pepper
  • ½ tsp dry mustard
  • 4 tbsp flour (the 4 is written in blue over another figure)
  • 1 chicken bouillon cube
  • 2½ cups (590 ml) milk
  • ½ cup (50 g) grated Parmesan, plus 2 tbsp for the top
  • paprika
Method
  1. Parcook the broccoli (“par” is added in front of “Cook”) in boiling salted water about 15 minutes. Drain and arrange in a shallow baking dish.
  2. Sauté the onion in the butter until tender. Blend in the seasonings and flour.
  3. Add the bouillon cube and milk. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until the mixture thickens and boils.
  4. Add the cheese and stir until melted. Pour over the broccoli and sprinkle with paprika and the extra cheese.
  5. Bake at 375°F (190°C) for 20 to 25 minutes, until browned.

Grammy’s note: make 1½ times the sauce for 2 bunches of broccoli.

The “15” of “~15 min” is written in dark ink over an earlier figure, the top of the 5 drawn out in a long stroke up to the right.

Purple box, p. 210
Purple box, p. 211
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegan

Pickled Beets

Pencilled on a “Vantage House” memorandum slip “from Arthur H. Yoshizawa”

Ingredients
  • ¾ cup (150 g) sugar
  • ⅓ cup (80 ml) vinegar
  • ⅓ cup (80 ml) beet juice
  • cooked beets
Method
  1. Boil the sugar, vinegar and beet juice to dissolve the sugar.
  2. Pour over the beets and marinate overnight.
Purple box, p. 212
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwritten

Celery Amandine

In a neat hand, in green ink

Yield Serves 6 to 8

Ingredients
  • 1 bunch celery, sliced
  • ¼ cup (55 g) butter
  • ¼ cup (31 g) flour
  • ½ tsp salt
  • a dash of pepper
  • 1 jar (2 oz / 55 g) pimento, chopped
  • 3 green onions and tops, chopped
  • 1 cup (240 ml) chicken broth
  • 1 cup (240 ml) half-and-half
  • 1 cup (115 g) grated Swiss cheese
  • ¾ cup (85 g) slivered almonds, toasted in 1 tbsp (14 g) butter
Method
  1. Cut the celery into 1-inch (2.5 cm) pieces. Cook covered in ½ cup (120 ml) boiling salted water for 5 minutes.
  2. Melt the butter and blend in the flour, salt and pepper. Add the onions, pimento, broth, cream and half the cheese. Cook, stirring constantly, until thick and smooth.
  3. Toast the almonds in a skillet. Mix half of them with the celery and put in a 12 × 15-inch (30 × 38 cm) casserole.
  4. Add the sauce, top with the rest of the cheese and sprinkle with the rest of the almonds.
  5. Bake at 350°F (180°C) for 15 minutes, until bubbly.

“Drain immediately!”, after the 5 minutes’ boiling.

It can be made ahead and baked just before serving.

Purple box, p. 219
Purple box, p. 220
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwritten

Epicurean Peas

Yield Serves 6

Ingredients
  • 4 slices bacon, chopped
  • 1 tbsp chopped onion
  • 1 tbsp flour
  • 1 No. 2 can (570 g) peas, drained
  • 1 cup (240 ml) light cream or evaporated milk
  • 1 cup (70 g) chopped fresh mushrooms
  • 2 tbsp (28 g) butter
  • salt and pepper
Method
  1. Partly fry the bacon and onion until soft and yellow. Add the flour and blend.
  2. Add the peas and cream and cook until thick.
  3. Cook the mushrooms in the butter 5 minutes. Season and add to the peas.

Faint, in the top left corner: a letter like “N” [?], with a small raised mark after it.

Purple box, p. 221
Purple box, p. 222
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwritten

Celery Cabbage with Soy

On the back of a mailing-list form

Ingredients
  • celery (Chinese) cabbage, cut up bite-size
  • bacon fat
  • 3 tbsp soy sauce
Method
  1. Fry the cabbage in bacon fat until crunchy, covered, 10 to 15 minutes. Add the soy sauce while it cooks.
Purple box, p. 223
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegetarian

Sour Cream Cabbage

Written below the celery cabbage, and finished on the back

Ingredients
  • 1 small head cabbage, shredded
  • ½ cup (115 g) butter
  • 1 beaten egg
  • salt and pepper
  • 1 cup (240 g) sour cream
  • 2 tbsp sugar
  • 2 tbsp lemon juice
Method
  1. Cook the cabbage in the butter until tender (almost soft).
  2. Combine the rest of the ingredients and toss lightly with the cabbage.
  3. Reheat, but do not boil.
Purple box, p. 223
Purple box, p. 224
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegetarian

Spinach à la Hambourg [?]

On the back of a mailing-list form

Ingredients
  • 3 packages frozen spinach
  • 2 tbsp (28 g) butter, melted
  • ¾ cup (30 g) small fried croutons
  • Mornay sauce
  • 2 tbsp or more butter
  • 3 tbsp flour
  • salt and cayenne
  • ¼ tsp dry mustard and ½ tsp Dijon mustard
  • 1 scant cup milk
  • ¼ cup (25 g) Parmesan cheese, plus more for the top
  • 3 tbsp light cream
Method
  1. Cook the spinach in a pan with water and salt until soft. Drain well and put it through the meat chopper.
  2. Mix in the melted butter and croutons. Form into egg shapes with 2 tablespoons and arrange on a buttered dish.
  3. Mornay sauce: melt the butter, add the flour, salt, cayenne and mustards, and mix in the milk. Stir until it comes to a boil. Add the cheese and cream and simmer a few minutes.
  4. Top each spinach “egg” with a tablespoon of sauce. Sprinkle with cheese and melted butter and brown under the broiler.

Underlined on the card: “spin” (the frozen spinach), “well” in “Drain well”, and “butter” (melted).

Purple box, p. 225
Purple box, p. 226
Early cards · 1950s–80sVegetarian

Acorn Squash with Green Peas

A newspaper clipping

Yield Serves 12

Ingredients
  • 6 unblemished acorn squash
  • 4 tbsp (55 g) butter, at room temperature
  • salt and freshly ground pepper
  • 4 tbsp light brown sugar
  • 3 cups (425 g) buttered, cooked fresh peas, or two 10-oz (285 g) packages frozen peas, cooked
Method
  1. Heat the oven to 450°F (230°C).
  2. Split the squash in half lengthwise and scoop out the seeds. Cut a small slice off the bottom of each half so it sits flat.
  3. Arrange in a large dish. Brush the cavities and tops with butter and sprinkle with salt and pepper.
  4. Sprinkle 2 tsp brown sugar around the inside of each half. Bake 45 minutes to 1 hour.
  5. Spoon the peas into the cavities and serve hot.

On the back is a supermarket advertisement for frozen Rock Cornish game hens, “U.S.D.A. Grade A, fully cleaned, 1½ to 2 lb. avg.”, and extra-fancy premium turkeys.

Purple box, p. 229
Purple box, p. 230
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegetarian

Zucchini with Cherry Tomatoes

Marked “GP” [?]; “(mushrooms)” added under the title

Yield Serves 6

Ingredients
  • 1½ lb (675 g) small zucchini, all the same size
  • 1 pint (300 g) cherry tomatoes, cut in half
  • 3 tbsp (43 g) butter
  • 2 tsp fresh lemon juice (Grammy: “needs more, 2 T”)
  • 1 tsp salt
  • ¼ tsp sugar
  • ⅛ tsp ground black pepper
Method
  1. Wash the zucchini and slice ½ inch (1 cm) thick. Put in a skillet and add boiling water to cover. Cook until barely tender, about 10 minutes. Drain well.
  2. Return to the skillet and add the tomatoes, butter, lemon juice and seasonings. Toss gently, taste and season more.
  3. Cover and simmer until the tomatoes are hot, about 3 minutes.

“Serves 6”, written above the title, is underlined.

Purple box, p. 233
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwritten

Sweet-Sour Green Beans

Ingredients
  • 1½ cups (190 g) cooked beans
  • 2 slices bacon
  • 1 tbsp each flour, sugar and vinegar
  • a scant ½ cup (120 ml) bean juice
Method
  1. Fry the bacon crisp. Add the flour and sugar and stir until smooth.
  2. Add the vinegar and liquid and cook until slightly thickened.
  3. Pour over the hot beans and mix thoroughly.
Purple box, p. 234
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegetarian

Green Beans with Mushrooms and Sour Cream

Ingredients
  • 1 package green beans, cooked
  • ½ cup (35 g) sliced fresh mushrooms
  • 2 tbsp (28 g) butter
  • ⅓ cup (80 g) sour cream
  • parsley
Method
  1. Sauté the mushrooms in the butter. Mix in the sour cream [and the beans].
  2. Put in a serving dish and sprinkle with parsley.
Purple box, p. 235
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegetarian

Eggplant Casserole

“Ruth”, written diagonally in the left margin

Yield Serves 4

Ingredients
  • 1 medium eggplant (1 lb / 450 g or more)
  • finely grated onion
  • ½ cup (120 ml) evaporated milk
  • 1 egg
  • 3 slices bread, in small pieces
  • 3 tbsp (43 g) melted butter
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 small green pepper, chopped fine
  • grated cheese
Method
  1. Peel the eggplant and slice it ½ inch (1 cm) thick. Boil in salted water until tender, 10 to 15 minutes. Drain.
  2. Mix with the onion, milk, egg, bread, butter, salt and green pepper. Pour into a buttered dish.
  3. Sprinkle with grated cheese. Bake at 375°F (190°C) until puffy and light, about 30 minutes.
Purple box, p. 238
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegetarian

Baked Zucchini Siena

Ingredients
  • 8 zucchini, 4 to 5 inches (10–13 cm) long, cut in ¼-inch (5 mm) slices
  • 4 medium onions, sliced thin
  • 2 cloves garlic, slivered
  • 1 green pepper, minced
  • ¼ tsp thyme
  • ¼ tsp basil
  • ¼ cup (60 ml) olive oil
  • ¼ cup (55 g) butter
  • ¼ tsp soy sauce
  • 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
  • salt, pepper and seasoned salt
  • 1 tsp or more sugar
  • 4 tomatoes, peeled and sliced thin
  • 1 cup (115 g) grated Cheddar
  • ½ cup (55 g) crumbs
Method
  1. Simmer the zucchini with the onions, garlic, green pepper and herbs in the heated oil and butter. Cook covered 10 minutes, stirring now and then.
  2. Add the soy and Worcestershire sauces, the seasonings and sugar.
  3. In a buttered 2-quart (1.9 litres) casserole, layer tomatoes, then zucchini, and repeat.
  4. Sprinkle with the cheese and top with crumbs. Bake at 350°F (180°C) for 40 to 45 minutes, until browned and the cheese bubbles.
Purple box, p. 239
Purple box, p. 240
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegetarian

Creamed Onions

Yield 24 to 28 onions

Ingredients
  • 24 to 28 small onions
  • 4 tbsp (55 g) butter
  • 4 tbsp flour
  • 2 cups (475 ml) of the onion cooking liquid
  • 1½ cups (360 ml) milk
  • ½ cup (120 ml) cream
  • salt, white pepper and ¼ tsp nutmeg
  • frozen peas (optional)
Method
  1. Cover the onions with water by 1 inch (2.5 cm). Boil, then simmer 20 minutes, until they show only the slightest resistance to a knife tip. Drain, saving the liquid.
  2. In a 3-quart (2.9 litres) pan, melt the butter and stir in the flour. Pour in 2 cups (475 ml) of the onion liquid and beat with a whisk until dissolved.
  3. Add the milk and cream and stir constantly until smooth and thick. Simmer 3 to 4 minutes. Season with salt, white pepper and nutmeg.
  4. Add the onions (and frozen peas, if using). Simmer 5 minutes. Taste and serve.
Purple box, p. 241
Purple box, p. 242
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegetarian

Golden Onion Rings

Ingredients
  • 3 large Spanish onions
  • 1 cup (125 g) flour
  • ½ cup (120 ml) sweet milk, plus milk for soaking
  • 1 egg, beaten
  • a pinch of salt
  • shortening, for frying
Method
  1. Slice the onions and separate into rings. Cover with milk and soak 20 minutes.
  2. Mix the flour with ½ cup (120 ml) milk and stir until smooth. Add the egg and salt and mix.
  3. Drain the rings on absorbent paper and dip in the batter.
  4. Heat the shortening to 370°F (190°C), drop in the rings and fry until golden.
Purple box, p. 245
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegetarian

Ruth’s Green Beans with Sour Cream

Ruth. Like her Chinese Rarebit and Orange Mandarin Salad cards, it is written on a re-used office index card: the back is a typed alumni record from 1940, with “1940” in red. All three of Ruth’s cards look like old alumni-office records from a North Carolina school.

Ingredients
  • 1 small can whole mushrooms, drained
  • 2 tbsp (28 g) butter
  • 3 cups (380 g) hot cooked French-style beans
  • ½ cup (120 g) sour cream
  • salt and pepper
Method
  1. Brown the mushrooms lightly in the butter.
  2. Add the beans and sour cream, season and heat through. Do not boil. Serve immediately.

“Ruth” at the top is underlined, and so is “Do not boil”.

Purple box, p. 249
Purple box, p. 250
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegetarian

Elizabeth Mynatt’s Green Bean and Mushroom Casserole

Elizabeth Mynatt, on her printed “My PetRecipe… A PetRecipe from Elizabeth Mynatt” card. It is a richer version of a printed recipe card (“Green-Bean-and-Mushroom Casserole”, serves 8) that is also in the box.

Yield “Serves 12 generously”

Ingredients
  • 1 lb (450 g) sliced mushrooms
  • 1 medium onion, sliced
  • ½ cup (115 g) butter
  • ¼ cup (31 g) flour
  • 2 cups (475 ml) milk (“1½ c?”)
  • 1 cup (240 ml) light cream
  • ¾ lb (340 g) sharp Cheddar, grated (“½?”)
  • ½ tsp hot pepper sauce (Tabasco); the printed card says ⅛ tsp
  • 2 tsp soy sauce
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp Accent
  • ½ tsp pepper
  • 3 packages frozen French-cut green beans
  • one 5-oz (140 g) can water chestnuts, drained and sliced
  • ½ cup (60 g) toasted slivered almonds
Method
  1. Sauté the mushrooms and onion in the butter. Add the flour and stir until smooth over low heat.
  2. Add the milk and cream slowly and cook until thickened. Add the cheese, hot pepper sauce, soy sauce, salt, pepper and Accent and stir until the cheese melts.
  3. Meanwhile, cook the green beans in salted water until barely tender. Drain.
  4. Mix with the mushroom sauce and water chestnuts. Pour into a casserole and sprinkle with the almonds.
  5. Bake 20 minutes at 375°F (190°C), until bubbly. If made ahead and chilled, allow 35 to 40 minutes to heat through.

At the end: “(toast almonds on cooky sheet in oven – watch closely)”, with a repeated “almonds” crossed out before “oven”.

On the printed card, “Good” [?] is written diagonally across the cut-off top corner and underlined.

On Elizabeth’s card, the “5” of “375°” is written over in a darker ink.

Purple box, p. 255
Purple box, p. 256
Purple box, p. 281
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegan

Beet and Carrot Salad

Ingredients
  • 1 can diced beets, drained
  • 2 carrots, grated
  • a sweet-sour sauce of vinegar, sugar and flour
Method
  1. Grate 2 carrots to a can of diced beets. Drain the beets and mix with the carrots in a bowl.
  2. Dress with a cooked sweet-sour sauce of vinegar, sugar and flour.
Purple box, p. 257
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegetarian

Carol’s Pie (Zucchini Cheese Puff)

Carol; written on a sheet of three-hole notebook paper

Yield One 9-inch (23 cm) pie

Ingredients
  • Cheese pastry
  • ½ cup (60 g) shredded Cheddar or Swiss cheese
  • 2 tbsp grated Parmesan
  • ½ cup (55 g) breadcrumbs
  • 2 tbsp (28 g) butter, melted
  • 1 cup (125 g) flour
  • ¼ tsp salt
  • ¼ tsp baking powder
  • ⅓ cup (75 g) butter
  • 3 to 4 tbsp milk
  • Zucchini filling
  • 3 cups (380 g) sliced zucchini
  • ½ cup (120 ml) boiling water
  • 2 tsp salt
  • 2 eggs, separated
  • 1½ cups (360 g) dairy sour cream
  • 2 tbsp flour
  • 2 tbsp chopped chives
  • ⅛ tsp pepper
  • ¼ tsp cream of tartar
Method
  1. Combine the cheeses and set aside ¼ cup (29 g). Mix the rest with the breadcrumbs and melted butter and set aside for the topping.
  2. Combine the flour, salt and baking powder in a small bowl. Cut in the ⅓ cup (75 g) butter and the reserved ¼ cup (29 g) cheese until the size of small peas.
  3. Sprinkle with the milk, stirring with a fork until the dough holds together. Form into a ball, roll out to fit a 9-inch (23 cm) pie plate and flute the rim. Chill while you make the filling.
  4. Cook the zucchini in the water with 1 tsp salt, covered, 5 minutes or until tender. Drain.
  5. Beat the yolks slightly. Add the sour cream, 1 tsp salt, the flour, chives and pepper.
  6. In a large bowl, beat the whites with the cream of tartar until stiff but not dry. Fold into the sour cream mixture.
  7. Put half the zucchini in the pastry, cover with half the sour cream mixture, then the rest of the zucchini and the rest of the sour cream mixture. Sprinkle with the cheese-crumb mixture.
  8. Bake at 400°F (200°C) for 10 minutes, then at 325°F (160°C) for 40 to 50 minutes, until a knife inserted halfway between the centre and the edge comes out clean.

On the cream of tartar: “(if you have it) if not, OK”.

“Carol’s Pie” is written and underlined at the top, in a different ink from the recipe.

Purple box, p. 258
Purple box, p. 259
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwritten

Zucchini and Bacon Bake

Yield Serves 6

Ingredients
  • zucchini, sliced ⅜ inch (1 cm) thick
  • a pinch of rosemary
  • 6 to 7 slices bacon, cut up
  • 1 onion, chopped fine
  • 1 clove garlic, chopped
  • 2 or 3 eggs, beaten
  • cheese slices (or ½ to 1 cup / 60–115 g grated)
Method
  1. Boil the zucchini in salted water with the rosemary, 5 to 7 minutes. Drain well. Don’t overcook: fork-tender.
  2. Pour the bacon, onion and garlic over (presumably fried together first) and toss. Pour the eggs over all.
  3. Put in an oiled 9 × 12-inch (23 × 30 cm) cake pan and cover with the cheese.
  4. Bake 30 minutes at 350°F (180°C), until a knife comes out clean.

“Drain” is underlined twice, and the “5” of “5-7 min” is circled in pencil.

Purple box, p. 260
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwritten

Piquant Beans

Yield Serves 6

Ingredients
  • 1½ lb (675 g) string beans
  • 4 strips bacon, in ½-inch (1 cm) strips
  • 2 tbsp diced pimento
  • 2 tbsp red wine vinegar
  • ¼ tsp sugar
  • 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
  • ¼ tsp dry mustard
  • Tabasco sauce
Method
  1. Steam the whole beans 15 minutes, until tender.
  2. Sauté the bacon until crisp. Remove it and add to the beans.
  3. To the fat add the pimento, vinegar, sugar, Worcestershire, mustard and 2 drops Tabasco. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly.
  4. Pour over the beans and mix well.

The “6” at the top is circled, and “To” (in “To fat add pim”) is underlined.

Purple box, p. 261
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegetarian

Cheese-Stuffed Zucchini

Ingredients
  • 4 medium zucchini
  • ½ cup (48 g) precooked rice
  • 1 egg
  • 1 cup (225 g) cottage cheese
  • 1 small onion, chopped
  • 1 tbsp parsley
  • ½ tsp salt
  • a drop of red pepper seasoning
  • sliced cheese
Method
  1. Trim the ends of the zucchini and halve lengthwise. Parboil, covered, in boiling salted water in a large pan for 15 minutes, until they start to soften.
  2. Drain and scoop out the pulp with a teaspoon. Mash it and keep it. Arrange the shells in a shallow greased pan.
  3. Cook the rice. Beat the egg slightly in a medium bowl and stir in the rice, cottage cheese, onion, parsley, salt, red pepper and pulp.
  4. Spoon into the shells, mounded. Bake at 375°F (190°C) for 30 minutes, until the filling is set.
  5. Criss-cross cheese on top and bake 5 minutes longer.

Under the title: “375 – 35 mi.”

In “bake 5 mi longer”, “longer” is underlined.

Purple box, p. 262
Purple box, p. 263
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwritten

Cucumbers and Mushrooms with Smetana

Smetana is Russian-style sour cream

Ingredients
  • Cucumbers
  • 1 large cucumber
  • 2 oz (55 g) spring onions
  • 1 tbsp (14 g) butter
  • salt
  • 1 cup (240 ml) smetana sauce
  • Mushrooms
  • 8 oz (225 g) small mushrooms
  • stock
  • 1 tbsp (14 g) butter
  • 1 tbsp flour
  • juice of ½ lemon
  • ½ tsp salt
  • ½ cup (120 g) sour cream
Method
  1. Cucumbers: peel and slice the cucumber. Chop the onions and fry in the hot butter. Add the cucumbers, sprinkle with salt and fry until soft. Stir in, or serve with, the smetana sauce (simmer 5 minutes).
  2. Mushrooms: wash the mushrooms and boil them whole in stock for 5 minutes.
  3. Melt the butter, blend in the flour and thin with a little of the stock. Stir well and add the mushrooms, more stock, the lemon juice and salt.
  4. Simmer 10 minutes, stirring now and then, and add the smetana.
Purple box, p. 267
Purple box, p. 268
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwritten

Mexican Squash

Yield Serves 4 to 6

Ingredients
  • 2 tbsp fat
  • 1 small hot pepper
  • ½ to 1 medium Mexican squash
  • 1 clove garlic, crushed
  • ¾ tsp cumin seed, crushed
  • ½ or more fresh tomato, chopped
  • ¼ or more green pepper, chopped
  • salt and pepper
Method
  1. Melt the fat in a heavy skillet and fry the hot pepper 2 to 3 minutes.
  2. Take out the pepper. Put the squash, garlic and cumin in the skillet and cook, stirring now and then.
  3. Add the tomato and green pepper and keep frying until tender. Season.

Zucchini or butternut squash may be used. The longer the hot pepper stays in the fat, the hotter the dish.

The “½” of the tomato is written over in a darker ink.

Purple box, p. 269
Purple box, p. 270
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegetarian

Fennel Gratin

Ingredients
  • fennel bulbs, the white part cut in 4
  • 2 small onions, chopped
  • 1 tbsp (14 g) butter
  • béchamel sauce
  • 2 tbsp grated cheese
  • 2 tbsp breadcrumbs
Method
  1. Cook the fennel 10 minutes in lightly salted water.
  2. Sauté the onions in the butter and put them in a baking dish. Top with the fennel and cover with béchamel.
  3. Cover with the cheese and crumbs. Bake 45 minutes at 350°F (180°C).
Purple box, p. 272
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegan

Corn on the Cob

Method
  1. Boil half a pot of water with 1 tbsp sugar.
  2. Add the husked corn, 6 at a time. Bring back to a boil and boil only 3 minutes.
  3. Serve immediately.

“Only” is underlined twice.

Purple box, p. 274
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegetarian

Eggplant Side Dish

Ingredients
  • eggplant, sliced
  • seasoned flour
  • oil, for frying
  • Hunt’s tomato sauce
  • oregano, garlic, salt and pepper
  • cheese
Method
  1. Shake the eggplant slices in a bag of seasoned flour. Fry and drain.
  2. Layer the eggplant with Hunt’s sauce, oregano, garlic, salt, pepper and cheese. Repeat. (The card ends there; bake until bubbling.)
Purple box, p. 277
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegan

Ratatouille (the classic method)

The steps follow Julia Child’s ratatouille in Mastering the Art of French Cooking closely. The card says “Serves 8?” and “Double”.

Ingredients
  • ½ lb (225 g) eggplant
  • ½ lb (225 g) zucchini
  • 1 tsp salt
  • olive oil (4 tbsp for the eggplant and zucchini, 2 to 3 tbsp for the onions)
  • ½ lb (1½ cups; 225 g) thinly sliced yellow onion
  • 2 (1 cup / 90 g) sliced green peppers
  • 2 cloves garlic, mashed
  • 1 lb (450 g) firm red tomatoes, peeled, seeded and juiced
  • salt and pepper
  • 3 tbsp parsley
Method
  1. Peel the eggplant and cut lengthwise into slices ⅜ inch (1 cm) thick, 3 inches (8 cm) long and 1 inch (2.5 cm) wide. Scrub the zucchini and slice the same way. Toss in a bowl with the salt, let stand 30 minutes, then drain and dry on paper towels.
  2. One layer at a time, sauté the eggplant and zucchini in hot olive oil, 1 minute a side, to brown lightly. Remove.
  3. Cook the onions and peppers slowly in oil for 10 minutes, until tender but not browned. Stir in the garlic and season.
  4. Dip the tomatoes in boiling water 10 seconds. Cut crosswise and squeeze out the seeds and juice. Slice the pulp into ⅜-inch (1 cm) strips and lay over the onions and peppers. Season, cover and cook over low heat 5 minutes.
  5. Uncover, baste the tomatoes with their juices, raise the heat and boil several minutes until the juice has evaporated.
  6. In a 2½-quart (2.4 litres) casserole, layer a third of the tomato mixture and 1 tbsp parsley, then half the eggplant and zucchini, and so on, finishing with tomato and parsley.
  7. Cover and simmer 10 minutes over low heat. Uncover, tip the casserole and baste with the juices. Correct the seasoning.
  8. Raise the heat and cook uncovered about 15 minutes, basting, until the juices have evaporated and only olive oil is left. Do not let it burn. Let it cool.

“Double” is underlined twice, and “not” (in “til tender & not brown”) is underlined.

Two small “ss” marks are written above “Place slices in bowl”: one, between “Place” and “slices”, is scribbled over; the other is between “in” and “bowl”.

Purple box, p. 283
Purple box, p. 284
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegan

Alex’s “Rattatovie (?)”

Alex, printed in capitals

Ingredients
  • 1 large eggplant
  • 2 to 3 summer squash (yellow)
  • 2 to 3 zucchini
  • 1 large can whole stewed tomatoes
  • 1 small can stewed tomatoes
  • 1 small can tomato paste
  • 2 large yellow onions
  • 5 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tbsp dried parsley
  • ½ cup (120 ml) white wine
  • 1 tsp dried basil
  • 1 tbsp paprika
  • 1 tbsp sugar
  • salt and pepper
  • Wesson oil
Method
  1. Slice the eggplant and sauté in Wesson oil until soft. Blot.
  2. Boil the sliced zucchini and summer squash until almost done.
  3. Sauté the onions until transparent (not brown).
  4. Combine the squash, eggplant, onions, garlic, tomatoes, spices and wine and simmer 15 minutes.

The title is spelled “RATTATOVIE(?)”.

In “UNTIL ALMOST DONE”, “ALMOST” is underlined.

Purple box, p. 285
Purple box, p. 286
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegan

How to Nuke Artichokes

Printed in capitals on the card

Method
  1. Wrap each artichoke in plastic wrap and place at least 1 inch (2.5 cm) apart, in a triangle or a circle.
  2. Microwave on high, turning halfway through: 1 artichoke, 3 to 5 minutes; 2, 5 to 7; 4, 10 to 13; 6, 16 to 20.
Purple box, p. 288
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwritten

Sautéed Brussels Sprouts with Bacon

Marked with a circled “G”

Yield Serves 6

Ingredients
  • 2 lb (900 g) Brussels sprouts, trimmed, with an X cut in the base
  • 6 slices lean bacon, chopped fine
  • 2 tbsp (28 g) unsalted butter
  • salt and pepper
Method
  1. Boil the sprouts in a large pan of boiling salted water 8 to 10 minutes. Refresh in a bowl of ice water, drain and pat dry. (This can be done up to 1 day ahead; cover and chill.)
  2. Cook the bacon over moderate heat in a large skillet, stirring now and then, until crisp. Lift out with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels.
  3. Add the butter to the skillet and heat over moderately high heat until the foam subsides. Sauté the sprouts in it, stirring, until heated through.
  4. Add the bacon, salt and pepper.

The “6” at the top is circled, and in “Add butter to skillet”, “Add” is underlined.

Purple box, p. 291
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegetarian

Brussels Sprouts with Browned Butter

Yield 2 pints (600 g)

Ingredients
  • 2 pints (600 g) Brussels sprouts
  • salt
  • 2 tbsp (28 g) butter
  • 1 tbsp sherry or red wine vinegar (optional)
Method
  1. Trim the sprouts and cut a cross in the stems.
  2. Put them in boiling salted water and cover until it boils again. Uncover and boil slowly 4 to 5 minutes, until cooked through but still crunchy and bright green. (Or steam 10 minutes, or microwave in one layer: 6 minutes for 2 pints / 600 g, 3 minutes 45 [?] seconds for 1 pint / 300 g.)
  3. Drain and run under cold water to refresh. Cut in half, cover and refrigerate.
  4. Brown the butter in a large frying pan until deep nut-brown. Add the sprouts, toss and turn, and season. Heat until hot. Add the sherry or vinegar if you like.

“Subst Broc. fl.”: broccoli florets work too.

In “Subst Broc. fl.” at the bottom, “Subst” is underlined. A “V”-shaped mark is written after “toss & turn.”, just above the bracketed sherry note.

Purple box, p. 292
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegetarian

Parsleyed Baby Carrots

Ingredients
  • ½ lb (225 g) baby carrots, peeled and trimmed
  • 1 tbsp (14 g) butter
  • 1 tsp minced fresh parsley
  • salt and pepper
Method
  1. Boil the carrots in salted water 4 to 6 minutes, until tender. Drain immediately.
  2. Melt the butter with the parsley over moderate heat. Add the carrots and heat, swirling the pan, 1 to 2 minutes until well coated. Season.
Purple box, p. 293
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegetarian

Sesame Green Beans and Peas

Noted “G – June 83”: Gourmet, June 1983

Ingredients
  • ¼ cup (35 g) sesame seeds
  • 2 cups (290 g) shelled fresh peas (or frozen, thawed and drained)
  • 1 lb (450 g) green beans, trimmed and cut crosswise in ⅓-inch (8 mm) pieces
  • 2 tbsp (28 g) unsalted butter
  • 2 tbsp vegetable oil
  • 1 tsp sugar
  • ½ tsp Oriental sesame oil
  • salt and pepper
Method
  1. Toast the sesame seeds in a dry heavy skillet over moderately low heat, stirring, 4 to 6 minutes, until golden. Move to a small bowl.
  2. In the skillet, sauté the peas and beans in the butter and oil over moderately high heat, stirring, 1 minute, until well coated.
  3. Add ½ cup (120 ml) water and the sugar and steam, covered, 4 to 6 minutes, until just tender. If needed, stir uncovered to evaporate any extra liquid.
  4. Off the heat, stir in the sesame seeds, sesame oil, salt and pepper. Serve hot.

“Oriental” (sesame oil) is underlined.

Purple box, p. 294
Purple box, p. 295
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegetarian

Zucchini and Onion Gratin

Yield Serves 6

Ingredients
  • 2 lb (900 g) zucchini, cut in ⅛-inch (3 mm) slices
  • 2 tsp salt
  • ¾ lb (340 g) onions, sliced thin
  • ¼ cup (60 ml) olive oil
  • 1 tsp fresh thyme (¼ tsp dried)
  • pepper
  • ⅓ cup (17 g) fresh breadcrumbs
  • 1 tbsp Parmesan
Method
  1. Toss the zucchini with the salt in a colander and drain 1 hour. Pat dry.
  2. Cook the onion in the oil, stirring, 10 minutes, until golden.
  3. Oil an oval gratin dish. Put in the zucchini, onions, thyme and pepper.
  4. Bake at 375°F (190°C) for 35 minutes, stirring several times, until the liquid evaporates.
  5. Combine the crumbs and Parmesan, sprinkle over and bake 15 minutes more, until golden.

The “6” at the top is underlined. In a darker ink, “for 35 min” is written in above the line just after “Bake 375°”, with “35 min” underlined, and a “B” [?] with a stroke across its stem is written above “times”.

Purple box, p. 296
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwritten

Corn Soufflé

On yellow legal-pad paper

Yield One 9 × 13-inch (23 × 33 cm) pan, greased

Ingredients
  • 2 sticks (225 g) butter
  • 16 oz (450 g) sour cream
  • 4 eggs, beaten
  • 2 cans cream-style corn
  • 2 boxes Jiffy corn muffin mix
Method
  1. Melt the butter. Blend in the rest, one at a time.
  2. Bake at 325°F (160°C) for about 1 hour, until a knife comes out clean in the middle.

“Cut in half” is written on a slant beside the list, and underlined.

See also Corn Casserole

Purple box, p. 297
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwritten

Chinese Green Peas

Yield Serves 8

Ingredients
  • two 10-oz (285 g) packages frozen peas
  • 2 medium onions, diced
  • 1 cup (100 g) diced celery
  • ½ cup (120 ml) olive oil
  • 2 tsp cornstarch
  • 2 cups (475 ml) chicken stock (or 4 chicken bouillon cubes and water)
  • ½ tsp MSG
  • ¼ tsp soy sauce
  • salt to taste
Method
  1. Put the vegetables in a large skillet with the hot oil. Keep the flame high, and when the peas are sputtering, cover and turn the heat low. Sauté 10 to 15 minutes, stirring now and then. If not done, cook 5 minutes more (leave them crisp).
  2. Mix the cornstarch with ¼ cup (60 ml) of the stock, then add the rest of the stock. Combine with the vegetables and cook until slightly thickened and transparent.
  3. Add the seasonings, cook 1 minute longer and serve.

It can be prepared ahead and reheated.

“Serves 8” is faintly circled.

Purple box, p. 300
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegetarian

Jacques Pépin’s Herbed Zucchini

Noted “(p.61 – Pepin)”

Yield Serves 6

Ingredients
  • 1½ lb (675 g) zucchini
  • ¼ cup (60 ml) vegetable oil
  • 1 tbsp chopped chives
  • ½ tsp salt
  • ⅛ tsp pepper
  • 1 tbsp (14 g) butter
  • a few pieces of tomato skin, to decorate
Method
  1. Cut the zucchini into slices ¼ inch (5 mm) thick, then stack and cut into ¼-inch (5 mm) strips 2½ inches (6 cm) long (about 7 cups).
  2. Heat the oil in a large skillet. When hot, add the zucchini. Don’t layer it more than ½ inch (1 cm) thick, so it steams and softens without browning.
  3. Sauté on high heat 4½ to 5 minutes. Add the chives, salt, pepper and butter and mix well.
  4. Move to a serving dish and sprinkle with pieces of tomato skin to decorate.

In brackets at the end: “(zucchini will be soft & a bit transparent, but not soggy.)”

Underlined on the card: “without” (browning) and “mix well”. The “2” of “½ inch thick” is written heavily over another figure.

Purple box, p. 303
Purple box, p. 304
Early cards · 1950s–80s

Christopher Idone’s Corn Column: Chowder, Succotash, Corn Pudding and Cocada

A crumpled magazine “Food” column by Christopher Idone (pages 63–64), headed “…everything from chowder to pudding” and “Corn season is upon us.” Rewritten here; a few words are lost in the folds.

How to cook corn on the cob

Method
  1. Bring 2 gallons (7.6 litres) of cold water to a rolling boil in a large kettle. Add at least 1 tbsp salt and 1 cup (240 ml) milk. Add the husked corn and turn off the heat at once.
  2. Leave it 5 minutes, then lift out just as many ears as you need. Leave the pot uncovered and take out the rest as needed.

Corn and lobster chowder: serves 6 to 8

Ingredients
  • 6 ears fresh corn (3 to 4 cups / 500–650 g)
  • 4 cups (950 ml) milk
  • 4 cups (950 ml) chicken broth
  • 2 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp sugar
  • 6 scallions
  • 5 tbsp (70 g) unsalted butter
  • 1 tbsp all-purpose flour
  • black pepper, to taste
  • ⅛ tsp cayenne
  • 1 lb (450 g) fresh-cooked lobster meat, in bite-size pieces (from about 4 lb / 1.8 kg live lobster)
Method
  1. Chowder: husk the corn and remove the silk. Cut the kernels off from the top of the ear down, not too close to the cob, and set aside.
  2. In a large soup kettle, bring the milk, broth and cobs to a boil. Simmer 1 hour. Lift out the cobs, add the kernels, salt and sugar and simmer on very low heat about 10 minutes, until the cobs are cool enough to handle. Scrape the pulp from the cobs into the soup.
  3. Chop the scallions finely, with most of the green, and sauté briefly in 4 tbsp (55 g) butter.
  4. Work the last tablespoon of butter into the flour. Raise the heat, and when the chowder steams, whisk in the paste. Season with pepper and cayenne and simmer 10 minutes.
  5. Fold in the lobster and cook 5 minutes more, until warmed through. Fold in the scallions and serve in heated soup plates.

Succotash: serves 6 or more

Ingredients
  • 4 cups (650 g) fresh corn (6 to 8 ears)
  • 2 cups (340 g) small shelled fresh lima beans
  • 2 cups (220 g) fresh string beans, in 1-inch (2.5 cm) pieces
  • ¼ lb (115 g) unsalted butter
  • ⅓ lb (150 g) bacon, in ½-inch (1 cm) pieces (optional)
  • 4 scallions, trimmed
  • 2 to 3 tbsp heavy cream
Method
  1. Succotash: cut the corn from the cobs as above, scrape the pulp into a bowl and add the kernels.
  2. Blanch the lima beans in lightly salted boiling water until almost tender, cool under cold water, and repeat with the string beans.
  3. Melt the butter in a large heavy saucepan over medium heat. Add the corn and its juices and cook 10 minutes, stirring often. Render the bacon until golden and drain.
  4. Cut the scallions into ½-inch (1 cm) pieces with some green. Add both beans to the corn and cook 10 minutes more, stirring. After 5 minutes add the scallions and fold in the cream to loosen it.
  5. Fold in the bacon and serve at once in a warm bowl.

Corn pudding (credited to “HE… [?]EACHRANE’S”, the name folded and torn): serves 6 or more

Ingredients
  • 4 tbsp (55 g) unsalted butter
  • 2 cups (330 g) corn (3 to 5 ears)
  • ⅓ cup (55 g) onion, finely chopped
  • 3 eggs
  • 1 tbsp sugar
  • 1 tsp salt, or to taste
  • 2 cups (475 ml) milk
  • ⅛ tsp freshly grated nutmeg
Method
  1. Pudding: heat the oven to 350°F (180°C) with the rack in the middle. Butter a 1½-quart (1.4 litres) casserole with about 1 tbsp of the butter.
  2. Cut the corn from the cobs into a large bowl, scrape in the pulp and add the onion.
  3. Whisk the eggs lightly with the sugar, salt and milk and pour into the corn. Melt the remaining 3 tbsp (43 g) butter and stir it in. Pour into the casserole and grate nutmeg over.
  4. Set the casserole in a roasting pan and pour in boiling water halfway up its side. Bake 45 minutes, until a knife in the centre comes out clean. Serve immediately.

Cocada with fresh corn: serves 8 to 10 (partly lost in the creases)

Ingredients
  • 2 coconuts (or unsweetened coconut milk and shredded coconut)
  • ½ cup (120 ml) fresh coconut milk
  • 1½ cups (300 g) sugar
  • 1 vanilla bean
  • fresh corn
  • eggs, separated
Method
  1. Cocada: simmer the coconut milk with the sugar and vanilla, then add the corn kernels and scraped pulp. Simmer, stirring often, about 20 minutes, until thickened.
  2. Off the heat, whisk in the lightly beaten yolks. Cool, cover and chill 2 hours. Toast some grated coconut until golden.
  3. Beat the whites until stiff and glossy and fold them in. Turn into a serving dish and sprinkle with the toasted coconut.

The column’s coconut note: pierce the softest of the three “eyes” with a nail and drain the water (it is sweet water, not the milk). Pry out the meat, pare off the dark skin, then purée the meat with hot water, wring it out in a cloth and repeat, to make about 2 cups (475 ml) of milk.

The column’s story: in France the writer saw, within arm’s reach, a golden-skinned beauty in a snowy white maillot, with sun-streaked hair, holding an ear of corn in her languid hand. “I was dazzled… It was Jeanne Moreau. Mom was wrong.”

Purple box, p. 305
Purple box, p. 306
Later cards, 1990s–2000s
Later cards · 1990s–2000sHandwrittenVegetarian

Acorn Squash with Apples, Pear and Bourbon

Noted “(New Joy)”: The New Joy of Cooking

Ingredients
  • acorn squash, halved
  • 2 tbsp (28 g) butter, melted
  • 2 tbsp dark brown sugar
  • ¼ tsp cinnamon
  • ⅛ tsp nutmeg
  • 2 large apples and 1 pear, cut up
  • ¼ cup (60 ml) cider and orange juice
  • [¼] cup bourbon
Method
  1. Put the squash halves cut side down in a buttered pan with ¼ inch (5 mm) of water. Bake 30 minutes at 350°F (180°C).
  2. Mix the butter, sugar and spices together. Add the apples and pear and simmer until the fruit is brown.
  3. Add the cider and orange juice, and the bourbon.

The card stops there; presumably the fruit is spooned into the squash halves to finish baking.

Rose box, p. 158
Later cards · 1990s–2000sHandwrittenVegan

Broiled Asparagus

Noted “Cook’s” (Cook’s Illustrated), and “see Cook’s 3/4 2001 for sauces”

Ingredients
  • asparagus
  • olive oil spray
  • salt and ground black pepper
Method
  1. Set the oven rack in the upper position and heat the broiler.
  2. Lay the spears in a single layer on a foil-lined cookie sheet. Spray with olive oil and season with salt and pepper.
  3. Broil 4 inches (10 cm) from the heating element, shaking the pan halfway through to turn the spears, until the asparagus is tender and lightly browned, 8 to 10 minutes.
  4. Cool 5 minutes and serve.

“4″” (from the heating element) and “8–10 min” are each underlined twice.

Rose box, p. 159
Later cards · 1990s–2000sHandwrittenVegan

Kir’s Asparagus

Kir; with a note at the foot, “(see R. asparagus w/ wild mushroom fricassee) – folder”, with “J. Oliver” written under it

Ingredients
  • asparagus
  • olive oil
  • sea salt
Method
  1. Lay the asparagus flat in a baking pan. Brush with olive oil and sprinkle generously with sea salt.
  2. Bake at 425° to 450°F (220–230°C) (400° crossed out) for about 10 minutes, until tender with brown spots. Or broil, 4 inches (10 cm) from the heat, 8 to 10 minutes.
Rose box, p. 160
Later cards · 1990s–2000sHandwrittenVegan

Balsamic-Glazed Asparagus

Noted “NYT”

Yield Serves 4 to 6

Ingredients
  • 1 bunch asparagus (about 1 lb / 450 g), ends removed
  • 1 tbsp olive oil, plus more for the skillet
  • sea salt and ground pepper
  • 2 tbsp balsamic vinegar
Method
  1. Put the asparagus in a roasting pan, drizzle with 1 tbsp oil, sprinkle with sea salt and pepper and toss to coat.
  2. Lightly grease a large nonstick skillet with oil and put it over high heat.
  3. When hot, add the vinegar. When the vinegar sizzles, add the asparagus and spread it out. Reduce the heat to medium-high.
  4. Cook, turning the stalks often, until crisp-tender and bright green, 10 to 15 minutes.

“When hot, add vin. When vin. is sizzling, add aspar.” is underlined.

Rose box, p. 161
Later cards · 1990s–2000sHandwrittenVegan

Kir’s Roasted Asparagus and Basil (after Jamie Oliver)

Kir; noted “(J. Oliver)”

Ingredients
  • asparagus
  • olive oil
  • 1 bunch basil, leaves roughly chopped
  • salt and pepper
  • 1 garlic clove, chopped or finely sliced
  • a pinch of cayenne
  • pitted niçoise olives
  • 20 grape tomatoes
Method
  1. Heat the oven to 425°F (220°C). Wash and dry the asparagus well.
  2. In a bowl, gently mix the asparagus with olive oil, the basil, salt and pepper, garlic and cayenne.
  3. Lay out on an oiled pan and roast. Add the olives and tomatoes and bake 10 minutes.
Rose box, p. 162
Later cards · 1990s–2000sHandwrittenVegan

Stan’s Asparagus, Tomatoes and Olives

Noted “Stan” [?]

Ingredients
  • black pitted olives
  • grape tomatoes
  • whole asparagus, trimmed
  • salt and pepper
  • olive oil
  • fresh basil leaves
Method
  1. Toss everything together and lay out on a tray.
  2. Put in a hot oven, 475°F (240°C), for 12 minutes, tossing gently several times.
Rose box, p. 163
Later cards · 1990s–2000sHandwrittenSpecial praiseVegetarian

Skillet Asparagus with Black Sesame Seeds

Noted “Gourmet”

Yield Serves 5

Ingredients
  • 2 lb (900 g) asparagus
  • 2 tbsp (28 g) unsalted butter
  • salt
  • black sesame seeds
  • lemon wedges
Method
  1. Wash the asparagus but don’t dry it.
  2. In a large skillet, melt the butter over medium-high heat. Add the wet asparagus, sprinkle with salt, cover and cook over moderate heat.
  3. Shake occasionally and cook about 4 minutes, depending on size.
  4. Toast the black sesame seeds in a skillet. Toss or sprinkle over the asparagus and serve with lemon wedges.

Marked “Excellent!”, underlined.

Rose box, p. 164
Later cards · 1990s–2000sHandwrittenSpecial praiseVegan

Roasted Carrots (with a maple-butter option)

Noted “Cooks”; the card is titled “Roasted Carrots or Caramelized Cauliflower”, with the cauliflower on the back

Yield Serves 8

Ingredients
  • 2 lb (900 g) real baby carrots, not bagged (mature mini carrots); make sure there’s no water in the bag
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • ½ tsp salt
  • Maple-butter version
  • 1 tbsp (14 g) butter
  • 1 tbsp maple syrup
Method
  1. Set the oven rack in the middle position and heat to 475°F (240°C).
  2. Toss the carrots, oil and salt in a broiler-pan bottom. Spread in a single layer and roast 12 minutes.
  3. Shake the pan to toss the carrots and keep roasting about 8 minutes longer, shaking the pan twice more, until browned and tender.
  4. Alternative: reduce the oil to 1½ tsp. Heat the butter until deep gold (1 minute). Off the heat, stir in the maple syrup, drizzle over the carrots after 12 minutes’ roasting, and finish cooking.

Marked “delicious”, underlined. Also underlined: “Alt:” and “maple syrup”.

See also Caramelized Cauliflower

Rose box, p. 165
Later cards · 1990s–2000sHandwrittenVegan

Caramelized Cauliflower

On the back of the Roasted Carrots card

Ingredients
  • 1 lb (450 g) cauliflower, trimmed and cut into ¼-inch-thick (5 mm) slices, like medallions
  • olive oil (a few tbsp)
  • sea salt and black pepper
  • 1 garlic clove, minced
Method
  1. Heat the oven to 375°F (190°C).
  2. Put the cauliflower in a large bowl, pour on enough olive oil to coat and season generously with salt, pepper and the garlic.
  3. Lay the pieces on a baking sheet and drizzle any oil left in the bowl on top.
  4. Bake, turning once, until caramelized on the edges and tender, 25 to 30 minutes. (Or sauté in a skillet in olive oil over medium heat.)
  5. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Underlined on the card: “cauliflower”, “slices” (twice) and “Bake”; a star by “Bake” matches a star by the sauté note at the foot.

Rose box, p. 166
Later cards · 1990s–2000sHandwrittenVegetarian

Kir’s Haricots Verts with Parmesan

Kir

Yield Serves 6

Ingredients
  • 1 lb (450 g) French beans, trimmed
  • sea salt and ground black pepper
  • 4 oz (115 g) butter
  • 4 oz (115 g) freshly grated Parmesan
Method
  1. Bring 1 quart (950 ml) of water to a boil with 1½ tsp salt. Add the beans and cover until the water boils again.
  2. Uncover and cook al dente, 2 to 3 minutes. (If making ahead, cool them in ice water.)
  3. Drain and return to the pan with the butter. Season and stir in the cheese.
  4. Keep over the heat until the cheese begins to go stringy and coats the beans. Serve immediately.

“Freshly” and “to boil” are underlined.

Rose box, p. 167
Later cards · 1990s–2000sHandwrittenVegan

Rokhsha’s Green Beans

Rokhsha

Ingredients
  • grated ginger
  • sesame oil
  • green beans
  • 2 tsp soy sauce and a little water
  • ½ cup (120 ml) sake
Method
  1. Sauté the ginger in hot sesame oil.
  2. Add the beans and sauté. Add the soy sauce and water, then the sake.

Underlined on the card: “ginger”, “sesame”, “beans” and “sake”.

Rose box, p. 168
Later cards · 1990s–2000sHandwrittenSpecial praiseVegan

Roasted Green Beans as Finger Food

Three cards of the same Gourmet recipe: one marked “Pat’s”, one with “Pat” circled and “(8 people)”, and one marked “Wonderful”

Yield Serves 8

Ingredients
  • 3 lb (1.4 kg) haricots verts or other thin green beans
  • 1½ tbsp olive oil
  • kosher salt (one card adds chili or cayenne pepper)
Method
  1. Heat the oven to 375°F (190°C).
  2. Toss the beans with the oil and salt (and pepper) to taste.
  3. Roast in 2 large shallow baking pans in the upper and lower thirds of the oven, switching the pans halfway and stirring occasionally, until spotted here and there with dark brown and the thinner beans are crisp, 45 to 55 minutes.
  4. Season with salt and serve, mixed together, as finger food.

One card says simply “Wonderful”, underlined. On the “(8 people)” card, “upper” and “lower” are underlined.

Rose box, p. 169
Rose box, p. 171
Rose box, p. 172
Later cards · 1990s–2000sHandwrittenVegetarian

Haricots Verts with Lemon

Noted “Gourmet”

Ingredients
  • 2½ lb (1.1 kg) haricots verts
  • 1 tbsp (14 g) butter
  • ½ tsp lemon zest
  • salt
Method
  1. Cook the beans in a large pot of boiling water, 4 to 6 minutes. Drain.
  2. Toss with the butter, zest and salt to taste.
Rose box, p. 170
Later cards · 1990s–2000sHandwrittenVegan

Madhur Jaffrey’s Indian Green Beans

Noted “M. Jaffrey”

Ingredients
  • 1 lb (450 g) fresh haricots verts
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 tbsp black mustard seed
  • 5 cloves garlic, chopped fine
  • 1½ hot dried red chillies, crushed
  • 1 tsp salt
  • ½ tsp sugar
  • fresh ground black pepper
Method
  1. Trim the beans and cut into 1-inch (2.5 cm) lengths. Blanch in boiling water 2 to 3 minutes. Drain immediately, rinse under cold water and set aside.
  2. Put the oil in a large frying pan over medium heat. When hot, add the mustard seeds, cover and shake the pan.
  3. As soon as they pop, stir in the garlic until light brown. Add the chilli and stir a few seconds.
  4. Add the beans, sugar and salt and stir to mix. Turn the heat to medium-low and cook, stirring, 7 to 8 minutes, until they have absorbed the flavour.
  5. Add black pepper, mix and serve.

Underlined on the card: “Drain” and “Set aside”.

Rose box, p. 173
Rose box, p. 174
Later cards · 1990s–2000sVegan

Green Beans with Red Onion and Mustard Seed Vinaigrette

A magazine clipping in Gourmet’s style. Rewritten here.

Yield Serves 8; 30 minutes active, 40 minutes in all

Ingredients
  • 3 tbsp olive oil
  • 2 tbsp mustard seeds
  • ⅓ cup (80 ml) red-wine vinegar
  • 1 tbsp sugar
  • 1 medium red onion, thinly sliced
  • 1½ lb (675 g) green beans, trimmed
Method
  1. Heat 1 tbsp oil in a heavy skillet over moderate heat until hot but not smoking. Cook the mustard seeds, stirring, until they pop and turn a shade darker, about 2 minutes. Tip the oil and seeds into a large bowl.
  2. Simmer the vinegar and sugar in a small saucepan, stirring, until the sugar dissolves. Cool 5 minutes.
  3. Heat the remaining 2 tbsp oil in the cleaned skillet over moderately high heat and cook the onion, stirring, until golden brown, 8 to 10 minutes. Off the heat, stir in the vinegar, then add to the mustard oil.
  4. Cook the beans in boiling salted water until crisp-tender, about 5 minutes. Drain and plunge into ice water, then drain well.
  5. Toss the beans with the vinaigrette and season. Serve at room temperature or chilled.

On the clipping, a short double blue line is drawn under the “1” of “Heat 1 tablespoon oil” (the oil for the mustard seeds), and a short blue stroke by the title.

Rose box, p. 175
Later cards · 1990s–2000s

Tori Spelling’s Green Bean Bundles

A New York Times clipping, credited to the actress Tori Spelling, pasted on a card titled “Green Bean Bundles” and marked “(easy)”. Rewritten here.

Yield 10 servings

Ingredients
  • 10 slices bacon
  • ½ lb (225 g) fresh green beans
  • 4 tbsp (55 g) unsalted butter
  • ¼ cup (55 g) brown sugar
  • 1 tbsp soy sauce
  • 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
Method
  1. Heat the oven to 375°F (190°C) and line a 9 × 13-inch (23 × 33 cm) pan with foil.
  2. Cook the bacon in a heavy skillet over medium heat until partly cooked but not crisp. Drain on paper towels.
  3. Boil the beans 2 minutes, drain and rinse with cold water. Arrange in groups of 4 or 5 in the pan and wrap each bundle with a slice of bacon.
  4. Melt the butter in a small saucepan over medium-low heat. Add the sugar, soy sauce and Worcestershire and cook 1 minute, stirring, until the sugar melts. Brush over the bundles.
  5. Bake about 15 minutes, until the bacon is cooked through.

“(easy)” is written beside the clipping. “NY Times” at the top is underlined several times, and “Bake about 15 minutes” is underlined on the clipping.

Rose box, p. 176
Later cards · 1990s–2000sHandwrittenVegetarian

Glazed Carrots and Pearl Onions

Ingredients
  • 4 large carrots, cut in ½-inch (1 cm) pieces
  • pearl onions
  • 2 tbsp sugar (1 for each pan)
  • water
  • salt and pepper
  • 2 tbsp (28 g) cold butter
Method
  1. Bring salted water to a boil. Add the carrots, bring back to the boil and blanch 30 seconds. Drain and set aside.
  2. Put 1 tbsp sugar in a small deep-sided sauté pan over high heat. Cook until the sugar is a dark caramel colour (4 to 5 minutes).
  3. Quickly add the carrots and enough water to cover (about 1 cup / 240 ml). Season and cook at a low boil until the liquid is reduced to a glaze and the carrots are tender (8 to 10 minutes).
  4. In a second pan, repeat with 1 tbsp sugar, the onions and about 1 cup (240 ml) water.
  5. If the vegetables aren’t tender when glazed, add ¼ to ½ cup (60–120 ml) more water and cook down again.
  6. Toss the vegetables together, stir in the cold butter and season.

Underlined on the card: “4 lg. carrots cut” and “1 TB sugar”.

Rose box, p. 178
Later cards · 1990s–2000sSpecial praiseVegan

Sweet-and-Sour Baby Carrots

A Gourmet clipping with a colour photograph of the glossy carrots, marked “Delicious”. Rewritten here.

Yield Serves 6; 30 minutes active, 1 hour in all

Ingredients
  • 2 lb (900 g) baby carrots, peeled, green tops trimmed to 1½ inches (4 cm)
  • 1 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
  • salt and pepper
  • ¼ cup (60 ml) red-wine vinegar
  • 1½ tbsp sugar
Method
  1. Heat the oven to 425°F (220°C).
  2. Toss the carrots with the oil, salt and pepper in a shallow (1-inch-deep / 2.5 cm) baking pan. Roast in the middle of the oven, stirring once, until barely tender, about 20 minutes. Leave the oven on.
  3. Stir the vinegar and sugar together until the sugar dissolves. Drizzle over the carrots and shake the pan to coat.
  4. Roast until the carrots are tender and the vinegar has evaporated, 5 to 8 minutes more.

Marked “Delicious”. A blue mark like an upside-down V is drawn beside the title.

Rose box, p. 179
Later cards · 1990s–2000sHandwrittenVegetarian

Rutabaga and Carrot Purée

Noted “Gourmet”

Ingredients
  • 2 rutabagas (2½ lb / 1.1 kg total)
  • 5 carrots
  • 3 tbsp (43 g) butter
  • 3 tbsp light brown sugar
  • 1 tsp kosher salt
Method
  1. Cut the rutabagas and carrots into 1-inch (2.5 cm) pieces. Cook in boiling salted water until tender, about 30 minutes.
  2. Lift into the food processor with a slotted spoon. Purée with the butter, sugar and salt until very smooth.
  3. Return to the pan to reheat if needed.

It keeps, covered, in the refrigerator for 3 days.

Rose box, p. 180
Later cards · 1990s–2000sHandwrittenVegan

Kir’s Roasted Garlic

Kir; two cards, both noting “See Gotham p 47” (the Gotham Bar and Grill cookbook)

Ingredients
  • whole heads of garlic
  • olive oil
  • salt and pepper
Method
  1. Heat the oven to 325°F (160°C) (350° crossed out on both cards).
  2. Cut off the bottom of each head to reveal each clove (cut into them).
  3. Pour a little olive oil over and season with salt and pepper.
  4. Roast 45 minutes. Cool and squeeze out.

See also Roasted Garlic, Cloves and Whole Heads

Rose box, p. 181
Rose box, p. 182
Later cards · 1990s–2000sHandwrittenVegan

Roasted Garlic, Cloves and Whole Heads

Noted “CIA mag. 9/06” (the Culinary Institute of America’s magazine, September 2006); the back says “See Spin w/ Roast Gar.”

Whole cloves

Ingredients
  • unpeeled heads of garlic
  • 1 tsp water for every 20 cloves
  • salt
  • oil, for the foil
Method
  1. Blanch the unpeeled garlic head in boiling water 1 minute. Cool in ice water and pinch off the skins.
  2. Put the cloves in an oiled pouch of double-layered foil. Sprinkle with the water and salt.
  3. Put on a baking sheet and roast at 325° to 350°F (160–180°C) for 20 minutes. Shake to redistribute the cloves and roast 20 minutes more. Check for doneness.
  4. Two heads give about ¼ cup (60 ml) of roasted cloves.

Whole heads

Method
  1. Cut the heads in half (or cut off the top of each head). Drizzle with oil and sprinkle with salt.
  2. Reassemble, wrap in foil, leaving an opening at the top, and set on a pan. Roast at 325° to 350°F (160–180°C) for about an hour.

The note on the back points to the spinach with roasted garlic recipe.

Underlined on the card: “For cloves” (with “whole” written above) and “Whole heads:”.

See also Spinach Sautéed with Roasted Garlic

Rose box, p. 183
Rose box, p. 184
Later cards · 1990s–2000sHandwritten

Kir’s Puy Lentils with Bacon

Kir; on a pink card

Ingredients
  • Puy lentils (about 350 g / 12½ oz)
  • 1 lb (450 g) bacon, cut into ½-inch (1 cm) pieces
  • extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 onion, finely chopped (also red pepper)
  • 3 garlic cloves, finely chopped
  • baby spinach
  • ½ cup (120 ml) balsamic vinegar
  • ¼ cup (85 g) honey (or less)
Method
  1. Cook the lentils.
  2. Fry the bacon in a little extra-virgin olive oil. Add the onion (and red pepper) and fry, then the garlic, and fry until brown.
  3. Add the baby spinach, then the balsamic vinegar and honey, and stir in the lentils.

The card doesn’t say when the lentils go in; “Remove from pan” is crossed out after the garlic.

“w/ extra virg. oil” is in square brackets, with “w/” boxed and “oil” underlined; “onion” and “garlic” are underlined too.

Rose box, p. 185
Later cards · 1990s–2000sHandwrittenVegan

Grilled Portabellos

Yield 1 per person

Ingredients
  • portabello mushrooms, 1 per person
  • balsamic vinaigrette (the card says “M’s” Balsamic Vinaigrette)
Method
  1. Wash and clean the mushrooms and remove the stems.
  2. Brush both sides with the balsamic vinaigrette and let them sit 15 to 30 minutes.
  3. Grill 5 minutes on each side.
Rose box, p. 186
Later cards · 1990s–2000sHandwrittenVegan

Vera’s Portabella Mushrooms or Eggplant

Vera, with a later note in blue about Patrick’s version

Ingredients
  • portabella mushrooms or eggplant
  • garlic, olive oil and parsley
  • balsamic vinegar
Method
  1. Baste with garlic, olive oil and parsley.
  2. Grill. Place in a dish and sprinkle with balsamic vinegar.

Added in blue: “Patrick – eggplant, zucchini, peppers red & yellow – skinned”.

“Grill” is underlined.

See also Patrick’s Marinated Veggies

Rose box, p. 187
Later cards · 1990s–2000sVegan

Roasted Wild Mushrooms in Red-Wine Reduction

Gourmet, clipped and pasted on cards. The red-wine reduction is on its own card, filed with the sauces and labelled “to go w/ wild mushrooms”. Rewritten here.

Yield Serves 8 to 10 as a main course (circled); 45 minutes active, 2¼ hours in all

Red-wine reduction (makes 2 cups / 475 ml; 1½ hours)

Ingredients
  • 1 large onion, chopped
  • 2 small celery ribs, chopped
  • 2 carrots, chopped
  • 3 garlic cloves, chopped
  • 1½ tbsp olive oil
  • 1½ bottles (750 ml each) dry red wine (4½ cups)
  • 1 bottle (750 ml) ruby port (3 cups)
Method
  1. Sauté the onion, celery, carrots and garlic in the oil in a 6-quart (5.7 litres) heavy pot over moderately high heat, stirring, until golden, about 10 minutes.
  2. Add the wine and port and simmer, stirring occasionally, until reduced to 1 quart (950 ml), about 1 hour.
  3. Strain into a saucepan and simmer until reduced to 2 cups (475 ml). Reheat and season with salt and pepper before using. (It can be made 2 days ahead, cooled, covered and chilled.)

Mushrooms

Ingredients
  • 3 lb (1.4 kg) fresh porcini (cèpes), or 3 lb (1.4 kg) other exotic mushrooms plus 2 oz (55 g) large dried porcini slices
  • 2 medium onions, cut into ½-inch (1 cm) wedges
  • 6 garlic cloves, minced
  • 3 tbsp chopped fresh thyme
  • ¼ cup (60 ml) dry Marsala
  • 4 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1½ lb (675 g) assorted pearl onions, blanched and peeled (underlined)
  • the 2 cups (475 ml) red-wine reduction
Method
  1. If using dried porcini, soak them in boiling-hot water until soft, about 45 minutes. Lift them out, squeeze dry and discard the liquid. Rinse in a sieve to remove grit, pat dry and halve the larger slices.
  2. Heat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Halve or quarter the larger fresh mushrooms, keep small ones whole, and put them all in a baking pan.
  3. Toss the mushrooms with the onion wedges, garlic, thyme, Marsala, 3 tbsp of the oil, the salt and pepper. In a shallow baking pan, toss the pearl onions with the last tablespoon of oil and salt and pepper.
  4. Roast the mushrooms, covered with foil, in the upper third of the oven and the pearl onions, uncovered, in the lower third, stirring now and then and switching the pans halfway, until the pearl onions are tender and golden, about 45 minutes. Take out the pearl onions.
  5. Uncover the mushrooms and stir in ½ cup (120 ml) of the red-wine reduction. Roast uncovered in the middle of the oven, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are tender and the liquid has reduced by half, about 30 minutes.
  6. Stir in the pearl onions and roast until hot, about 10 minutes. Heat the rest of the reduction.
  7. Season, drizzle with some of the reduction and serve the rest on the side.

The clipping’s advice: if you can’t find fresh porcini, use whole frozen ones, thawed and drained (they roast in about half the time). Dried porcini that are broken up won’t do.

Cooks’ note: the mushrooms and onions can be roasted a day ahead, cooled, covered and chilled. Reheat before serving.

In the top-left corner, a star is drawn, with a blue check mark beside it.

Rose box, p. 188
Rose box, p. 189
Rose box, p. 268
Later cards · 1990s–2000sHandwrittenVegetarian

Grilled Red Onion

Noted “Grilling”, with “Pat” written above it

Ingredients
  • ½ [cup or stick?] melted butter
  • 3 tbsp Dijon mustard
  • 2 tsp wine vinegar
  • 1 tbsp chopped fresh parsley or tarragon
  • 3 large red onions
  • salt and pepper
Method
  1. Stir together the butter, mustard, vinegar and herbs.
  2. Cut the onions into ½-inch (1 cm) slices and sprinkle with salt and pepper.
  3. Grill, turning 2 or 3 times and brushing with the butter mixture, until tender and golden, about 10 minutes.

Underlined on the card: “Grilling” (the source note), “Cut”, “Grill” and “10 min”.

Rose box, p. 190
Later cards · 1990s–2000sHandwritten

Red Pearl Onions (for Turkey)

Noted “Gourmet”

Yield 8 servings

Ingredients
  • 1 lb (450 g) red pearl onions
  • butter, salt and pepper
Method
  1. Blanch the onions in boiling water 1 minute and rinse under cold water.
  2. Peel. Toss with butter, salt and pepper.
  3. Scatter around the turkey in the roasting pan.
Rose box, p. 191
Later cards · 1990s–2000sHandwrittenVegan

Compote of Glazed Shallots

Noted “Delia Xmas”: Delia Smith’s Christmas

Ingredients
  • 1½ lb (675 g) (about 24) small, even-sized shallots, peeled and left whole
  • 2 fl oz (55 ml) red wine vinegar
  • 14 fl oz (400 ml) dry red wine
  • 1 tsp [?] sugar
  • salt
Method
  1. Use a sauté pan that holds the shallots in one layer. Put in everything except the sugar.
  2. Bring to a simmer, turn the heat down to the lowest setting and let it barely simmer (a few bubbles coming to the surface) for 1¼ hours. Turn the shallots at 35 minutes.
  3. Ten minutes before the end, sprinkle in the sugar. You should have tender shallots glistening with a lovely glaze.

It can be cooked in advance and reheated.

“except” (sugar) is underlined, and “1¼ hr.” is underlined twice.

Rose box, p. 192
Later cards · 1990s–2000sVegetarian

Peas with Mint and Orange Rind

A printed recipe card, from the same series as the Wilted Spinach. Rewritten here.

Yield 8 servings

Ingredients
  • 4 lb (1.8 kg) fresh peas, or 3 packages frozen
  • salt
  • rind from ½ orange
  • ½ cup (115 g) butter, melted
  • ¼ cup (15 g) finely chopped mint (or 1 tsp dried; “the fresh is better”)
  • pepper
Method
  1. Shell the peas. Bring about an inch of salted water to a boil in a large saucepan, add the peas, cover and simmer until tender. (Cook frozen peas as the package directs.)
  2. Meanwhile, peel the orange rind in strips with no white pith left on. Cut the strips crosswise into slivers as fine as strong thread, enough to make 3 tbsp.
  3. Let the slivers stand in the warm butter for a few minutes to steep.
  4. Drain the peas and add the butter, orange rind and mint. Season with salt and pepper.
Rose box, p. 193
Later cards · 1990s–2000sHandwrittenVegetarian

Petits Pois à la Française

Noted “Nigella (Kir)”: Nigella Lawson’s recipe, by way of Kir

Ingredients
  • 3 tbsp (43 g) butter
  • 500 g (1.1 lb) frozen petits pois
  • 1 small lettuce (like Boston), or 8 to 10 leaves, roughly shredded (“lay [?] ribbons narrow”)
  • 6 green spring onions, chopped
  • 1 tsp sugar
  • 50 ml (3½ tbsp) water or chicken stock
  • mint or basil, to finish (optional)
Method
  1. Melt the butter in a medium saucepan. Stir in the peas, lettuce and green onions and let them become glossy with butter over medium heat. Don’t overcook.
  2. Add the 50 ml (3½ tbsp) boiling water (or stock), salt, pepper and the sugar. (You can add more salt, pepper and sugar afterwards.)
  3. Cover and stew gently 5 minutes (10 if the peas are frozen). The peas will be tender and the sauce scarce but thick.
  4. Taste and adjust the seasoning. Cool and refrigerate.
  5. Reheat with more butter and water, and sprinkle with mint or basil if you like.

Underlined on the card: “water” (in “boiling water”) and “mint”.

Rose box, p. 194
Later cards · 1990s–2000sVegan

Sugar Snap Peas with Ginger and Garlic

Gourmet, clipped onto a card. Most of the method is hidden under a green Post-it note, stuck on upside down. Rewritten here.

Yield Serves 4 to 6; 15 minutes

Ingredients
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 2 shallots, thinly sliced
  • 1 tbsp finely chopped peeled fresh ginger
  • 1 garlic clove, finely chopped
  • ¾ lb (340 g) sugar snap peas, trimmed
  • ½ cup (120 ml) water
Method
  1. Heat the oil in a skillet over moderately high heat and cook the shallots, ginger and garlic, stirring, until softened.
  2. Add the peas and water and cook, stirring, about 2 minutes, until the peas are crisp-tender and the water has mostly evaporated. Season with salt and pepper.

On the Post-it: “Size pan / temp of heat / hi, med, lo? / serves how many?”

Rose box, p. 195
Later cards · 1990s–2000sHandwrittenVegan

Roasted Red Peppers

Ingredients
  • red peppers
  • olive oil, salt and pepper
Method
  1. Cut the peppers into eighths. Coat with olive oil, salt and pepper.
  2. Roast at 400°F (200°C) for 20 to 30 minutes, until edged with black.
Rose box, p. 196
Later cards · 1990s–2000sHandwrittenVegetarian

Kir’s Spinach

Kir

Ingredients
  • frozen spinach
  • 4 garlic cloves, crushed
  • salt (a good bit)
  • cayenne (a pinch)
  • crème fraîche or sour cream, about ½ cup (120 g)
Method
  1. Heat the frozen spinach with a bit of water until defrosted.
  2. Add the garlic, salt, cayenne and cream and simmer up to 1 hour. Taste and adjust.

The test of doneness: “Shd be almost dry.”

Rose box, p. 206
Later cards · 1990s–2000sHandwrittenVegetarian

Madhur Jaffrey’s Spinach with Onions (“Special Spinach”)

Two cards: “Special Spinach”, marked “Pat” in the corner, and “Spinach Cooked with Onions”, noted “Jaffrey” (Madhur Jaffrey) with a circled number [?]

Ingredients
  • 2 lb (900 g) spinach, cut in 1-cm (½ in) strips
  • 4 oz (115 g) onions, peeled and finely chopped
  • 4 tbsp ghee or butter (the second card: melted butter or oil)
  • ½ to 1 hot green chilli, finely chopped
  • 1 tsp finely grated fresh ginger
  • ½ tsp salt (the second card: ¼ tsp)
  • ½ tsp sugar
  • 4 fl oz (115 ml) water (the second card: 1 to 2 oz / 30–55 ml)
  • ¼ to 1 tsp garam masala (the second card: ½ tsp)
Method
  1. Cut the spinach crosswise. Heat the ghee in a large saucepan over medium-high heat.
  2. When hot, put in the onions. Stir and fry 3 minutes.
  3. Add the spinach, chilli, ginger, salt and sugar. Stir and cook 5 minutes.
  4. Add the water, cover tightly, turn the heat to low and simmer about 10 minutes.
  5. Uncover and boil off the excess liquid. Sprinkle the garam masala over to taste and mix.

On the Jaffrey card, underlined: “med-hi heat”, “3 min”, “5 min”, “low” (twice, with “(@2)” written beneath it) and “10 min”. On the “Special Spinach” card, “Pat” is underlined.

Rose box, p. 207
Rose box, p. 218
Later cards · 1990s–2000sHandwrittenVegetarian

Lillian P.’s Butternut Squash and Apple Casserole

Lillian P.

Ingredients
  • 2 medium butternut squash, seeded, peeled, quartered lengthwise and cut crosswise into ¼-inch (5 mm) slices (6 cups / 750 g)
  • 2¼ lb (1 kg) medium-sized tart green apples, peeled, quartered lengthwise, cored and cut crosswise into ¼-inch (5 mm) slices
  • ¾ cup (110 g) dried currants
  • nutmeg, salt and pepper
  • ¾ cup (180 ml) pure maple syrup
  • ½ stick (55 g) butter, sliced
  • 1½ tbsp lemon juice
Method
  1. Heat the oven to 350°F (180°C). Cook the squash in a large pot of boiling salted water 3 minutes. Drain well.
  2. Combine the squash, apples and currants in a 13 × 9 × 2-inch (33 × 23 × 5 cm) glass dish. Season generously with nutmeg, salt and pepper.
  3. In a heavy saucepan, whisk the maple syrup, butter and lemon juice until the butter melts. Pour over the squash and toss to coat evenly.
  4. Bake at 350°F (180°C) until tender, stirring occasionally, about 1 hour.

Make it a day ahead and refrigerate.

“1 hour” (bake) is underlined.

Rose box, p. 208
Rose box, p. 209
Later cards · 1990s–2000sHandwritten

Kir’s Grape Tomato Crush

Kir; two cards. The second is headed “Grape Tomatoes Crush (Kir’s)” and marked “Pot-luck” [?].

Ingredients
  • 2 boxes grape tomatoes
  • olive oil
  • 4 cloves garlic, sliced
  • several slices pancetta (or bacon), chopped
  • salt and pepper
  • green chilli, finely chopped without seeds (optional)
  • herbes de Provence
Method
  1. Pour olive oil into a large skillet or frying pan to cover the bottom. Cover the bottom solid with the tomatoes, in a single layer.
  2. Add the garlic slices and pancetta pieces, salt and pepper (and the chilli if using).
  3. Cook slowly (on the centre burner) 1 to 1½ hours, until the water is gone. Do not stir: jiggle or shake the pan occasionally so the tomatoes don’t stick or break.
  4. Add pepper and herbes de Provence.

“not” (in “Do not stir”) is underlined. Above the circled “Kir” in the corner, a word is scribbled out. On the second card, “herb Provence” is faintly underlined.

Rose box, p. 210
Rose box, p. 219
Later cards · 1990s–2000sHandwrittenVegan

Grilled Veggie Skewers

Titled “Grilled Veggies – skewered”

Ingredients
  • per skewer, alternate: ¼ red pepper, 1 mushroom, 1 piece zucchini or yellow squash, 1 grape tomato, ¼ red onion
  • balsamic marinade
Method
  1. Thread the vegetables onto skewers, alternating them.
  2. Brush with balsamic marinade and let sit 15 minutes before grilling.
Rose box, p. 211
Later cards · 1990s–2000sHandwrittenVegan

Roasted New Vegetables

Noted “NY Times”

Yield Serves 6

Ingredients
  • 1 lb (450 g) (about 34) tiny new potatoes
  • 4 oz (115 g) (8 to 10) small zucchini
  • ½ lb (225 g) (about 4) small turnips, peeled and quartered
  • 4 oz (115 g) (16 to 18) baby carrots (real ones, “not ‘cut baby’”)
  • 4 oz (115 g) (about 8) baby leeks, trimmed and left whole
  • ¼ cup (60 ml) olive oil
  • salt and pepper
Method
  1. Heat the oven to 425°F (220°C). In a large bowl, toss the vegetables with the oil, salt and pepper.
  2. Arrange in a roasting pan large enough to hold them in one layer.
  3. Roast about 45 minutes, turning if needed, until tender inside and crisp and browned in parts on top.

You can cook them at a lower temperature for longer.

Rose box, p. 212
Later cards · 1990s–2000sHandwrittenVegan

Patrick’s Marinated Veggies

Patrick; “Pat’s” written in the corner

Ingredients
  • 1 lb (450 g) red and yellow peppers, skinned
  • 1 lb (450 g) eggplant, cut lengthwise in eighths
  • 1 lb (450 g) zucchini, cut lengthwise in sixths
  • sea salt and pepper
  • ½ cup (120 ml) olive oil
  • juice of 2 lemons
  • 2 to 3 garlic cloves, crushed
  • fresh basil
Method
  1. Skin the peppers: char the skins over the grill, turning until the whole pepper is blistered (over coals it takes longer). Don’t de-stem or puncture them until done.
  2. Put them into large bags, sealed, until cooled. Rub the skins off with your hands, remove the stems, seeds and veins, and slice into sixths.
  3. Season the eggplant and zucchini with salt and pepper. Cook on racks in a hot oven 25 to 30 minutes. The eggplant is done when it no longer resists when pressed with a finger.
  4. Mix the olive oil, garlic and lemon juice and pour over the vegetables in a large bowl. Toss gently and add basil.

“Skin peppers” is underlined.

See also Vera’s Portabella Mushrooms or Eggplant

Rose box, p. 213
Later cards · 1990s–2000sHandwrittenVegan

Grilled Veggies (Food TV)

Noted “Food TV”; “use ridged grill pan”

Ingredients
  • 2 small white eggplants, sliced lengthwise
  • 4 Italian frying peppers (not hot)
  • 1 fennel bulb, in eighths
  • 1 bunch asparagus
  • 8 mushrooms (fresh porcini, crossed out, with another kind written below [?])
  • 1 medium cauliflower
  • Marinade
  • 1 tsp brown sugar
  • ¼ cup (60 ml) red wine vinegar
  • 1 cup (240 ml) olive oil
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • salt and pepper
Method
  1. Whisk the marinade ingredients together.
  2. Add the vegetables and let sit 1 hour, turning every 15 minutes.
  3. Grill on a ridged grill pan.
Rose box, p. 214
Later cards · 1990s–2000sHandwrittenVegetarian

Kir’s Honey-Roast Vegetables

Kir

Ingredients
  • 120 ml (½ cup) olive oil
  • 2 tbsp honey
  • 2 tsp Dijon mustard
  • 1 tsp celery seeds
  • 6 sprigs rosemary (leaves only, without stalks)
  • 1 large eggplant
  • 1 red pepper, 1 green pepper and 1 yellow pepper
  • 2 zucchini
  • 1 red onion
  • 4 oz (115 g) butternut squash
  • salt
Method
  1. Mix the olive oil, honey, mustard, celery seeds and rosemary.
  2. Roughly chop the vegetables and coat with the oil mixture. Sprinkle liberally with salt.
  3. Roast at 400°F (200°C) for 20 to 30 minutes, until browned and caramelized at the edges but still quite firm to the bite.
  4. Serve on its own or with meat or fish.

Other vegetables and herbs can be used (“garlic?”).

Rose box, p. 215
Later cards · 1990s–2000sHandwrittenVegan

Grilled Vegetables with Lemon-Cilantro Oil

Noted “Grilling”, with “Pat” written above it

Ingredients
  • Oil mixture
  • ¾ cup (180 ml) olive oil
  • 3 tbsp fresh lemon juice
  • 3 tbsp chopped cilantro
  • 1 tsp salt
  • ¼ tsp ground pepper
  • Vegetables
  • 2 whole heads garlic
  • 2 endives
  • 2 Anaheim (mild green) chilli peppers, halved lengthwise, seeded and deribbed
  • 8 oz (225 g) whole fresh shiitake mushrooms, stemmed
  • 12 to 16 thin asparagus (12 oz / 340 g), trimmed
  • 1 large red onion, cut in ½-inch (1 cm) slices
Method
  1. Whisk the oil mixture together.
  2. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the garlic heads 5 minutes, then remove and drain. Cook the endives 1 minute.
  3. Oil the grill racks. Grill the onion and garlic heads 12 minutes; the pepper halves and mushrooms 10 minutes; the endive halves 8 minutes; and the asparagus 4 to 8 minutes, depending on size.
  4. Turn them 2 or 3 times and brush with the oil mixture as they cook.

Underlined on the card: “Grilling” (the source note), “garlic”, “endives”, “shiitake mushrooms”, “12 min” and “brush w/oil mixture”.

Rose box, p. 216
Rose box, p. 217
Later cards · 1990s–2000sSpecial praiseVegan

Slow-Roasted Heirloom Tomatoes with Fresh Thyme

A newspaper clipping on a card; the end of the method is glued sideways along the edge. Rewritten here.

Yield 6 servings

Ingredients
  • 6 medium heirloom tomatoes, perfectly ripe, preferably a mix of red, yellow and green
  • 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
  • 6 sprigs thyme, leaves stripped and finely chopped
  • salt and freshly ground pepper
  • ½ cup (120 ml) extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 tbsp sherry vinegar
Method
  1. Heat the oven to 250°F (120°C). Blanch the tomatoes in a large pan of boiling water for 30 seconds, then chill in ice water. Slip off the skins, halve crosswise and gently squeeze out the seeds.
  2. Oil a 12 × 8-inch (30 × 20 cm) or 14-inch (36 cm) oval baking dish and sprinkle with half the garlic and thyme. Season liberally.
  3. Arrange the tomatoes cut side up, baste with the rest of the oil, season generously and sprinkle with the remaining garlic, thyme and the vinegar.
  4. Bake 2½ to 3 hours, until soft and just starting to caramelize but still holding their shape. Spoon the pan juices over and serve from the dish.

Marked “Delicious” in blue, underlined twice. “Heirloom Tomatoes” is circled in the title, and much of step 2 is underlined.

In the top-left corner is a small blue mark, a loop crossed by a stroke.

Rose box, p. 221
Typed on her computer, 2005–16
Scanned into her computer · 2005–16Special praiseVegetarian

Zucchini & Summer Squash Gratin with Parmesan & Fresh Thyme

From Fine Cooking #33, June/July 1999, a recipe by Susie Middleton, kept as a scan of the magazine card with a one-word verdict written across the top. Serves 6–8 as a side dish, 4 as a main dish.

For the onions
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 2 medium onions (14 oz / 395 g total), thinly sliced
To assemble the gratin
  • 1¼ lb (575 g) small ripe tomatoes, cored and cut into ¼-inch (5 mm) slices
  • ¾ lb (340 g) (about 2 small) zucchini or other green summer squash, cut into ¼-inch (5 mm) slices on the diagonal
  • ¾ lb (340 g) (about 2 small) yellow summer squash or golden zucchini, cut into ¼-inch (5 mm) slices on the diagonal
  • 3 tbsp olive oil
  • ¼ cup (10 g) fresh thyme leaves
  • Kosher salt
  • 1¼ cups (125 g) freshly grated Parmigiano Reggiano
  • Freshly ground black pepper
Method
  1. Heat the 2 tbsp oil in a medium skillet over medium heat and sauté the onions, stirring often, until limp and golden brown, about 20 minutes; lower the heat to medium-low if they brown too fast. Spread them over the bottom of an oiled 2-quart (1.9 litres) shallow gratin dish (oval is best) and let cool.
  2. Heat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Leave the tomato slices on a shallow plate for a few minutes to drain, then pour off the juice. In a medium bowl, toss the zucchini and yellow squash with 1½ tbsp of the oil, 2 tbsp of the thyme and ½ tsp salt. Set aside half the cheese for the top, and scatter 1 tbsp thyme over the onions.
  3. Starting at one end of the dish, lay a row of slightly overlapping tomato slices across its width and sprinkle with a little cheese. Lay a row of zucchini over it, overlapping the tomatoes by two-thirds, and sprinkle with cheese; then a row of yellow squash, with cheese. Repeat the rows of tomato, zucchini and squash, with cheese on each, until the dish is full.
  4. Season lightly with pepper and ½ tsp salt and drizzle with the remaining 1½ tbsp oil. Mix the reserved cheese with the last 1 tbsp thyme and scatter it over the whole gratin.
  5. Bake for 65–70 minutes, until well browned all over, with juices that have bubbled for some time and cooked down considerably. Cool for at least 15 minutes before serving. It is even better the next day.

Written across the top of the card in blue pen, with a flourish: “Delicious”

The Fine Cooking recipe card she kept as a scan, with “Delicious” written across the top in blue pen. Fine Cooking #33, June/July 1999 (photo: Mark Ferri)
Typed on her computer · 2005–16Vegetarian

Squash Soufflé

From Lecie, Melissa’s sister-in-law. Fits a 9 × 13-inch (23 × 33 cm) pan.

Ingredients
  • Two 10-oz (285 g) packages frozen butternut squash, thawed
  • 1½ sticks (170 g) margarine, melted (Grammy wondered: butter?)
  • 16-oz (475 ml) container Dairy Rich or other parve creamer (Grammy wondered: heavy cream?)
  • 1 cup (125 g) flour
  • ¾ cup (150 g) granulated sugar
  • 6 eggs
  • 1–2 tsp ground cinnamon
Method
  1. Heat the oven to 350°F (180°C) and grease a 9 × 13 × 2-inch (23 × 33 × 5 cm) baking pan.
  2. Beat the squash, margarine, creamer, flour, sugar and eggs together in a large bowl and pour into the pan.
  3. Sprinkle with cinnamon to taste. Bake 45 minutes, or until set.
Typed on her computer · 2005–16Vegetarian

Caramelised Butternut Squash

Culinary Institute of America. Serves 6–8.

Ingredients
  • 2 medium butternut squash (4–5 lb / 1.8–2.3 kg total)
  • 6 tbsp (85 g) butter, melted
  • ¼ cup (55 g) light brown sugar, packed
  • 1½ tsp kosher salt
  • ½ tsp freshly ground black pepper
Method
  1. Heat the oven to 400°F (200°C).
  2. Cut off and discard the ends of the squash. Peel, halve lengthwise and scoop out the seeds. Cut into 1½-inch (4 cm) cubes.
  3. Put the squash on a baking sheet lined with heavy foil and add the butter, sugar, salt and pepper. Toss together with clean hands and spread in a single layer.
  4. Roast 45–55 minutes, until tender and the glaze begins to caramelise, turning a few times with a spatula so it browns evenly. Taste for seasoning and serve hot.
Typed on her computer · 2005–16

Corn Casserole

Serves 6–8.

Ingredients
  • 15¼-oz (425 g) can whole kernel corn, drained
  • 14¾-oz (425 g) can cream-style corn
  • 8-oz (225 g) box Jiffy corn muffin mix
  • 1 cup (240 g) sour cream
  • ½ cup (1 stick; 115 g) butter, melted
  • 1 medium sweet (Vidalia) onion, chopped
  • 1–1½ cups (115–175 g) shredded sharp Cheddar (one package)
Method
  1. Heat the oven to 350°F (180°C).
  2. Sauté the onion in the butter until soft. In a large bowl, stir together both cans of corn, the muffin mix, sour cream and the butter and onion.
  3. Pour into a greased 9 × 9-inch (23 × 23 cm) casserole and bake 45 minutes, or until golden brown.
  4. Top with the Cheddar and return to the oven for 5–10 minutes, until melted. Let stand at least 5 minutes and serve warm.

See also Corn Soufflé

Typed on her computer · 2005–16Vegetarian

Make-Ahead Garlic Green Beans

From Cook’s Illustrated, December 2006. Serves 8.

The beans and garlic butter can both be made up to 2 days ahead.

Ingredients
  • Salt
  • 2 lb (900 g) green beans, stem ends trimmed
  • 6 medium garlic cloves, unpeeled
  • 3 tbsp (43 g) unsalted butter, softened
  • Ground black pepper
Method
  1. Bring 4 quarts (3.8 litres) water to a boil in a Dutch oven. Add 1 tbsp salt and the beans, return to the boil and cook until crisp-tender, 3–4 minutes. Meanwhile, fill a large bowl with ice water. Drain the beans and plunge them into the ice water. When no longer warm, drain and dry thoroughly. Refrigerate in a zip-lock bag for up to 2 days.
  2. Toast the garlic cloves in a small skillet over medium-low heat, shaking occasionally, until fragrant and slightly deeper in colour, 5–8 minutes. Cool, peel and press or mash, then mash with the butter and ½ tsp salt using a fork. Cover and refrigerate for up to 2 days.
  3. To serve, heat the beans with ¼ cup (60 ml) water in a large covered skillet over high heat, 3–4 minutes. Uncover and cook until the moisture evaporates, about 30 seconds. Toss with the garlic butter and season with salt and pepper.
Typed on her computer · 2005–16Vegetarian

Roasted Asparagus with Sweet Onion

From Cook’s Country, April 2006. Serves 4.

Any sweet onion works. Roast hot and high on a heavy rimmed baking sheet (a lightweight one can warp; a broiler pan will do in a pinch).

Ingredients
  • 3 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 tbsp honey
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • Table salt and ground black pepper
  • 1 lb (450 g) medium asparagus, tough ends trimmed
  • ½ Vidalia onion, sliced thin
  • 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
Method
  1. Heat the oven to 450°F (230°C) with a rack in the upper position. Stir the oil, honey, garlic, ½ tsp salt and ¼ tsp pepper together in a large bowl.
  2. Spread the asparagus on the baking sheet, drizzle with half the garlic mixture and toss, then rearrange in a single layer. Toss the onion in the rest of the mixture and scatter it over the asparagus.
  3. Roast until the asparagus begins to soften and turns bright green with some dark brown edges, about 10 minutes.
  4. Drizzle with the vinegar and roast until the asparagus is soft and the onion is just turning golden at the edges, about 5 minutes. Toss, season and serve.
Typed on her computer · 2005–16Vegetarian

Honeyed Cauliflower with Toasted Almonds

From Fine Cooking, November 2006. Serves only 4.

Ingredients
  • 1 large head cauliflower (2 lb / 900 g)
  • 2 tbsp honey, preferably darker
  • 2 tbsp sherry vinegar
  • 3–4 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 tsp kosher salt
  • 1 tbsp coarsely chopped fresh thyme
  • ¼ lemon
  • ½ cup (45 g) sliced almonds, toasted
Method
  1. Trim the cauliflower and cut it carefully into florets about 2 inches (5 cm) long and 1½ inches (4 cm) wide, discarding small crumbly bits. Measure out 6 cups (550 g).
  2. Whisk the honey and vinegar together and set aside.
  3. Heat 3 tbsp oil in a 12-inch (30 cm) skillet over medium heat. Add all the cauliflower, sprinkle with the salt and toss gently with tongs to coat. Arrange in one layer and cook undisturbed until the bottoms are lightly browned, about 3 minutes.
  4. Flip each floret to an unbrowned side (add another tbsp oil if the pan is dry) and cook undisturbed 3 minutes. Repeat twice more, until spotted golden brown all over. The stems will still be fairly firm but the tops getting tender.
  5. Raise the heat to medium-high and add the honey-vinegar mixture and thyme. Toss gently until the liquid reduces to a glaze, about 3 minutes.
  6. Off the heat, taste for salt. Squeeze over the lemon, add the almonds and toss. Serve immediately, or let sit up to 30 minutes and serve barely warm.
Typed on her computer · 2005–16Vegan

Special Spinach

Ingredients
  • 1 small onion, chopped fine
  • 2 garlic cloves, finely minced
  • 6-oz (170 g) bag washed spinach
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • Salt to taste
  • ¼ tsp garam masala, or 2 tbsp saba (a sweet vinegar Grammy bought at Fairway)
Method
  1. Sauté the onion in the oil until soft and golden. Add the garlic and sauté 30 seconds.
  2. Add the spinach and turn the leaves over with tongs until all is wilted.
  3. Add the salt and garam masala (or saba).
Later cards · 1990s–2000sTyped on her computer · 2005–16HandwrittenVegetarian

Spinach Sautéed with Roasted Garlic

Culinary Institute of America, September 2006.

Ingredients
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 2 large shallots, sliced thin
  • ¼ cup (14 g) sun-dried tomato strips
  • 12 pitted Kalamata olives, halved (optional)
  • 2 tbsp (28 g) cold butter
  • 2 lb (900 g) spinach, washed and dried
  • ¼ cup (34 g) roasted garlic cloves (about 2 large heads; see below)
  • Salt and pepper
Method
  1. Heat a large sauté pan over high heat and add the oil. Cook the shallots until medium brown, then add the sun-dried tomatoes, olives and butter.
  2. When the butter melts, add the spinach and cook, tossing constantly, until about half wilted.
  3. Add the garlic cloves, season and serve.

Roasted garlic cloves: blanch the unpeeled heads in boiling water for 1 minute, cool in ice water and pinch off the skins. Put the whole cloves in an olive-oiled pouch made from a double layer of foil and sprinkle with 1 tsp water per 20 cloves. Close the pouch, set it on a baking sheet and roast at 325–350°F (160–180°C) for 20 minutes. Shake to redistribute and roast 20 minutes more, until very soft. 2 large heads give about ¼ cup (34 g) roasted garlic cloves.

Whole roasted heads: cut a head in half, drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with salt. Put it back together and wrap in foil, leaving a vent in the twisted top (the package looks like an upside-down turnip). Roast on a baking sheet at 325–350°F (160–180°C) for about an hour. When cool, squeeze the soft garlic out of the skins.

The card in the rose box is noted “CIA way 9/06”.

See also Roasted Garlic, Cloves and Whole Heads

Rose box, p. 205
Typed on her computer · 2005–16Vegetarian

Mom’s Caramelised Onions

Saved as Mom’s; the recipe is from Cook’s Illustrated, January 2002.

Ingredients
  • 2 lb (900 g) Spanish onions, sliced ¼ inch (5 mm) thick
  • 1 tbsp (14 g) butter
  • 1 tbsp vegetable oil
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 1 tsp light brown sugar
  • 1 tbsp water (or 2 tbsp dark rum, flamed)
  • Ground black pepper
Method
  1. Heat the butter and oil in a 12-inch (30 cm) non-stick sauté pan over high heat. When the foam subsides, stir in the salt and sugar. Add the onions and stir to coat. Cook, stirring occasionally, until they begin to soften and release some moisture, about 5 minutes.
  2. Reduce to medium and cook, stirring frequently, until deeply browned and slightly sticky, 40–60 minutes longer. Lower the heat if they scorch.
  3. Off the heat, stir in the water, or add the rum and flame it, shaking the pan. Season.
Uses
  • Bacon, scallion and caramelised onion dip: combine ½ cup (80 g) caramelised onions, 2 minced scallions, ½ tsp cider vinegar, ¾ cup (180 g) sour cream and 3 pieces fried bacon (cut in ¼-inch / 5 mm pieces). Season with salt and pepper.
  • Sauce for roast chicken or pork: when the onions are deeply browned, add 1 minced garlic clove and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Omit the water. Stir in 1 cup (240 ml) low-salt chicken broth and ½ cup (120 ml) dry white wine and simmer until reduced to about 2 cups (475 ml) (2–3 minutes). Off the heat, whisk in 3 tbsp (43 g) cold butter one at a time and season.
  • Onion jam (dip or spread): finish the onions with the rum, flaming and shaking the pan until the flames die. Pulse in a food processor with 1 tsp minced fresh thyme and 1 tbsp brown sugar to a jam-like consistency (about 5 pulses). Stir in ½ tsp cider vinegar, salt and pepper.
Typed on her computer · 2005–16Vegan

Roasted Cauliflower

No source is named, but it matches a Bon Appétit recipe.

Ingredients
  • 1 head cauliflower (2½–3 lb / 1.1–1.4 kg)
  • ¼ cup (60 ml) extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 garlic clove
  • 1–2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
  • ¼ cup (34 g) pitted Kalamata olives, finely chopped
  • Salt and pepper
Method
  1. Heat the oven to 450°F (230°C) with a rack in the lower third.
  2. Cut the cauliflower lengthwise into ¾-inch-thick (2 cm) slices and lay them on a large rimmed baking sheet. Brush both sides with 2 tbsp of the oil and season with ½ tsp each of salt and pepper.
  3. Roast, turning once or twice, until golden brown at the edges and just tender, about 25 minutes.
  4. Meanwhile, mince the garlic and mash it to a paste with a pinch of salt. Whisk in the lemon juice, the remaining 2 tbsp oil, the olives, ⅛ tsp salt and ½ tsp pepper.
  5. Serve the cauliflower drizzled with the Kalamata vinaigrette.
Typed on her computer · 2005–16Vegetarian

Vidalia Onion Casserole

No source is named. Makes 3 cups (710 ml), in ½-cup (120 ml) servings; it freezes well.

Ingredients
  • 5–6 large Vidalia (sweet salad) onions
  • ⅓ cup (75 g) butter
  • 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
  • 1 tsp mustard powder
  • ½ tsp pepper
  • 1 cup (240 ml) milk
  • ½ cup (60 g) grated cheddar cheese
  • 1 cup (110 g) bread crumbs
Method
  1. Heat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Slice the onions thinly; you need 4–5 cups (450–575 g). Melt 3 tbsp of the butter in a large skillet and sauté the onions, stirring now and then, until soft. Take off the heat.
  2. In a saucepan, melt 2 tbsp more of the butter and stir in the flour, mustard and pepper to make a roux. Slowly stir in the milk and cheese and cook until thickened.
  3. Layer the onions and sauce alternately in the baking dish or dishes, lined with foil if they are going into the freezer. Sprinkle the bread crumbs over the top and dot with the remaining butter.
  4. Bake and serve (the recipe gives no baking time for a fresh casserole), or cover and freeze.

To freeze: freeze the foil-lined dish until solid, then lift out the casserole, wrap, label and return it to the freezer. The day before serving, move it to the refrigerator to thaw, first peeling off the foil and putting it back in the dish it was frozen in. Bake for 15–20 minutes at 375°F (190°C).

Early cards, 1950s–80s
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegetarian

Potato Pancakes (Blender)

Ingredients
  • ¼ cup (60 ml) milk
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 tbsp diced onion
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1½ cups (225 g) cubed raw potato
  • ¼ cup (31 g) flour
  • ¼ tsp baking powder
Method
  1. Put everything in the blender and blend about 5 seconds.
  2. Fry on a greased hot griddle or pan.

Underlined on the card: “5 sec”.

Grey box, p. 66
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegetarian

Cheese Grits

Marked “with roast beef”

Ingredients
  • 4 cups (950 ml) boiling water
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 cup (150 g) grits
  • 1 stick (115 g) margarine or butter
  • 1½ rolls garlic cheese
  • 2 eggs
  • milk
  • cornflake crumbs (optional)
Method
  1. Add the grits to the boiling salted water and cook 5 minutes, stirring.
  2. Add the margarine or butter and the garlic cheese and stir to mix.
  3. Beat the eggs in a measuring cup and fill to 1 cup (240 ml) with milk. Add to the grits.
  4. Pour into a 2-quart (1.9 litres) casserole and bake at 350°F (180°C) until bubbly. Sprinkle with cornflake crumbs if you like.
Grey box, p. 101
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwritten

Hot Potato Salad

Yield Serves 8

Ingredients
  • ½ lb (225 g) bacon
  • ½ cup (120 ml) bacon fat
  • 3 tbsp flour
  • ½ cup (120 ml) cider vinegar
  • 1½ cups (360 ml) water
  • 1½ tsp salt
  • 2 tbsp sugar
  • ½ tsp dry mustard
  • 8 green onions and tops, sliced
  • 8 large potatoes, cooked in their jackets
  • parsley sprigs
Method
  1. Cut the bacon in pieces and fry until crisp. Drain on paper.
  2. Blend the flour into the fat. Mix the vinegar with the water, salt, sugar and mustard, pour into the skillet and cook and stir until thickened.
  3. Slice the cooked, peeled potatoes and mix with the onions and bacon.
  4. Spoon the vegetables into the skillet and coat them with the sauce. Take off the heat and serve immediately. Garnish with parsley.

“Pour off xcess fat” is crossed out, with “won’t be any” written above it.

Purple box, p. 208
Purple box, p. 209
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegetarian

Ilse’s Potato Pancakes

Ilse

Ingredients
  • 4 medium potatoes, grated
  • 2 tbsp flour
  • 1 egg
  • 1 onion, grated
  • salt and pepper
  • oil, for frying
Method
  1. Mix everything and fry in oil.
  2. Serve with applesauce.

“oil” (in “Mix & fry in oil”) is underlined twice.

Purple box, p. 215
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegetarian

Hash Brown Potato Casserole

On the back of a mailing-list form; headed simply “Potatoe”

Ingredients
  • hash brown potatoes (1 lb [?] / 450 g)
  • 1 can cream of potato soup
  • 1 can of milk
  • 1 tbsp minced onion
  • 1 tbsp parsley
  • pepper
  • ⅓ cup (33 g) Parmesan cheese

The card gives no method: mix, top with the cheese and bake until hot and browned.

“Potatoe” is underlined several times.

Purple box, p. 227
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegetarian

Potato Pie

In green ink

Ingredients
  • one 10-inch (25 cm) unbaked pastry shell
  • 1 lb (450 g) cottage cheese
  • 2 cups (425 g) mashed potatoes
  • ½ cup (120 g) sour cream
  • 2 eggs
  • 2 tsp salt
  • ⅛ tsp cayenne
  • ½ cup (50 g) sliced scallions
  • 3 tbsp grated Parmesan
Method
  1. Put the cottage cheese through a food mill. Beat the potatoes into it.
  2. Beat in the sour cream, eggs, salt and cayenne. Stir in the scallions.
  3. Spoon into the shell and sprinkle with the cheese.
  4. Bake at 425°F (220°C) for 50 minutes, until brown.

The filling can wait in the refrigerator until you’re ready.

Purple box, p. 236
Purple box, p. 237
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwritten

Potatoes and Onions au Gratin, for a Crowd

Written in magenta ink

Yield Serves 12 or more

Ingredients
  • 5 lb (2.3 kg) potatoes, cooked in their jackets
  • ½ cup (115 g) margarine
  • 1 lb (450 g) sliced mushrooms (or onions)
  • ½ cup (65 g) flour
  • 1 quart (950 ml) milk
  • 1 cup (240 ml) evaporated milk
  • one 10½-oz (300 g) can condensed consommé
  • 1 lb (450 g) sharp Cheddar, grated
  • 1 tbsp seasoned salt
  • ¼ tsp pepper
  • 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
  • two 15-oz (425 g) cans small onions, drained
Method
  1. Cool, peel and cut the potatoes into ½-inch (1 cm) cubes.
  2. Heat the margarine in a large pot and sauté the mushrooms until lightly browned.
  3. Stir in the flour, then the milk, evaporated milk and consommé. Add the cheese, seasoned salt, pepper and Worcestershire. Cook until smooth and thick, stirring.
  4. Take off the heat. Add the potatoes and onions and mix carefully.
  5. Spoon into a shallow 4-quart (3.8 litres) casserole. Cover to store.
  6. Bake at 350°F (180°C) for 1 hour.

The “12” at the top is underlined.

Purple box, p. 264
Purple box, p. 265
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwritten

French Potato Salad

Noted “Life G.D.” [?]

Yield Serves 6

Ingredients
  • 3 lb (1.4 kg) potatoes
  • ½ cup (120 ml) olive oil
  • ¼ cup (60 ml) tarragon vinegar
  • ¼ cup (60 ml) beef consommé
  • ¼ cup (25 g) chopped scallion with tops
  • 2 tbsp parsley
  • 1 tsp salt
  • freshly ground pepper
Method
  1. Peel and slice the potatoes. Put in a pan of boiling salted water, bring back to a boil, cover, lower the heat and cook 12 to 15 minutes, until tender but firm.
  2. Combine all the other ingredients and mix well.
  3. Drain the potatoes and put them at once in a large bowl. Pour the oil and vinegar mixture over the warm slices and mix thoroughly.
  4. Cover and keep at room temperature until served, or chill.

In “put immed. in lg. bowl”, “immed.” is underlined.

Purple box, p. 280
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegan

Kir’s Herb-Roasted Red Potatoes

Kir

Ingredients
  • red potatoes, sliced ¼ inch (5 mm) thick
  • garlic, mashed in olive oil
  • ground pepper, flakes of sea salt and herbes de Provence
Method
  1. Toss the potatoes in the garlic oil.
  2. Line them up, overlapping, in a roasting pan. Sprinkle with the pepper, salt and herbs.
  3. Bake at 425°F (220°C) for 30 to 45 minutes, until soft and crunchy. Serve at once.
Purple box, p. 287
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegetarian

Sweet Potato Casserole with Pecan Topping

Noted “Gourmet”

Yield Serves 6 to 8

Ingredients
  • 3 cups (625 g) mashed cooked sweet potatoes (2 lb / 900 g raw)
  • ½ cup (100 g) sugar
  • 1½ sticks (170 g) butter, melted and cooled
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • ⅓ cup (80 ml) evaporated milk
  • a pinch of nutmeg
  • 1 cup (215 g) firmly packed light brown sugar
  • ½ cup (65 g) flour
  • 1 cup (120 g) chopped pecans (optional)
Method
  1. In a large bowl, whisk together the sweet potatoes, sugar, half the butter, the eggs, vanilla, milk and nutmeg until smooth. Put in a 2-quart (1.9 litres) (8-inch square / 20 cm) baking dish.
  2. In another bowl, stir together the brown sugar, flour, the rest of the butter and the pecans with a fork. Sprinkle over the sweet potatoes.
  3. Bake in the middle of the oven at 325°F (160°C) (the card’s temperature is overwritten) for 30 minutes.
Purple box, p. 289
Purple box, p. 290
Early cards · 1950s–80s

Potatoes and Onions au Gratin (clipping)

A magazine clipping, its title half cut away; the back shows part of a dark colour photograph. Rewritten here.

Yield 8 servings

Ingredients
  • 5 to 6 lb (2.3–2.7 kg) potatoes (about 9 cups diced)
  • 2 lb (900 g) small white onions
  • ½ cup (115 g) butter
  • ½ cup (65 g) flour
  • 3 cups (710 ml) milk
  • 3 cups (710 ml) light cream
  • 1 cup (240 ml) chicken broth
  • 1 lb (450 g) really good sharp Cheddar, coarsely grated
  • 1 cup (100 g) finely grated Parmesan
  • ½ tsp pepper
  • 1¾ tsp salt
  • 1 tsp seasoned salt
  • 1 clove garlic, crushed or minced
Method
  1. The day before, cook the potatoes in their jackets. Next day, peel and dice them into ½-inch (1 cm) cubes.
  2. Peel the onions and cook in boiling salted water until tender. Drain.
  3. Sauce: melt the butter in a large skillet and blend in the flour. When smooth, add the milk, cream and broth and cook, stirring constantly, until thickened.
  4. Add both cheeses and stir gently until melted. Season with the pepper, salt, seasoned salt and garlic.
  5. Mix with the potatoes and onions and pour into one large shallow casserole or individual ramekins.
  6. Bake at 350°F (180°C) until bubbly and lightly patched with brown. The large casserole takes about 45 minutes, “so consider this in your timing”.

See also Potatoes and Onions au Gratin, for a Crowd

Purple box, p. 298
Purple box, p. 299
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegetarian

Potato Salad

Yield Serves 8 (pencilled)

Ingredients
  • 4 cups (600 g) cubed, cold boiled potatoes
  • 2 tbsp finely chopped onion
  • optional additions: pimiento or [?] peppers [?], pickles, cucumbers, ½ [?] cup (50 g) celery
  • ½ tsp salt (or seasoned salt) and a dash of pepper
  • ½ tsp dry mustard and a dash of Worcestershire sauce
  • ½ cup (120 ml) French dressing
  • ½ cup (120 ml) cooked salad dressing (or sour cream, or mayonnaise)
  • 3 large hard-cooked eggs, cut up
Method
  1. Put the potatoes and onion (and any additions) in a bowl and sprinkle with the seasonings.
  2. Mix lightly with the French dressing and chill an hour or two.
  3. Toss lightly with the salad dressing and blend in the eggs.

The last word: “Make very moist – absorbs much liquid.”

“6 qt” is pencilled in red at the top. The “2” of the French dressing’s “½” is written over in a darker ink.

Purple box, p. 346
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegetarian

Andrea Clair’s Potato Salad

Andrea Clair; a name in blue in the corner is hard to read (“James Nevels” [?]), with “via Jim” [?] written below it

Yield About 4 people

Ingredients
  • 1 large (baking-size) white potato, or equivalent
  • 1 large sweet potato
  • about ¼ cup (60 g) sour cream
  • 1 red pepper, cut in pieces
  • salt (very little) and pepper
  • a medium bunch of dill, chopped
  • a few sprigs of mint

The card gives no method: cook and cube the potatoes, then fold in the rest.

After “cut in pieces like” a word has been scribbled out completely.

After “a few sprigs of mint” a short addition in blue is unreadable [?].

Purple box, p. 349
Purple box, p. 350
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwritten

Bacon and Potato Salad

Noted “G – 7/85”: Gourmet, July 1985. Grammy doubled the dressing.

Yield Serves 6

Ingredients
  • 4 lb (1.8 kg) baby potatoes, peeled, halved lengthwise and cut crosswise in ½-inch (1 cm) slices
  • 3 cups (300 g) sliced celery
  • ½ cup (50 g) chopped scallions
  • ¼ cup (15 g) minced fresh parsley
  • 1 lb (450 g) sliced bacon, in ½-inch (1 cm) pieces (a figure between the “1” and “lb.” is scribbled out)
  • Dressing (Grammy made double)
  • 1 large egg
  • 5 tsp fresh lemon juice
  • 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
  • ½ tsp salt
  • ¼ tsp pepper
  • ½ cup (120 ml) vegetable oil
  • ¼ cup (60 ml) of the bacon fat
  • 1½ tbsp warm water
Method
  1. Cover the potatoes with cold water and bring to a boil. Add salt to taste and simmer 10 to 12 minutes, until just tender when pierced with a fork. Drain and put in a bowl with the celery, scallions and parsley.
  2. Cook the bacon until crisp and drain. Keep ¼ cup (60 ml) of the fat and let it cool.
  3. In a blender (or the Cuisinart), blend the egg, lemon juice, mustard, salt and pepper 5 seconds. With the motor running, add the oil and bacon fat and emulsify. Add the warm water.
  4. Pour over the potatoes, add the bacon and toss. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.

It can be made up to 3 days ahead; keep it covered and chilled.

Underlined on the card: the “6” at the top, “Simmer”, “¼ C. bacon fat” and “1½ Tb warm water”.

Purple box, p. 371
Purple box, p. 372
Later cards, 1990s–2000s
Later cards · 1990s–2000sVegetarian

Layers of Potatoes and Smoked Mozzarella

Newspaper clipping on a card, starred in red, with “Yukon gold” underlined. Rewritten here.

Yield 6 servings; 1 hour

Ingredients
  • 2 lb (900 g) Yukon gold potatoes
  • 4 large cloves garlic, peeled
  • 1 to 1¼ cups (240–300 ml) nonfat or low-fat buttermilk
  • ½ cup (30 g) chopped fresh basil
  • salt and white pepper
  • 8 oz (225 g) smoked or fresh mozzarella, thinly sliced
Method
  1. Scrub the potatoes, cover with water, add the garlic, cover and boil until tender, 20 to 30 minutes. Drain and peel.
  2. Mash them hot, with the garlic, using a masher or food mill. Stir in the buttermilk and basil and season.
  3. Spoon half into a shallow casserole and top with half the mozzarella. Add the rest of the potatoes and arrange the remaining cheese on top. Refrigerate or freeze.
  4. To serve, thaw if frozen and bring to room temperature. Bake at 375°F (190°C) for 20 to 25 minutes, until bubbling and browning on top.

The clipping says it can be made ahead and frozen for two weeks, or refrigerated for two days. Smoked mozzarella gives a strong flavour, plain a delicate one; Yukon golds aren’t essential “but they have a wonderful color”.

Rose box, p. 197
Later cards · 1990s–2000sHandwrittenSpecial praiseVegetarian

French Potato and Turnip Gratin

Two cards. One is marked “Delicious”; the other, for 10, is credited “Cindy B…” [?] (the surname is unclear).

Yield Serves 10

Ingredients
  • 1½ to 2 lb (675–900 g) Yukon potatoes (peeled weight)
  • 1 to 1½ lb (450–675 g) baby small white turnips (peeled weight)
  • ½ stick (55 g) butter, softened
  • 8 to 10 oz (235–295 ml) heavy cream
  • 6 oz (170 g) Gruyère, grated
  • 10 tbsp fresh Parmesan (2½ oz / 70 g), grated
  • salt and pepper
  • 3 small cloves garlic, crushed (on the “Delicious” card only)
Method
  1. Peel the potatoes and turnips and slice them thinly. Soak in cold water for a few minutes, drain and dry thoroughly in tea towels.
  2. Mix the two cheeses together. Butter a shallow baking casserole.
  3. Lay a quarter (by weight!) of the potatoes and turnips in overlapping rows on the bottom of the dish. Pour over a quarter of the cream, then a quarter of the cheese mixture, butter and garlic, and season with salt and pepper.
  4. Repeat 3 more times.
  5. Bake at 325°F (160°C) for about 1½ hours (one card says 1 hour 50 minutes [?]), until the potatoes are cooked through. Serve very hot.

“Delicious”, underlined twice.

Also underlined: “fresh” (Parmesan), twice, and the baking time “1 hr 50 min”, its 5 written over a 3; on the card for 10, “325°” is underlined at the top.

Rose box, p. 198
Rose box, p. 199
Later cards · 1990s–2000sVegan

Spicy Garlic Potatoes and Zucchini

Gourmet, clipped onto a card. Rewritten here.

Yield Serves 6; 40 minutes active, 50 in all

Ingredients
  • 2 lb (900 g) small yellow-fleshed potatoes (fingerlings if possible)
  • 5 large garlic cloves, smashed with the flat of a knife
  • 3½ tbsp vegetable oil
  • ¾ tsp dried hot red pepper flakes
  • 1 lb (450 g) baby zucchini, halved lengthwise
  • ½ tsp salt
Method
  1. Cover the potatoes with salted cold water by 1 inch (2.5 cm) in a 4-quart (3.8 litres) saucepan and simmer, uncovered, until just tender, 20 to 25 minutes. Drain and cool enough to handle, about 15 minutes. Peel and halve lengthwise.
  2. Cook the garlic in the oil in a 12-inch (30 cm) nonstick skillet over moderate heat, stirring, until pale golden, about 2 minutes. Discard the garlic.
  3. Add the potatoes and pepper flakes and sauté over moderately high heat, stirring now and then, until they begin to turn golden brown, 8 to 10 minutes.
  4. Meanwhile, cook the zucchini in boiling salted water until just tender, 2 to 3 minutes, and drain.
  5. Lift the potatoes into a bowl. Sauté the zucchini in the oil left in the skillet until hot, about 1 minute. Return the potatoes and stir in the salt.

A faint bracket is drawn beside “1 lb baby zucchini, halved lengthwise”.

Rose box, p. 200
Later cards · 1990s–2000sHandwritten

Marshmallow Sweet Potatoes

Yield For 8

Ingredients
  • 8 medium sweet potatoes (3 lb / 1.4 kg)
  • 2 tbsp (28 g) butter
  • ½ cup (120 ml) hot milk or cream
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 1 tsp cinnamon or nutmeg
  • ¼ tsp paprika
  • 1 cup (120 g) walnuts (in brackets, so optional)
  • ½ lb (225 g) marshmallows
Method
  1. Cook the sweet potatoes until tender, 15 to 35 minutes. Remove the skins and mash.
  2. Add the butter, milk, salt, cinnamon and paprika. Beat until there are no lumps and it is light and fluffy.
  3. Turn into a greased casserole and cover with the marshmallows.
  4. Bake at 350°F (180°C) until heated through and the marshmallows are brown.

“Add” is underlined.

Rose box, p. 201
Later cards · 1990s–2000sHandwrittenVegetarian

Extra Good Mashed Potatoes (slow cooker)

Marked “SC” (slow cooker)

Ingredients
  • 5 lb (2.3 kg) potatoes, peeled, cooked and mashed
  • one 8-oz (225 g) package cream cheese, softened
  • 1½ cups (360 g) sour cream
  • 3 tsp onion salt (or garlic salt)
  • 1½ tsp salt
  • ¼ to ½ tsp pepper
  • 2 tbsp (28 g) butter, melted
Method
  1. Combine everything and pour into the slow cooker.
  2. Cover and cook on low 5 to 6 hours.

It can be made 3 or 4 days in advance and kept in the refrigerator.

Rose box, p. 202
Later cards · 1990s–2000sHandwrittenVegetarian

Lillian’s Latkes

Lillian (“Latke’s” on the card)

Ingredients
  • 6 large red potatoes (not Yukon or Idaho), peeled and finely grated in the blender (or 2 cups / 300 g grated)
  • 2 eggs (3 in the margin)
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 heaping tbsp flour (2 in the margin)
  • a pinch of baking powder
  • 1 small onion, grated in the blender (a medium one in the margin)
  • pepper (with a “?”)
  • vegetable oil, for frying
Method
  1. Blend everything together.
  2. Fry in vegetable oil like pancakes. Drain on paper towels.

The numbers in the margin (3 eggs, 2 tbsp flour, a medium onion) look like a bigger batch.

“2 C. grated” is underlined, and a small “(u)” is written above the “a” of “Latke’s”.

Rose box, p. 203
Later cards · 1990s–2000sVegetarian

Basil Garlic Mashed Potatoes

Newspaper clipping on a card, with “buttermilk” and “made in advance” underlined. Rewritten here.

Yield 4 servings; 15 minutes

Ingredients
  • 2 lb (900 g) thin-skin potatoes (Yukon Gold if possible), sliced ¼ inch (5 mm) thick
  • 3 large cloves garlic, peeled
  • ½ cup (30 g) chopped fresh basil
  • 1 cup (240 ml) low-fat or nonfat buttermilk
  • salt and freshly ground black pepper
Method
  1. Scrub the potatoes but don’t peel them. Cook in water to cover, with the garlic, until tender, about 10 minutes.
  2. Mash, still unpeeled, in a food mill or with a masher, picking out and discarding any large pieces of skin.
  3. Stir in the basil and buttermilk, season and serve.

They can be made ahead and refrigerated. To reheat, cover the dish with plastic wrap and microwave on high 4 to 6 minutes, stirring once or twice; add a little more buttermilk if they get dry.

Rose box, p. 204
Typed on her computer, 2005–16
Typed on her computer · 2005–16Vegetarian

Creamy Mashed Potatoes

From Cook’s Country. Serves 8; can be halved.

Yukon Golds make a creamier, more substantial mash than russets. Rinsing the sliced potatoes washes away excess starch, and heating the butter and cream first keeps the mash hot.

Ingredients
  • 4 lb (1.8 kg) Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled
  • 12 tbsp (170 g) unsalted butter, cut into 6 pieces
  • ½ cup (120 ml) heavy cream
  • 2 tsp salt
Method
  1. Cut the potatoes into ¾-inch (2 cm) slices. Rinse in a colander under running water, tossing with your hands, for 30 seconds.
  2. Put them in a Dutch oven, cover with water by 1 inch (2.5 cm) and bring to a boil. Reduce to medium and boil until tender, 20–25 minutes.
  3. Meanwhile, heat the butter and cream in a small saucepan over medium heat until the butter melts, about 5 minutes. Keep warm.
  4. Drain the potatoes, return them to the pot and stir over low heat until thoroughly dried, 1–2 minutes.
  5. Press through a ricer into a large bowl. Gently fold in the warm cream mixture and salt with a rubber spatula until absorbed and the potatoes are thick and creamy.
Typed on her computer · 2005–16Vegetarian

Marian-lisa’s Oven Mashed Potatoes

Marian-lisa’s make-ahead method, saved with her turkey (The Holiday Table).

  1. Poke holes in russet potatoes. Microwave on half power for 14 minutes, turning after 7 minutes.
  2. Bake at 425°F (220°C) for 30 minutes, until extremely soft.
  3. Scoop out the flesh and blend in a mixer with butter and cream. It should be rather liquid. Season with salt.
  4. Refrigerate overnight and reheat to serve.
Typed on her computer · 2005–16Vegetarian

Roasted Garlic Potatoes

From Cook’s Country, May 2006. Serves 4.

Garlic powder gives deep flavour without burning, cornstarch makes the crust extra crisp, and a preheated pan stops sticking. A garlic, lemon and parsley butter adds a fresh kick at the end.

Ingredients
  • 2 lb (900 g) large red potatoes, scrubbed, dried and each cut into 8 wedges
  • 1 tbsp cornstarch
  • ½ tsp garlic powder
  • Table salt and ground black pepper
  • 3 tbsp vegetable oil
  • 1 tbsp (14 g) unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 large garlic clove, minced
  • 1 tsp minced fresh parsley
  • ⅛ tsp grated lemon zest
Method
  1. Put a rimmed baking sheet on a rack in the upper-middle position and heat the oven to 450°F (230°C).
  2. Toss the potatoes with the cornstarch, garlic powder, ¾ tsp salt and ¼ tsp pepper. Carefully take out the hot sheet, add the oil and tilt to coat. Lay the potatoes cut side down in a single layer and roast until browned at the edges, about 30 minutes.
  3. Meanwhile, mix the butter, garlic, parsley and zest in a medium bowl. Turn the potatoes skin side down with a metal spatula and roast until crisp and deep golden, 10–15 minutes.
  4. Toss the potatoes in the butter and season with salt and pepper.
Typed on her computer · 2005–16Vegan

Make-Ahead Smashed Crispy Potatoes

From Fine Cooking, January 2007. Serves 4 as a side.

Ingredients
  • 12–14 baby red or yellow potatoes, 1½–2 inches (4–5 cm) across
  • 2¾ tsp kosher salt
  • ½ cup (120 ml) extra virgin olive oil
Method
  1. Put the potatoes in a large saucepan, ideally in one layer, cover with at least 1 inch (2.5 cm) of water and add 2 tsp of the salt. Bring to a boil, then simmer until completely tender when pierced with a metal skewer, about 30–35 minutes in all. Don’t overcook.
  2. Lay a double layer of clean dish towels on the counter. Lift out the potatoes one at a time and let them drain on the towels for a minute or two.
  3. Using another towel folded in quarters as a cover, press each potato gently with your palm to flatten it to about ½ inch (1 cm). Broken ones are still fine to use.
  4. Line a large rimmed baking sheet with foil, then parchment. Carefully transfer the potatoes and let them cool completely at room temperature. If making ahead, cover loosely with plastic wrap and refrigerate.
  5. Heat a convection oven to 400°F (200°C) (a regular oven to 450°F / 230°C). Sprinkle the potatoes with the remaining salt and pour the oil over, lifting them gently so they are coated on both sides.
  6. Roast until crisp and deep brown at the edges, about 30 minutes (30–40 in a regular oven), turning once halfway. Serve hot, with a little sour cream and chives if you like.
Typed on her computer · 2005–16Vegetarian

Marjorie Luckey’s Sweet Potato Casserole

Marjorie Luckey’s recipe (the M. Luckey of the Senegalese peanut soup). Serves 10–12.

Ingredients
  • 4 cups (850 g) sweet potatoes (5–6 large)
  • ½ cup (100 g) sugar
  • ½ cup (115 g) butter or Fleischmann’s light margarine
  • 4 egg whites, beaten stiff
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • ⅓ cup (80 ml) milk
Topping
  • ⅓ cup (75 g) melted butter (or margarine)
  • 1 cup (215 g) light brown sugar
  • ½ cup (65 g) flour
  • 1 cup (120 g) chopped pecans
Method
  1. Boil the sweet potatoes in their skins. Drain, cool enough to peel and mash.
  2. Put them through a food mill (mouli). Her note: it makes them much lighter and gets out the stringy parts.
  3. Mix in the butter (or margarine) and milk, then fold in the beaten egg whites. The recipe doesn’t say when the sugar and vanilla go in; add them with the butter and milk. Spread in a 13 × 9-inch (33 × 23 cm) baking dish.
  4. Topping: mix the melted butter with the brown sugar, flour and pecans and sprinkle over the potatoes.
  5. Bake 25 minutes at 350°F (180°C).
Typed on her computer · 2005–16

Sweet Potato Casserole

From Cook’s Country, December 2005. Serves 8–10.

Roasting fresh sweet potatoes (not canned) gives the driest, most flavourful texture, and broiling them with butter and brown sugar intensifies the flavour.

Ingredients
  • 4 lb (1.8 kg) sweet potatoes (about 4 large), scrubbed and dried
  • 5 tbsp (70 g) unsalted butter, melted
  • 5 tbsp dark brown sugar
  • Table salt and ground black pepper
  • 2 cups (500 g) applesauce
  • 2 cups (100 g) mini marshmallows
Method
  1. Put a baking sheet on a rack in the upper-middle position and heat the oven to 400°F (200°C).
  2. Halve the potatoes lengthwise and lay them flesh side down on the hot sheet. Roast until easily pierced through the skin, 25–35 minutes. Take them out and switch the oven to broil.
  3. Whisk the butter and sugar together. Turn the potatoes flesh side up, brush with the butter mixture, season and broil until glazed, about 5 minutes. Cool.
  4. Meanwhile, press the applesauce lightly in a fine-mesh strainer to drain off excess liquid (you should have 1¼ cups / 300 ml solids). Put it in a large bowl.
  5. Scoop the cooled sweet potato out of the skins into the bowl and mash with the applesauce. Transfer to a 2-quart (1.9 litres) casserole, top with the marshmallows and broil until melted, 1–2 minutes.

Make ahead: refrigerate the mash up to 2 days. Warm it in a saucepan or microwave before topping with marshmallows and broiling.

Typed on her computer · 2005–16Vegetarian

Melissa’s Candied Sweet Potatoes

Melissa’s recipe, with Grammy’s notes.

Ingredients
  • 3 lb (1.4 kg) sweet potatoes, scrubbed
  • ½ cup (120 ml) apple cider
  • For each layer: a dash of cinnamon; salt, and black pepper or paprika to taste; 1 tsp butter in small pieces; 2–3 tbsp pure maple syrup (or use ½ cup / 110 g light brown sugar in all)
Method
  1. Boil the sweet potatoes until nearly tender when pierced, 20–25 minutes. Drain and cool enough to handle.
  2. Peel and cut lengthwise into quarters. Layer in a buttered 9 × 13-inch (23 × 33 cm) dish, seasoning each layer as above.
  3. Pour the cider over the top. Cover and bake until very soft, about 45 minutes, turning the layers over once.

Grammy’s notes: consider baking halved potatoes with melted butter on the cut side, then scooping out the flesh once cool. And: “See Cook’s 11/05 for better recipe: Sweet Potato Casserole” (the Cook’s Country casserole above).

Typed on her computer · 2005–16Vegetarian

Candied Sweet Potatoes (New York Times)

From Melissa Clark in the New York Times.

Ingredients
  • 5 large sweet potatoes
  • ⅓ cup (80 ml) maple syrup
  • ⅓ cup (80 ml) apple cider
  • 3 tbsp (43 g) butter
  • 1 cinnamon stick
  • 2 whole cloves
  • 1 tsp finely grated orange zest
Method
  1. Wash the sweet potatoes and prick them all over with a fork. Wrap them in foil and bake at 375°F (190°C) until very tender, 50–90 minutes depending on thickness. Let cool, then peel.
  2. Put the maple syrup, cider, butter, cinnamon stick, cloves and orange zest in a small pot. Bring to a boil, then simmer until somewhat thickened, about 15 minutes.
  3. Cut the cooled potatoes into 1-inch-thick (2.5 cm) slices and lay them in a low, flat casserole. Pour the syrup over and bake, uncovered, until bubbling and golden, 25–40 minutes.

Make ahead: Melissa Clark says cooked sweet potatoes, unlike white potatoes, freeze well, so the dish can be frozen or made a day early. Buy the potatoes just before you cook them, or keep them somewhere cool and dry; in the refrigerator they turn starchy.

Typed on her computer · 2005–16

Mashed Potato Casserole

No source is named. Serves 6–8.

Ingredients
  • 4 lb (1.8 kg) russet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1-inch (2.5 cm) chunks
  • ½ cup (120 ml) half-and-half
  • ½ cup (120 ml) low-sodium chicken broth
  • 12 tbsp (1½ sticks; 170 g) unsalted butter, cut into pieces
  • 1 garlic clove, minced
  • 2 tsp Dijon mustard
  • 2 tsp salt
  • 4 large eggs
  • ¼ cup (15 g) finely chopped fresh chives
Method
  1. Heat the oven to 375°F (190°C) with a rack in the upper-middle position. Put the potatoes in a large pot with water to cover by 1 inch (2.5 cm) and bring to a boil over high heat. Simmer over medium heat until tender, about 20 minutes.
  2. Meanwhile, heat the half-and-half, broth, butter, garlic, mustard and salt in a saucepan over medium-low heat until smooth, about 5 minutes. Keep warm.
  3. Drain the potatoes and tip them into a large bowl. Beat with an electric mixer on medium-low, adding the half-and-half mixture slowly, until smooth and creamy, about 1 minute. Scrape down the bowl, then beat in the eggs one at a time until incorporated, about 1 minute. Fold in the chives.
  4. Spread in a greased 2-quart (1.9 litres) baking dish (a 13 by 9-inch / 33 × 23 cm pan also works). Bake until the potatoes rise and begin to brown, about 35 minutes. Let cool for 10 minutes before serving.

Make ahead: cover the filled dish with plastic wrap and refrigerate for up to 24 hours. Let it stand at room temperature for 1 hour before baking, and add 10 minutes to the baking time.

The Holiday Table

Grammy’s Thanksgiving from her typed files: Marian-lisa’s brined turkey, her own stuffing and a make-ahead gravy. The turkeys from the card boxes are in Chicken & Poultry.

3 typed on her computer

All 3 in this chapter
  1. Marian-lisa’s Brined Turkey
  2. Mom’s Turkey Stuffing
  3. Make-Ahead Turkey Gravy
Christmas Eve in Cambridge, England, 2011
Typed on her computer · 2005–16

Marian-lisa’s Brined Turkey

Marian-lisa’s method. Her oven mashed potatoes are in the Potatoes chapter.

  1. Brine: use 1 cup (200 g) sugar to 1 cup (240 ml) salt (double it for a large volume of water). Submerge the turkey for 8 hours or overnight. You can chill it outdoors if the temperature is right; add several bag-wrapped freezer packs to the water if needed.
  2. Rest the turkey at room temperature and dry it well. Mix Emeril’s chicken rub with garlic powder and melted butter and coat the turkey well.
  3. Stuff lightly with quartered lemons, oranges, onions and apples that have been briefly sautéed.
  4. Put the thermometer alongside the breast, not in the leg.
  5. Preheat the oven to 425°F (220°C) and roast 30 minutes uncovered. Cover the breast only with foil and reduce the oven to 325°F (160°C).
  6. Roast until the thermometer reads 161°F (72°C). Remove from the oven to rest.
  7. Gravy: take out the fruit. Add Emeril’s chicken stock and more chicken rub to the pan, and thicken with cornstarch.
Typed on her computer · 2005–16

Mom’s Turkey Stuffing

Mom’s recipe. Serves 12.

Ingredients
  • 12 cups (2.9 litres) cornbread and Pepperidge Farm plain stuffing, made from: 2 boxes Betty Crocker cornbread mix, baked, cooled and broken into 1-inch (2.5 cm) cubes (or better yet, make your own: Golden Cornbread, below), plus one 16-oz (450 g) bag of stuffing
  • 3 large eggs, lightly beaten
  • 2 cups (475 ml) half-and-half (2¼ cups / 530 ml if refrigerating overnight)
  • 3 cups (710 ml) low-sodium chicken broth (3¼ cups / 770 ml if refrigerating overnight)
  • 12 tbsp (170 g) butter (1½ sticks), plus extra for the dish
  • 1½ lb (675 g) bulk pork sausage, broken into 1-inch (2.5 cm) pieces
  • 3 cups (475 g) finely chopped onion (about 3 large)
  • 1½ cups (150 g) finely chopped celery (about 3 large stalks)
  • 2 tbsp minced fresh thyme
  • 2 tbsp minced fresh sage
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 2 cans sliced water chestnuts, chopped
  • 1 cup (120 g) dried cranberries (optional)
  • 1 tbsp kosher salt
  • 2 tsp ground black pepper
Method
  1. Put the cornbread and bread stuffing in a very large bowl. Whisk the stock, half-and-half and eggs together and pour over. Toss very gently to coat so the cornbread doesn’t break up.
  2. Heat a heavy 12-inch (30 cm) skillet over medium-high heat until hot, about 1½ minutes. Add 3 tbsp (43 g) butter and, when the foam subsides, the sausage. Cook, stirring occasionally, until it loses its raw colour, 5–7 minutes. Lift into a bowl with a slotted spoon.
  3. Add 3 tbsp (43 g) butter and half the onions and celery and sauté over medium-high until softened, about 5 minutes. Add to the sausage.
  4. Add the last 6 tbsp (85 g) butter and sauté the rest of the onions and celery the same way. Stir in the thyme, sage and garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds; add the salt and pepper.
  5. Add everything to the stuffing with the water chestnuts and cranberries, if using. Stir gently.
  6. Cover and refrigerate to blend the flavours, at least 1 hour or up to 4 hours (or up to 24 hours, with the extra ¼ cup / 60 ml each of stock and half-and-half). Let stand at room temperature about 30 minutes before baking.
  7. If stuffing the turkey too: microwave about 6 cups (900 g) of stuffing, covered, on high until it reads 120–130°F (49–54°C), about 6 minutes. Spoon it into the turkey and close the opening with lacers or skewers and twine. (The head start means the turkey doesn’t overcook while the stuffing comes up to temperature.) Put the rest in a buttered 11 × 7-inch (28 × 18 cm) or 9-inch (23 cm) square dish and refrigerate until needed.
  8. Heat the oven to 400°F (200°C) with a rack in the lower-middle position. Butter a 10 × 15-inch (25 × 38 cm) dish (or two 9-inch / 23 cm or 11 × 7-inch / 28 × 18 cm dishes). Transfer the stuffing, pour over any liquid left in the bowl and press gently to fit. Bake until golden brown, 35–40 minutes.

Golden Cornbread (makes 16 cups / 3.8 litres crumbled)

Halve this for the stuffing. For the best flavour and texture, dry the cornbread, add a little half-and-half and let it soak for at least an hour.

  • 4 tbsp (55 g) unsalted butter, melted, plus extra for the dish
  • 4 large eggs
  • 1⅓ cups (320 ml) buttermilk
  • 1⅓ cups (320 ml) milk
  • 2 cups (300 g) yellow cornmeal, preferably stone-ground
  • 2 cups (250 g) unbleached all-purpose flour
  • 4 tsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 2 tbsp granulated sugar
  • 1 tsp table salt
  1. Heat the oven to 375°F (190°C) with a rack in the middle. Butter a 9 × 13-inch (23 × 33 cm) baking dish.
  2. Beat the eggs in a medium bowl, then whisk in the buttermilk and milk.
  3. Whisk the dry ingredients together in a large bowl. Push them up the sides to make a well, pour in the egg mixture and whisk until just combined. Stir in the butter.
  4. Pour into the dish and bake until the top is golden and the edges have pulled away from the sides, 30–40 minutes.
  5. Cool on a rack to room temperature, about 1 hour, before using.
Typed on her computer · 2005–16Special praise

Make-Ahead Turkey Gravy

From Cook’s Illustrated, October 2006. Makes about 2 quarts (1.9 litres).

Grammy’s note, at the top of the page: “Delicious!”

Enough for a large turkey with plenty left over. Discard the strong-tasting liver before using the giblets. For more flavour, skim the drippings from the roasting pan and add them just before serving.

Ingredients
  • 6 turkey drumsticks, thighs or wings
  • Reserved turkey giblets and neck
  • 2 carrots, chopped coarse
  • 1 head garlic, halved
  • 2 ribs celery, chopped coarse
  • 2 onions, chopped coarse
  • Vegetable oil spray
  • 10 cups (2.4 litres) low-sodium chicken broth
  • 2 cups (475 ml) dry white wine
  • 12 sprigs fresh thyme
  • ½ cup (70 g) all-purpose flour
  • Table salt and ground black pepper
Method
  1. Heat the oven to 450°F (230°C) with a rack in the middle. Put the giblets, neck, drumsticks, carrots, celery, onions and garlic in a roasting pan, spray with oil and toss well. Roast, stirring occasionally, until well browned, 1–1¼ hours. Grammy’s note: “Watch it or it burns.”
  2. Transfer everything to a Dutch oven. Add the broth, wine and thyme and bring to a boil. Simmer on low until reduced by half, about 1½ hours. Strain into a large container (discard the solids), cover and refrigerate until the fat congeals, at least 2 hours.
  3. Skim off the fat and reserve it. Heat ½ cup (120 ml) of the fat in the Dutch oven over medium-high heat until bubbling. Whisk in the flour and cook, whisking constantly, until honey-coloured, 10–15 minutes.
  4. Gradually whisk in the stock and bring to a boil. Simmer on medium-low until slightly thickened, about 20 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.

The gravy keeps 3 days in the fridge or 2 months in the freezer. Reheat in a saucepan over medium heat until bubbling.

Breads & Breakfast

Yeast breads from the early cards (Mother’s bread and sweet rolls, Sister’s refrigerator dough, a Swedish limpa), quick breads and muffins, Grammy’s banana bread on her own printed Stamford card, her sticky buns as old cards, a 2006 revision and a 2009 breadmaker version, and Kir’s breadmaker bread in grams.

29 handwritten27 early cards9 later cards7 typed on her computer

All 43 in this chapter
  1. Broiled Grapefruit
  2. Bob’s Pizza
  3. White Bread
  4. Sesame Bread
  5. The Ritz-Carlton’s Blueberry Muffins
  6. Betty’s Finnish Coffee Bread
  7. Lunch Rolls
  8. Oatmeal Bread (Four Loaves)
  9. Shirley’s Bread
  10. Oatmeal Bread
  11. Parmesan Popovers
  12. Mrs. Anderson’s Oatmeal Cinnamon Bread
  13. Banana Nut Bread
  14. Dilly Casserole Bread
  15. Baguettes with Green Butter
  16. Whole Wheat Bread
  17. Sweet Roll Filling and Frosting
  18. Arlene Jacobi’s Lemon Bread
  19. Elaine Waters’ Cranberry Bread
  20. Ruth A.’s Swedish Limpa Bread
  21. Dinosaur Pumpkin Muffins
  22. Mother’s Bread and Sweet Rolls
  23. Corn Bread
  24. Blueberry Muffins
  25. Cranberry Muffins
  26. Sister’s Refrigerator Yeast Dough
  27. Old Bullfighter’s Herbed Rye Bread
  28. Bisquick Pancakes and Waffles
  29. White Bread in the Food Processor (2 loaves)
  30. Sticky Buns (Sweet Bread for Sticky Buns, with the Topping)
  31. Jamie Oliver’s Focaccia with Fried Onions
  32. Grilled Pizza Bread
  33. Pizza Dough for the Bread Maker
  34. Grammy’s Banana Bread
  35. Mrs. K’s Blueberry Pancakes
  36. Cinnamon-Cheese Puffs
  37. James Peterson’s Popovers
  38. Mom’s Sticky Buns
  39. Mom’s Best-Ever Sticky Buns for the Breadmaker
  40. American Loaf Bread
  41. French Toast
  42. Kir’s Best Bread for the Breadmaker
  43. Bernhardine and Kir’s Seedy Knäckebröd
Early cards, 1950s–80s
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegetarian

Broiled Grapefruit

Yield Serves 4

Ingredients
  • 2 pink grapefruit, halved
  • ¼ cup (60 ml) ketchup
  • ¼ cup (55 g) melted butter
  • 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
  • ½ tsp red hot pepper sauce
Method
  1. Mix the ketchup, butter, Worcestershire and hot pepper sauce and brush over the tops of the grapefruit halves.
  2. Broil until brown (15 minutes).
Grey box, p. 65
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegetarian

Bob’s Pizza

Bob

Yield 2 large and 1 small pan

Ingredients
  • 5 packages dry yeast
  • 3½ cups (830 ml) warm water
  • 8 cups (1 kg) flour
  • salt
  • Sauce
  • 15 oz (425 g) Hunt’s tomato sauce
  • ½ full head garlic, minced
  • To finish
  • olive oil
  • mozzarella, sliced less than ¼ inch (5 mm) thick
Method
  1. Blend the yeast, water, flour and salt with a wooden spoon. Cover with a hot towel and let rise. When risen, “drop” the bowl to knock it down and let it rise again (3 to 4 hours in all).
  2. Mix the tomato sauce and garlic.
  3. Cover the bottom of each tray with olive oil. Put a hunk of dough in the pan and spread it out.
  4. Lay the mozzarella slices over it solidly, pushing up to the edge, and smear with the sauce.
  5. Bake at 475°F (240°C) for 30 minutes.

Underlined on the card: “full” in “Mince ½ full head garlic”.

Grey box, p. 98
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegan

White Bread

In an older, rounded hand

Ingredients
  • 1¼ cups (300 ml) warm water
  • 1 package yeast
  • 2 tbsp soft shortening
  • 2 tsp salt
  • 2 tbsp sugar
  • 3 cups (350 g) sifted flour
Method
  1. In a mixing bowl, dissolve the yeast in the water. Add the shortening, salt, sugar and half the flour. Beat 2 minutes at medium speed on the mixer.
  2. Add the remaining flour and blend in with a spoon until smooth. Scrape down the bowl.
  3. Let rise in a warm place 30 minutes, then beat 25 strokes and put in a greased pan.
  4. Let rise until it reaches 1 inch (2.5 cm) from the top, about 40 minutes.
  5. Heat the oven to 375°F (190°C) and bake 45 to 50 minutes, until brown.
Grey box, p. 130
Grey box, p. 131
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegetarian

Sesame Bread

Yield Serves 6

Ingredients
  • 2 tbsp sesame seed
  • 1 large loaf French bread
  • ¼ cup (55 g) butter
  • ¼ cup (15 g) finely chopped parsley
  • ¼ cup (15 g) finely chopped chives
Method
  1. Slice the bread lengthwise. Combine the butter, parsley and chives and spread on the cut surfaces.
  2. Sprinkle with the sesame seed and bake at 350°F (180°C) for 20 minutes, or until crisp.
Grey box, p. 132
Early cards · 1950s–80sSpecial praiseVegetarian

The Ritz-Carlton’s Blueberry Muffins

Newspaper clipping

Yield 15 to 16 large muffins

Ingredients
  • 3½ cups (400 g) sifted all-purpose flour
  • 2 tbsp baking powder
  • ¾ cup (150 g) sugar
  • pinch of salt (optional)
  • 5 eggs, slightly beaten
  • ½ cup (120 ml) milk
  • 5 oz (140 g) unsalted butter, melted and cooled
  • 4 or 5 cups (575 or 725 g) blueberries, fresh or frozen
  • extra sugar, for the tops
Method
  1. Heat the oven to 425°F (220°C).
  2. Mix the dry ingredients. Stir in the eggs, milk and butter; don’t overmix. Carefully stir in the berries.
  3. Grease the tops of large muffin tins and put in paper cups. Spoon the batter to the tops of the cups and sprinkle generously with sugar.
  4. Reduce the heat to 400°F (200°C) and bake on the middle shelf about 25 minutes, until golden brown. Remove from the tins and cool.

These are best warm from the oven at the height of blueberry season; in winter, use frozen berries.

Written in ink at the bottom of the clipping: “Delicious”.

Grey box, p. 133
Grey box, p. 134
Early cards · 1950s–80sVegetarian

Betty’s Finnish Coffee Bread

Betty, typed card

Yield 3 rings

Ingredients
  • 2 packages yeast
  • 1 cup (240 ml) lukewarm water
  • 1 tbsp sugar
  • 1 cup (240 ml) scalded milk
  • 6 tbsp shortening
  • ½ cup (100 g) sugar
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 2 cups (230 g) sifted flour, then about 5 cups (575 g) more
  • 3 eggs
  • melted butter, ground cardamom, chopped nuts, brown sugar and cinnamon, for the filling
  • egg yolk and water, to glaze
  • powdered sugar and water, for the icing
Method
  1. Dissolve the yeast in the water, add the 1 tbsp sugar and cool.
  2. To the scalded milk add the shortening, ½ cup (100 g) sugar and salt, and cool.
  3. Add the 2 cups (230 g) flour, the eggs and the yeast mixture to the milk mixture. Add about 5 cups (575 g) flour, enough for a slightly sticky dough.
  4. Knead 15 to 20 times. Put in a pan to rise, greasing the top so it doesn’t dry, in a warm place 1 to 1½ hours.
  5. When doubled, punch down and divide in 3. Roll each to a rectangle, brush with melted butter and sprinkle with cardamom, nuts, brown sugar and cinnamon.
  6. Roll up like a jelly roll and form a circle on a greased cookie sheet. Cut with a sharp knife, but not quite through the bottom layer, to form a pulled-out circle.
  7. Cover and let rise about 1 hour. Brush with egg yolk mixed with water.
  8. Bake at 375°F (190°C) for 20 to 25 minutes. While still warm, spread with a light icing of powdered sugar and water.
Grey box, p. 135
Grey box, p. 136
Early cards · 1950s–80sVegetarian

Lunch Rolls

Typed card

Ingredients
  • 1 yeast cake
  • 1¼ cups (300 ml) milk
  • 2 tbsp sugar
  • 2 tbsp Crisco
  • 4 cups (500 g) flour
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tsp salt
  • melted butter, brown sugar and cinnamon, for the filling
Method
  1. Scald and cool the milk. Add the yeast and sugar, then the melted Crisco and 2 cups (250 g) of the flour. Beat thoroughly with a mixer and add the beaten egg.
  2. Beat by hand, adding the rest of the flour mixed with the salt. Leave in the bowl to rise, about 2 hours.
  3. Put on a board, knead well and let rise again.
  4. Knead and roll out about ¼ inch (5 mm) thick. Spread with melted butter, brown sugar and cinnamon.
  5. Roll up like a jelly roll and slice ½ inch (1 cm) thick. Let rise, then bake at 400–425°F (200–220°C) for 25 minutes.
Grey box, p. 137
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegetarian

Oatmeal Bread (Four Loaves)

Yield 4 loaves

Ingredients
  • ¼ cup (55 g) brown sugar
  • 4 tsp salt
  • 1 stick (115 g) butter
  • 3 cups (710 ml) scalded milk
  • 2 packages yeast
  • 1 cup (240 ml) warm water
  • 4 cups (340 g) oatmeal (1-minute oats)
  • 6 or more cups flour

The card stops after the ingredients. Melt the sugar, salt and butter in the scalded milk; dissolve the yeast in the warm water; then combine with the oats and flour and make as for the oatmeal bread below.

Grey box, p. 138
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwritten

Shirley’s Bread

Shirley

Yield 2 loaves, 1 coffee cake and 1 dozen rolls

Ingredients
  • ½ cup (120 ml) warm water
  • 2 tbsp sugar
  • 1 small cake yeast (2 ⅜ oz / 65 g)
  • 1 cup (240 ml) milk, scalded
  • 2 cups (475 ml) hot water
  • 3 tbsp lard
  • ½ cup (100 g) sugar
  • 1 heaping tbsp salt
  • 3 + 3 + 3 or more cups sifted flour
Method
  1. Mix the warm water, 2 tbsp sugar and yeast in a cup. Scald the milk and let it cool.
  2. In a large bowl, mix the hot water, lard, ½ cup (100 g) sugar and salt. Add the cooled milk, the yeast mixture and 3 cups (350 g) sifted flour to make a gooey batter.
  3. Put 3 cups (350 g) sifted flour in the bottom and sides of a dishpan. Add the batter and stir until firm, then start mixing with your hands.
  4. Add 3 or more cups sifted flour and mix until elastic and not sticky. Then mix more.
  5. Put in a deep pan with warm lard spread all over it. Cover and set in a warm place. Punch down 2 times.
  6. Bake loaves at 400°F [?] (200°C) for ½ hour [?]; buns and coffee cake at 350°F (180°C) for 25 minutes [?].

The baking notes in the corner are written over and hard to read: the loaves’ temperature reads 400° (200°C) or 425° (220°C).

Underlined on the card: “not” in “elastic & not sticky”.

Grey box, p. 139
Grey box, p. 140
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegetarian

Oatmeal Bread

Yield 2 round loaves

Ingredients
  • 1⅔ cups (400 ml) boiling water
  • 1¼ cups (105 g) rolled oats, plus extra for the tops
  • ¼ cup (55 g) butter
  • ½ cup (170 g) molasses
  • 1 tbsp salt
  • 2 packages dry yeast
  • ½ cup (120 ml) water
  • 2 eggs
  • 3 cups (380 g) flour, then 3 to 3½ cups (380–450 g) more
  • melted butter, for brushing
Method
  1. Combine the boiling water, oats, butter, molasses and salt and cool to 115°F (46°C).
  2. Dissolve the yeast in the ½ cup (120 ml) water, cool, and stir into the oats.
  3. Add the eggs and 3 cups (380 g) flour and beat until blended. Mix in 3 to 3½ cups (380–450 g) more flour and knead.
  4. Divide in half and place in greased 9-inch (23 cm) round layer cake pans. Let rise until doubled.
  5. Brush the tops with melted butter and sprinkle with oats. Bake at 350°F (180°C) for 45 to 50 minutes.
Grey box, p. 141
Grey box, p. 142
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegetarian

Parmesan Popovers

Yield Not given; the pencilled column in the margin scales it up

Ingredients
  • 9 tbsp Parmesan
  • 3 eggs
  • 1 cup (240 ml) milk (eggs and milk at room temperature)
  • 1 cup (125 g) flour
  • ½ tsp salt
  • ⅛ tsp cayenne
  • paprika
  • butter, for the cups
Method
  1. Heat the oven to 425°F (220°C). Butter 5-oz (150 ml) custard cups very generously and put 1 tbsp Parmesan in each. Set the cups on a baking sheet.
  2. Beat the eggs with a hand beater until well mixed. Add the milk, flour, salt and cayenne and beat until just smooth.
  3. Fill the cups half full. Bake without looking for 40 minutes, give or take 5, until brown and crisp to the touch.
Grey box, p. 143
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegetarian

Mrs. Anderson’s Oatmeal Cinnamon Bread

“Anderson (mother’s)”, on a printed Stylecraft recipe card

Yield 3 loaves

Ingredients
  • 2 packages dry yeast
  • ½ cup (120 ml) warm water
  • 1½ cups (360 ml) milk, scalded
  • ⅔ cup (125 g) melted shortening
  • ½ cup (100 g) sugar
  • 2 tsp salt
  • 6 cups (700 g) sifted flour (enough for a soft dough)
  • 2 eggs, beaten
  • 1½ cups (130 g) oats
  • Filling
  • melted butter
  • 1½ cups (300 g) sugar
  • 2 tsp cinnamon
Method
  1. Soften the yeast in the warm water.
  2. Pour the scalded milk over the shortening, sugar and salt. Stir slightly, cool, and stir in the flour, eggs, oats and yeast. Knead 10 minutes and let rise until doubled.
  3. Punch down, cover and let rest 10 minutes. Divide into 3 and roll each into an 8 × 24-inch (20 × 61 cm) rectangle.
  4. Brush with melted butter and sprinkle with the sugar and cinnamon. Roll up into loaves and let rise until doubled, 45 minutes.
  5. Bake at 375°F (190°C) for 45 minutes.
Grey box, p. 145
Grey box, p. 146
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegetarian

Banana Nut Bread

Yield 2 loaves

Ingredients
  • 3 cups (350 g) sifted flour
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • ½ tsp baking soda
  • ½ tsp salt
  • ¾ cup (170 g) butter
  • 1½ cups (300 g) sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • ⅓ cup (23 g) instant dry milk
  • ⅓ cup (80 ml) water
  • ⅔ cup (150 g) mashed banana
  • 1 cup (120 g) chopped pecans
Method
  1. Sift the first 4 ingredients together.
  2. Cream the butter and add the sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs.
  3. Beat the dry milk, water and banana until well blended. Add to the creamed mixture alternately with the dry ingredients. Fold in the nuts.
  4. Turn into 2 buttered 8½ × 4½ × 3-inch (22 × 11 × 8 cm) loaf pans and bake at 350°F (180°C) for 50 minutes.
Grey box, p. 147
Grey box, p. 148
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegetarian

Dilly Casserole Bread

Yield One 8-inch (20 cm) round loaf

Ingredients
  • 1 package dry yeast
  • ¼ cup (60 ml) water
  • 1 cup (225 g) creamed cottage cheese, heated to lukewarm
  • 2 tbsp sugar
  • 1 tbsp minced dry onion
  • 1 tbsp (14 g) butter, plus extra for the top
  • 2 tsp dill seed
  • 1 tsp salt
  • ¼ tsp baking soda
  • 1 egg
  • 2¼ to 2½ cups (280–310 g) flour
Method
  1. Soften the yeast in the water.
  2. Combine the cottage cheese, sugar, onion, butter, dill, salt, soda, egg and yeast.
  3. Add the flour to form a stiff dough, beating well after each addition. Cover and let rise in a warm place (85–90°F / 29–32°C) until light and doubled, 50 to 60 minutes.
  4. Stir down and turn into a well-greased 8-inch (20 cm) round casserole (1½ to 2 quarts / 1.4–1.9 litres). Let rise 30 to 40 minutes.
  5. Bake at 350°F (180°C) for 40 to 50 minutes, until golden brown. Brush with butter and sprinkle with salt.

Underlined on the card: “sprinkle w/ salt”.

Grey box, p. 150
Grey box, p. 151
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegetarian

Baguettes with Green Butter

Yield 20 servings

Ingredients
  • 3 large Italian loaves
  • 5 scallions, green part only, minced
  • 5 tbsp chopped parsley
  • 8 to 12 tbsp (115–170 g) soft butter
Method
  1. Slice the bread lengthwise, and crosswise every 4 inches (10 cm).
  2. Combine the scallions, parsley and butter and spread lightly on the cut surfaces.
  3. Wrap tightly in foil; it holds 1 to 2 days in the fridge. Take it out of the fridge 3 hours before broiling and remove the foil.
  4. Heat the broiler and broil the bread cut side up for 1 to 1½ minutes, until the butter bubbles and browns. Serve immediately.
Grey box, p. 152
Grey box, p. 153
Early cards · 1950s–80sVegetarian

Whole Wheat Bread

Printed “Natural Recipes” card, Boston, 1972

Yield One 9 × 5 × 3-inch (23 × 13 × 8 cm) loaf

Ingredients
  • 4 to 4½ cups (450–500 g) whole wheat flour
  • 1 tbsp active dry yeast
  • 1½ cups (360 ml) warm water
  • 1 tbsp honey
  • 1 tbsp safflower or corn oil
  • 1 tsp sea salt
Method
  1. In a large bowl, dissolve the yeast in ¼ cup (60 ml) of the warm water, then add the rest. Dissolve the honey in it and let sit a few minutes.
  2. Add 2 cups (225 g) of the flour and beat with a wooden spoon until smooth. Cover and set in a warm place to rise about 1 hour, until light and foamy.
  3. Mix in the salt and oil. Add flour a little at a time until stiff and easy to handle.
  4. Knead on a lightly floured board for 20 minutes or so, adding flour a little at a time, until smooth, elastic and not sticky. It should be springy enough to almost spring back when pressed lightly.
  5. Shape into a loaf and put in a lightly oiled standard bread pan. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour.
  6. Bake at 350°F (180°C) for about 1 hour, until the crust is deep golden brown. Remove from the pan at once and cool before slicing.
Grey box, p. 154
Grey box, p. 155
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegetarian

Sweet Roll Filling and Frosting

Ingredients
  • 2 tbsp (28 g) softened butter
  • ½ cup (100 g) sugar
  • 2 tsp cinnamon
  • Frosting
  • confectioners’ sugar
  • milk
  • flavouring
Method
  1. Mix the butter, sugar and cinnamon for the filling.
  2. For the frosting, sift a little confectioners’ sugar into a bowl and moisten with milk to a spreading consistency. Add flavouring and spread over the slightly warm bread.
Grey box, p. 156
Early cards · 1950s–80sVegetarian

Arlene Jacobi’s Lemon Bread

Arlene Jacobi [?], typed card

Yield One 9 × 5-inch (23 × 13 cm) loaf

Ingredients
  • 1 cup (200 g) sugar
  • ½ cup (120 ml) milk
  • 6 tbsp (¾ stick; 85 g) unsalted butter, at room temperature
  • 2 eggs
  • 1½ cups (190 g) all-purpose flour
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • ⅛ tsp salt
  • finely grated zest of 1 large lemon
  • Lemon glaze
  • ½ cup (100 g) sugar
  • ¼ cup (60 ml) fresh lemon juice
Method
  1. Heat the oven to 350°F (180°C). Grease and flour a 9 × 5-inch (23 × 13 cm) loaf pan.
  2. Put the sugar, milk, butter and eggs in a blender and mix on low for 30 seconds. Pour into a bowl and blend in the dry ingredients and lemon zest.
  3. Bake 1 hour. Let cool slightly.
  4. For the glaze, stir the sugar and lemon juice in a small saucepan over low heat until the sugar dissolves and the glaze is quite hot.
  5. Turn the bread out onto a large piece of heavy foil. Pour the hot glaze slowly over it (“I use a pastry brush for sides”) and let cool completely before slicing.
Grey box, p. 157
Grey box, p. 158
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenSpecial praiseVegetarian

Elaine Waters’ Cranberry Bread

Elaine Waters

Yield 4 loaves (a second card gives the 2-loaf amounts)

Ingredients
  • 8 cups (1 kg) flour
  • 2 tsp salt
  • 2 tbsp baking powder
  • 2 tsp baking soda
  • 4 cups (800 g) sugar
  • 4 eggs
  • 4 cups (400 g) cranberries, halved
  • 3 cups (710 ml) orange juice
  • 1 stick (115 g) butter, melted
Method
  1. Grease the pans with Crisco and flour them.
  2. Mix the flour, sugar, baking powder, salt and soda and set aside.
  3. Mix the eggs, orange juice and butter. Add to the dry mixture and stir until just mixed. Add the cranberries.
  4. Bake at 350°F (180°C) for 1 hour. Cool immediately on a rack for 15 minutes.

For 2 loaves: 4 cups (500 g) flour, 1 tsp salt, 1 tbsp baking powder, 1 tsp soda, 2 cups (400 g) sugar, 2 eggs, 2 cups (200 g) cranberries, 1½ cups (360 ml) orange juice (“rind & juice, 2 orgs”) and ½ stick (55 g) butter. The second card notes: “(Stnd 2 bag) 6 C. cranberrys for triple recepies”, with “triple” written over a crossed-out “all”.

The first card is marked “Delicious” in pencil; the second “delicious”, underlined twice in pencil, and it adds “Freezes well.”

Underlined on the first card: “melted”; “3 C” is circled in pencil beside the O.J.

In pencil on the second card, joined by a line to “350°”: “gas 4”; beside it, faint and partly rubbed out: “¾ C.” and “melt” [?]. “4 Tb” and “½ stick” are circled in pencil beside the butter, and a brace in the margin joins the O.J. and butter lines, with an illegible pencilled word [?] beside it.

Grey box, p. 159
Grey box, p. 160
Early cards · 1950s–80sVegan

Ruth A.’s Swedish Limpa Bread

Typed card signed “Ruth A.”, with “Pat Schreiner” written across the top

Yield 3 round loaves

Ingredients
  • 1 cake yeast (if using dry yeast, dissolve it in ¼ cup / 60 ml warm water)
  • ¼ cup (60 ml) light Karo syrup
  • 2 cups (475 ml) warm water
  • 2½ cups (270 g) light rye flour, sifted
  • 4 to 6 cups (500–750 g) white flour, sifted
  • ¼ cup (85 g) molasses
  • 2 handfuls raisins (if desired)
  • 1 large pinch each fennel seed and anise seed, crushed (about ¼ tsp)
  • 2 tsp salt
  • 2 tbsp melted shortening
Method
  1. Dissolve the yeast in the Karo and add the warm water.
  2. Add some of the rye flour, then the molasses (and raisins, if using).
  3. Add the rest of the rye flour and a little white flour, to make bubbles. Add the fennel and anise, salt and shortening.
  4. Add enough white flour that, with kneading, the dough does not stick to hands or table.
  5. Let rise to double size, once. Put in pans as 3 round loaves and let rise again.
  6. Bake at 400°F (200°C) for 5 minutes, until brown, then at 350°F (180°C) until done (35 to 40 minutes).
Grey box, p. 161
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegetarian

Dinosaur Pumpkin Muffins

Written in capitals, for a dinosaur-shaped mold

Yield “Yield: one plaque”

Ingredients
  • 5 tbsp (70 g) melted butter, plus more for the molds
  • 1 beaten egg
  • ¼ cup (60 ml) milk
  • ⅔ cup (165 g) cooked pumpkin
  • 1 cup (200 g) sugar
  • 1 cup (125 g) flour
  • ¾ tsp baking soda
  • ½ tsp salt
  • ¼ tsp cinnamon
  • ¼ tsp nutmeg
  • ¼ tsp ginger
Method
  1. Heat the oven to 350°F (180°C) and brush the molds with melted butter.
  2. In a bowl, beat the butter, egg, milk and pumpkin well.
  3. Sift together the sugar, flour, soda, salt and spices and stir into the liquid until incorporated.
  4. Fill the molds ¾ full and bake 25 to 30 minutes.
Grey box, p. 162
Grey box, p. 163
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegetarian

Mother’s Bread and Sweet Rolls

Grammy’s mother’s recipe, on Grammy’s own printed “My PetRecipe… A PetRecipe from Pat Schreiner” card

Ingredients
  • 1½ cups (360 ml) milk
  • ⅜ cup (70 g) shortening (4 tbsp Crisco and 2 tbsp / 28 g butter)
  • ½ cup (100 g) sugar
  • 2 tsp salt
  • 1 cake yeast
  • ½ cup (120 ml) lukewarm water
  • flour
Method
  1. Scald the milk. Add the shortening, sugar and salt and cool to lukewarm.
  2. Dissolve the yeast in the lukewarm water and stir together with the milk. Sift in flour and beat.
  3. Knead on a board. Let rise until doubled (3 hours). Punch down and let rise again (1½ hours).
  4. Roll out and shape. Bake bread at 400°F (200°C) for 30 minutes; rolls at 350°F (180°C) for 30 to 35 minutes.

Use the Sweet Roll Filling and Frosting for the sweet rolls.

The bread’s 400 and 30 are gone over in heavy black ink, and the “40” that followed the 30 is crossed out. In the left margin, beside the second rising, is a mark that may read “800” [?].

“BEAT” is written in capitals (“sift in flour – BEAT”).

Grey box, p. 164
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegetarian

Corn Bread

Yield Muffins

Ingredients
  • 1 egg
  • 1 cup (240 ml) + 2 tbsp milk
  • ¼ cup (29 g) sifted flour (as written)
  • 1¼ cups (190 g) cornmeal
  • 2 tbsp sugar
  • 3 tsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 3 tbsp soft shortening
Method
  1. Beat the egg and milk. Beat in the remaining ingredients.
  2. Spoon into buttered hot muffin cups until almost full.
  3. Bake at 450°F (230°C) for 10 to 15 minutes, just until set.
Grey box, p. 165
Grey box, p. 166
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegetarian

Blueberry Muffins

Ingredients
  • 2 cups (250 g) flour
  • 4 tbsp sugar
  • 4 tsp baking powder
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 1 egg, well beaten
  • 1 cup (240 ml) milk
  • 4 tbsp melted shortening
  • 1 cup (145 g) fresh or frozen blueberries
Method
  1. Sift the dry ingredients and add the blueberries.
  2. Combine the egg, milk and melted shortening and pour into the dry ingredients. Stir just enough to combine.
  3. Put in greased muffin tins and bake 20 minutes in a hot oven.
Grey box, p. 167
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegetarian

Cranberry Muffins

Yield 12

Ingredients
  • 1 cup (100 g) raw cranberries, chopped
  • ½ cup (100 g) sugar
  • 2 cups (230 g) sifted flour
  • ¾ tsp baking soda
  • ¼ tsp salt
  • ¼ cup (50 g) sugar
  • 1 egg, beaten
  • ¾ cup (180 ml) sour milk
  • ¼ cup (48 g) shortening, melted
Method
  1. Combine the cranberries and ½ cup (100 g) sugar.
  2. Sift the flour, soda, salt and ¼ cup (50 g) sugar and make a well in the centre.
  3. Mix the egg, milk and shortening, add to the dry ingredients and stir. Add the cranberries.
  4. Fill greased muffin tins ⅔ full and bake in a 400°F (200°C) oven for 20 minutes.
Grey box, p. 168
Grey box, p. 169
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegetarian

Sister’s Refrigerator Yeast Dough

“Sister” (Grammy’s sister Frances), on a printed “Here’s what’s cookin’” card

Yield 3 bundles

Ingredients
  • 1 cup (240 ml) milk
  • 1 cup (225 g) butter
  • ½ cup (100 g) sugar
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 3 eggs
  • 2 packages yeast, dissolved in ½ cup (120 ml) lukewarm water
  • 4½ cups (575 g) flour, sifted
Method
  1. Heat the milk and butter to 110°F (43°C). Add the sugar and salt and beat. Beat in the eggs, yeast and flour until smooth.
  2. Cover and let double in a warm oven, 1 hour.
  3. Punch down and refrigerate, covered. Roll out after a few hours, when cold; keep no longer than 3 days.
  4. Shape, let rise again and bake at 375°F (190°C) for 17 minutes in a cake pan.
Grey box, p. 170
Grey box, p. 171
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegetarian

Old Bullfighter’s Herbed Rye Bread

“Levy Bauernbrot Rye” is written under the title; below it, “Double for whole loaf”, with a line drawn through “Double for” [?]

Ingredients
  • 1 stick (115 g) butter
  • 1 large clove garlic, minced
  • ½ tsp salt
  • ¼ tsp ground pepper
  • ¼ tsp crushed sage
  • ¼ tsp rosemary
  • ¼ tsp thyme
  • ¼ tsp dry mustard and tarragon
  • 3 tbsp parsley
  • 1 loaf rye bread, sliced
Method
  1. Mix the butter with the garlic, seasonings and herbs.
  2. Spread on each slice, put the loaf back together and bake hot, about 15 minutes.
Grey box, p. 172
Later cards, 1990s–2000s
Later cards · 1990s–2000sHandwrittenVegetarian

Bisquick Pancakes and Waffles

Two cards; the second, “Pancakes”, is a plain copy

Ingredients
  • Pancakes
  • 2 cups (240 g) Bisquick
  • 1 cup (240 ml) milk
  • 1 tbsp sugar
  • 2 tbsp lemon juice (or 2 tbsp sugar and 1 tsp vanilla)
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • 2 eggs
  • Waffles
  • 2 cups (240 g) Bisquick
  • 1⅓ cups (320 ml) milk
  • 2 tbsp oil
  • 1 egg
Method
  1. Mix and cook on a hot griddle or in the waffle iron. (The cards give no method.)

The lemon-or-vanilla choice is double-starred and circled, and the heading “Waffles” is underlined.

Rose box, p. 52
Rose box, p. 53
Later cards · 1990s–2000sHandwrittenVegetarian

White Bread in the Food Processor (2 loaves)

A much-worked card in blue, green and pencil, with temperatures in Celsius added later. The “levels” are microwave power settings, used to warm the liquids and to proof the dough.

Yield 2 loaves

Ingredients
  • ¼ cup (60 ml) water (later ⅓ cup / 80 ml), for the yeast
  • 1 package (or ½ tbsp) yeast
  • ½ tsp sugar (later ¼ tsp), for the yeast
  • ½ cup (120 ml) milk and ½ cup (120 ml) water
  • 1 stick (4 oz; 115 g) butter (or ½ stick)
  • 2 tbsp sugar (or 3)
  • 2 tsp salt
  • ¾ cup (180 ml) water
  • 6 to 7 cups (750–875 g) flour in all
Method
  1. Heat the ¼ cup (60 ml) water to 110°F (43°C; on high in a 2-cup / 475 ml measure). Dissolve the sugar in it, sprinkle the yeast over the top and stir. Let stand 5 to 10 minutes; it will foam ½ inch (1 cm) high in bubbles.
  2. Heat the milk and ½ cup (120 ml) water to 120°F (48°C; level 8). Pour over the butter (softened 1½ minutes at level 3) in a small bowl with the sugar and salt. Cool to 115°F (46°C).
  3. With the plastic blade going, add the ¾ cup (180 ml) water (110°F / 43°C), the yeast mixture and 3 cups (380 g) flour. Process several seconds until mixed.
  4. Add the butter mixture and 1 cup (125 g) flour and process briefly. Add 2 to 3 cups (250–380 g) more flour, processing briefly after each cup, until the dough is soft but not sticky (no longer than 1 minute in all).
  5. Let the dough rest 4 to 5 minutes, then turn on the machine and let the ball rotate 30 times. Rest 2 minutes, turn out and knead vigorously 50 times. The ball should be smooth and elastic.
  6. Shape into a smooth ball and put it in a very lightly oiled bowl, turning to coat it all over. Cover with a damp cloth (terry is fine) or plastic wrap.
  7. Let rise until doubled (or 1½ times) and an indent stays: 10 to 15 minutes at microwave level 1, or 35 to 60 minutes at 80 to 85°F (27–29°C) in the convection oven, or 1½ hours at room temperature.
  8. Punch down and turn out on a lightly floured board. Cut in half and let rest 5 to 10 minutes. (For a second rise: knead several times and let rise again 1 to 1½ hours, to 2½ to 3 times the original bulk.)
  9. Roll out for 2 loaves, pressing out the bubbles. Put in well-buttered loaf pans, cover with a towel or Saran wrap and let rise until tripled, 1 inch (2.5 cm) above the pan (1 to 1½ hours).
  10. Bake at 400°F (200°C) (375°F crossed out) for 35 to 40 minutes, up to 50. In the convection oven, 30 to 35 minutes (the temperature is crossed out and rewritten several times).

Her doneness test: “when instant meat therm. in bottom of loaf = 200°F”.

Underlined twice on the card: “2C” (in “in 2C cup”), “stir” and the “1” of “1 stick”; underlined once: “not sticky”, “plastic wrap”, “doubled”, “in convection” and “For 2nd rise”. A note in the top corner, “Dissolve sugar in water & sprinkle yeast over top”, is bracketed, and both “or”s before the other rising times are circled.

See also Sticky Buns (Sweet Bread for Sticky Buns, with the Topping)

Rose box, p. 54
Rose box, p. 55
Later cards · 1990s–2000sHandwrittenVegetarian

Sticky Buns (Sweet Bread for Sticky Buns, with the Topping)

Two pink cards numbered ① and ②, written in pencil, blue and green, made in the food processor like her White Bread

Yield 4 large pans (the topping card also mentions 8 pans and 18 buns)

Ingredients
  • Sweet bread dough (card ①)
  • ¼ cup (60 ml) water, for the yeast
  • 2 packages yeast (or ½ tsp instant yeast per cup of flour, added to the dry ingredients)
  • ½ tsp sugar, for the yeast
  • ½ cup (120 ml) milk and ½ cup (120 ml) water
  • ½ stick (55 g) butter
  • ½ cup (100 g) sugar
  • 1½ tsp salt
  • 2 eggs, beaten
  • ¾ cup (180 ml) water
  • 6 to 7 cups (750–875 g) flour in all
  • Pan topping and filling (card ②)
  • 1 stick (115 g) butter (2 [?] crossed out)
  • 2 cups (425 g) brown sugar (amended; 1 [?] crossed out)
  • cinnamon
  • melted butter, brown sugar and cinnamon, for the filling (1 stick / 115 g of butter for 4 pans)
Method
  1. Heat the ¼ cup (60 ml) water to 105–115°F (41–46°C) (on high in a 2-cup / 475 ml measure). Dissolve the yeast in it and add the sugar. Let stand 5 minutes; it will foam and bubble.
  2. Heat the milk and ½ cup (120 ml) water to 120°F (49°C) (microwave level 8). Pour over the butter (softened 1 minute at level 3) in a small bowl with the sugar and salt. Cool to 115°F (46°C) and add the beaten eggs.
  3. With the plastic blade, add the ¾ cup (180 ml) water (110°F / 43°C), 3 cups (380 g) flour and the yeast mixture. Process several seconds until mixed. Take off the cover and add the butter mixture and 1 cup (125 g) flour. Process briefly.
  4. Add 2 to 3 cups (250–380 g) flour, processing briefly after each cup, until the dough is soft but not sticky (no longer than 1 minute). Let the dough rest with the lid off 4 to 5 minutes, then turn on and let the ball rotate 30 times.
  5. Turn out and shape into a smooth ball. Place in an oiled bowl and turn to coat all over. Cover with a damp cloth.
  6. Let rise until doubled and an indent stays, 10 to 15 minutes at microwave level 1. Punch down and turn out on a floured board. Cut in half (or quarters) and let rest 5 to 10 minutes.
  7. Topping: cook the butter, brown sugar and cinnamon until smooth and spread in the bottom of the pans.
  8. Roll out the dough and spread with melted butter, brown sugar and cinnamon. Roll up and cut into buns, and set them in the pans.
  9. Cover with Saran wrap coated with a little oil and let rise 40 minutes.
  10. Bake at 375°F (190°C) for 30 minutes (the dough card says 350°F / 180°C for 25 minutes, or 20 to 30 minutes at 325°F / 160°C in the convection oven).

Underlined on the dough card: “eggs”, “yeast” (in “yeast mixture”), “not sticky” and “Convection”, and the “20” of the convection time is underlined twice.

See also Mom’s Sticky Buns, Mom’s Best-Ever Sticky Buns for the Breadmaker

Rose box, p. 56
Rose box, p. 66
Rose box, p. 67
Later cards · 1990s–2000sHandwrittenVegan

Jamie Oliver’s Focaccia with Fried Onions

Noted “J. Oliver”

Ingredients
  • focaccia dough, risen
  • 3 average-sized red onions, sliced thinly
  • olive oil (plenty)
  • 1 clove garlic, sliced finely
  • a handful of thyme leaves
  • a pinch of salt
  • 3 tbsp red wine vinegar
  • salt and pepper
Method
  1. After the dough has risen, heat the garlic and thyme in plenty of olive oil, stirring.
  2. Add the onions and a pinch of salt. Fry fast, stirring, for 4 minutes, so they caramelise but don’t burn or overcook.
  3. Add the vinegar and cook 4 minutes. Add salt, pepper and a little extra oil.
  4. Smear over the dough with more thyme leaves and push your fingers into the dough.
  5. Bake at 475°F (240°C) for 15 minutes.

Underlined on the card: “S&P” and “oil” (in “little extra oil”).

Rose box, p. 57
Later cards · 1990s–2000sHandwrittenVegan

Grilled Pizza Bread

Noted “See Cooks-I 7/05”: Cook’s Illustrated, July 2005

Ingredients
  • 4 medium garlic cloves, pressed (4 tsp)
  • ½ tsp red pepper flakes
  • ⅓ cup (80 ml) olive oil
  • pizza dough
  • olive oil and kosher salt
Method
  1. Make the garlic oil: mix the garlic, pepper flakes and olive oil.
  2. Divide the pizza dough into 4 pieces and roll out. Brush with olive oil and sprinkle with kosher salt.
  3. Grill on a hot, clean, well-oiled grate. Turn 45 degrees for criss-cross markings, then flip over. (The card stops here; brush with the garlic oil to serve.)

“garlic oil” (in “Make garlic oil:”) is underlined.

Rose box, p. 58
Later cards · 1990s–2000sHandwrittenVegetarian

Pizza Dough for the Bread Maker

Two cards, with metric weights alongside

Yield 6 small pizzas or 4 large ones

Ingredients
  • 1 tsp yeast
  • 4⅔ cups flour (600 g)
  • 1 tbsp sugar
  • 2 tbsp butter (30 g)
  • 2 tbsp skim milk powder
  • 2 tsp salt
  • 380 ml (1⅔ cups) water
Method
  1. Make the dough in the bread machine on the dough setting.
  2. Knead briefly to pop the bubbles. Divide into 4 to 6 pieces and shape.
  3. Cover each with 2 to 3 tbsp spaghetti sauce, mozzarella and so on.
  4. Bake at 500°F (260°C) for 12 to 15 minutes.

“See Best Recipes for spag. sauce – easy – & other toppings.”

Rose box, p. 60
Rose box, p. 64
Later cards · 1990s–2000sHandwrittenVegetarian

Grammy’s Banana Bread

Written on Grammy’s own printed Stamford card, headed “Patricia L. Schreiner”

Yield 3 small loaves

Ingredients
  • 1 cup sugar (7 oz / 200 g)
  • ½ cup (115 g) butter (1 stick)
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 3 bananas
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tbsp sour cream
  • 2 cups flour (9 oz / 255 g)
Method
  1. Cream the sugar, butter and salt. Add the bananas and beat well.
  2. Add the eggs, soda and sour cream and beat.
  3. Add the flour slowly. Beat until just mixed.
  4. Fill 3 small greased loaf pans half full (first written ⅓).
  5. Bake at 325°F (160°C) for 40 to 60 minutes.

“Tbsp. sour”, “just” and “mixed” are each underlined, and so is “small”, written in above “loaf pans”.

Rose box, p. 61
Rose box, p. 62
Later cards · 1990s–2000sVegetarian

Mrs. K’s Blueberry Pancakes

Mrs. K, typed card

Ingredients
  • 2 eggs, well beaten
  • 2 cups (475 ml) milk
  • 6 tbsp sour cream
  • 2½ cups (310 g) flour (bread flour)
  • 5 tsp baking powder
  • 4 tbsp sugar
  • 1½ tsp salt
  • 2 cups (290 g) blueberries
Method
  1. Sift the dry ingredients and add to the liquid. Fold in the blueberries.
  2. Drop by tablespoonfuls on a hot greased griddle. When they bubble on one side, turn and brown.
  3. Serve “with syrup, or powdered sugar, or anything you like.”
Rose box, p. 63
Later cards · 1990s–2000sHandwrittenVegetarian

Cinnamon-Cheese Puffs

Ingredients
  • 2 loaves Pepperidge Farm bread
  • two 8-oz (225 g) packages cream cheese
  • about ½ to 1 cup (115–225 g) melted butter
  • cinnamon and sugar
Method
  1. Cut the crusts off the bread and spread the slices with cream cheese.
  2. Slice into 3 or 4 sections and roll up.
  3. Dip in melted butter until well soaked, then roll in cinnamon and sugar. (Freeze them at this point if you like.)
  4. Bake at 375°F (190°C) for 10 minutes.
Rose box, p. 65
Typed on her computer, 2005–16
Typed on her computer · 2005–16Vegetarian

James Peterson’s Popovers

From Kitchen Simple by James Peterson (Ten Speed Press, 2011). Makes 8 large or 12 small popovers.

Ingredients
  • 1½ cups (190 g) flour
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 3 eggs
  • 2 cups (475 ml) milk
  • 6 tbsp (85 g) butter, melted
  • 3 tbsp vegetable oil
  • Butter, honey or jam, to serve
Method
  1. Stir the flour and salt together in a bowl. Whisk in the eggs and 1 cup (240 ml) of the milk until smooth, then stir in the remaining 1 cup (240 ml) milk and the melted butter. Let the batter rest for 30 minutes.
  2. Heat the oven to 500°F (260°C). Pour the batter into a pitcher to make filling the pan easier.
  3. Put the popover pan in the oven for 5 minutes to get hot. Working quickly, brush the cups with the oil, fill each two-thirds full with batter and get the pan back into the oven, keeping the door open as briefly as possible. The batter should start to rise at once.
  4. Bake until risen and golden brown, about 15 minutes, then turn the oven down to 300°F (150°C) and bake about 10 minutes more to dry out the centres.
  5. Serve straight away with butter, honey and jam.
Typed on her computer · 2005–16Vegetarian

Mom’s Sticky Buns

Mom’s recipe, revised December 2006. Makes 3 pans of 8 buns (or 2 pans of larger buns).

Dough
  • 3 large eggs, room temperature (180 g / 6½ oz)
  • ¾ cup water, room temperature (175 ml)
  • 6 tbsp butter, melted and cooled to room temperature (85 g)
  • 4¼ cups bread or all-purpose flour (595 g)
  • ¼ cup sugar (55 g)
  • 3 tbsp powdered buttermilk*
  • 1½ tsp salt
  • 2¼ tsp instant or rapid-rise yeast

Caramel glaze for 3 pans (reduce by ⅓ for 2 pans)**

  • 12 tbsp butter (1½ sticks; 170 g)
  • 1½ cups packed light brown sugar (297 g)
  • 2–3 tbsp corn syrup (optional)
  • 2 tbsp heavy cream (optional)
Filling
  • 8 tbsp butter, melted (1 stick; 113 g)
  • Light brown sugar
  • Ground cinnamon
Method
  1. Dough in a bread machine: add the liquids, then the dry ingredients in the order specified, and run the dough cycle.
  2. Dough in a stand mixer: whisk the eggs in the mixer bowl. Whisk in the sugar, salt, powdered buttermilk and yeast. Add about 2 cups (250 g) flour and the butter and stir with a wooden spoon or spatula until evenly moistened. Add all but about ¼ cup (31 g) of the remaining flour and knead with the dough hook on low for 5 minutes. The dough should feel soft and moist but not wet and sticky; add flour if needed. Knead on low 5 minutes more (it should clear the sides of the bowl but stick to the bottom). Knead by hand on a lightly floured surface for about 1 minute, adding flour 1 tbsp at a time if it sticks. Put it in a large bowl lightly sprayed with non-stick spray, spray the top, cover tightly and leave in a warm, draft-free spot until doubled, 2–2½ hours.
  3. Glaze: meanwhile, combine the glaze ingredients in a small saucepan and cook over medium heat, whisking occasionally, until the butter melts and everything is combined. Simmer a few minutes. Divide among three metal (not glass) 9-inch (23 cm) cake or pie tins and spread over the bottoms. Grammy’s note: the corn syrup and cream make a softer, less chewy glaze, like a classic caramel sauce, “but is not my traditional prep”.
  4. Assemble: turn out the dough and knead briefly to pop the bubbles. Cut into 3 equal pieces and rest 5 minutes. Roll each into a rectangle about 9 × 12 inches (23 × 30 cm). Brush with about 2½ tbsp (36 g) melted butter, leaving a ½-inch (1 cm) border. Sprinkle with enough brown sugar to absorb the butter, smoothing it into an even layer and pressing it in gently. Sprinkle with plenty of cinnamon, to taste.
  5. Beginning with a long edge, roll the dough toward you into a taut cylinder. Pinch the seam and ends firmly to seal, and gently stretch to an even diameter. With a serrated knife, mark into halves, then quarters, then eighths, and slice with a gentle sawing motion. Arrange 7 slices around the outside of a tin and the larger one in the centre (the end pieces may be smaller). Repeat with the other 2 pieces.***
  6. Leave the tins in a warm, draft-free spot until the buns are puffy and pressed against one another, about 1½ hours.
  7. Bake: heat the oven to 350°F (180°C) 30 minutes ahead. Bake in the lower half of the oven until golden brown, about 25 minutes. Cool on a rack 10 minutes, then invert onto heavy-duty foil over a plate. Scrape any glaze left in the pan onto the buns.
  8. Cool completely before wrapping tightly in foil. Freeze, or keep on the counter. To warm a frozen bun, wrap loosely in a paper towel and microwave on high about 20 seconds.
Grammy’s notes
  • * Powdered buttermilk is just as good as the real thing. If you prefer real buttermilk, use ¾ cup (180 ml) in place of the ¾ cup (180 ml) water.
  • ** For 2 tins instead of 3, see her note below.
  • *** Cook’s Illustrated says the buns can be shaped the night before: cover the tins tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate 10–14 hours. In the morning, set the tins in a warm water bath (120°F / 49°C) in the sink or a roasting pan for 20 minutes, then leave at room temperature until puffy and pressed together, about 1½ hours. Bake as above.

Grammy’s note: “I prefer to make smaller sticky buns, but using just 2 tins turns out larger, more impressive buns.”

Typed again in 2009

In December 2009 she reworked these buns for the breadmaker, with a bigger metric dough made with milk.

See also Sticky Buns (Sweet Bread for Sticky Buns, with the Topping), Mom’s Best-Ever Sticky Buns for the Breadmaker

Typed on her computer · 2005–16Vegetarian

Mom’s Best-Ever Sticky Buns for the Breadmaker

Mom’s recipe, dated December 2009. Makes 3 cake pans of 8 buns.

Dough
  • 3 eggs (165 ml / ⅔ cup)
  • 170 ml (¾ cup) water
  • 170 ml (¾ cup) milk
  • 810 g bread flour (6 cups)
  • 60 g (2 oz) sugar
  • 1 tbsp salt
  • 124 g butter (9 tbsp)
  • 1 tbsp RapidRise yeast
Topping
  • 2¼ sticks (260 g) butter
  • 2¼ cups light brown sugar (385 g)
Filling (for each piece of dough)
  • 2–3 tbsp (28–43 g) melted butter
  • 2–3 tbsp light brown sugar
  • Cinnamon
Method
  1. Put the eggs, water and milk (510 ml / 2¼ cups in all) into the breadmaker pan. Add the flour, sugar, salt, butter and yeast.
  2. Use the dough cycle. Remove the dough immediately and knead briefly to pop all the bubbles. Weigh and divide into equal thirds. Let the 3 dough balls rest 10 minutes.
  3. Meanwhile make the topping: melt the butter and stir in the brown sugar till all blended (no oil on top). Boil a few minutes. Divide equally into 3 cake pans.
  4. Roll out one dough ball into an approx. 10 × 14-inch (25 × 36 cm) rectangle. Spread 2–3 tbsp (28–43 g) melted butter over the dough, leaving ½ inch (1 cm) clear around the edges. Spread 2–3 tbsp light brown sugar evenly over the butter, and sprinkle with cinnamon.
  5. Roll up the long side, pinching the side and ends to close securely. With a serrated knife mark 8 equal sections and slice apart; put the slices into one prepared cake pan. Repeat with the other 2 dough balls.
  6. Cover loosely with Saran wrap and let rise in a warm place 45 to 60 minutes, or until doubled in size.
  7. Bake at 350°F (180°C) for 25–30 minutes. Cool only 5 minutes before turning out onto heavy-duty aluminum foil, cut long enough to wrap the rolls well for the freezer. Spread any topping remaining in the pan evenly over the rolls. Cool thoroughly before wrapping and freezing.

Another copy, “M’s Sticky Buns”, weighs the water and milk (170 g / 6 oz each), says to use the “dough” cycle (not “Quick dough”), cuts the dough into 3 pieces of about 500 g (1 lb 2 oz), rolls each about 9 × 12 inches (23 × 30 cm) with about 3 tbsp (43 g) melted butter, and gives no oven temperature.

See also Sticky Buns (Sweet Bread for Sticky Buns, with the Topping), Mom’s Sticky Buns

Typed on her computer · 2005–16Vegetarian

American Loaf Bread

From Cook’s Illustrated, May 1996. Makes one 9-inch (23 cm) loaf. Grammy saved three versions: stand mixer (below), food processor and buttermilk.

You can hand-knead, but it’s easy to add too much flour, which makes a tougher loaf. All-purpose flour works if you don’t have bread flour.

Ingredients
  • 3½ cups (550 g) bread flour, plus extra for the work surface
  • 2 tsp table salt
  • 1 cup (240 ml) milk, warm (110°F / 43°C)
  • ⅓ cup (80 ml) water, warm (110°F / 43°C)
  • 2 tbsp (28 g) unsalted butter, melted
  • 3 tbsp honey
  • 1 package rapid-rise (instant) yeast
Method (stand mixer)
  1. Put a rack in the low position and heat the oven to 200°F (95°C). Hold it there 10 minutes, then turn it off.
  2. Mix the flour and salt in the mixer bowl with the dough hook. Mix the milk, water, butter, honey and yeast in a 1-quart (950 ml) measuring jug. On low, slowly add the liquid. When the dough comes together, increase to medium (setting 4 on a KitchenAid) and mix until smooth and satiny, about 10 minutes, scraping the hook two or three times if needed. Knead on a lightly floured surface into a smooth ball, about 15 seconds.
  3. Put the dough in a very lightly oiled bowl, turning to coat. Cover with plastic wrap and leave in the warm oven until doubled, 40–50 minutes.
  4. Shape: press the dough gently into a rectangle 1 inch (2.5 cm) thick and no wider than the pan is long. Roll it firmly into a cylinder, pressing so it sticks to itself. Turn seam side up and pinch closed. Put it in a greased 9 × 5 × 3-inch (23 × 13 × 8 cm) loaf pan and press gently so it touches all four sides.
  5. Cover and leave in a warm spot until almost doubled, 20–30 minutes. Heat the oven to 350°F (180°C) with an empty loaf pan on the bottom rack. Bring 2 cups (475 ml) water to a boil.
  6. Uncover the loaf and put it in the oven, then immediately pour the boiling water into the empty pan and close the door. Bake until a thermometer inserted at an angle from the short end, just above the rim, into the centre reads 195°F (91°C), 40–50 minutes.
  7. Turn out onto a rack and cool to room temperature before slicing.

Food processor version: use unbleached all-purpose flour (slightly better here) and add an extra 2 tbsp warm water. Process the flour and salt with the steel blade, add the liquids and process until a rough ball forms. Rest 2 minutes, process 35 seconds, then knead by hand until smooth and satiny, 4–5 minutes, adding as little flour as possible. Continue from step 3.

Buttermilk version: replace the warm milk and water with 1 cup (240 ml) cold buttermilk mixed with ⅓ cup (80 ml) boiling water (it should come to about 110°F / 43°C), then add the butter, honey and yeast. Make as for the stand mixer version, allowing 50–60 minutes for the first rise.

How to shape and bake a loaf. 1. Gently press the dough into a rectangle one inch thick, no wider than the length of the loaf pan. Cook’s Illustrated, May 1996
How to shape and bake a loaf. 2. Roll the dough firmly into a cylinder, pressing with your fingers so it sticks to itself. Cook’s Illustrated, May 1996
How to shape and bake a loaf. 3. Turn the dough seam side up and pinch the seam closed. Cook’s Illustrated, May 1996
How to shape and bake a loaf. 4. Put the dough in the pan and press it gently so it touches all four sides. Cook’s Illustrated, May 1996
How to shape and bake a loaf. 5. Put the loaf in the oven, then pour hot water into the empty pan beside it and shut the door. Cook’s Illustrated, May 1996
Typed on her computer · 2005–16Vegetarian

French Toast

From Cook’s Illustrated. Makes 4–5 challah slices or 6–8 sandwich-bread slices.

Thick-sliced challah is best, but good presliced sandwich bread works. Turn challah with tongs and sandwich bread with a spatula. Use two skillets for larger batches. For variety, add ¾ tsp ground cinnamon or ½ tsp ground nutmeg with the dry ingredients, or use almond extract instead of vanilla.

Ingredients
  • 1 large egg
  • 2 tbsp (28 g) unsalted butter, melted, plus extra for frying
  • ¾ cup (180 ml) whole milk
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 2 tbsp granulated sugar
  • ⅓ cup (47 g) unbleached all-purpose flour
  • ¼ tsp table salt
  • 4–5 slices day-old challah (¾ inch / 2 cm thick) or 6–8 slices day-old sandwich bread
Method
  1. Heat a 12-inch (30 cm) skillet over medium heat for 5 minutes.
  2. Meanwhile, beat the egg lightly in a pie plate. Whisk in the melted butter, then the milk and vanilla, then the sugar, flour and salt, until smooth.
  3. Soak the bread without oversaturating it, about 40 seconds per side for challah or 30 seconds for sandwich bread. Lift and let the excess drip off.
  4. Swirl 1 tbsp (14 g) butter in the hot skillet. Cook the bread until golden brown, about 1 minute 45 seconds on the first side and 1 minute on the second. Serve immediately, adding 1 tbsp (14 g) butter for each new batch.
Typed on her computer · 2005–16Vegetarian

Kir’s Best Bread for the Breadmaker

Kir’s recipe; Grammy kept four versions.

Ingredients
  • 245 g (8½ oz) plain yogurt
  • 1 large egg (51–55 g / 1¾–2 oz)
  • 135 g (9 tbsp) water (to 145 g / 10 tbsp)
  • 90 ml (6 tbsp) honey
  • 30 g butter (2 tbsp), cut into small pieces
  • 420 g (15 oz) white bread flour
  • 55 g (2 oz) rolled oats
  • 80 g (2¾ oz) wholewheat flour
  • 90 g (3¼ oz) raw sunflower seeds
  • 14 g salt (2 tsp)
  • 18 g gluten (2 tbsp)
  • 11 g (1 tbsp) rapid rise yeast “for breadmaker”, or 2¼ tsp SAF
Method

Use “Normal Cycle” on breadmaker.

The other versions

The version headed “Updated 1/12/2014” used 105 g (7 tbsp) water; an earlier one used 125 g (8½ tbsp) water, a little more flour, oats and seeds, and the “Wheat Cycle”; and the first, “Kir’s Yummy Bread”, had no gluten, 225 g (8 oz) whole-milk yogurt and 1¼ tsp yeast, with water (or milk?) to make up the wet ingredients to 375 ml (1⅔ cups) (Grammy wrote “PSE c.450ml”), and warned that without extra liquid the bread is heavy (moist) and not very high.

Typed on her computer · 2005–16Vegan

Bernhardine and Kir’s Seedy Knäckebröd

Recipe from Bernhardine (the partner of Patrick’s brother, Tim Coulter) and Kirsten, January 2016, version 3. Makes two or three large trays.

In a large bowl, mix together
  • 1 tsp dried yeast
  • 1 tsp vitamin C (or 2 tbsp honey + extra yeast?)
  • 700 ml (3 cups) lukewarm water
Add
  • 150 g (5½ oz) sunflower seeds
  • 75 g (2¾ oz) sesame seeds
  • 75 g (2¾ oz) linseeds
  • 40 g (1½ oz) pumpkin seeds
  • 220 g (8 oz) rye flour
  • 220 g (8 oz) jumbo oats
  • 1½ tsp salt
  • 1 tbsp rapeseed oil
Method
  1. Mix this all together to make a wet dough. Spread evenly over two or three large baking trays (use three trays for thinner biscuits). A footnote adds: “I use non-stick trays: Don’t know if others will work as easily.”
  2. Leave to rise for four hours or more. A warm place is best, as for bread proving. If you’d like to start your knäckebröd late in the evening, you can leave dough to rise overnight. The rising will result in a gentle puffing-up of the dough.
  3. After rising, use a knife to score the dough into the biscuit shapes you prefer, cutting at least halfway through the dough.
  4. Bake in oven at 120°C (fan assisted) (275°F) until the biscuits are completely dry, up to two hours, depending on dough thickness. During baking, open the oven door occasionally to vent moisture (every 15 minutes or so would be useful). As biscuits dry out, they loosen from the baking tray.
  5. Remove from oven, allow to cool, and break into pieces along the scored lines. Immediately store in airtight container.

Cakes & Frostings

Mother’s cocoa cake, a dozen frostings, cheesecakes from Hattie, Liz and Sue, and the chocolate cake Grammy marked “for Diane von Furstenberg”.

38 handwritten34 early cards7 later cards13 typed on her computer

All 54 in this chapter
  1. Hattie’s Cheese Cake
  2. Susan Devito’s Sour Cream Coffee Cake
  3. Blueberry Buckle with Crumb Topping
  4. Swedish Coffee Cake
  5. Yogurt Coffee Cake
  6. Hot Milk Cake
  7. Rita’s Blueberry Cheese Cake
  8. Delta Queen Cake
  9. Lucie Patterson’s Rhubarb Cake
  10. Happy Day Cake
  11. Victorian Applesauce Cake
  12. Lemon Poppy Seed Pound Cake
  13. Liz’s Pineapple Cheese Cake
  14. Mother’s Cocoa Cake
  15. Apple Cake
  16. Chocolate Pound Cake
  17. Susan Devito’s Inspiration Cake
  18. Pumpkin Cake
  19. Betty’s Rum Apricot Cake
  20. Sue’s Pumpkin Cheesecake
  21. One-Bowl Ring Cake
  22. Fudge Frosting
  23. Boiled Frosting
  24. Creamy Caramel Frosting
  25. Chocolate Icing for Angel Food Cake
  26. Caramel Frosting
  27. Broiled Jiffy Icing
  28. Charlotte’s Chocolate Frosting
  29. Lemon Glaze for Cake
  30. Susan Devito’s Fluffy Frosting
  31. Mother’s Vanilla Butter Frosting (for Red Velvet Cake)
  32. Butter Icing
  33. The Original Plum Torte
  34. Semisweet Rum Frosting
  35. Cream Cheese Cake
  36. Decadent Chocolate Cake (for Diane von Furstenberg)
  37. Eliz’s Pound Cake (from a mix)
  38. Hogan’s Family Chocolate Cake
  39. Kir’s River Café Polenta Cake
  40. Mother’s Apple-Spice Cake
  41. Flourless Chocolate Cake
  42. Pat’s Classic White Birthday Cake
  43. Mom’s Red Velvet Cake
  44. Pat’s Cheesecake
  45. Lemon Pound Cake
  46. Blueberry Buckle
  47. Honey-Glazed Pear Upside-Down Cake
  48. Delicious Molten Chocolate Cake
  49. Hot Fudge Pudding Cake
  50. Chocolate Lover’s Dream Cake
  51. Sugar Marshmallow Cupcakes
  52. Lu’s Version of Ame’s Mum’s Apple Cake
  53. Pat Coe’s Chunky Apple Walnut Cake
  54. Chocolate Whiskey Cake
Camp Grammy, Fire Island, New York, 12 August 2010
Early cards, 1950s–80s
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegetarian

Hattie’s Cheese Cake

Hattie

Ingredients
  • 16 oz (450 g) cream cheese
  • ¾ cup (150 g) sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • Graham cracker crust
  • 1⅓ cups (135 g) graham cracker crumbs
  • ¼ cup (50 g) sugar
  • Topping
  • ½ pint (240 g) sour cream
  • 2 tbsp sugar
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • Strawberry glaze
  • 1 package frozen whole strawberries
  • 1 package frozen sliced strawberries
  • 1 tbsp cornstarch
Method
  1. Make the graham cracker crust. Beat the cream cheese, sugar, eggs and vanilla until fluffy.
  2. Add the cheese mixture to the crust and bake 30 minutes at 325°F (160°C).
  3. Mix the sour cream, sugar and vanilla, spoon over the hot cake and bake 5 minutes at 400°F (200°C).
  4. Drain the strawberries. Cook the juice with the cornstarch, boiling until thickened. Cool.
  5. Arrange the whole and sliced strawberries on the cake, then pour the juice over.
Grey box, p. 95
Grey box, p. 96
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegetarian

Susan Devito’s Sour Cream Coffee Cake

Susan E. Devito, on a printed “My PetRecipe” card

Yield Two loaf pans

Ingredients
  • ¼ lb (115 g) margarine
  • 1 cup (200 g) sugar
  • 1 cup (240 g) sour cream
  • 2 eggs
  • 2 cups (250 g) flour
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • pinch of salt
  • Cinnamon mixture
  • ¼ cup (50 g) sugar
  • ½ cup (60 g) nuts
  • 2 tsp cinnamon
Method
  1. Cream the margarine and sugar. Beat in the eggs, then the sour cream.
  2. Add the sifted dry ingredients, then the vanilla.
  3. Grease and flour 2 loaf pans. Layer the batter and cinnamon mixture alternately, 3 layers of each.
  4. Bake at 350°F (180°C) for 45 to 50 minutes.

Circled at the end of the baking line, partly under the printed border: “30 min” [?].

Grey box, p. 129
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenWell usedVegetarian

Blueberry Buckle with Crumb Topping

With the note “Put a sugar & cinnamon & butter & flour crispy topping on these!”

Yield One 9-inch (23 cm) square pan

Ingredients
  • ¾ cup (150 g) sugar
  • ¼ cup (55 g) soft butter
  • 1 egg
  • ½ cup (120 ml) milk
  • 2 cups (250 g) flour
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 2 cups (290 g) blueberries
  • Topping
  • ½ cup (100 g) sugar
  • ⅓ cup (42 g) flour
  • ½ tsp cinnamon
  • ¼ cup (55 g) soft butter
Method
  1. Mix the sugar, butter and egg. Stir in the milk.
  2. Sift the flour, baking powder and salt and stir in. Blend in the blueberries.
  3. Spread in a greased and floured 9-inch (23 cm) square pan. Mix the topping and sprinkle over.
  4. Bake at 375°F (190°C) for 45 to 50 minutes.

See also Blueberry Buckle

Grey box, p. 144
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegetarian

Swedish Coffee Cake

Ingredients
  • 1½ cups (190 g) flour
  • ¾ cup (150 g) sugar
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • salt
  • 1 egg
  • milk
  • 2 tsp butter, melted, plus more for the top
  • sugar and cinnamon
Method
  1. Sift the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt together.
  2. Put the unbeaten egg in a cup and fill it up with milk. Add to the dry ingredients and beat 3 minutes. Add the melted butter.
  3. Put in a greased pan with melted butter on top and sprinkle with sugar and cinnamon.
  4. Bake in a hot oven (350°F / 180°C).

“bread” is written small in the top corner of the card.

Grey box, p. 149
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegetarian

Yogurt Coffee Cake

Yield One bundt or 9-inch (23 cm) tube pan

Ingredients
  • ½ cup (115 g) butter
  • 2 cups (400 g) sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 2½ cups (310 g) flour
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • ⅛ tsp salt
  • 1 cup (240 g) plain yogurt (not vanilla)
  • ½ cup (65 g) finely chopped mixed fruit
  • Syrup
  • 1 cup (240 ml) water
  • 1 cup (200 g) sugar
  • ¼ cup (60 ml) orange juice
  • ¼ cup (60 ml) ginger-flavoured [?] brandy and dark rum
Method
  1. Cream the butter and sugar. Beat in the eggs one at a time until light and fluffy.
  2. Sift the flour, soda and salt and add to the batter alternately with the yogurt. Stir in the fruit.
  3. Spoon into a well-greased bundt pan or 9-inch (23 cm) tube pan and bake at 350°F (180°C) for 1 hour (or less).
  4. For the syrup, combine the water and sugar and heat, stirring, until the sugar dissolves. Boil rapidly 5 minutes, then add the orange juice and rum.
  5. Turn the cake out onto a rack set over the pan. While it is still hot, spoon the hot syrup over it.

Underlined on the card: “plain” (in “plain yogurt”); “finely” is underlined twice.

Grey box, p. 175
Grey box, p. 176
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegetarian

Hot Milk Cake

Yield One angel food cake pan

Ingredients
  • 2 cups (400 g) sugar
  • 4 eggs
  • ¼ lb (115 g) butter (1 stick)
  • ½ cup (120 ml) evaporated milk
  • ½ cup (120 ml) water
  • 2 cups (250 g) flour
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 2 tsp baking powder
Method
  1. Beat the sugar and eggs 5 minutes.
  2. Add the flour to the sugar mixture.
  3. Heat the butter, evaporated milk and water until the butter melts. Add the vanilla and baking powder to the hot milk, then add it to the batter.
  4. Bake in a greased angel food cake pan at 350°F (180°C) for 45 to 50 minutes.
Grey box, p. 178
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegetarian

Rita’s Blueberry Cheese Cake

Rita, on a folded sheet of notepaper

Ingredients
  • 2 cups (200 g) graham cracker crumbs (for the crust)
  • three 8-oz (225 g) packages cream cheese
  • 4 eggs
  • 2 tsp lemon rind
  • Topping
  • 1 pint (340 g) blueberries
  • ¼ cup (60 ml) water mixed with 1 tsp cornstarch
Method
  1. Press the graham cracker crust into the pan.
  2. Beat the cream cheese, eggs and lemon rind and pour into the pan.
  3. Bake at 350°F (180°C) for 35 to 45 minutes. Chill overnight.
  4. Simmer the blueberries with the cornstarch water for 1 minute. Cool and spread over the cake.

The sheet gives no sugar or butter amounts; add sugar to the filling and melted butter to the crumbs to taste.

Grey box, p. 179
Early cards · 1950s–80sVegetarian

Delta Queen Cake

Circled by Grammy on a 1978 magazine page from a “High or Low?” calorie feature

Yield One 8-inch (20 cm) cake; serves 10

Ingredients
  • 4 squares (1 oz / 28 g each) semisweet chocolate
  • 2 tbsp brewed coffee
  • 3 eggs, separated
  • ⅔ cup (135 g) plus 1 tbsp sugar
  • ½ cup (115 g) unsalted butter, softened
  • ⅓ cup (32 g) finely ground pecans
  • ¾ cup (95 g) unsifted all-purpose flour
  • Chocolate glaze
  • 4 squares (1 oz / 28 g each) semisweet chocolate
  • 1 tbsp brewed coffee
  • ¼ cup (60 ml) heavy or whipping cream
  • 3 tbsp confectioners’ sugar
  • ½ to ¾ tsp water
Method
  1. Heat the oven to 350°F (180°C). Lightly grease an 8-inch (20 cm) round cake pan, line the bottom with waxed paper and grease the paper.
  2. Melt the chocolate with the coffee over low heat, stirring until smooth. Set aside.
  3. Beat the egg whites at high speed until soft peaks form. Add 1 tbsp sugar and beat until stiff.
  4. Cream the butter and ⅔ cup (135 g) sugar at medium speed until light and fluffy. Beat in the yolks, then the melted chocolate and pecans.
  5. Fold in ¼ of the whites, then about ⅓ of the rest. When partly blended, sprinkle on ¼ cup (31 g) flour. Keep folding, adding flour and whites alternately until all are used.
  6. Bake on the middle shelf for 25 minutes. A toothpick in the outer 2 to 2½ inches (5–6 cm) should come out dry; the centre stays moist.
  7. Cool on a rack 15 minutes, then invert and cool completely before glazing.
  8. For the glaze, stir the chocolate, coffee and cream over low heat until smooth. Pour over the top and sides of the cake on a rack set over waxed paper, spreading with a spatula.
  9. For a web: while the glaze is soft, mix the confectioners’ sugar with the water to a thick icing. Pipe circles from the centre to the rim about 1½ inches (4 cm) apart, then draw a knife tip from the centre to the edge, spoke-fashion, all around. Let set.

“Super rich, super chocolate. Don’t overbake — should be fudge-like in center.”

See also Rhubarb Flan, Crustless Blueberry Cobbler

Grey box, p. 180
Grey box, p. 181
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegetarian

Lucie Patterson’s Rhubarb Cake

Lucie Patterson, on a printed “My PetRecipe” card

Yield Two loaf pans

Ingredients
  • 1 stick (115 g) margarine
  • 1 cup (200 g) sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1 cup (240 g) sour cream
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 2 cups (250 g) flour
  • 2 cups (250 g) chopped rhubarb
  • Topping
  • ¼ cup (50 g) sugar
  • 2 tsp cinnamon
  • ¼ cup (55 g) brown sugar
Method
  1. Cream the margarine, sugar, eggs and vanilla, then the sour cream.
  2. Add the soda, salt, baking powder and flour. Add the rhubarb.
  3. Layer in 2 loaf pans with the sugar, cinnamon and brown sugar.

The card gives no oven temperature; 350°F (180°C) for about 45 minutes suits loaves like this.

Grey box, p. 182
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegetarian

Happy Day Cake

Yield Two 9-inch (23 cm) layers

Ingredients
  • 2½ cups (250 g) sifted cake flour
  • 3 tsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1½ cups (300 g) sugar
  • ½ cup (95 g) shortening
  • 1 cup (240 ml) milk
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 2 eggs
Method
  1. Sift the dry ingredients. Add the shortening, ¾ cup (180 ml) of the milk and the vanilla. Beat 2 minutes.
  2. Add the eggs and the rest of the milk and beat 1 minute longer.
  3. Bake in two 9-inch (23 cm) layers at 350°F (180°C) for 20 to 25 minutes.

Pencilled across the top: “This is the cake we couldn’t find –“

Grey box, p. 183
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegetarian

Victorian Applesauce Cake

Yield One tube pan

Ingredients
  • 2 cups (200 g) sifted cake flour
  • 1½ cups (300 g) sugar
  • 1½ tsp baking soda
  • 1½ tsp salt
  • 2 tbsp cocoa
  • ½ tsp each cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg and allspice
  • ½ cup (95 g) shortening
  • 1½ cups (380 g) unsweetened applesauce
  • 2 eggs, unbeaten
  • ¾ cup (115 g) dates, chopped
  • ¾ cup (110 g) raisins, chopped
  • ¾ cup (90 g) nuts, chopped
  • Topping
  • ¼ cup (30 g) nuts, chopped
  • 2 tbsp sugar
Method
  1. Sift the flour, sugar, soda, salt, cocoa and spices into a mixing bowl. Drop in the shortening.
  2. Add about ⅔ of the applesauce and beat. Add the eggs and beat. Add the rest of the applesauce, then the dates, raisins and nuts, and mix.
  3. Turn into a greased tube pan and sprinkle with the nut-sugar topping.
  4. Bake in a moderate oven (350°F / 180°C) for 1 hour 25 to 35 minutes.

Grammy’s note: “(Cook* 1 hr. in large glass pan – too big for loaf”, with “& small loaf” written under “glass pan”.

“each” (of the spices) is underlined.

Grey box, p. 186
Grey box, p. 187
Early cards · 1950s–80sVegetarian

Lemon Poppy Seed Pound Cake

Cut from a box of Land O Lakes butter

Yield One Bundt cake; 16 servings

Ingredients
  • 3 cups (380 g) all-purpose flour
  • 2 cups (400 g) sugar
  • ¼ cup (35 g) poppy seed
  • 1 cup (225 g) butter, softened
  • 1 cup (240 ml) buttermilk (or 1 tbsp vinegar plus milk to make 1 cup / 240 ml)
  • 4 eggs
  • ½ tsp baking soda
  • ½ tsp baking powder
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 4 tsp grated lemon peel
  • ½ tsp vanilla
  • Glaze
  • 1 cup (115 g) powdered sugar
  • 1 to 2 tbsp lemon juice
Method
  1. Heat the oven to 325°F (160°C).
  2. Combine all the cake ingredients in a large mixer bowl and beat at low speed, scraping often, until moistened. Beat at high speed until smooth, 1 to 2 minutes.
  3. Pour into a greased and floured 12-cup (2.9 litres) Bundt pan or 10-inch (25 cm) tube pan. Bake 55 to 65 minutes, until a wooden pick in the centre comes out clean.
  4. Cool 10 minutes, remove from the pan and cool completely.
  5. Stir the powdered sugar and lemon juice until smooth and drizzle over the cake.
Grey box, p. 188
Grey box, p. 189
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegetarian

Liz’s Pineapple Cheese Cake

Liz

Yield One 9-inch (23 cm) cake

Ingredients
  • 1¾ cups (175 g) graham cracker crumbs
  • ¼ cup (50 g) sugar
  • ½ cup (115 g) butter
  • Filling
  • 12 oz (340 g) cream cheese
  • ½ tsp vanilla
  • ½ cup (100 g) sugar
  • ⅛ tsp cinnamon
  • 2 eggs, slightly beaten
  • 1 No. 2 can (570 g) crushed pineapple, drained
  • Topping
  • 1 cup (240 g) sour cream
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 3 tbsp sugar
Method
  1. Mix the crumbs, sugar and butter and press into a 9-inch (23 cm) pan. Bake at 375°F (190°C) for 5 minutes.
  2. Blend the cream cheese and vanilla, then gradually add the rest of the filling ingredients. Bake at 325°F (160°C) for 35 minutes.
  3. Mix the topping, spread over the cake and bake 5 minutes more.

Another topping: 1 cup (240 g) sour cream, ½ cup (100 g) sugar, ½ tsp vanilla and ½ tsp cinnamon, with ½ cup (70 g) almonds.

A circled “2” is written beside “Topping”.

“drained” (the pineapple) is underlined twice, and “Grad.” (add rest) is underlined.

Grey box, p. 191
Grey box, p. 192
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegetarian

Mother’s Cocoa Cake

Grammy’s mother’s recipe, on Grammy’s printed “PetRecipe from Pat Schreiner” card

Ingredients
  • 1½ cups (175 g) cake flour
  • 1¼ cups (250 g) sugar
  • ½ cup (43 g) cocoa
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • ⅔ cup (125 g) Crisco
  • ⅔ cup (160 ml) milk, plus ⅓ cup (80 ml) more
  • ¾ tsp baking powder
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 tsp vanilla
Method
  1. Blend the flour, sugar, cocoa, salt, soda, Crisco and ⅔ cup (160 ml) milk for 2 minutes.
  2. Add the baking powder, then the eggs, ⅓ cup (80 ml) milk and the vanilla. Beat 2 minutes.
  3. Bake at 350°F (180°C) in two greased layer pans for 25 minutes, or a 13 × 9-inch (33 × 23 cm) pan for 35 to 45 minutes. For 2 dozen cupcakes, bake at 400°F (200°C) for 18 to 20 minutes.
Grey box, p. 193
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegetarian

Apple Cake

Two cards; the second calls it “Apple Strudel” [?] (the end of the word is gone over in blue ink and may read “Strusel”) and uses a stick of melted butter

Yield One square cake pan

Ingredients
  • 1 cup (125 g) flour
  • 1 cup (200 g) sugar
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 stick (115 g) melted margarine
  • 3 cups (340 g) thinly sliced apples
Method
  1. Mix everything together, including the apples.
  2. Bake at 350°F (180°C) for 35 minutes (up to 45) in a square cake pan.
Grey box, p. 194
Grey box, p. 344
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegetarian

Chocolate Pound Cake

Yield One large tube cake

Ingredients
  • 1 cup (225 g) margarine
  • ½ cup (95 g) shortening
  • 3 cups (600 g) sugar
  • 5 eggs
  • 3 cups (380 g) all-purpose flour
  • ½ tsp baking powder
  • pinch of salt
  • 4 tbsp cocoa
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1 cup (240 ml) milk
  • 1 cup (120 g) black walnuts, chopped
Method
  1. Cream the margarine, shortening and sugar. Beat in the eggs one at a time.
  2. Mix all the dry ingredients, including the cocoa, and add to the sugar mixture alternately with the milk and vanilla.
  3. When mixed and beaten smooth, add the nuts and pour into a greased and floured tube pan.
  4. Bake at 325°F (160°C) for 1¼ to 1½ hours.

“This is a large cake & keeps well.”

Grey box, p. 195
Grey box, p. 196
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegetarian

Susan Devito’s Inspiration Cake

Susan E. Devito, on a printed “My PetRecipe” card

Yield Two 9-inch (23 cm) layers

Ingredients
  • 1 cup (120 g) chopped pecans
  • 2 oz (55 g) grated sweet or semi-sweet chocolate
  • 2½ cups (310 g) flour
  • 1½ cups (300 g) sugar
  • 4 tsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp salt
  • ⅔ cup (125 g) shortening (soft margarine)
  • 1¼ cups (300 ml) milk
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • ⅔ cup (160 ml) egg whites
  • Frosting
  • 2 squares unsweetened chocolate
  • ½ cup (100 g) sugar
  • ¼ cup (60 ml) water
  • 4 egg yolks
  • ½ cup (115 g) butter
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 2 cups (200 g) sifted confectioners’ sugar
Method
  1. Heat the oven to 350°F (180°C). Sprinkle the pecans evenly over the bottoms of two 9-inch (23 cm) pans. Reserve the grated chocolate.
  2. Sift the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. Add the shortening, milk and vanilla and beat 1½ minutes on low. Add the egg whites and beat 1½ minutes on high.
  3. Spoon ¼ of the batter into each pan and sprinkle with the chocolate. Add the remaining batter.
  4. Bake 35 to 40 minutes. Cool 10 minutes and turn out, nut side up.
  5. For the frosting, cook the chocolate, sugar and water over low heat, stirring constantly, until smooth and thickened. Off the heat, add the yolks and beat thoroughly. Cool.
  6. Cream the butter with the vanilla. Gradually add the confectioners’ sugar and cream well. Reserve ⅓ cup (80 ml) of this white frosting for decorating, and beat the chocolate into the rest until smooth.
  7. Frost the sides and a ½-inch (1 cm) border around the top edge, leaving the nuts showing, and decorate with the white frosting.

On the frosting card, the chocolate, sugar and water lines are underlined, and so is “Add 4 egg” (yolks), with the “4” written larger and darker.

Grey box, p. 197
Grey box, p. 198
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegetarian

Pumpkin Cake

Yield One 10-inch (25 cm) tube cake

Ingredients
  • 2 cups (400 g) sugar
  • 1¼ cups (300 ml) vegetable oil
  • 1½ cups (370 g) pumpkin purée (“1 pie”)
  • 4 eggs
  • 3 cups (380 g) flour
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • 2 tsp baking soda
  • 2 tsp cinnamon
  • 1 tsp salt
  • ½ cup (75 g) seedless raisins
  • ½ cup (75 g) golden raisins
  • 1 cup (120 g) chopped walnuts or pecans
Method
  1. Beat the sugar, oil and pumpkin well. Add the eggs one at a time.
  2. Add the flour, baking powder, soda, cinnamon and salt, and fold in the raisins and nuts.
  3. Pour into a 10-inch (25 cm) tube pan and bake at 350°F (180°C) for 1¼ hours. Don’t open the oven door for the first hour.
  4. Let cool slightly in the pan before turning out onto a rack.
Grey box, p. 199
Grey box, p. 200
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegetarian

Betty’s Rum Apricot Cake

Betty

Yield One 10-inch (25 cm) tube cake

Ingredients
  • 1 package (1 lb 2⅝ [?] oz / 525 g) orange chiffon cake mix
  • 1 tbsp grated orange peel
  • 1 tbsp grated lemon peel
  • ¼ cup (60 ml) lemon juice
  • Apricot rum syrup
  • 1 can (12 oz / 355 ml) apricot nectar
  • ¾ cup (150 g) sugar
  • 1 cup (240 ml) golden rum
  • To serve
  • clusters of seedless green grapes
  • 1½ cups (360 ml) heavy cream, whipped
Method
  1. Heat the oven to 350°F (180°C).
  2. Make the cake mix as directed, adding the orange and lemon peel with the eggs and water. Bake in an ungreased 10-inch (25 cm) tube pan for 45 to 55 minutes.
  3. Invert the pan immediately over a bottle and cool several hours.
  4. For the syrup, simmer the nectar and sugar until dissolved, then add the rum and lemon juice.
  5. Poke the cake all over with holes and pour ⅓ of the syrup over. Then another ⅓, and chill.
  6. Serve with the grapes and whipped cream (and the rest of the syrup).

The method continues upside down along the bottom of the next card, ending “then another ⅓ & chill”. The syrup step and the serving step are not on the card.

Grey box, p. 209
Grey box, p. 210
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegetarian

Sue’s Pumpkin Cheesecake

Sue (pencilled above the name: “& Stu” [?])

Yield One 10-inch (25 cm) springform

Ingredients
  • Gingersnap crust
  • 1½ cups (150 g) crushed gingersnaps
  • ¾ stick (6 tbsp; 85 g) butter, softened
  • ¼ cup (29 g) confectioners’ sugar
  • Pumpkin mixture
  • 1 cup (200 g) sugar
  • ¾ cup (185 g) pumpkin purée
  • 3 egg yolks, lightly beaten
  • 1 tbsp cinnamon
  • 1½ pieces crystallized ginger, chopped
  • ½ tsp mace
  • salt
  • Cheese mixture
  • 1½ lb (675 g) cream cheese, softened
  • (½ + ⅛) cup (125 g) sugar (10 tbsp)
  • 1½ whole eggs plus 2 egg yolks
  • ⅛ cup (30 ml) heavy cream
  • 1 tbsp cornstarch
  • ½ tsp each lemon extract and vanilla
Method
  1. Blend the crust ingredients and press into the bottom of a well-buttered 10-inch (25 cm) springform pan, tamping down well. Chill 30 minutes, bake at 400°F (200°C) for 10 minutes and cool on a rack.
  2. Combine the pumpkin mixture ingredients.
  3. Cream the cheese and sugar. Add the eggs and yolks one at a time, beating well, then the cream, cornstarch and flavourings.
  4. Fold the pumpkin mixture into the cheese mixture and pour into the pan.
  5. Bake at 475°F (240°C) for 10 minutes, then reduce to 250°F (120°C) and bake 90 minutes; the centre will still be slightly soft.
  6. Cool on a rack 1 hour, then chill, covered, 3 hours or more.
Grey box, p. 221
Grey box, p. 222
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegetarian

One-Bowl Ring Cake

Untitled card, in pencil

Yield One 9-inch (23 cm) ring mold, 3 inches (8 cm) deep

Ingredients
  • 2 cups (200 g) sifted cake flour
  • 1⅓ cups (270 g) sugar
  • ½ cup (95 g) Crisco
  • 1 tsp salt
  • ⅔ cup (160 ml) milk, plus ⅓ cup (80 ml) more
  • 3 tsp baking powder
  • 2 eggs, unbeaten
  • 1 tsp vanilla
Method
  1. Put the flour, sugar, Crisco, salt and ⅔ cup (160 ml) milk in the mixing bowl and blend in the mixer 2 minutes.
  2. Add the baking powder, then the ⅓ cup (80 ml) milk, eggs and vanilla. Mix 2 minutes.
  3. Bake in the ring mold at 375°F (190°C) for 40 to 45 minutes.

A note at the top right, keyed by an asterisk to the baking powder: “4* … of Calumet”, where “…” is a scribbled-out “4 t…” [?].

Grey box, p. 272
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegetarian

Fudge Frosting

Marked “2 top’s layer”

Ingredients
  • 3 squares Baker’s unsweetened chocolate, melted
  • 4 tbsp (55 g) butter, melted with the chocolate
  • 3½ cups (400 g) confectioners’ sugar
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • evaporated milk or cream
Method
  1. Beat everything together, adding milk or cream until it spreads.
Grey box, p. 292
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegetarian

Boiled Frosting

Ingredients
  • 1 cup (200 g) sugar (white or brown)
  • 2 egg whites
  • 2 tbsp water
  • ½ tsp cream of tartar (if using white sugar)
  • 1 tsp vanilla
Method
  1. Put everything except the vanilla in a double boiler and beat steadily until it reaches the proper consistency.
  2. Remove from the heat, add the flavouring and cool slightly.
Grey box, p. 293
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegetarian

Creamy Caramel Frosting

Ingredients
  • ¾ cup (160 g) dark brown sugar, firmly packed
  • ¾ cup (150 g) granulated sugar
  • ½ cup (120 ml) milk
  • ¼ tsp light cream
  • 1 tbsp (14 g) butter
Method
  1. Bring the sugars, milk and cream to a boil, stirring gently. Boil gently without stirring to 232°F (111°C), or until a little forms a soft ball in cold water.
  2. Add the butter and cool to 110°F (43°C).
  3. Beat with a spoon or electric beater until thick and creamy. Thin with cream if necessary.

The card says “¼ t.” light cream; ¼ cup (60 ml) may be meant.

Grey box, p. 296
Early cards · 1950s–80s

Chocolate Icing for Angel Food Cake

Typed card

Ingredients
  • 12-oz (340 g) milk chocolate bar with almonds
  • 2 tsp unflavored gelatin
  • ½ cup (120 ml) cold water
  • 2 egg yolks
  • ⅛ tsp salt
  • 2 egg whites
  • 1 pint (475 ml) whipping cream
Method
  1. Melt the chocolate over hot water.
  2. Soften the gelatin in the cold water for at least 5 minutes, then gradually add to the chocolate. Cook 2 or 3 minutes, stirring.
  3. Add the slightly beaten yolks and cook 1 minute longer, stirring briskly. Remove from the heat and cool.
  4. Fold in the egg whites, beaten stiff but not dry. Cool until the mixture begins to thicken, then fold in the whipped cream.
Grey box, p. 297
Grey box, p. 298
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenSpecial praiseVegetarian

Caramel Frosting

Two cards, one marked “Very good”

Ingredients
  • ½ cup (115 g) butter
  • 1 cup (215 g) firmly packed brown sugar
  • ¼ cup (60 ml) milk
  • 1¾ to 2 cups (200–230 g) confectioners’ sugar, sifted
Method
  1. Melt the butter in a saucepan. Add the brown sugar and cook over low heat 2 minutes, stirring constantly.
  2. Add the milk and keep stirring until the mixture comes to a boil.
  3. Remove from the heat and cool. Add the confectioners’ sugar gradually, beating well after each addition, until right for spreading.

“Very good.” (at the bottom of the second card, which is titled “Easy Caramel Frosting”)

Grey box, p. 299
Grey box, p. 300
Grey box, p. 301
Early and later cards · 1950s–2000sHandwrittenVegetarian

Broiled Jiffy Icing

Ingredients
  • ⅓ cup (75 g) melted butter
  • ⅔ cup (145 g) brown sugar
  • ¼ cup (60 ml) cream or top milk
  • ½ cup (43–60 g) shredded coconut or nuts
Method
  1. Mix together and spread on the cake while it is still warm.
  2. Place low under the broiler until the mixture browns.

Also in the rose box: “Broiled Icing (M’s, Gigi’s and Grammy’s own)”. Three cards of the same topping: “M’s Broiled Icing” (on a yellow card), “Gigi’s Baked Icing for Birthday Cake”, and a plain “Broiled Icing” with a “Use” column, noted “Makes ½ layer recipe”. The grey box’s Broiled Jiffy Icing has the same proportions as Gigi’s and the plain card. Gigi’s card notes that the bigger amounts make half as much again.

All three cards end with the same warning, “Watch closely”: underlined on M’s card; on Gigi’s, “Watch closely!” with “Watch” underlined.

Also: on M’s card “optional” (nuts) is underlined; “Mix” is underlined on Gigi’s card and on the plain card, where “Makes ½ layer recipe” is circled, with an arrow pointing to the “Use” column.

Grey box, p. 302
Rose box, p. 293
Rose box, p. 298
Rose box, p. 303
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegetarian

Charlotte’s Chocolate Frosting

Charlotte

Ingredients
  • 2 tbsp water
  • ¼ cup (50 g) sugar
  • ¼ tsp salt
  • 2½ cups (250 g) sifted confectioners’ sugar
  • 1 egg
  • ½ cup (95 g) shortening
  • 1 tsp vanilla
Method
  1. Combine the water, sugar and salt and boil 1 minute.
  2. Blend with the confectioners’ sugar, egg, shortening and vanilla and beat until smooth and creamy.
Grey box, p. 303
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegetarian

Lemon Glaze for Cake

Ingredients
  • ¼ cup (55 g) butter
  • ⅔ cup (135 g) sugar
  • 2 tbsp lemon juice
  • 2 tbsp water
Method
  1. Melt the butter, add the rest and cook until the sugar has dissolved (5 minutes).
  2. Pour slowly over the cake.
Grey box, p. 305
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegetarian

Susan Devito’s Fluffy Frosting

Susan E. Devito, on a printed “My PetRecipe” card

Ingredients
  • ½ cup (120 ml) milk
  • 2 tbsp flour
  • ½ cup (115 g) margarine
  • ½ cup (100 g) sugar
  • 1 tsp vanilla (or any flavouring)
Method
  1. Cook the milk and flour until thickened. Cool completely.
  2. Beat the margarine and sugar together at high speed for 5 minutes.
  3. Add the cooled flour mixture and beat 5 minutes more. Add the vanilla.

“(Electric Mixer – Please!)”

“tbs” (of the flour) is underlined.

Grey box, p. 306
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegetarian

Mother’s Vanilla Butter Frosting (for Red Velvet Cake)

Grammy’s mother’s; marked “Red Velvet”

Ingredients
  • ¾ cup (180 ml) milk
  • 3 tbsp flour
  • ¾ cup (170 g) butter
  • ¾ cup (150 g) sugar
  • 1½ tsp vanilla
  • a few drops yellow food colouring
Method
  1. Blend the milk and flour until smooth. Cook, stirring constantly, until thick and smooth. Cool.
  2. Cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
  3. Add the milk-flour mixture, the vanilla and colouring and beat until smooth.

Grammy’s note at the bottom: “See James Beard – choc. chips & sr. cr.” [?]

In the left margin, in a different ink, beside the milk, flour and butter: “1”, “5”, “1”.

See also Mom’s Red Velvet Cake

Grey box, p. 308
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegetarian

Butter Icing

Ingredients
  • 2 cups (230 g) confectioners’ sugar, sifted
  • 4 tbsp (55 g) butter
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tsp vanilla
Method
  1. Beat the butter until soft. Add half the sugar gradually and blend at high speed 3 to 5 minutes.
  2. Beat in the egg. Add the remaining sugar until creamy.
  3. Let stand over hot water 10 to 15 minutes. Add the vanilla.

“½ sugar” (add gradually) is underlined twice.

Grey box, p. 309
Early cards · 1950s–80sVegetarian

The Original Plum Torte

The New York Times recipe, kept twice: a newspaper clipping, “Old or New Way? Pick 1”, with the original marked X, and Grammy’s own card

Yield Serves 8

Ingredients
  • ¾ cup (150 g) sugar
  • ½ cup (115 g) unsalted butter
  • 1 cup (125 g) unbleached flour, sifted
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • pinch of salt (optional)
  • 2 eggs
  • 24 halves pitted purple plums
  • sugar, lemon juice and about 1 tsp cinnamon, for the topping
Method
  1. Heat the oven to 350°F (180°C).
  2. Cream the sugar and butter. Add the flour, baking powder, salt and eggs and beat well.
  3. Spoon into an 8-, 9- or 10-inch (20, 23 or 25 cm) springform pan. Place the plum halves skin side up on top. Sprinkle lightly with sugar and lemon juice, depending on the sweetness of the fruit, and with the cinnamon.
  4. Bake about 1 hour. Cool; refrigerate or freeze if you like, or serve lukewarm, plain or with whipped cream.
  5. To freeze, double-wrap in foil and seal in a plastic bag. Defrost and reheat briefly at 300°F (150°C).

Grammy’s card: “Serve lukewarm”, in a 12-inch (30 cm) springform (or a 9-inch / 23 cm with high sides, or an 8 × 12-inch / 20 × 30 cm pan), with ¾ to 1 cup (150–200 g) sugar.

Apple-cranberry variation, from her card: peel, core, quarter and slice 2 to 3 large baking apples. Scatter ½ cup (50 g) raw cranberries over the batter and top with the apple slices.

The clipping also gives a lower-fat “New Age” version, replacing half the butter with 1½ ripe bananas and the eggs with ½ cup (120 ml) egg substitute.

Underlined on Grammy’s card: “spring form” and “Serve lukewarm”; two strokes are drawn under “high” (sides), just before “NY Times”.

Grey box, p. 334
Grey box, p. 342
Grey box, p. 343
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegetarian

Semisweet Rum Frosting

Ingredients
  • ½ cup (85 g) semisweet chocolate bits
  • 2 tbsp (28 g) soft butter
  • ½ cup (50 g) sifted confectioners’ sugar
  • 2 tbsp dark rum
Method
  1. Melt the chocolate over hot, not boiling, water.
  2. Add the butter, sugar and rum and stir until smooth. Cool and spread on the cake.
Grey box, p. 350
Later cards, 1990s–2000s
Later cards · 1990s–2000sHandwrittenWell usedVegetarian

Cream Cheese Cake

Two old pencil cards, both much stained and spotted. One (“…Cheese Cake”, the first word smudged) has the graham cracker crust on its back and later notes in ink; the other, “Cream Cheese Cake”, ends “Refrig. Strawberries on top.”

Yield One 9-inch (23 cm) pie

Ingredients
  • Graham cracker crust (don’t bake)
  • 1¼ cups (125 g) ground graham crackers
  • ¼ cup (50 g) sugar
  • 5 tbsp (70 g) butter, melted
  • Filling
  • 11 oz (310 g) cream cheese
  • 2 eggs
  • ½ cup (100 g) sugar
  • ½ tsp vanilla
  • Topping
  • 2 cups (475 g) sour cream
  • ¼ cup (50 g) sugar
  • ½ tsp vanilla (an ink stroke is drawn over the ½; the “…Cheese Cake” card has 1 [?])
  • strawberries (the older card)
Method
  1. Set the oven at 350°F (180°C). Mix the crust ingredients and press into a 9-inch (23 cm) pie plate; don’t bake it.
  2. Beat the cream cheese at low speed. When smooth, add the eggs one at a time and beat well. Gradually add the sugar, then the vanilla.
  3. Put into the crust and bake 20 minutes.
  4. Blend the sour cream with the sugar and vanilla and spread over the top of the hot pie.
  5. Turn off the oven and return the pie to the oven for 4 minutes.
  6. Cool and chill, and put strawberries on top.

A later note in ink: “[?] use 8½″!! or [?]”, and “only glass bottom removable pan”. A faint pencilled note in brackets at the top right is illegible [?].

On the “…Cheese Cake” card, underlined: “Graham cracker”, “cr. cheese”, “eggs”, “sugar”, “vanilla”, “cream” (in “sour cream”) and the second “sugar”. On the “Cream Cheese Cake” card, the heading “Top” is underlined.

Rose box, p. 40
Rose box, p. 41
Rose box, p. 44
Rose box, p. 45
Later cards · 1990s–2000sVegetarian

Decadent Chocolate Cake (for Diane von Furstenberg)

A New York Times clipping pasted on a card, noted “NY Times” and, at the bottom in Grammy’s hand, “for Diane Von Furstenberg”. With it is a cut-out newspaper photograph of a woman in a red dress (Diane von Furstenberg, presumably) sitting on a kitchen counter beside an older woman in white, with eight chocolate cakes dusted with sugar laid out in front of them. Rewritten here.

Yield 8 to 10 servings

Ingredients
  • 8 oz (225 g) unsalted butter, at room temperature, plus more for the pan
  • 4 bars (3½ oz / 100 g each) Lindt bittersweet chocolate, broken up
  • 3 whole eggs
  • 3 egg yolks
  • ⅓ cup (65 g) sugar
  • ½ cup (65 g) all-purpose flour
Method
  1. Heat the oven to 350°F (180°C). Butter an 8- or 9-inch (20 or 23 cm) round pan, line the bottom with parchment and butter the parchment.
  2. Melt the butter and chocolate together in a heatproof bowl set over a pan of hot water, stirring. Take the bowl off the heat.
  3. In another bowl, beat the eggs and yolks until frothy. At medium speed, beat in the sugar until creamy, then the flour.
  4. Fold the egg mixture into the chocolate with a rubber spatula until blended, and spread it in the pan.
  5. Bake until set in the centre, 40 to 50 minutes. Let cool, turn out and peel off the parchment.
Rose box, p. 294
Rose box, p. 295
Later cards · 1990s–2000sHandwrittenVegetarian

Eliz’s Pound Cake (from a mix)

Headed “Pound Cake – Eliz’s”, perhaps Elizabeth Mynatt

Ingredients
  • 2 boxes Duncan Hines Yellow Cake Mix, made by the “Butter Recipe” on the box only
  • extra vanilla (1 tsp)
Method
  1. Make up both mixes by the “Butter Recipe”. Beat barely, to make it lighter; it will be lumpy.
  2. Add the extra vanilla.
  3. Bake in 2 bread loaf pans at 350°F (180°C) for 50 to 60 minutes.

The warning at the bottom: “(Be careful not to jar oven or slam cabinets while baking!)”

“Butter” (recipe) is underlined twice; “Barely” is written in above “Beat” and underlined, “Beat” is underlined twice, and the word after it is crossed out.

Rose box, p. 296
Later cards · 1990s–2000sHandwrittenWell usedVegetarian

Hogan’s Family Chocolate Cake

The Hogan family’s recipe, written in blue-green ink on a card so stained with chocolate that it has clearly been made many times. “4 CAKES” is written in capitals across the corner.

Yield One 10-inch (25 cm) tube cake

Ingredients
  • 1 package (12 oz / 340 g) chocolate chips (2 cups)
  • 1 package chocolate fudge cake mix (Duncan Hines Chocolate Fudge)
  • 1 package (4-serving size) Jell-O chocolate fudge pudding mix
  • 4 eggs
  • 1 cup (½ pint) sour cream (8 oz / 225 g)
  • ½ cup water (4 oz / 115 g)
  • ¼ cup Wesson oil (1¾ oz / 50 g)
  • ½ tsp each of vanilla and Kahlúa or crème de cacao (almond extract is crossed out)
Method
  1. Grease a 10-inch (25 cm) tube pan well.
  2. Blend all the ingredients except the chocolate chips at medium speed for 4 minutes. Stir in the chips.
  3. Bake at 350°F (180°C) for about 65 to 75 minutes (in a convection oven, 275°F / 140°C), until the cake pulls away from the side of the pan. Don’t under-bake.
  4. Cool in the pan 15 minutes, then remove the cake from the pan and cool on a rack.
  5. Garnish with whipped cream or confectioners’ sugar.

“each” is underlined twice and “well” (grease well) once, “Don’t under-bake” is in brackets, and the last line reads: “Cake freezes very well.” Beside “4 CAKES”, in blue and underlined: “very full pot in middle” [?]. The crème de cacao is underlined in brown, and “or” at the end of the baking line (leading to the convection-oven timing) is underlined.

Rose box, p. 299
Rose box, p. 300
Later cards · 1990s–2000sHandwrittenVegetarian

Kir’s River Café Polenta Cake

Noted “River Cafe – Kir”: the lemon, almond and polenta cake from London’s River Café, by way of Kir

Yield Serves 10

Ingredients
  • 1 lb (450 g) unsalted butter
  • 1 lb (450 g) superfine sugar
  • 1 lb (450 g) ground almond flour
  • 2 tsp vanilla
  • 6 eggs
  • zest of 4 lemons
  • juice of 2 lemons
  • 8 oz (225 g) polenta flour
  • 1½ tsp baking powder
  • ¼ tsp salt
  • crème fraîche, to serve
Method
  1. Heat the oven to 325°F (160°C). Butter and flour a 12-inch (30 cm) cake tin or two 9-inch (23 cm) tins.
  2. Beat the butter and sugar together until pale and light. Stir in the ground almonds and vanilla.
  3. Beat in the eggs, one at a time. Fold in the zest and lemon juice, the polenta, baking powder and salt.
  4. Spoon into the prepared tin. Bake 45 to 50 minutes, or until set. The cake will be deep brown on top.
  5. Top with crème fraîche.

“River Cafe” is circled, and “Kir” is written beneath it in blue and underlined.

A later typed copy

A metric copy, with notes probably Kir’s, uses the juice of 1 lemon (not 2). Check after 45–50 minutes; if the top is deep brown before the cake is set, cover it with a circle of greaseproof paper. It notes that “the cake seems to take about 1h 30m in all” and that “half quantities are perfect for a normal family”.

Rose box, p. 301
Later cards · 1990s–2000sHandwrittenVegetarian

Mother’s Apple-Spice Cake

Grammy’s mother’s recipe, on Grammy’s printed teal “My PetRecipe… A PetRecipe from Pat Schreiner” card, with its waving cook in a chef’s hat

Ingredients
  • 2 cups (230 g) cake flour
  • 1½ cups (300 g) sugar
  • ¼ tsp salt
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • ½ tsp soda
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • ½ tsp ground cloves
  • ½ cup (95 g) Crisco
  • ⅔ cup (170 g) applesauce, plus ⅓ cup (85 g) more
  • 2 eggs
Method
  1. Sift the flour, sugar, salt, baking powder, soda and spices together three times.
  2. Add the Crisco and ⅔ cup (170 g) applesauce and beat 2 minutes.
  3. Add the remaining ⅓ cup (85 g) applesauce and the eggs and beat 2 minutes more.
  4. Bake at 325°F (160°C) for 50 to 60 minutes. (“2 layers” is noted by the temperature.)

“Sift tog:” and “Add” are underlined.

See also Mother’s Cocoa Cake

Rose box, p. 302
Later cards · 1990s–2000sHandwrittenVegetarian

Flourless Chocolate Cake

Yield One 9-inch (23 cm) springform

Ingredients
  • 12 oz (340 g) bittersweet or semisweet chocolate, chopped
  • ¾ cup (170 g) unsalted butter, in pieces
  • 6 large eggs, separated
  • 12 tbsp sugar
  • 2 tsp vanilla
  • Glaze
  • ½ cup (120 ml) whipping cream
  • ½ cup (155 g) dark corn syrup
  • 9 oz (255 g) bittersweet chocolate, chopped
Method
  1. Heat the oven to 350°F (180°C). Butter the pan, line it with parchment paper and wrap the outside with foil.
  2. Stir the chocolate and butter over low heat until melted and smooth. Cool to lukewarm, stirring often.
  3. Beat the yolks and 6 tbsp sugar in a large bowl until thick and pale, about 3 minutes. Fold in the chocolate mixture, then the vanilla.
  4. With clean, dry beaters, beat the whites to soft peaks. Gradually add the other 6 tbsp sugar and beat to medium-firm peaks.
  5. Fold the whites into the chocolate mixture in 3 additions, gently and slowly.
  6. Pour into the pan. Bake until the top is puffed and cracked and a tester comes out with moist crumbs attached, about 50 minutes.
  7. Cool in the pan on a rack; the cake will fall. Press down the crusty top to level the cake. Cut around the edge to loosen and invert onto a flat [?] pan.
  8. Glaze: bring the cream and corn syrup to a simmer. Take off the heat, add the chocolate and whisk until melted and smooth.
  9. Spread ½ cup (120 ml) over the top and sides and freeze 3 minutes. Do it again, then chill.
Rose box, p. 307
Rose box, p. 308
Typed on her computer, 2005–16
Later cards · 1990s–2000sTyped on her computer · 2005–16HandwrittenVegetarian

Pat’s Classic White Birthday Cake

Pat’s recipe: a white layer cake with a broiled brown sugar icing. Makes two 9-inch (23 cm) layers or one 9 × 13-inch (23 × 33 cm) cake. Serve with ice cream.

If you forget to bring the milk and egg whites to room temperature, stand the measuring jug in a sink of hot water and stir until the mixture feels cool rather than cold, around 65°F (18°C). Plain baked layers keep one day, wrapped.

Cake
  • Non-stick cooking spray
  • 2¼ cups cake flour (9 oz / 255 g), plus more for the pans
  • 1 cup (240 ml) whole milk, at room temperature
  • 6 large egg whites (¾ cup / 180 ml), at room temperature
  • 1 tbsp vanilla extract
  • 1¾ cups granulated sugar (12¼ oz / 345 g)
  • 4 tsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp table salt
  • 12 tbsp (170 g) unsalted butter (1½ sticks), softened but still cool
Icing
  • ½ cup (115 g) butter
  • 1 cup (215 g) packed brown sugar
  • 5 tbsp heavy cream
Method
  1. Heat the oven to 350°F (180°C) with a rack in the middle (or racks in the upper- and lower-middle positions if both pans won’t fit on one). Spray two 9-inch (23 cm) round pans, or a 9 × 13-inch (23 × 33 cm) (3-quart / 2.9 litres) Pyrex dish, dust with flour and tap out the excess.
  2. Mix the milk, egg whites and vanilla in a 2-cup (475 ml) glass measure with a fork.
  3. Mix the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt in the mixer bowl on low. Add the butter and keep beating on low until the mixture looks like moist crumbs, with no powdery streaks.
  4. Add all but ½ cup (120 ml) of the milk mixture and beat on medium (high with a hand mixer) for 1½ minutes. Add the rest and beat 30 seconds more. Scrape the bowl and beat 20 seconds longer.
  5. Divide between the pans and spread to the edges. Keep the pans at least 3 inches (8 cm) from the oven walls and each other (stagger them on two racks in a small oven). Bake until a skewer comes out clean, 23–25 minutes for layers or 30–35 minutes for the oblong.
  6. Icing: heat the butter, brown sugar and cream slowly in a saucepan until well mixed and frothing.
  7. As soon as the cake comes out, pour the hot icing evenly over it (for the oblong, use ⅔ of the icing first). Set low under a hot broiler until bubbly and browning, about 2–3 minutes. Watch closely! For the oblong, pour over the rest of the icing and broil again.
  8. Let the cakes cool completely in the pans, about 1½ hours. Under its icing the cake stays fresh up to 3 days.

Grammy’s original card is in the rose box. It started with 2½ cups (290 g) cake flour, 1⅔ cups (330 g) sugar, ⅔ cup (125 g) Crisco, ¾ cup (180 ml) milk, 4½ tsp baking powder and 5 unbeaten egg whites, and she later changed it to the amounts above (2¼ cups flour, 1¾ cups / 350 g sugar, 12 tbsp / 170 g butter, 1 cup / 240 ml milk, 4 tsp baking powder). It says “see Best Rec. pg 472”.

Underlined on the card: “Stir in”, “Add & blend” and “Best Rec”.

Her later typed copy

A separate icing sheet says: “Use Cook’s Illustrated recipe for Classic White Layer Cake (dated 5/1995)”. For a 9 × 12-inch (23 × 30 cm) dish, pour the icing over the warm cake and broil on a low rack 1–3 minutes (“Leave oven door cracked open.”). “I make ½ again more icing and add another layer of mixture immediately after the first broil and broil it again.”

This makes plenty of icing!

Rose box, p. 304
Typed on her computer · 2005–16Vegetarian

Mom’s Red Velvet Cake

Mom’s recipe, with the changes Cook’s Country makes noted alongside. Two 9-inch (23 cm) layers.

Cake
  • ½ cup (1 stick, 4 oz / 115 g) butter, softened (Cook’s Country: 12 tbsp, 1½ sticks)
  • 1½ cups (300 g) sugar
  • 2 eggs, room temperature
  • 2 tbsp cocoa powder, not Dutch-processed
  • 2 oz (2 jars; 60 ml) red food colouring (Cook’s Country: 1 bottle)
  • 1 tsp salt (Cook’s Country: a pinch)
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1 cup (240 ml) buttermilk
  • 2½ cups (285 g) cake flour (Cook’s Country: 2¼ cups all-purpose flour)
  • 1½ tsp baking soda
  • 1 tbsp white vinegar
Method
  1. Heat the oven to 350°F (180°C). Butter and flour two 9-inch (23 cm) cake pans.
  2. Cream the butter and sugar for 2 minutes.
  3. Whisk the eggs, buttermilk, vanilla and vinegar in a large measuring cup. Make a smooth paste of the cocoa and food colouring. Sift the flour, baking soda and salt together.
  4. Add a third of the flour mixture to the butter and sugar and beat 30 seconds on medium-low. Add half the liquids and beat 30 seconds. Repeat, ending with the flour, and scrape down the bowl after each addition.
  5. Add the cocoa paste and beat on medium until completely incorporated, about 30 seconds.
  6. Bake 25–30 minutes, until a cake tester comes out clean. Cool on a rack 10 minutes, then turn out and cool completely (30 minutes) before frosting. The layers can be quick-chilled in the freezer for 10–15 minutes. For cupcakes, bake at 400°F (200°C) for 18–20 minutes.
White cream frosting
  • 5 tbsp flour
  • 1 cup (240 ml) milk
  • 1 cup (200 g) sugar
  • 1 cup (2 sticks; 225 g) butter, softened
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  1. Cook the flour and milk over medium heat, stirring constantly with a flat-bottomed whisk, until thickened (it should look like mashed potatoes). Cool thoroughly.
  2. Cream the butter and sugar, add the vanilla and beat until light and fluffy. Beat in the flour mixture on high.

For extra-thick frosting, make 1½ times the recipe: 7 tbsp flour, 1½ cups (360 ml milk, 300 g sugar, 340 g 3 sticks butter) each milk and sugar, 3 sticks (340 g) butter and 1½ tsp vanilla.

Cream cheese frosting

Grammy’s note: “I haven’t tried either version – vanilla or marshmallow – of this but the reviews of it on this cake were terrific.” (Only the vanilla version was saved.)

  • 16 oz (450 g) cream cheese, softened, cut into 8 pieces
  • 1 cup (2 sticks; 225 g) butter, softened
  • 4 cups (450 g) confectioners’ sugar, sifted
  • 1½ tsp vanilla
  • Pinch of salt
  1. Beat the sugar and butter on medium-high until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes.
  2. Add the cream cheese one piece at a time until incorporated, about 30 seconds. Beat in the vanilla and salt. Refrigerate until needed; if too soft, chill about 10 minutes until slightly stiff.
  3. Use 2 cups (475 ml) on the bottom layer and spread the rest over the top and sides. Cover and refrigerate until served (up to 3 days).
Typed on her computer · 2005–16Vegetarian

Pat’s Cheesecake

Pat’s recipe.

Grammy’s note: “alias Andy’s or Karin’s Cheesecake, but I got the recipe from my childhood friend’s mom!! So there!”

  1. Make one 9-inch (23 cm) graham cracker crust with butter, using the recipe on the box of crumbs, but don’t bake it. (Don’t use an 8½-inch / 22 cm pie plate!)
  2. Heat the oven to 350°F (180°C).
  3. Beat 11 oz (310 g) cream cheese on low until smooth. Add 2 eggs one at a time, beating well. Gradually add ½ cup (100 g) sugar and ½ tsp vanilla.
  4. Pour into the crust and bake 20 minutes.
  5. Meanwhile, blend 2 cups (475 g) sour cream, ¼ cup (50 g) sugar and 1 tsp vanilla.
  6. Spread this over the hot cheesecake as soon as it comes out. Turn off the oven and return the cheesecake for 4 minutes more.
  7. Cool and chill before serving. Grammy’s note: “Sometimes I puree frozen unsweetened raspberries and serve over cake.”

Her later typed copy

Her later copy, “Mom’s Cheesecake”, serves 10–12, uses an 8-inch (20 cm) springform pan and chills “several hours or overnight”. To serve, an alternative chocolate glaze: melt ¼ cup (55 g) butter with 2 (1-oz / 28 g) squares semisweet chocolate, whisk in ¾ cup (150 g) sugar, ½ cup (120 ml) heavy cream, ¼ cup (21 g) cocoa, “½ C.” [?] vanilla (probably ½ tsp) and ⅛ tsp salt, then whisk 2 minutes over medium-low heat.

Typed on her computer · 2005–16Vegetarian

Lemon Pound Cake

From Cook’s Illustrated, March 2002. One 9 × 5-inch (23 × 13 cm) loaf; serves 8.

A blender works instead of a food processor: drizzle the butter through the hole in the lid. The batter is very fluid, like thick pancake batter.

Ingredients
  • 16 tbsp (2 sticks; 225 g) unsalted butter, plus 1 tbsp softened for the pan
  • 1½ cups cake flour (6 oz / 170 g), plus 1 tbsp for the pan
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • ½ tsp table salt
  • 1¼ cups granulated sugar (8¾ oz / 250 g)
  • 2 tbsp grated lemon zest plus 2 tsp juice (2 medium lemons)
  • 4 large eggs
  • 1½ tsp vanilla extract
  • Lemon glaze (optional): ½ cup granulated sugar (3½ oz / 100 g) and ¼ cup (60 ml) lemon juice
Method
  1. Heat the oven to 350°F (180°C) with a rack in the middle. Grease the loaf pan with the softened butter and dust with flour. Whisk the flour, baking powder and salt together.
  2. Melt the butter (microwave, covered, 1–2 minutes, or in a small pan) and whisk to reincorporate the milk solids.
  3. Pulse the sugar and zest in a food processor about five times. Add the lemon juice, eggs and vanilla and process 5 seconds. With the machine running, pour the butter through the feed tube in a steady stream (about 20 seconds). Transfer to a large bowl.
  4. Sift the flour mixture over in three additions, whisking gently after each until just combined.
  5. Bake 15 minutes, then reduce to 325°F (160°C) and bake until deep golden and a skewer comes out clean, about 35 minutes, rotating halfway. Cool in the pan 10 minutes, then turn out onto a rack.
  6. Glaze, if using: while the cake cools in the pan, boil the sugar and lemon juice in a small non-reactive pan, stirring to dissolve, then simmer on low until slightly thickened, about 2 minutes. Poke the top and sides of the turned-out cake all over with a toothpick and brush with the glaze.
  7. Cool to room temperature, at least 1 hour. Wrapped tightly, it keeps up to 5 days.
After turning the cake out of the pan, poke the whole top with a toothpick. Cook’s Illustrated, March 2002
Poke the sides all over too. Cook’s Illustrated, March 2002
Brush the top and sides with the lemon glaze, then cool to room temperature. Cook’s Illustrated, March 2002
Typed on her computer · 2005–16Vegetarian

Blueberry Buckle

From Cook’s Illustrated, July 2005. One 9-inch (23 cm) cake; serves 8–10.

A blueberry coffee cake with streusel. Use fresh blueberries (frozen are too moist). The batter is extremely thick and heavy to spread. For dessert, serve with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream. Leftovers keep 2 days at room temperature, wrapped.

Streusel
  • ½ cup unbleached all-purpose flour (2½ oz / 70 g)
  • ½ cup packed light brown sugar (3½ oz / 100 g)
  • 2 tbsp granulated sugar
  • ¼ tsp ground cinnamon
  • Pinch of table salt
  • 4 tbsp (55 g) unsalted butter, cut into 8 pieces, softened but still cool
Cake
  • 1½ cups unbleached all-purpose flour (7½ oz / 215 g)
  • 1½ tsp baking powder
  • 10 tbsp (140 g) unsalted butter, softened but still cool
  • ⅔ cup granulated sugar (about 4¾ oz / 135 g)
  • ½ tsp table salt
  • ½ tsp grated lemon zest
  • 1½ tsp vanilla extract
  • 2 large eggs, room temperature
  • 4 cups fresh blueberries (about 20 oz / 575 g), picked over
Method
  1. Streusel: mix the flour, sugars, cinnamon and salt in a stand mixer with the paddle on low until no brown sugar lumps remain, about 45 seconds. Add the butter and mix on low until it looks like wet sand, about 2½ minutes. Set aside.
  2. Heat the oven to 350°F (180°C) with a rack in the lower-middle position. Spray a 9-inch (23 cm) round pan with 2-inch (5 cm) sides, line the bottom with parchment, spray the paper and dust with flour.
  3. Whisk the flour and baking powder together. Cream the butter, sugar, salt and zest on medium-high until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Scrape down, then beat in the vanilla, about 30 seconds.
  4. On medium, add the eggs one at a time, scraping down as needed (the mixture will look broken). On low, add the flour mixture gradually until almost incorporated, about 20 seconds. Finish by hand with a spatula until no flour pockets remain. Gently fold in the blueberries.
  5. Push the batter evenly to the edges of the pan. Squeeze handfuls of streusel into clumps, break them up with your fingers and sprinkle evenly over the top.
  6. Bake until deep golden brown and a skewer in the centre comes out clean, about 55 minutes. Cool on a rack 15–20 minutes (it will fall slightly).
  7. Run a knife around the sides, invert onto a plate (not the serving plate), peel off the parchment and re-invert onto a platter. Cool until just warm or at room temperature, at least 1 hour.

See also Blueberry Buckle with Crumb Topping, Hattie’s Blueberry Buckle

Typed on her computer · 2005–16Vegetarian

Honey-Glazed Pear Upside-Down Cake

From the New York Times. Serves 6–8.

Ingredients
  • ¼ cup (85 g) chestnut or other intense honey
  • 4 small or 3 large Bosc pears, peeled, quartered lengthwise and cored
  • 3 sprigs fresh thyme (optional)
  • 1 cup (200 g) sugar
  • Finely grated zest of 1 lemon
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 tbsp vanilla extract
  • 1 cup (125 g) all-purpose flour
  • ¼ tsp salt
  • ½ cup (1 stick; 115 g) plus 1 tbsp (14 g) unsalted butter, melted and cooled
  • ¼ cup (23 g) sliced almonds
Method
  1. Heat the oven to 350°F (180°C). In a 9-inch (23 cm) ovenproof skillet (not non-stick), simmer the honey until it reduces, caramelises and darkens, 6–10 minutes. If it starts to smell burnt, turn off the heat.
  2. Arrange the pears close together, cut side down, in a circle with the stem ends pointing to the centre. Simmer over medium heat, turning them from side to side, until they begin to turn golden, about 10 minutes.
  3. Turn the pears onto their curved sides and scatter with thyme, if using. Roast uncovered until very tender, about 25 minutes or longer.
  4. Meanwhile, whisk the sugar and zest in a large bowl. Whisk in the eggs and vanilla, fold in the flour and salt, and stir in ½ cup (115 g) of the butter.
  5. Take out the skillet, discard the thyme and brush the edges of the pears with the remaining 1 tbsp (14 g) butter. Pour the batter over, scatter with the almonds and bake until a toothpick comes out clean, 25–30 minutes.
  6. Cool 30 minutes in the pan. Loosen the edges with an offset spatula and carefully invert onto a platter. Serve warm or cooled.
Later cards · 1990s–2000sTyped on her computer · 2005–16HandwrittenSpecial praiseVegetarian

Delicious Molten Chocolate Cake

Makes 8 individual cakes.

Grammy’s note, in her title: “Delicious MOLTEN CHOCOLATE CAKE”

Ingredients
  • 7 oz (200 g) Valrhona chocolate
  • 7 oz (200 g) butter, plus extra for the ramekins
  • 2 tbsp brandy
  • 4 oz (115 g) sugar (½ cup = 3½ oz)
  • 4 large eggs
  • 4 large egg yolks
  • ¼ tsp salt
  • Optional: 1 tbsp finely grated orange zest or 2 tbsp orange liqueur (Triple Sec or Grand Marnier)
  • 2½ oz (70 g) flour (½ cup)
  • Confectioners’ sugar and whipped cream, to serve
Method
  1. Generously butter eight 6-oz (175 ml) ramekins and set them on a rimmed baking pan.
  2. Melt the chocolate, butter and brandy in a double boiler over low heat, stirring until smooth.
  3. Beat the sugar, eggs, yolks and salt in a stand mixer on high until nearly tripled in volume and mousse-like, about 5 minutes.
  4. Pour the chocolate mixture around the egg mixture (fold in the orange zest or liqueur now, if using). Sift the flour over the top and fold in slowly and gently with a metal spoon until uniform in colour.
  5. Spoon carefully into the ramekins. Cover each lightly with plastic wrap and chill or freeze; they keep in the fridge up to 8 hours. Take out of the fridge 30 minutes before baking.
  6. Bake at 400°F (200°C): 12–13 minutes if the ramekins have stood at room temperature 30 minutes, 13–14 minutes if still chilled, or 14–15 minutes if frozen. The cakes will puff ½ inch (1 cm) above the rims, with a thin crust on top and a slight jiggle in the centre.
  7. Run a paring knife around the inside of each ramekin and invert onto plates. Let sit 30–50 seconds before lifting off the ramekin.
  8. Dust lightly with confectioners’ sugar and serve immediately with whipped cream.

As one large cake: bake in a 9-inch (23 cm) springform pan at 375°F (190°C) for 22–30 minutes (27–30 minutes in an 8-inch / 20 cm pan).

The rose box has this recipe on a card marked “Pat” in the corner.

Underlined on the card: “Pat”, “Valrhona Choc”, “butter”, “sugar”, “eggs”, “van”, “low” (heat), “flour”, “slowly” and “375°”, and “room temp” (in the baking times) is underlined twice; “brandy” is underlined in red, “or freeze” is boxed, and the optional orange note is bracketed, with its “or” underlined.

Rose box, p. 305
Rose box, p. 306
Typed on her computer · 2005–16Vegetarian

Hot Fudge Pudding Cake

From Cook’s Country, February 2007. Serves 6–8.

Don’t overbake, or the sauce will burn in the pan and the cake will be dry rather than fudgy. Store leftovers covered in the fridge and reheat individual servings in the microwave on high, about 1 minute.

Ingredients
  • 1 cup (200 g) sugar
  • ½ cup (43 g) Dutch-processed cocoa powder
  • 1 cup (140 g) all-purpose flour
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • ¼ tsp salt
  • ½ cup (120 ml) milk
  • 4 tbsp (½ stick; 55 g) unsalted butter, melted
  • 1 large egg yolk
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract
  • ½ cup (85 g) semisweet chocolate chips
  • 1 cup (240 ml) boiling water
  • Whipped cream or vanilla ice cream, to serve
Method
  1. Heat the oven to 350°F (180°C) with a rack in the middle. Spray an 8-inch (20 cm) square glass or metal pan. Whisk ½ cup (100 g) of the sugar with ¼ cup (21 g) of the cocoa in a small bowl.
  2. Whisk the flour, remaining ½ cup (100 g) sugar, remaining ¼ cup (21 g) cocoa, baking powder and salt in a large bowl. Whisk the milk, butter, yolk and vanilla until smooth and stir into the flour mixture until just combined. Fold in the chips (the batter will be stiff).
  3. Spread the batter into the corners of the pan. Sprinkle the cocoa-sugar mixture evenly over the top, then gently pour the boiling water over it. Don’t stir.
  4. Bake about 25 minutes, until the top looks cracked like a brownie and the sauce is bubbling. Test near the edge, where the cake is firmest, not the gooey centre: the toothpick should have large moist crumbs but no wet batter. Check two spots, in case you hit a melted chip.
  5. Cool on a rack at least 10 minutes. Scoop warm into bowls and top with ice cream or whipped cream.

Baby cakes: spray eight 6-oz (175 ml) ramekins or ovenproof coffee cups. Fill each with 2 tbsp batter, top with 1½ tbsp cocoa mixture, then 2 tbsp boiling water. Bake on a rimmed baking sheet until the tops are just cracked, 20–25 minutes.

Is it done yet? When the top is crackled like a brownie and the sauce bubbles up, test near the edge, not the gooey centre. Cook’s Country, February 2007
The toothpick should come out with large, moist crumbs but no gooey batter. Check two spots, in case you hit a melted chip. Cook’s Country, February 2007
Typed on her computer · 2005–16Vegetarian

Chocolate Lover’s Dream Cake

A Betty Crocker cake-mix bundt. Serves 16. Serve with vanilla ice cream.

Ingredients
  • 1 package Betty Crocker SuperMoist Butter Chocolate Fudge cake mix
  • ½ cup (120 ml) chocolate milk
  • ⅓ cup (75 g) butter, melted
  • 3 eggs
  • 16-oz (450 g) container sour cream
  • 1 package chocolate fudge instant pudding and pie filling mix
  • 12-oz (340 g) bag semisweet chocolate chips (2 cups)
Rich chocolate glaze
  • ¾ cup (130 g) semisweet chocolate chips
  • 3 tbsp (43 g) butter
  • 3 tbsp light corn syrup
  • 1½ tsp water
Method
  1. Heat the oven to 350°F (180°C). Generously grease and lightly flour a 12-cup (2.9 litres) bundt pan (make sure it holds 12 cups / 2.9 litres).
  2. Mix the cake mix, chocolate milk, butter, eggs, sour cream and dry pudding mix with a spoon until well blended (the batter will be very thick). Stir in the chocolate chips and spoon into the pan.
  3. Bake 55–65 minutes, until the top springs back when lightly touched. Cool in the pan 10 minutes, then turn out onto a rack or heatproof plate and cool completely, about 2 hours.
  4. Glaze: heat everything in a small saucepan over low heat, stirring often, until smooth. Drizzle over the cake.
  5. Store loosely covered at room temperature.
Typed on her computer · 2005–16

Sugar Marshmallow Cupcakes

From CIA Taste, Summer/Fall 2008, in its “Career Discovery Courses and Recipes” section. The recipe comes from The CIA’s Cake Art cookbook. Makes 24.

Lemon chiffon cupcakes with Swiss meringue buttercream, topped with flowers made of marshmallow slices dipped in coloured nonpareils around gumdrop centres. Very child-friendly.

Lemon chiffon cupcakes
  • 3 cups (350 g) cake flour
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • 1 cup (200 g) sugar, divided
  • 4 large egg yolks
  • 1 cup (240 ml) vegetable oil
  • 1 cup (240 ml) water
  • ½ tsp vanilla extract
  • Zest of 1 lemon
  • 4 large egg whites
Swiss meringue buttercream
  • 4 large egg whites
  • 1 cup (200 g) sugar
  • 2 cups (450 g) unsalted butter, cubed, at room temperature
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract
Decoration
  • Large marshmallows
  • Coloured nonpareils
  • Gumdrops (or other sweets) for the flower centres
Method
  1. Heat the oven to 375°F (190°C) and line the cupcake pans with paper cases. Sift the flour, baking powder and half the sugar into a large bowl.
  2. Mix the egg yolks, oil, water, vanilla and zest for about a minute. Beat part of it into the dry ingredients on medium speed until a paste forms, scrape down the bowl, then add the rest and beat 2 minutes more.
  3. In a clean bowl, whip the egg whites to soft peaks. Gradually add the remaining sugar and beat to medium peaks. Fold a third of the whites into the batter to lighten it, then gently fold in the rest.
  4. Divide among the cases and bake until the tops spring back when touched, about 20 minutes. Cool in the pans for a few minutes, then on a rack.
  5. Buttercream: stir the whites and sugar together in a clean, grease-free mixer bowl. Set the bowl over simmering water and stir often until the sugar dissolves and the mixture reaches 140–150°F (60–66°C). Whip on high speed until the meringue and the bowl are cool. Beat in the butter a little at a time, scraping down the bowl, then the vanilla. (It keeps up to a week, covered, in the refrigerator.)
  6. Pipe or spread the buttercream on the cupcakes. Cut the marshmallows crosswise into quarters with scissors, dip the sticky cut sides in nonpareils and arrange them as petals, with a gumdrop in the middle of each flower.
Sugar marshmallow cupcakes with nonpareil petals. CIA Taste, Summer/Fall 2008, page 53
The recipe page as printed in Taste (page 53). CIA Taste, Summer/Fall 2008, page 53
Typed on her computer · 2005–16Vegetarian

Lu’s Version of Ame’s Mum’s Apple Cake

Lu’s recipe (Lu is perhaps Lucia), dated October 2014. Makes one 9-inch/23-cm round cake.

Creamed together
  • 142 g melted butter (5 oz)
  • 227 g caster sugar (8 oz)
Whisked together
  • 2 large eggs
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract
Mixed together
  • 2 tsp cinnamon
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 227 g self-raising flour (8 oz)
Filling and topping
  • 340 g peeled/cored apples (12 oz) (a query beside it: “try 400g for wetter, more appley centre?”)
  • Demerara sugar
  • More cinnamon
Method
  1. Cream together butter and sugar until mixture lightens in texture and increases in volume.
  2. Slowly add eggs and vanilla on low mixer speed.
  3. Add dry mixture in three installments.
  4. Add half batter to 9-inch/23-cm round greased tin and evenly sprinkle all apples over the batter. Pour/spread remaining batter over apples.
  5. Top with generous sprinkling of cinnamon and Demerara (very large-crystal) sugar.
  6. Bake at 160°C (325°F) until internal temperature reaches 99°C (210°F) (a query beside it: “try 95°C for wetter middle?”).
  7. Allow to cool in tin.
Typed on her computer · 2005–16Vegetarian

Pat Coe’s Chunky Apple Walnut Cake

Pat Coe’s recipe, from the Silver Palate. Serves 10–12.

Cake
  • 1½ cups (360 ml) vegetable oil
  • 1½ cups (300 g) sugar
  • ½ cup (110 g) brown sugar
  • 3 eggs
  • 2 cups (250 g) flour
  • ⅛ tsp ground cloves
  • 1¼ tsp [?] ground cinnamon (the file says “1.24 tsp”)
  • ¼ tsp ground mace (“or, Pat adds ¼ tsp allspice and ½ tsp nutmeg and 2 tsp cinnamon”)
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • ¾ tsp salt
  • 1 cup (115 g) whole wheat flour
  • 1¼ cups (150 g) shelled walnuts, coarsely chopped (optional)
  • 3¼ cups (370 g) coarse chunks of peeled and cored apples
  • 3 tbsp Calvados or applejack
  1. Preheat oven to 325°F (160°C). In a large bowl, beat oil and sugar til thick and opaque. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. (The method doesn’t mention the brown sugar; beat it in with the white.)
  2. Sift together flour, spices, baking soda and salt; then stir in whole wheat flour. Add to oil/egg mixture and beat til well blended.
  3. Add nuts, apple chunks and Calvados all at once and stir batter until pieces are evenly distributed.
  4. Pour into a greased 10-inch (25 cm) round cake pan. Bake for 1 hour 15 minutes, until a cake tester comes out clean.
  5. Let cake rest for 10 minutes, then unmold and pour glaze over the warm cake, or cut cake and pour glaze over slices.

Apple Cider Glaze (makes 1½ cups / 360 ml)

  • 4 tbsp (55 g) butter
  • 2 tbsp brown sugar
  • 6 tbsp sugar
  • 3 tbsp Calvados or applejack
  • 4 tbsp fresh orange juice
  • 2 tbsp heavy cream
  1. Melt butter in a small saucepan and stir in both sugars. Add remaining ingredients, stir and bring to a boil. Reduce heat slightly and cook for 4 minutes.
  2. Remove from heat and cool slightly. Pour while still warm over warm cake.
Typed on her computer · 2005–16Vegetarian

Chocolate Whiskey Cake

From the New York Times, December 2012. Serves 8–10.

Ingredients
  • 12 tbsp (170 g) unsalted butter, cut into 1-inch (2.5 cm) pieces, plus more for the pan
  • 85 g unsweetened cocoa powder (about ¾ cup plus 2 tbsp)
  • 1½ cups (360 ml) brewed strong coffee
  • ½ cup (120 ml) whiskey
  • 200 g granulated sugar (about 1 cup)
  • 156 g light brown sugar (about 1 cup)
  • 240 g all-purpose flour (about 2 cups)
  • 8 g baking soda (about 1½ tsp)
  • 3 g fine sea salt (about ¾ tsp)
  • ¼ tsp black pepper
  • ⅛ tsp ground cloves
  • 3 large eggs
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 cup (170 g) mini semisweet chocolate chips
  • Powdered sugar, for serving (optional)
Method
  1. Heat the oven to 325°F (160°C). Butter a 10-inch (25 cm) springform pan and dust it with 2 tbsp of the cocoa.
  2. In a medium saucepan over low heat, warm the coffee, whiskey, 12 tbsp (170 g) butter and the rest of the cocoa, whisking now and then, until the butter melts. Whisk in both sugars until dissolved, then take off the heat and let cool completely.
  3. Whisk the flour, baking soda, salt, pepper and cloves together in a bowl. In another bowl, whisk the eggs with the vanilla, then whisk them gradually into the chocolate mixture. Whisk in the dry ingredients and fold in the chocolate chips.
  4. Pour into the pan and bake until a toothpick inserted in the centre comes out clean, 55–65 minutes. Cool on a wire rack, then remove the sides of the pan. Dust with powdered sugar before serving, if you like.
Early cards, 1950s–80s
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenWell usedVegetarian

M. Murray’s [?] Brownies

Two cards: the original, headed “Mothers” [?] in a hand that drifts into Spanish (“cernir”, “batir”, “mezclar con la arina”), and a neat printed copy with a name written at the top that most likely reads “M. Murray” (it has also been read as “M. Munoz”)

Yield One 8-inch (20 cm) square pan

Ingredients
  • 1 cup (200 g) sugar
  • 1 stick (115 g) butter (½ cup)
  • 2 eggs
  • ½ cup (65 g) flour, sifted
  • ¼ tsp baking powder
  • 2 oz (55 g) (squares) unsweetened chocolate, melted
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • ½ cup (60 g) chopped pecans (optional)
Method
  1. Mix the flour, baking powder and salt together.
  2. Melt the butter and chocolate together.
  3. Beat the eggs well. Add the sugar, the butter and chocolate mixture and the flour mixture, then the vanilla and pecans.
  4. Put into a greased 8-inch (20 cm) square pan and bake at 350°F (180°C) for 20 to 25 minutes. Do not overbake.
Grey box, p. 190
Grey box, p. 203
Grey box, p. 204
Early and later cards · 1950s–2000sHandwrittenVegetarian

Sister’s Butter Cookies

Sister (Grammy’s sister Frances)

Ingredients
  • 1 cup (225 g) butter
  • 1 cup (100 g) sifted confectioners’ sugar
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 2½ cups (310 g) flour
  • ¼ tsp salt
Method
  1. Mix the butter, sugar and vanilla thoroughly. Sift the flour and salt together and stir in.
  2. Mix thoroughly and shape into a roll 2 inches (5 cm) thick. Wrap in wax paper and chill until stiff.
  3. Cut ⅛ to 1/16 inch (3–1.5 mm) thick and place on an ungreased sheet.
  4. Bake at 400°F (200°C) for 8 to 10 minutes, until lightly browned.

“Sugar” is written above “Butter” in the title and underlined, and an asterisk is drawn beside it; Sister’s name at the top is underlined too.

Also in the rose box: “Sugar Cookie (small recipe)”. “Sister’s” is written above the title. The same icebox cookie as Sister’s Butter Cookies in the grey box, with Grammy’s own oven notes. Differences from Sister’s card: flavouring of your choice instead of vanilla, and a much lower oven (300°F / 150°C, not 400°F / 200°C).

“butter” is underlined.

Grey box, p. 261
Rose box, p. 314
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenSpecial praiseVegetarian

Orange Sugar Cookies

Ingredients
  • 2 eggs
  • 1⅓ cups (300 g) butter
  • 1½ cups (300 g) sugar
  • 8 tsp milk
  • 4 cups (500 g) flour
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1 tsp grated orange peel
Method
  1. Cream the butter and sugar. Add the vanilla, orange and eggs, then the milk.
  2. Add the dry ingredients. Chill 1 hour.
  3. Roll, cut and bake at 355°F (180°C) for 6 minutes.

Marked “good!”, underlined twice.

Grey box, p. 262
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegetarian

Grammy’s Toll House Oatmeal Cookies

On Grammy’s printed “My PetRecipe… A PetRecipe from Pat Schreiner” card

Yield About 100 cookies (a double recipe)

Ingredients
  • 1½ cups (175 g) sifted flour
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 cup (225 g) soft butter
  • ¾ cup (150 g) granulated sugar
  • ¾ cup (150 g) brown sugar
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • ½ tsp water
  • 2 eggs
  • 12 oz (340 g) chocolate chips
  • 2 cups (170 g) oats
  • 1 cup (120 g) nuts
Method
  1. Sift the flour, soda and salt together.
  2. Blend the butter, sugars, vanilla and water. Beat in the eggs.
  3. Add the flour mixture and mix well, then the chocolate, oats and nuts.
  4. Drop by half-teaspoons onto a greased cookie sheet and bake at 375°F (190°C) for 10 to 20 minutes.

Written across the top: “this is a (double recipe ↓)”

Grey box, p. 263
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegetarian

Bambi’s Sugar Cookies

Bambi (her card is marked with an asterisk); a second copy, doubled, is on notepaper printed “Melissa Engle”

Ingredients
  • ½ cup (115 g) butter
  • 1 cup (200 g) sugar
  • 2 eggs, separated
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1 tbsp milk
  • 1½ cups (190 g) flour
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • ½ tsp salt
  • coloured sugar
Method
  1. Cream the butter and sugar. Add the egg yolks, vanilla and milk. Blend in the dry ingredients.
  2. Chill the dough, roll and cut.
  3. Brush the tops with unbeaten egg white and sprinkle with coloured sugar.
  4. Bake at 375°F (190°C) until very light brown.

“(do not overcook ☺)”; the doubled copy has “(don’t overcook.)”.

The doubled copy is headed “do 5X”.

On the doubled copy, “very light brown” is underlined, and check marks are drawn beside the butter and sugar.

“Bambi’s” is written after the title in blue ink and underlined.

Grey box, p. 264
Grey box, p. 265
Grey box, p. 285
Grey box, p. 286
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegetarian

Chocolate Oatmeal Bars

Two cards, one titled “Chocolate Cookie Bars” (with an asterisk) and one “Oatmeal Cookies”

Yield One 8-inch (20 cm) square pan; makes 18

Ingredients
  • ½ cup (1 stick; 115 g) soft butter
  • ¼ cup (50 g) white sugar
  • ¼ cup (55 g) brown sugar
  • ½ tsp vanilla
  • 1 egg yolk
  • ½ cup (65 g) Wondra (or sifted) flour
  • ½ cup (43 g) rolled oats
  • 1 small bag chocolate chips (or 3 small plain chocolate bars)
  • 1 tbsp (14 g) butter
  • ½ cup (60 g) walnuts, chopped (optional)
Method
  1. Cream the butter and gradually add both sugars. Add the vanilla and egg yolk and beat until light.
  2. Stir in the flour and oats thoroughly. Spread in a greased 8 × 8-inch (20 × 20 cm) pan.
  3. Bake at 350°F (180°C) for 20 minutes, until nicely browned. Let stand 10 minutes.
  4. Melt the chocolate and butter over hot water. When smooth, spread over the bars and sprinkle with the nuts if using.
  5. Cut into squares while still warm.

Her later typed copy

Her typed copies use 150 g (5½ oz) semisweet chocolate instead of chips or plain bars, melted slowly with 1 tsp butter (not 1 tbsp), plain flour rather than Wondra, and optional chopped pecans instead of walnuts. Doubled, it goes in a 9 × 12-inch (23 × 30 cm) pan (“Easy to double recipe”).

Grey box, p. 266
Grey box, p. 267
Grey box, p. 270
Early cards · 1950s–80sVegetarian

Mrs. K’s Butter Cookies (Mürbeteig)

Mrs. K, typed card; “can also be used for crust”

Yield About 5 dozen

Ingredients
  • 1 cup (225 g) butter
  • 2½ cups (310 g) flour
  • ¾ cup (75–150 g) sugar (Grammy: sifted powdered sugar)
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tbsp water
  • grated rind of 1 lemon (Grammy: 1 tsp flavouring)
  • ¼ tsp salt (Grammy’s addition)
  • raspberry jam
Method
  1. Have all the ingredients at room temperature.
  2. Cream the butter and sugar. Add the egg and water. Gradually add the flour and lemon rind and work until well blended.
  3. For better results, chill the dough ½ hour before rolling.
  4. Roll about ¼ inch (5 mm) thick, cut with a round cookie cutter and dot the centres with raspberry jam.
  5. Bake on a cookie sheet at 350°F (180°C) for 15 to 20 minutes, until lightly browned. (Grammy’s pencil: 400°F / 200°C, 8 to 10 minutes.)

The card spells it “MÜRBETEICH COOKIES”.

Grey box, p. 268
Grey box, p. 269
Early cards · 1950s–80sVegetarian

Vanilla Balls

A printed recipe card

Yield About 3½ dozen

Ingredients
  • Vanilla sugar
  • 1 tbsp vanilla
  • 1 cup (115 g) confectioners’ sugar
  • Cookies
  • ¾ cup (170 g) butter
  • ¼ cup (60 ml) light cream
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1¾ cups (200 g) sifted flour
  • 6 tbsp superfine sugar
  • 1 cup (120 g) chopped walnuts or pecans
Method
  1. Before you make the cookies, mix the vanilla into the confectioners’ sugar, press it through a sieve and let it dry.
  2. Cream the butter. Beat in the cream and vanilla.
  3. Sift the flour and superfine sugar together and add gradually. Mix in the nuts and chill.
  4. Pinch off pieces of dough and roll into small balls. Place 2 inches (5 cm) apart on greased baking sheets.
  5. Bake at 325°F (160°C) for about 20 minutes. Roll in the vanilla sugar.
Grey box, p. 271
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegetarian

Almond Crescents

Dated 1958 in pencil

Ingredients
  • 1 cup (225 g) soft butter
  • ⅓ cup (65 g) sugar
  • ⅔ cup (80 g) chopped nuts
  • 1⅔ cups (190 g) sifted flour
  • ¼ tsp salt
  • confectioners’ sugar, to finish
Method
  1. Mix the butter, sugar and nuts together thoroughly.
  2. Sift the flour and salt together and work in. Chill the dough.
  3. Roll into pencil-thick rolls and shape into crescents. Bake on an ungreased cookie sheet at 325°F (160°C) for 15 minutes.
  4. When done, sift confectioners’ sugar over the cookies.

Pencilled verdicts at the top: “(about like Pecan Balls)”, and, written slantwise under the date, “not too hot – Pecan Balls good [?]”.

Grey box, p. 273
Grey box, p. 274
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegetarian

Mrs. McClain’s Pecan Bars

Margaret Freeman’s mother, Mrs. McClain, of Moline, Illinois

Ingredients
  • 1 cup (225 g) butter (“must use at least ½ butter for flavor”)
  • 1 cup (200 g) sugar
  • 1 tbsp cinnamon
  • 1 egg, separated
  • 2 cups (210 g) pastry (cake) flour
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1 cup (120 g) pecans, broken coarsely
Method
  1. Cream the butter and sugar “good”.
  2. Add the cinnamon, egg yolk, flour, vanilla and pecans.
  3. Press the mixture thin in a cookie sheet. Beat the egg white slightly and spread it over the top.
  4. Bake ½ hour at 350°F (180°C). Cut in strips while hot.

Beside the cinnamon: “(this is 3 tsps. Burby!)”; “Tbsp.” and “3 tsps.” are underlined, as is “must” in the butter note.

“(Margaret & I usually make up a double recipe & put in brownie or jelly roll pan 15½ × 10½ × 1) you could probably just spread on a cookie sheet or smaller pan for a single recipe)”

“(Margarets’ husband, Bill, is the Dr. L. W. Freeman written up recently in a Fishing Magazine – for his work with paraplegics he takes them Muskie fishing at Hayward, Wis – (Lost Land Lake)”

Grey box, p. 275
Grey box, p. 276
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegetarian

Grammy’s Orange Oatmeal Chocolate Cookies

On Grammy’s own printed “My PetRecipe… A PetRecipe from Pat Schreiner” card

Ingredients
  • ½ cup (115 g) butter
  • 1 cup (215 g) brown sugar
  • grated rind of 1 orange
  • 1 egg, unbeaten
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • ¼ tsp salt
  • ½ cup (65 g) flour
  • 1½ cups (130 g) oats
  • 7 oz (200 g) chocolate
  • nuts
Method
  1. Cream the butter and sugar. Add the rind, egg and vanilla and beat well.
  2. Add the salt and flour, sifted and mixed with the oats. Add the chocolate and mix, then the nuts.
  3. Bake at 375°F (190°C).
Grey box, p. 277
Early cards · 1950s–80sVegetarian

Chocolate Chip Cookies (Gold Medal Wondra)

Cut from a bag of Gold Medal Wondra flour

Yield About 7 dozen

Ingredients
  • 1 cup (200 g) granulated sugar
  • 1 cup (215 g) packed brown sugar
  • ⅔ cup (125 g) shortening
  • ⅔ cup (150 g) margarine or butter, softened
  • 2 eggs
  • 2 tsp vanilla
  • 3 cups (380 g) Gold Medal Wondra flour
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 cup (120 g) chopped nuts
  • 2 packages (6 oz / 170 g each) semisweet chocolate chips
Method
  1. Heat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Mix the sugars, shortening, margarine, eggs and vanilla.
  2. Stir in the remaining ingredients. The dough will be slightly dry.
  3. Drop by rounded teaspoonfuls about 2 inches (5 cm) apart onto an ungreased cookie sheet.
  4. Bake until light brown, 8 to 10 minutes. Cool slightly before removing from the sheet.
Grey box, p. 278
Grey box, p. 279
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegetarian

Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

Titled “Raison [?] Cookies”, with “Oatmeal” written above; marked “Double”, with an asterisk

Ingredients
  • ⅓ cup (65 g) Crisco
  • ¾ cup (150 g) sugar
  • 1 egg
  • ½ tsp salt
  • ⅓ cup (80 ml) sour milk
  • 1 cup (85 g) oats
  • 1 cup (115 g) sifted flour
  • ½ tsp cloves
  • ½ tsp nutmeg
  • ½ tsp cinnamon
  • ¼ tsp soda
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • ½ cup (75 g) raisins
Method
  1. Blend the Crisco, sugar, egg and salt. Add the milk and oats and mix.
  2. Add the dry ingredients, sifted together, then the raisins.
  3. Drop onto a greased sheet and bake at 375°F (190°C) for 12 to 15 minutes.

The card’s note for sour milk reads “1 c. s. milk = 1 c. milk + 1 t. soda”; the usual way is 1 tbsp vinegar or lemon juice stirred into 1 cup (240 ml) milk.

Grey box, p. 280
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegetarian

Mr. Woolfson’s Filbert Balls (Haselnuss Bällchen)

“from Mr. Woolfson – 1/30/79, AZC” [?]

Yield 60

Ingredients
  • 3½ oz (100 g) semisweet chocolate
  • 6 tbsp (85 g) butter
  • 1 cup (115 g) confectioners’ sugar
  • 1¼ cups (120 g) ground filberts (hazelnuts), “like flour”
Method
  1. Melt the chocolate in a double boiler and let it cool.
  2. Beat the sugar and butter until fluffy. Stir in the chocolate and beat until very creamy and smooth. Stir in the filberts.
  3. Form the mixture into a ball, wrap in wax paper and chill 30 minutes.
  4. Pinch off 1 tsp of paste at a time and roll into balls. Arrange on a baking sheet lined with parchment.
  5. Bake 8 minutes at 300°F (150°C), until the gloss is gone. Store airtight.
Grey box, p. 281
Grey box, p. 282
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegetarian

Lemon Butter Cookies

On a folded sheet of notepaper

Ingredients
  • 1 lb (450 g) butter
  • 1 cup (200 g) sugar
  • 2 eggs, separated (the whites for later)
  • 6 cups (750 g) flour
  • grated rind and juice of ½ lemon
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • sugar, for sprinkling
Method
  1. Cream the butter and add the sugar, the slightly beaten yolks and the lemon. Mix the flour and baking powder and add.
  2. Chill several hours.
  3. Roll out, with no flour, between sheets of Saran wrap. Cut.
  4. Brush with egg white and sprinkle with sugar.
  5. Bake at 350°F (180°C) for 10 minutes on an ungreased pan. Don’t let them brown.

“Brandy” is crossed out under the lemon.

The card says only “Sprinkle with”; the sugar is assumed.

A tally mark (short strokes struck through) is beside the flour.

The title “Butter Cookies” is gone over and underlined many times; after the baking time is “(no brown)”, with “no” gone over heavily.

Grey box, p. 283
Grey box, p. 284
Later cards, 1990s–2000s
Later cards · 1990s–2000sHandwrittenVegetarian

Lace Cookies

“Thick” is scrawled across the top in pencil

Yield 6 dozen

Ingredients
  • ½ cup (115 g) butter
  • ¾ cup (150 g) sugar
  • ¼ cup (85 g) honey (or 1 tsp corn syrup)
  • 1 cup (125 g) flour
  • ½ tsp nutmeg
  • ½ tsp brandy flavouring
Method
  1. Cream the butter and blend in the sugar. Add the honey.
  2. Stir in the flour and seasoning.
  3. Drop well apart on an ungreased cookie sheet.
  4. Bake at 375°F (190°C) for 8 minutes. Cool 2 to 3 minutes, then roll around a wooden spoon handle.
Rose box, p. 310
Later cards · 1990s–2000sHandwrittenVegetarian

Chocolate Lace Rolls

Untitled, on a stained card; it may be the back of the Lace Cookies card

Yield 5 dozen

Ingredients
  • one 6-oz (170 g) package semisweet chocolate bits
  • ¾ cup (170 g) butter
  • ¾ cup (150 g) sugar
  • ⅛ tsp salt
  • ¼ tsp ginger
  • ½ cup (155 g) light corn syrup
  • 1½ cups (190 g) flour
Method
  1. Combine the chocolate, butter, sugar, salt and ginger and melt over hot water.
  2. Take off the water and stir in the syrup and flour.
  3. Drop 3 inches (8 cm) apart on a well-greased cookie sheet.
  4. Bake at 350°F (180°C) for 10 minutes. Cool 1 minute, then remove and roll.

“Well” (greased) is underlined.

Rose box, p. 311
Later cards · 1990s–2000sHandwrittenVegetarian

Holiday Meringue Cookies

In an older hand, on a pink card

Ingredients
  • 6 egg whites
  • ¼ tsp salt (crossed out in blue)
  • ¼ tsp cream of tartar
  • 1½ cups (300 g) fine sugar
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • bits of red and green cherries
Method
  1. Beat the egg whites until frothy. Sprinkle the salt and cream of tartar over them and keep beating until the whites are stiff but not dry.
  2. Gradually beat in the sugar, adding the vanilla with the last of it.
  3. Shape in mounds with a spoon or pastry bag on a baking sheet covered with thin parchment (the card says “glazed paper”). Dot with the cherry bits.
  4. Bake at 250°F (120°C) (changed from 275°F / 140°C) for 30 minutes, or until delicately browned.
Rose box, p. 312
Rose box, p. 313
Later cards · 1990s–2000sHandwrittenVegetarian

Toll House Cookies

Two cards: an old pencilled one noted with a name, “Alessia” [?], and “double rec.” (Grammy pencilled “add grated orange” down the side); and a later yellow card, “Nestle’s Choc. Chip Cookies (Doubled)”, with the dry ingredients in grams

Ingredients
  • 1 cup (225 g) butter
  • ¾ cup (150 g) brown sugar
  • ¾ cup (150 g) sugar
  • 2 eggs, beaten
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 2¼ cups (280 g) flour
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp soda
  • 1 cup (120 g) nuts
  • 2 bags chocolate chips
Method
  1. Cream the butter, sugars and vanilla. Beat in the eggs.
  2. Mix in the flour, salt and soda (the old card dissolved the soda in 1 tsp hot water first; that is crossed out).
  3. Add the nuts and chocolate chips.
  4. Bake at 375°F (190°C) for 10 to 12 minutes.

The doubled Nestlé card: 560 g (1 lb 4 oz) flour, 2 tsp baking soda and 2 tsp salt in a small bowl; beat 4 sticks (450 g) butter, 310 g (11 oz) sugar, 295 g (10½ oz) light brown sugar and 2 tsp vanilla until creamy; add 4 large eggs one at a time; gradually beat in the flour mixture; mix in 800 g (1 lb 12 oz) chocolate chips. Bake 9 to 11 minutes at 375°F (190°C).

Added on the old card: “add grated orange”.

On the old card, “alter. with” (mix) is underlined, and a scribbled pencil mark sits beside the flour. On the Nestlé card, “Combine”, “Beat”, “Add”, “Grad.” and “Mix in” are underlined, with “grad” written under “Mix in”, and “til creamy” is circled.

Rose box, p. 316
Rose box, p. 317
Later cards · 1990s–2000sHandwrittenVegetarian

Finger Cookies (saltine toffee)

Noted “Food TV” in the corner

Ingredients
  • 2 sticks (225 g) butter
  • 1 cup (200 g) sugar
  • saltine crackers (salted), or graham crackers or rice crackers
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 12 oz (340 g) chocolate chips
  • peanuts, cashews or toasted pistachios
Method
  1. Melt the butter, stir in the sugar and heat over medium heat at a slow boil until bubbles puff up and cover the whole surface, with a tan ring at the edge. Don’t stir: it gets grainy if stirred.
  2. Grease a foil-lined cookie sheet (with edges) with butter. Lay the saltines over the tray.
  3. Add the vanilla to the butter and sugar, stir and pour over the crackers. Smooth evenly with a spatula.
  4. Bake 5 minutes at 350°F (180°C).
  5. Sprinkle the chocolate chips over the top; when melted, smooth them evenly over the top like frosting.
  6. Top with the nuts and press them down into the chocolate. Score over the crackers and refrigerate 1 hour.

“Food TV” is underlined.

Rose box, p. 318
Rose box, p. 319
Typed on her computer, 2005–16
Typed on her computer · 2005–16Vegetarian

The Best Shortbread

From Cook’s Illustrated. Makes 16 wedges.

The collar of a springform pan shapes the round: press the dough in with the collar closed, then open it but leave it in place, so the shortbread can expand slightly without spreading too far. Keeps 7 days at room temperature, well wrapped.

Ingredients
  • 1¾ cups (8¾ oz / 250 g) unbleached all-purpose flour
  • ¼ cup (30 g) cornstarch
  • ⅔ cup (2⅔ oz / 75 g) confectioners’ sugar
  • ½ tsp table salt
  • 14 tbsp (1¾ sticks; 200 g) cold unsalted butter, cut into ⅛-inch (3 mm) slices, plus extra for the collar
Method
  1. Heat the oven to 450°F (230°C) with a rack in the middle. Mix the flour, cornstarch, sugar and salt in a stand mixer with the paddle on low, about 5 seconds. Add the butter and mix on low until the dough just forms and pulls away from the sides, 10–15 minutes.
  2. Butter the collar of a 9- to 9½-inch (23–24 cm) springform pan and set it, closed, on a parchment-lined rimmed baking sheet (don’t use the pan’s base). Press the dough into an even ½-inch (1 cm) layer and smooth the top with the back of a spoon.
  3. Cut out the centre with a 2-inch (5 cm) biscuit cutter. Put the cut-out round beside it on the sheet and put the cutter back in the hole. Open the collar but leave it in place.
  4. Bake 5 minutes, then reduce to 250°F (120°C) and bake until the edges are pale golden, 10–15 minutes longer.
  5. Take out the tray and turn the oven off. Remove the collar and cutter. Score the shortbread into 16 wedges, cutting halfway through, and poke 10 holes in each wedge with a wooden skewer.
  6. Return to the oven and prop the door open about 1 inch (2.5 cm) with a wooden spoon handle. Leave to dry until the centre is pale golden and firm but giving to the touch, about 1 hour.
  7. Cool on the sheet on a rack for at least 2 hours, then cut along the scored lines.
Typed on her computer · 2005–16Vegetarian

Totally Chocolate Chocolate Chip Cookies

From Nigella Express, where Nigella Lawson credits Elinor Klivans’s book Big Fat Cookies. Makes 12 “chocolate plates” or 24 cookies.

Ingredients
  • 125 g (4½ oz) dark chocolate, at least 70% cocoa (Callebaut)
  • 150 g (5½ oz) flour
  • 30 g (1 oz) cocoa
  • 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 125 g (4½ oz) butter
  • 75 g (2¾ oz) light brown sugar
  • 50 g (1¾ oz) sugar
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 egg, cold from the fridge
  • 350 g (12½ oz) semisweet chocolate morsels, dark chocolate chips or white chocolate chips
Method
  1. Heat the oven to 170°C (325°F).
  2. Melt the chocolate in a double saucepan or the microwave.
  3. Mix the flour, cocoa, bicarb and salt together.
  4. Cream the butter and sugars. Fold in the melted chocolate, then add the egg and vanilla.
  5. Mix in the dry ingredients, then the chocolate chips.
  6. Scoop 12 or 24 equal mounds onto a lined baking sheet with an ice cream scoop, about 6 cm (2¼ in) apart. Don’t flatten them.
  7. Bake 18 minutes. Cool 4–5 minutes on the sheet before moving to a rack.
The photograph Grammy saved with the recipe: big, dark “chocolate plates”. Saved with the recipe from the web, December 2007
Typed on her computer · 2005–16Vegetarian

Melissa’s Chewy Molasses Spice Cookies

Melissa’s recipe. Makes 36. Prep 25 minutes; total 1½ hours.

Ingredients
  • 2 cups (250 g) all-purpose flour (spooned and levelled)
  • 1½ tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon
  • ½ tsp ground nutmeg
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 1½ cups (300 g) sugar
  • 1½ sticks (12 tbsp; 170 g) butter, softened
  • 1 large egg
  • ¼ cup (85 g) molasses
Method
  1. Heat the oven to 350°F (180°C). Whisk the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt in a medium bowl. Put ½ cup (100 g) of the sugar in a shallow bowl.
  2. Beat the butter with the remaining 1 cup (200 g) sugar. Beat in the egg, then the molasses. On low speed, mix in the dry ingredients just until a dough forms.
  3. Roll into 1-tbsp balls and roll them in the reserved sugar.
  4. Arrange about 3 inches (8 cm) apart on baking sheets. Bake one sheet at a time until the edges are just firm, 10–15 minutes (two sheets at once works, but they won’t crackle evenly).
  5. Cool 1 minute on the sheet, then on a rack. Store airtight for 3–4 days.
Typed on her computer · 2005–16Vegetarian

Kir’s Chewy Chocolate Chip Oat Bars

Kir’s recipe, in grams. Makes one 9 × 9-inch (23 × 23 cm) tin.

Ingredients
  • 285 g (10 oz) rolled oats
  • 75 g (2¾ oz) white bread flour
  • 75 g (2¾ oz) wholemeal bread flour
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 250 g (9 oz) butter
  • 200 g (7 oz) dark brown sugar
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 200 g (7 oz) chocolate chips
Method
  1. Melt the butter, sugar and vanilla together and leave to start cooling.
  2. Mix the dry ingredients, then mix in the melted butter mixture.
  3. Stir in the chocolate chips once the mixture is cool. (If it isn’t, the chips melt and make the whole bar chocolatey, “which is also tasty”.)
  4. Press into a greased 9 × 9-inch (23 × 23 cm) tin.
  5. Bake 25 minutes at 200°C (400°F) (or lower in a fan oven), until lightly coloured at the edges.
  6. Cool 15 minutes, cut into squares and leave to cool in the tin.
Typed on her computer · 2005–16Vegetarian

CIA Pecan Diamonds

Culinary Institute of America, 2006: the pecan diamonds sold at the CIA’s Apple Pie Bakery Café in Hyde Park, New York. Makes 4 dozen 2-inch (5 cm) or 8 dozen 1-inch (2.5 cm) diamonds.

As rich as pecan pie, more confection than bar cookie.

Cookie dough
  • 1¼ cups (2½ sticks; 280 g) unsalted butter, softened
  • ¾ cup (150 g) sugar
  • 1 whole egg
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 3⅔ cups (425 g) cake flour, sifted
Filling
  • 2 cups (4 sticks; 450 g) unsalted butter, cubed
  • 2 cups (425 g) light brown sugar, packed
  • ½ cup (100 g) sugar
  • 1 cup (340 g) honey
  • ½ cup (120 ml) heavy cream
  • 7½ cups (900 g) pecans, chopped
Method
  1. Cream the butter and sugar with the paddle on medium until smooth and light, 1–2 minutes. Gradually beat in the egg and vanilla, scraping the bowl as needed. Add the flour and mix on low until just blended, about 30 seconds; don’t overmix.
  2. Shape the dough into a flat square on parchment or a lightly floured surface, wrap well and refrigerate at least 1 hour.
  3. Heat the oven to 350°F (180°C) and line the bottom of a 15 × 10-inch (38 × 25 cm) jelly roll pan with parchment.
  4. Roll the dough to a 17 × 12-inch (43 × 30 cm) rectangle, ⅛ inch (3 mm) thick. Transfer to the pan, press gently into place, trim the edges and prick all over with a fork. Bake until firm but uncoloured, 10–12 minutes. Cool while you make the filling.
  5. Bring the butter, sugars, honey and cream to a boil in a heavy saucepan over medium-high heat and cook, stirring constantly, to 240°F (116°C) on a candy thermometer. Off the heat, stir in the pecans.
  6. Immediately spread over the crust in an even layer. Bake until the filling bubbles evenly across the surface and the crust is golden brown, about 40 minutes.
  7. Cool thoroughly. Loosen the edges with a knife, invert onto the back of a sheet pan, then flip right side up onto a board. Trim the edges and cut into 1- or 2-inch (2.5 or 5 cm) diamonds. They keep well at room temperature, or wrapped airtight in the fridge or freezer.
Pecan diamonds as sold at the CIA’s Apple Pie Bakery Café in Hyde Park. The Culinary Institute of America, 2006
The recipe sheet from the CIA’s 60th-anniversary year (“60 years of excellence”). The Culinary Institute of America, 2006
Typed on her computer · 2005–16Vegetarian

CIA Peppermint Bark

Culinary Institute of America, 2007, courtesy of Peter Greweling, Professor in Baking and Pastry Arts. Makes one 12 × 16-inch (30 × 41 cm) sheet.

Ingredients
  • 8 oz (225 g) candy canes
  • 12 oz (340 g) dark chocolate, tempered, or dark chocolate coating, melted
  • ⅛ tsp peppermint oil
  • 8 oz (225 g) white chocolate, tempered, or white chocolate coating, melted
Method
  1. Put the candy canes in a plastic bag and crush lightly with a rolling pin.
  2. Mix the dark chocolate with the peppermint oil and spread it over a 12 × 16-inch (30 × 41 cm) baking sheet lined with parchment.
  3. As soon as the dark chocolate has set, spread the white chocolate evenly on top. Sprinkle the crushed candy canes evenly over it before it sets.
  4. Leave to set at room temperature for 1 hour or longer, then break into pieces.
The CIA’s 2007 holiday e-card with the recipe, “courtesy of Professor in Baking and Pastry Arts Peter Greweling”. The Culinary Institute of America, 2007
Peppermint bark in a glass dish, the photograph from the e-card. The Culinary Institute of America, 2007
Typed on her computer · 2005–16Vegetarian

Kir’s Chocolate Chip Cookies

Kir’s metric version of the Joy of Cooking recipe, with American measures in brackets. Makes about 3 dozen 6-cm (2½-inch) cookies; Grammy doubled it to make 6 dozen 2½-inch (6 cm) cookies.

Ingredients
  • 160 g plain flour (1 cup + 2 tbsp) (Grammy’s doubled batch: 2¼ cups flour, 320 g)
  • ½ tsp bicarbonate of soda
  • 115 g unsalted butter, softened (8 tbsp/one stick)
  • 100 g white sugar (½ cup) (Kir: “We’re still debating merits of granulated vs refined sugar.”)
  • 100 g light brown sugar (½ cup)
  • 1 large egg
  • ¼ tsp salt
  • 1½ tsp vanilla
  • 200 g dark chocolate chips (1 cup)
Method
  1. Heat the oven to 190°C (375°F) with a rack in the centre, and grease the cookie sheets.
  2. Whisk the flour and bicarbonate of soda together thoroughly.
  3. In another bowl, beat the butter and both sugars until very fluffy and well blended, then beat in the egg, salt and vanilla until well combined.
  4. Stir in the flour mixture until smooth and well blended, then stir in the chocolate chips.
  5. Drop heaping teaspoonfuls of dough onto the sheets, about 5 cm (2 inches) apart. Bake one sheet at a time for 8 to 9 minutes, turning it halfway, until the cookies are just slightly coloured on top and rimmed with brown at the edges.
  6. Set the sheet on a rack for about 2 minutes, until the cookies firm slightly, then move them to racks to cool. If they stick, put the sheet back in the oven for a minute and lift them off straight away.

Bar cookies: press all the dough flat into a 17-mm (⅝ in) rimmed pan about 290 × 190 mm (11½ × 7½ in) and bake at the lower temperature of 160°C (325°F) for 25–30 minutes, turning halfway, until lightly coloured on top and lightly browned at the edges. Let it firm on a rack for about 8 minutes, then cut into 2.5-cm (1-inch) squares and cool on racks.

When completely cool, store airtight. They are best within a day or two, keep in the freezer for about a month, and are very good eaten frozen.

In her own copy, “Joy’s Chocolate Chip Cookies”, Grammy doubled the recipe in US measures, with semisweet chips (2 cups, 340 g) and 198 g (7 oz) for each cup of sugar; that copy and an earlier one of Kir’s bake the cookies for 8–10 minutes.

Typed on her computer · 2005–16Vegetarian

Best Ever Chewy Fudge Brownies

From the New York Times and “Cakewalk” by Kate Moses, with Grammy’s notes. Makes one 9 × 13-inch (23 × 33 cm) pan.

Ingredients
  • 1½ cups (340 g) butter
  • 1½ cups (150 g) walnut halves (optional)
  • 9 oz (255 g) unsweetened chocolate, chopped or broken into small pieces (Grammy specified “Ghirardelli 60% Cacao Bittersweet – not ‘Semi-sweet’”)
  • 3 large eggs
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 2¾ cups (550 g) sugar
  • 1 tbsp vanilla
  • 1½ cups (190 g) all-purpose flour
Method
  1. Heat the oven to 350°F (180°C) and butter a 9 × 13-inch (23 × 33 cm) glass baking pan. If using walnuts, toast them on a baking sheet in the oven until fragrant and lightly browned, 8–10 minutes, and let cool.
  2. Melt the butter in a small saucepan over low heat. Take it off the heat, add the chocolate, cover and leave until melted, about 10 minutes.
  3. In a mixing bowl, whisk the eggs, salt, sugar and vanilla just until thick, creamy and starting to turn pale.
  4. Whisk the chocolate mixture smooth and stir it into the egg mixture until just combined. With a spatula, fold in the flour in as few strokes as possible, just until it disappears, then fold in the walnuts if using. Spread evenly in the pan.
  5. Bake for 25–30 minutes, checking from 22 minutes: they are done when a knife tip in the centre comes out with moist crumbs but no liquid. Overbaking ruins them.
  6. Once it has cooled to room temperature, cover and leave in the pan overnight (!!), then cut into squares. Store airtight.

Grammy’s note: “Waiting is the hardest part of making these brownies!”

Typed on her computer · 2005–16Vegetarian

Best-Ever Nut Brittle

From Food & Wine, contributed by Tina Ujlaki and published December 2007. Makes 2 lb (900 g).

Ingredients
  • 2 cups (400 g) sugar
  • ½ cup (120 ml) water
  • 1 stick (115 g) unsalted butter
  • ⅓ cup (105 g) light corn syrup
  • ½ tsp baking soda
  • 12 oz (340 g) roasted salted peanuts, cashews, pistachios and/or pecans
  • Fleur de sel or crushed Maldon sea salt
Method
  1. Combine the sugar, water, butter and corn syrup in a large saucepan and bring to a boil. Boil over moderately high heat, stirring now and then, until the caramel turns light brown and reads 300°F (150°C) on a candy thermometer, about 10 minutes.
  2. Take the pan off the heat and carefully stir in the baking soda; it will bubble up. Stir in the nuts and immediately scrape the brittle onto a large, rimmed nonstick baking sheet. Spread it into a thin, even layer with the back of a large spoon, oiling the spoon lightly if it sticks.
  3. Sprinkle with salt and let cool completely, about 30 minutes. Break into large shards.

Stored airtight at room temperature, it keeps for up to 1 month.

Early cards, 1950s–80s
Early cards · 1950s–80sVegetarian

Rhubarb Flan

From the same 1978 “High or Low?” magazine page as the Delta Queen Cake (Cakes & Frostings)

Yield One 9-inch (23 cm) flan; serves 8

Ingredients
  • ¼ cup (55 g) butter or margarine
  • 1 cup (125 g) unsifted all-purpose flour
  • 3 tbsp sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • Filling
  • 3 cups rhubarb (1 lb / 450 g), trimmed and cut into ½-inch (1 cm) slices
  • ½ cup (100 g) plus 2 tbsp sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 2 tbsp flour
  • 1 cup (240 ml) half-and-half
Method
  1. Cut the butter into the flour until it resembles cornmeal. Stir in the sugar, egg and vanilla and work with your fingers until well blended. Form into a flat ball, wrap and chill until firm.
  2. Heat the oven to 350°F (180°C). Press the dough over the bottom and sides of a 9-inch (23 cm) fluted tart pan with a removable bottom (or a well-greased 9-inch / 23 cm pie pan).
  3. Toss the rhubarb with 2 tbsp sugar and spread over the pastry. In the same bowl, beat the eggs lightly and stir in the flour, remaining sugar and half-and-half. Pour over the rhubarb.
  4. Bake on the lowest shelf 40 minutes, until the custard is set. Cool on a rack. Refrigerate if not served within 3 hours.

See also Delta Queen Cake

Grey box, p. 180
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwritten

Blueberry and Chambord Tart

Yield One 11-inch (28 cm) tart

Ingredients
  • Shell
  • 1¼ sticks (140 g) cold butter, cut into bits
  • ¼ cup (48 g) cold vegetable shortening
  • 2½ cups (310 g) flour
  • 3 tbsp sugar
  • 1 large egg yolk, beaten with 2 to 4 tbsp cold water
  • Filling
  • 2 tsp unflavored gelatin (1 package)
  • ¾ cup (180 ml) Chambord
  • 1 pint (340 g) blueberries
  • 1 tsp cornstarch in 1 tbsp cold water
  • ¼ cup (80 g) seedless raspberry jam
Method
  1. In a bowl, blend the butter, Crisco and sugar to a meal. Add the egg mixture and form the dough into a ball. Flatten slightly and chill 30 minutes in wax paper.
  2. Roll out ⅛ inch (3 mm) thick and line the tart pan. Prick the bottom and chill the shell 1 hour.
  3. Line with wax paper and rice and bake at 425°F (220°C) for 15 minutes. Remove the rice and paper and bake 10 minutes more. Cool on a rack.
  4. In a small bowl, sprinkle the gelatin over ¼ cup (60 ml) of the Chambord and soften 15 minutes. Set the bowl over hot water and stir until the gelatin dissolves.
  5. In a pan, combine the blueberries and the remaining ½ cup (120 ml) Chambord and boil over moderate heat, stirring. Stir in the cornstarch mixture and simmer, stirring, for 3 minutes or until slightly thickened. Off the heat, stir in the gelatin and cool.
  6. Spread the jam over the shell, pour in the filling and chill 2 hours.

Grammy pencilled larger amounts beside the filling: 1 cup (240 ml) + 2 tbsp Chambord, ¼ cup (80 g) + 2 tbsp jam, “3+ C” blueberries, 1½ tsp cornstarch and 1½ tbsp water. Beside the blueberries, in ink: “(use 2 pts + ⅓ x of all else)” [?]; the “3+ C” is pencilled over the “pts”.

Grey box, p. 207
Grey box, p. 208
Early cards · 1950s–80s

Strawberry Pie

Typed card

Ingredients
  • 20 marshmallows
  • 1 package frozen strawberries
  • ½ pint (240 ml) whipping cream
  • 1 baked pie shell
Method
  1. Thaw the berries in a colander, collecting the juice in a bowl.
  2. Melt the marshmallows in the juice in a double boiler, stirring until well mixed.
  3. Take off the heat and cool completely.
  4. Whip the cream until stiff. Fold in the marshmallow mixture and the berries.
  5. Pile into the pie shell and keep in the refrigerator until ready to serve.

“(Cool completely, or you will curdle your cream)”

Grey box, p. 212
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegan

Pie Crust on Washington Hilton Notepaper

Written on a sheet of Washington Hilton notepaper (“The Resort Hotel of the Nation’s Capital”)

Yield One double-crust pie

Ingredients
  • ⅔ cup (125 g) Crisco
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 2 cups (250 g) flour
  • 4 tbsp water
Method
  1. Mix the Crisco, salt and flour with your fingers into little crumbs.
  2. Add the water gradually, mixing each spoonful in, and form a ball.
  3. Divide ⅔ and ⅓ for the bottom and top. Roll out for a tin pan.
Grey box, p. 213
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegetarian

Mile High Ice Cream Pie

Yield One 9-inch (23 cm) pie

Ingredients
  • 1½ cups (190 g) flour
  • ½ tsp salt
  • ½ cup (95 g) Crisco
  • 4 to 5 tbsp cold water
  • vanilla ice cream
  • chocolate ice cream
  • 4 egg whites
  • ½ tsp vanilla
  • ¼ tsp cream of tartar
  • ½ cup (100 g) sugar
  • chocolate sauce, to serve
Method
  1. Sift the flour and salt and cut in the Crisco. Sprinkle the water over 1 tbsp at a time until all is moistened.
  2. Roll out ⅛ inch (3 mm) thick and put in a 9-inch (23 cm) pie plate. Prick well and bake at 450°F (230°C) for 10 to 12 minutes. Cool.
  3. Layer vanilla ice cream in the shell first, then chocolate ice cream.
  4. Beat the egg whites, vanilla and cream of tartar to soft peaks. Gradually add the sugar and beat until stiff and glossy and the sugar has dissolved.
  5. Spread the meringue over the ice cream, sealing it to the edges of the pastry. Brown in a 500°F (260°C) oven for 3 to 5 minutes.
  6. Freeze several hours or overnight. Slice in wedges and drizzle with chocolate sauce.

“Cool.” (after baking the shell) is underlined.

Grey box, p. 214
Grey box, p. 215
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegetarian

Chocolate Meringue Pie

Yield One 9-inch (23 cm) baked shell

Ingredients
  • ¾ cup (150 g) sugar
  • 2 tbsp cornstarch
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 2½ cups (590 ml) milk (“½ – ½ & ½”)
  • 2 squares chocolate, melted
  • 3 egg yolks
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • Meringue
  • 3 egg whites
  • ¼ cup (50 g) sugar
Method
  1. Combine the sugar, cornstarch and salt with the milk and add the melted chocolate. Cook over low heat until slightly thickened, about 20 minutes.
  2. Beat the yolks, add a little of the hot milk mixture, then return it all to the pan, stirring constantly.
  3. When thick, about 5 minutes, remove from the heat. Add the vanilla and pour into the baked shell.
  4. When the filling is cool, beat the whites with the sugar until stiff enough to hold peaks. Pile onto the pie and brown in a slow oven (325°F / 160°C) for about 15 minutes.
Grey box, p. 216
Grey box, p. 217
Early cards · 1950s–80s

Betty Johnson’s Black Bottom Pie

Betty Johnson, typed card

Yield One 9-inch (23 cm) pie

Ingredients
  • Crust
  • 24 ginger snaps, rolled fine
  • 5 tbsp (70 g) melted butter
  • First filling
  • 2 cups (475 ml) milk, scalded
  • 4 egg yolks, beaten
  • ½ cup (100 g) sugar
  • 1¼ tbsp cornstarch
  • 1½ squares chocolate, grated
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • Second filling
  • 1 tbsp gelatin
  • 4 tbsp cold water
  • 4 egg whites
  • ½ cup (100 g) sugar
  • ¼ tsp cream of tartar
  • 2 tbsp rum, plus a little more
  • Topping
  • 1 cup (240 ml) cream (or Dream Whip)
  • ½ square chocolate, shaved
Method
  1. Mix the crumbs and butter and pat evenly into a 9-inch (23 cm) pan. Bake at 300°F (150°C) for 10 minutes. Cool.
  2. Add the yolks to the hot milk slowly. Mix the sugar and cornstarch and combine with the milk and eggs. Cook in a double boiler 20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until it generously coats the spoon.
  3. Take out 1 cup (240 ml) of the custard and beat in the grated chocolate. As it cools, add the vanilla. Pour into the crust and chill.
  4. Soften the gelatin in the cold water, blend thoroughly into the rest of the hot custard and let cool, but not thicken.
  5. Make a meringue of the whites, sugar and cream of tartar. Fold it into the custard and add the rum.
  6. As soon as the chocolate layer has set, spread the rum layer on top and chill again until thick.
  7. Whip the cream, spread over the pie and sprinkle with the shaved chocolate.

“SLOWLY” (add yolks to hot milk) is in capitals and underlined in ink; “**” is typed before the name in the heading.

Grey box, p. 218
Grey box, p. 219
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegetarian

Pecan Pie

Yield One 10-inch (25 cm) pie

Ingredients
  • one 10-inch (25 cm) unbaked pastry crust
  • 1 cup (120 g) pecans
  • 3 eggs
  • 1 cup (310 g) dark corn syrup
  • ¾ cup (150 g) sugar
  • 2 tbsp (28 g) butter, melted
  • 1½ tsp vanilla
Method
  1. Combine the beaten eggs, syrup, vanilla, sugar and butter and blend thoroughly.
  2. Stir in half the pecans and pour into the unbaked shell. Put the rest of the pecans on top.
  3. Bake at 350°F (180°C) for 45 minutes to 1 hour.
Grey box, p. 220
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegetarian

Sister’s Graham Cracker Crust

Signed “Sister” (Grammy’s sister Frances)

Yield One 9-inch (23 cm) pie shell

Ingredients
  • 1¼ cups (125 g) crushed graham crackers
  • ⅓ cup (75 g) butter, melted
  • 3 tbsp sugar
Method
  1. Mix the sugar and crumbs, add the butter and mix well.
  2. Pat into a 9-inch (23 cm) pie plate and bake 8 minutes at 350°F (180°C).
Grey box, p. 223
Early and later cards · 1950s–2000sHandwrittenVegetarian

Pâte Brisée

“1½ recipe for an 11-inch tart pan: see Blueberry Tart”

Ingredients
  • 1¼ cups (155 g) all-purpose flour
  • ¾ stick (6 tbsp; 85 g) cold unsalted butter, cut into bits
  • 2 tbsp cold Crisco
  • ¼ tsp salt (or 3 tbsp sugar, for a sweet crust)
  • 2 tbsp ice water (3 is scribbled out)
Method
  1. Blend the flour, fats and salt until the mixture resembles meal.
  2. Add the water and toss until it is incorporated and the dough forms a ball. Knead lightly with the heel of your hand for a few seconds.
  3. Dust with flour and chill, wrapped in wax paper, for 1 hour.
  4. To bake blind, line with paper and rice and bake at 425°F (220°C) for 15 minutes. Remove the rice and paper and bake 10 minutes more.

Also in the rose box: “Pâte Brisée (Grammy’s later version)”. Noted “see French Tart recipe” [?] and “make 1½ × recipe”; the Gourmet Pumpkin Pie card repeats it. Differences from the grey box card: 1½ cups (190 g) flour (not 1¼), 1 tbsp sugar and ½ tsp salt together, and the option of all butter.

“(Dt. overwork!)”

Grey box, p. 224
Rose box, p. 362
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwritten

Grasshopper Pie

Yield One 8-inch (20 cm) pie

Ingredients
  • 2 tbsp (28 g) melted butter
  • 14 chocolate wafer cookies, crushed
  • 24 large marshmallows
  • ½ cup (120 ml) milk
  • 4 tbsp green crème de menthe
  • 2 tbsp white crème de cacao
  • 1 cup (240 ml) whipping cream
  • whipped cream and shredded chocolate, to garnish
Method
  1. Mix the butter and crumbs and press into an 8-inch (20 cm) pie pan.
  2. Melt the marshmallows in the milk and cool thoroughly. Stir in the liqueurs.
  3. Whip the cream stiff and combine with the marshmallow mixture. Pour into the shell and freeze.
  4. Half an hour before serving, move the pie from the freezer to the refrigerator. Garnish with a small layer of whipped cream and shredded chocolate.

“24” (marshmallows) and “Cool” are underlined.

Grey box, p. 225
Grey box, p. 226
Early cards · 1950s–80sWell usedVegetarian

Magic Lemon Meringue Pie (Eagle Brand)

From two Borden Eagle Brand condensed milk labels Grammy kept, one with an ice cream freezer offer that expired in December 1972; both have her notes

Yield One 8-inch (20 cm) pie; serves 5 to 6

Ingredients
  • 1 baked 8-inch (20 cm) pastry shell or crumb crust, cooled
  • 1 can (1⅓ cups / 400 g) Eagle Brand sweetened condensed milk
  • ½ cup (120 ml) lemon juice (Grammy: “2½ large lemons”)
  • 1 tsp grated lemon rind
  • 2 egg yolks (Grammy: 3)
  • Meringue
  • 2 egg whites (Grammy: 3), at room temperature
  • ¼ tsp cream of tartar
  • ¼ cup (50 g) sugar
Method
  1. Combine the condensed milk, lemon juice and rind in a medium bowl and blend in the yolks until thickened. Turn into the cooled crust.
  2. Beat the whites with the cream of tartar until soft peaks form. Gradually beat in the sugar until stiff peaks form when the beater is raised.
  3. Spread over the filling and seal to the edge of the crust. Bake in a slow oven (325°F / 160°C) for 12 to 15 minutes, until the meringue is golden brown. Cool.

Grammy’s notes on the second label: bake the pie crust at 425°F (220°C) for 9 to 15 minutes and cool; and “pinch ½ [?] van.” beside the meringue.

Grey box, p. 227
Grey box, p. 228
Grey box, p. 229
Grey box, p. 230
Early cards · 1950s–80sVegetarian

Cherry-O Cream Cheese Pie (Eagle Brand)

From the Eagle Brand label

Yield Serves 8

Ingredients
  • 1 9-inch (23 cm) crumb crust
  • 1 package (8 oz / 225 g) cream cheese, softened
  • 1 can Eagle Brand sweetened condensed milk
  • ⅓ cup (80 ml) lemon juice (measure accurately)
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 can (1 lb 5 oz / 600 g) cherry pie filling, chilled
Method
  1. Beat the cream cheese until light and fluffy. Gradually add the condensed milk and stir until well blended.
  2. Stir in the lemon juice and vanilla and turn into the crust.
  3. Refrigerate (don’t freeze) 2 to 3 hours. Top with the chilled cherry pie filling before serving.
Grey box, p. 228
Early cards · 1950s–80sWell usedVegetarian

Magic Pumpkin Pie (Eagle Brand)

From the Eagle Brand label

Yield One 9-inch (23 cm) pie

Ingredients
  • 1 unbaked 9-inch (23 cm) pastry shell
  • 2 cups (16- or 17-oz can / 450 or 475 g) canned pumpkin
  • 1⅓ cups (15-oz can / 425 g) Eagle Brand sweetened condensed milk
  • 1 egg
  • ½ tsp salt
  • ½ tsp nutmeg
  • ½ tsp ginger
  • ¼ tsp cinnamon
Method
  1. Blend everything together in a large bowl and pour into the pie shell.
  2. Bake at 375°F (190°C) until a sharp knife inserted near the centre comes out clean, 50 to 55 minutes.
  3. Cool, then refrigerate at least 1 hour.

“A creamy pumpkin pie that’s sure to please your family.”

Written in large letters across the method: “SAUS” [?]

Grey box, p. 230
Early and later cards · 1950s–2000sHandwrittenVegan

Sister’s Pie Crust

Sister (Grammy’s sister Frances)

Yield One 9-inch (23 cm) two-crust pie

Ingredients
  • 2 cups (230 g) sifted all-purpose flour
  • 1 tsp salt
  • ⅔ cup (125 g) Crisco
  • ¼ cup (60 ml) water
Method
  1. Sift the flour and salt into a bowl. Take out ⅓ cup (80 ml) and mix it with the water to form a paste.
  2. Cut the Crisco into the remaining flour with a knife until the pieces are the size of small peas.
  3. Add the flour paste to the Crisco-flour mixture and mix thoroughly until the dough comes together and can be shaped into a ball.
  4. Divide “in 3s” and roll out. Bake at 425°F (220°C) for 12 to 15 minutes.

Also in the rose box: “Sister’s Pie Crust (Candy’s)”. Headed “Sister’s Pie Crust (Candy’s)”, with Grammy’s quantities for a larger and a single crust. Differences from the grey box card: no flour-and-water paste step, ice-cold water, and rolling between plastic sheets. Who “Candy” was isn’t known.

“freezing” (the water) is underlined twice.

Grey box, p. 231
Grey box, p. 232
Rose box, p. 361
Early and later cards · 1950s–2000sHandwrittenWell usedVegetarian

French Mint Pie

Yield One 9-inch (23 cm) pie

Ingredients
  • 1 cup (115 g) (or 1¼) powdered sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • ¼ tsp mint flavouring
  • ¼ lb (115 g) butter
  • 2½ squares unsweetened chocolate
  • 1 graham cracker crust, in a 9-inch (23 cm) tin
Method
  1. Melt the chocolate and let it cool.
  2. Beat the sugar and butter until smooth. Add the unbeaten eggs one at a time and beat until smooth.
  3. Add the chocolate, then the mint.
  4. Spread into the crust and chill in the refrigerator for several hours.

The eggs are not cooked.

Also in the rose box: “French Mint Pie”. A second, neater card of the same recipe. Same as the grey box card, which allows 1 to 1¼ cups (115–145 g) sugar.

Grey box, p. 233
Rose box, p. 370
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegetarian

Charlotte’s French Apple Pie

Charlotte

Yield One pie

Ingredients
  • about 6 apples
  • 1 cup (200 g) sugar
  • 2 tbsp flour
  • ½ tsp salt
  • ¾ tsp cinnamon
  • ¼ tsp nutmeg
  • butter
  • 1 unbaked pastry shell
  • undiluted evaporated milk
Method
  1. Pare, core and halve the apples.
  2. Mix the sugar, flour, salt and spices. Put half the mixture in the bottom of the pastry.
  3. Put a bit of butter in each apple half and lay them cored side down in the pie. Fill the gaps with small chunks of apple and spread the rest of the sugar mixture over the top.
  4. Pour undiluted evaporated milk over all, just until it shows.
  5. Bake at 425°F (220°C) for 15 minutes, then 325°F (160°C) for about 25 minutes.

“evap. milk” is underlined.

Grey box, p. 234
Early cards · 1950s–80sVegetarian

Butter-Crust

A Land O’ Lakes and Pillsbury advertisement clipped from This Week Magazine, 14 July 1963

Yield One 9-inch (23 cm) pie shell

Ingredients
  • ½ cup (115 g) butter
  • 2 tbsp sugar
  • 1 cup (125 g) all-purpose flour
Method
  1. Combine the butter and sugar; do not cream.
  2. Add the flour and mix just until a dough forms (with a mixer, use the lowest speed). Put ¼ to ⅓ cup (60–80 ml) of the mixture in a small pan for crumbs.
  3. Press the rest evenly over the bottom and sides of a 9-inch (23 cm) pie pan with well-floured fingers.
  4. Bake at 375°F (190°C) until light golden brown: crumbs 10 to 12 minutes, crust 12 to 15 minutes. Cool.

“Butter-rich, tender-crisp. Easy? You don’t even roll it out. Just mix, pat out, bake.”

With self-rising flour, use unsalted butter and bake 8 to 10 minutes. The back of the clipping is a photo story about show birds in Naples, Florida.

Grey box, p. 235
Grey box, p. 236
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegetarian

Julia Child’s Pie Dough

Taken down from Julia Child on ABC’s Good Morning America, Channel 7; “12/7” is written above the title

Ingredients
  • 1¾ cups (220 g) flour (Grammy first wrote 2)
  • 1½ sticks (170 g) cool butter, in chunks (first written 1¼)
  • 2 tbsp Crisco
  • 1 tsp salt (added in red ink)
  • ⅓ cup (80 ml) cold water
Method
  1. Make it in the food processor: pulse the flour, salt, butter and Crisco until the fat is in small pieces, then add the cold water and pulse just until the dough holds together.

In red ink at the bottom: “IN tel Dir – Not under ABC-TV, Nor Ch 7 – Good Morning America”, then a phone number.

The card lists only the ingredients and “Use in food processor”; the method step is the standard food-processor way.

Under the title, “Ch. 7” is underlined in ink and circled in pencil.

Grey box, p. 237
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegetarian

Lemon Filling for Little Tarts

Ingredients
  • ¼ lb (115 g) butter, melted
  • ⅔ cup (135 g) sugar
  • 6 eggs, well beaten
  • one 6-oz (175 ml) can frozen lemon juice concentrate
Method
  1. Add the sugar to the melted butter and mix well. Add the eggs and mix well.
  2. Stir in the lemon concentrate.
  3. Cook in a double boiler, stirring constantly, until thickened, glossy and smooth.

“Good cake filling too. Keeps well in refrig”

Grey box, p. 238
Early cards · 1950s–80s

Betty’s Pumpkin Ginger Pie

Betty, typed card

Yield One pie

Ingredients
  • Crust
  • 2 cups (200 g) ginger snap crumbs
  • 5 tbsp (70 g) melted butter or oleo
  • Filling
  • 1 envelope gelatin
  • ¼ cup (60 ml) cold water
  • 1¼ cups (310 g) pumpkin
  • ½ cup (120 ml) milk
  • ½ tsp each ginger, nutmeg, cinnamon and salt
  • 3 egg yolks
  • ½ cup (100 g) sugar
  • 3 egg whites
  • ½ cup (100 g) sugar
Method
  1. Mix the crumbs and butter, press into a pie plate and bake 10 to 15 minutes in a moderate oven.
  2. Combine the gelatin and cold water. Add to the pumpkin, milk, spices, yolks and first ½ cup (100 g) sugar and cook in a double boiler until thick.
  3. Beat the whites with the second ½ cup (100 g) sugar and fold in.
  4. Pour into the baked ginger shell and chill.
Grey box, p. 239
Grey box, p. 240
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegetarian

Sweet Pastry Crust (Tart Shell)

“See Blueberry Tart shell”

Yield One 10-inch (25 cm) tart shell

Ingredients
  • 10 tbsp (140 g) soft butter
  • 1½ cups (190 g) flour
  • 1 tbsp sugar
  • 2 to 4 tbsp ice water
Method
  1. Mix the butter, flour and sugar, then add just enough ice water to hold the dough together. Line the tart pan.
  2. Prick with a fork and line with foil and dried beans.
  3. Refrigerate 30 minutes.
  4. Partially bake at 400°F (200°C) for 10 minutes with the foil and beans and 10 minutes without. For a fully baked shell, add 10 minutes more.

Grammy crossed out the Crisco and salt on this card.

Underlined on the card: “Refrig”, “Partially baked” and “400°”; “See Blueberry Tart shell” is circled.

Grey box, p. 241
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenWell usedVegetarian

Cream Pie

Two copies of this recipe were in the box: an older card with its own meringue card, and a newer one in Grammy’s hand with a banana cream variation

Yield One pie

Ingredients
  • 1 baked pastry shell
  • 2 cups (475 ml) milk
  • ⅓ cup (42 g) flour
  • ⅔ cup (135 g) sugar
  • ⅛ tsp salt
  • 2 tsp butter
  • 3 egg yolks
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • Meringue
  • 3 egg whites
  • 1 pinch cream of tartar
  • 5 tbsp sugar
  • 1 tsp lemon or vanilla flavouring
Method
  1. Scald the milk.
  2. Mix the dry ingredients together and add the hot milk slowly, stirring well.
  3. Add the butter. Cook in a double boiler until thick and smooth, about 15 minutes, stirring often. (In a saucepan, use low heat and stir constantly.)
  4. Beat the yolks slightly, add a little hot filling, then stir quickly into the hot mixture. Stir and cook 2 minutes.
  5. Cool and add the flavouring. Pour into the baked and cooled pastry shell.
  6. For the meringue, beat the whites until stiff but not dry. Add the sugar gradually, beating and folding in; it should stand up in lustrous heavy points. Add the flavouring.
  7. Spread over the cooled pie with a spatula. Bake at 375°F (190°C) for about 12 minutes, until as brown or golden as you like.

The meringue card’s advice: “Do not smooth too carefully, neither let it stand up in peaks as these brown too soon.”

Beside the title on the newer card: “temp 325° – 20 min”

On the older card, “constantly”, “cooled” and “under” (filling) are underlined.

Banana cream: 3 sliced bananas can be laid on the crust before the filling goes in, or mashed into the filling. Cool the filling before covering it with meringue.

Grey box, p. 246
Grey box, p. 247
Grey box, p. 244
Grey box, p. 245
Grey box, p. 242
Grey box, p. 243
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegetarian

Banana Split Pie

Yield One 8-inch (20 cm) pie

Ingredients
  • ½ cup (115 g) margarine
  • 1½ cups (150 g) sifted confectioners’ sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 2 bananas
  • 1 tbsp lemon juice
  • 1 square Baker’s chocolate, grated
  • ¼ cup (30 g) walnuts, chopped
  • 1 baked 8-inch (20 cm) pie shell, cooled
Method
  1. Cream the margarine and gradually add the sugar. Cream well.
  2. Add the eggs one at a time, beating 3 minutes on low after each. Blend in the vanilla.
  3. Slice the bananas and sprinkle with the lemon juice. Reserve 12 slices for garnish.
  4. Fold the chocolate and bananas into the sugar mixture and turn into the pie shell.
  5. Garnish with the walnuts and reserved banana slices. Chill 2 to 3 hours.

The eggs are not cooked.

Grey box, p. 248
Grey box, p. 249
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegetarian

Sunny’s Lemon Pie Filling

Sunny

Ingredients
  • 1 cup (200 g) sugar
  • 2 cups (475 ml) milk
  • 2 tbsp cornstarch
  • 2 tbsp flour
  • 2 egg yolks
  • 3 tbsp lemon juice
  • grated rind of 1 lemon
Method
  1. Stir together the sugar, cornstarch and flour and add the warm milk gradually, stirring. Cook until it coats the spoon.
  2. Beat the yolks and add 1 tbsp of the hot mixture to them, then add the yolks to the pan. Cook 1 minute.
  3. Add the lemon last and cool.
  4. Top with meringue and bake at 300°F (150°C) for ½ hour.

“last” (of the lemon) is underlined.

Grey box, p. 250
Grey box, p. 251
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegetarian

Esther’s Cherry Pie

Esther

Yield One two-crust pie

Ingredients
  • pastry for a 2-crust pie
  • 2 No. 2 cans (570 g each) red sour pitted cherries, drained
  • 2 tbsp sugar mixed with 1 tbsp flour
  • about ¾ cup (150 g) sugar
  • dash of salt
  • butter
  • cream, for brushing
Method
  1. Put the bottom crust in the pan and sift the sugar-flour mixture over it.
  2. Put in the cherries, add the sugar and salt and dot the top with butter.
  3. Put on the top crust and brush it with cream.
  4. Bake at 450°F (230°C) for 10 minutes, then 350°F (180°C) for 30 minutes, with foil under the pan to catch the juice.

On the back of the card is a typed address: “Mrs. D. S. Riggan, Y-1-A Cameron Ct. Apts., Raleigh, N. C. 27603, M.Ed. Aug. ’53”, with “1953” written in pink.

Grey box, p. 252
Grey box, p. 253
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegetarian

R. Boyce’s Ritz Cracker Pecan Pie

R. Boyce

Ingredients
  • 20 Ritz crackers, crushed
  • ½ cup (100 g) sugar
  • 1 cup (120 g) pecans
  • ⅓ cup (80 ml) egg whites (3), beaten very stiff
  • ½ cup (65 g) sugar, less 3 tbsp
  • 1 tsp vanilla
Method
  1. Mix the crackers, ½ cup (100 g) sugar and pecans.
  2. Beat the whites very stiff with the second amount of sugar and the vanilla. Fold the dry mixture into the whites.
  3. Pour into a well-greased dish and bake at 375°F [?] (190°C) for 20 minutes.

The 7 in “375” is written over another figure; a loop like the foot of her “2” shows beneath it, so 325°F (160°C) is possible.

The card’s method says “Fold dry mix into egg yolks – sugar + vanilla”; the ingredients list only egg whites.

Grey box, p. 254
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwritten

Lemon Chiffon Pie

Yield One pie

Ingredients
  • 4 egg yolks, slightly beaten
  • ½ cup (100 g) sugar
  • juice of 1 lemon
  • grated rind of 1 lemon
  • salt to taste
  • 1 tbsp plain gelatin
  • ¼ cup (60 ml) cold water
  • 4 egg whites
  • ½ cup (100 g) sugar
  • 1 baked pie shell
  • whipped cream, to serve
Method
  1. Cook the yolks, sugar, lemon juice, rind and salt in the top of a double boiler, stirring frequently, to the consistency of thick custard.
  2. Soak the gelatin in the cold water until dissolved, add to the hot custard and cool.
  3. Beat the whites stiff but not dry. Beat in the sugar gradually, then beat again.
  4. Fold the cool custard into the whites. Pile into the baked shell and chill several hours. Serve with whipped cream.
Grey box, p. 255
Grey box, p. 256
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenWell usedVegetarian

Sunny’s Frozen Lemon Pie

Sunny

Yield One 9-inch (23 cm) pie; serves 6 to 8

Ingredients
  • ½ cup (50 g) fine graham cracker crumbs
  • 3 egg whites
  • ½ cup (100 g) sugar
  • 3 egg yolks
  • 1 cup (240 ml) whipping cream
  • 2 to 3 tsp grated lemon rind
  • ¼ to ⅓ cup (60–80 ml) lemon juice
Method
  1. Sprinkle a well-greased 9-inch (23 cm) pie plate with ¼ cup of the crumbs.
  2. Beat the whites until frothy. Gradually add the sugar and beat until stiff and glossy.
  3. Beat the yolks until thick and lemon-coloured and fold into the whites.
  4. Beat the cream with the lemon rind and juice until stiff and fold into the egg mixture.
  5. Pour into the pie plate and sprinkle with the remaining ¼ cup (25 g) crumbs. Chill or freeze to the consistency you like.

“freeze” is underlined.

Grey box, p. 257
Grey box, p. 258
Early cards · 1950s–80s

Pat K.’s Chocolate Pie

“Pat K.”, typed card

Ingredients
  • 25 regular-size marshmallows
  • ½ cup (120 ml) milk
  • one 8¾-oz (250 g) Hershey bar with almonds
  • ½ pint (240 ml) whipping cream
  • 1 graham cracker crust
Method
  1. Shave up the Hershey bar and sliver the almonds from it.
  2. Put the marshmallows, milk, chocolate and almonds in the top of a double boiler and heat until melted.
  3. Let cool until the mixture has begun to set.
  4. Whip the cream and fold it in. Pour into the crust and refrigerate.
Grey box, p. 260
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegetarian

Strawberry Pie Glaze

Written on the back of a printed “Advertising Mailing List” form (Sales 260, revised August 1960)

Ingredients
  • 1 cup (225 g) mashed strawberries (measured after mashing)
  • 1 cup (200 g) sugar
  • 3 tbsp cornstarch, dissolved in a little water
  • red food colouring
  • 1 baked 9-inch (23 cm) pie shell
  • whole strawberries, washed and drained
  • whipped cream
Method
  1. Cook the mashed berries, sugar and cornstarch until really thick and clear. Add red food colouring.
  2. Fill the baked pie shell with whole berries and pour the glaze over.
  3. Cover with whipped cream and put 3 or 4 berries on top. Chill 6 to 8 hours.

“really” (thick) is underlined.

Grey box, p. 290
Grey box, p. 291
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegetarian

Chocolate Fudge Pie

Ingredients
  • ½ cup (115 g) butter, melted
  • 1 cup (200 g) sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • ½ cup (65 g) flour, sifted
  • 1 square chocolate, melted
  • 1 tsp vanilla
Method
  1. Beat the sugar and butter together. Add the eggs and mix.
  2. Add the flour and blend well. Add the chocolate and vanilla.
  3. Pour into a greased pie plate and bake at 325°F (160°C) for 25 minutes.
Grey box, p. 295
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegetarian

Plum Tart

Noted “G – July 83”, most likely Gourmet magazine, July 1983

Yield One 11-inch (28 cm) tart

Ingredients
  • 1½ recipes pâte brisée (see the grey box’s Pâte Brisée)
  • 2 lb (900 g) ripe purple plums, quartered and pitted
  • ⅔ cup (135 g) sugar, or to taste
  • ½ tsp cinnamon
  • 2 tbsp (28 g) unsalted butter, cut into bits
  • 1 tbsp cornstarch dissolved in 2 tbsp tawny port
  • nectarine ice cream, to serve
Method
  1. Roll the pastry ⅛ inch (3 mm) thick and fit it into an 11-inch (28 cm) tart pan with a removable rim. Trim, leaving a 1-inch (2.5 cm) overhang, and fold it in to stand ¼ inch (5 mm) above the rim. Prick the bottom and chill 30 minutes.
  2. Line with wax paper, fill with rice and bake in a hot 425°F (220°C) oven for 10 minutes. Remove the rice and paper and bake 5 to 10 minutes more, until golden. Cool on a rack.
  3. In a buttered 2-quart (1.9 litres) glass baking dish, arrange the plums skin side down in one layer. Sprinkle with the cinnamon and sugar and dot with butter. Bake at 425°F (220°C) for 30 minutes, until almost tender and juicy. Cool 10 minutes.
  4. With a slotted spoon, arrange the plums skin side down in the shell. Boil the cooking juices in a small stainless pan, stir in the cornstarch mixture in a stream and cook over moderate heat, stirring, 1 minute or until thickened.
  5. Spoon the glaze over the plums and bake the tart on a baking sheet at 350°F (180°C) for 15 to 20 minutes, until the plums are tender. Cool on a rack and remove the rim. Serve with nectarine ice cream.

Written after the date at the top: “too much sauce”

Underlined on the card: “2” (lbs), “T. Port”, “above”, “Chill 30″”, both “425°”s, “10″”, “5–10″ more” and “350°”.

“lower ⅓” (of the oven) is crossed out in step 2, and “small” is crossed out and replaced by “glass” in step 3.

Grey box, p. 340
Grey box, p. 341
Later cards, 1990s–2000s
Later cards · 1990s–2000sVegetarian

Open-Faced Rhubarb Tart

A printed recipe card in the magazine’s style (“Active time: 1 hr. Start to finish: 3¾ hr”), most likely Gourmet, with a colour photograph of the tart: rhubarb slices fanned in overlapping circles. Rewritten here.

Yield Serves 8

Ingredients
  • 1 cup (125 g) plus 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
  • ¼ cup (50 g) plus 3 tbsp sugar
  • ¼ tsp salt
  • 1½ sticks (¾ cup; 170 g) cold unsalted butter, in bits
  • 1½ to 2 tbsp cold water
  • ¼ cup (35 g) whole blanched almonds
  • 1¼ lb (575 g) rhubarb stalks (preferably about 1⅓ inches / 3.5 cm wide)
  • ¼ cup (80 g) apricot preserves, melted and strained
  • lightly sweetened whipped cream, to serve
Method
  1. Crust: whisk 1 cup (125 g) flour, 1 tbsp sugar and the salt. Blend in the butter with your fingertips or a pastry blender until most of it looks like coarse meal, with some pea-size lumps left.
  2. Stir in 1½ tbsp water with a fork. A squeezed handful should hold together; if not, add the last ½ tbsp.
  3. On a lightly floured surface, smear the dough forward 3 times with the heel of your hand to distribute the fat. Gather into a disk, wrap and chill until firm, at least 1 hour (or up to 2 days).
  4. Roll out between overlapping sheets of wax paper into a 12-inch (30 cm) round and chill until firm, about 15 minutes.
  5. Pulse the almonds with 2 tbsp sugar and the remaining 2 tbsp flour in a food processor until finely ground (not a paste). Cut the rhubarb at a 45-degree angle into ¼-inch (5 mm) slices.
  6. Heat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Peel off the top paper, invert the dough onto a large baking sheet and peel off the other sheet. Fold the edge in to make a ½-inch (1 cm) border, pressing it to seal.
  7. Spread the almond mixture over the crust, inside the border. Arrange the rhubarb on top in overlapping slices. Score the border decoratively and chill 15 minutes.
  8. Sprinkle the remaining ¼ cup (50 g) sugar over the rhubarb. Bake in the lower third of the oven until the crust is golden brown at the edges and the rhubarb is tender, 35 to 45 minutes.
  9. Cool on the baking sheet on a rack, then brush the rhubarb with the apricot preserves to glaze. Serve with lightly sweetened whipped cream.
Rose box, p. 342
Rose box, p. 343
Later cards · 1990s–2000sHandwrittenSpecial praiseVegetarian

Apple or Blueberry Tart

Three cards: the crust (“Apple/Blueberry Tart”, with “French” written above), the apple filling, and the blueberry version. The crust card is noted “Stan’s favorite” (Stan was Grammy’s long-term partner after her marriage to Peter Engel), with the name struck through and “Pat” written beside it; the blueberry card is marked “Stan” too, also struck through.

Ingredients
  • Crust
  • 12 tbsp (1½ sticks; 170 g) butter, cut into ½-inch (1 cm) pieces
  • 1½ cups (190 g) flour
  • 3 tbsp sugar
  • ⅛ tsp salt (or less)
  • 1½ to 2 tbsp cider vinegar (white vinegar for the blueberry tart; 3 to 5 tbsp ice water is crossed out)
  • Apple filling
  • 5 firm, tart cooking apples (Fujis), peeled, cored and sliced ⅜ inch (1 cm) thick
  • 2 to 3 tsp lemon juice
  • ¼ cup (50 g) sugar
  • 2 tbsp packed light brown sugar
  • 2 tbsp (28 g) butter
  • ⅓ cup (105 g) clear apple jelly, for the glaze
  • Blueberry filling
  • 2 pints (675 g) fresh blueberries (later 3 pints / 1 kg), plus 2 pints (675 g) more for the top
  • ¾ cup (150 g) sugar (later ½ cup / 100 g)
  • 2 tbsp plus 2 tsp flour (or 1 tbsp cornstarch, or less)
  • ¼ tsp cinnamon (later ½ tsp)
  • 2 tbsp lemon juice (added later)
Method
  1. Crust: combine the butter, flour, sugar and salt in the food processor and pulse on and off until it looks like coarse meal.
  2. Pour 1½ tbsp vinegar through the feed tube in a steady stream. Add more, ½ tsp at a time, until the dough barely comes together.
  3. With lightly floured hands, press into an 11 × 1-inch (28 × 2.5 cm) fluted tart pan, ¼ inch (5 mm) thick. Freeze from 1 hour up to 2 to 3 days.
  4. Apple tart: toss the apples with the lemon juice to coat evenly. Arrange in the crust in concentric circles, points towards the centre and slightly overlapping, working from the outside in.
  5. Sprinkle with both sugars and dot with the butter.
  6. Bake 15 minutes at 400°F (200°C) in the lower third of the oven. Reduce to 375°F (190°C) and bake 20 to 30 minutes in the middle of the oven, until the apples are slightly brown and the crust is browned.
  7. Melt the apple jelly over low heat and brush it over the tart with a pastry brush. Cool 10 minutes and serve warm.
  8. Blueberry tart: combine the sugar, flour and cinnamon. Sprinkle a quarter of it evenly over the frozen crust. Add 2 cups (290 g) blueberries and sprinkle with more of the sugar mixture. Add 2 more cups and top with the rest. Level the berries.
  9. Bake at 400°F (200°C) for 50 to 60 minutes, until the crust is well browned and the filling bubbling. Cool 10 minutes on a wire rack and remove the sides.
  10. Refrigerate or freeze (wrapped tightly). Let the tart return to room temperature, then arrange the fresh topping blueberries in concentric circles to cover it.

On the apple card, “concentric circles”, “lower” and “middle” are all underlined. On the crust card, “Freeze” is underlined twice.

Rose box, p. 345
Rose box, p. 346
Rose box, p. 347
Rose box, p. 348
Later cards · 1990s–2000sVegetarian

Free-Form Apple or Pear Tart

A newspaper column clipping, with its colour photograph of a slice of pear tart and whipped cream; the writer calls the tart “a masterpiece of minimalism… not unlike a sweet pizza, so why not?” Rewritten here.

Yield 8 servings; about 1 hour, plus 1 hour chilling

Ingredients
  • 1¼ cups (155 g) all-purpose flour
  • a pinch of salt
  • 3 tbsp sugar
  • 9 tbsp (130 g) cold butter
  • 1 egg yolk
  • 3 to 4 tbsp cold water
  • 3 or 4 medium apples (preferably Golden Delicious) or pears, peeled, cored and very thinly sliced
  • 2 tbsp brown sugar
  • crème fraîche, sweetened whipped cream or vanilla ice cream
Method
  1. Pulse the flour, salt and sugar in a food processor. Add 8 tbsp of the butter in chunks and the egg yolk and process about 10 seconds, until blended.
  2. Turn into a bowl and stir in cold water a tablespoon at a time until you can gather it into a ball (3 or 4 tbsp). Wrap and refrigerate at least 1 hour (or freeze about 15 minutes).
  3. Heat the oven to 400°F (200°C). Roll or pat the dough into a 10-inch (25 cm) circle (it can be quite rough) on a cookie or pizza sheet, preferably nonstick.
  4. Arrange the fruit right out to the edges, in a pattern if you like. Sprinkle with the brown sugar and dot with the last tablespoon of butter.
  5. Bake until the crust is nicely browned and the fruit tender, 20 to 30 minutes. Serve warm or at room temperature, with crème fraîche, whipped cream or ice cream.

The writer’s tips: almost any fruit works, and you can spread it with warmed jam instead of brown sugar; a pear tart made with ginger marmalade was “especially good”. It can be assembled ahead and baked after the lamb comes out of the oven.

Rose box, p. 353
Rose box, p. 354
Later cards · 1990s–2000sHandwrittenVegetarian

Maran’s Blueberry Pie

Maran [?]; “use Graham Cracker Crust”, with the crust method on the back

Yield One 10-inch (25 cm) pie (the crust note says 9-inch / 23 cm)

Ingredients
  • 6 cups (875 g) blueberries (4 to 5 pints / 1.4–1.7 kg)
  • ⅓ cup (65 g) sugar (or less)
  • 1 tbsp cornstarch
  • 1 tbsp water
  • 2 tsp lemon zest
  • 2 tsp lemon juice
  • Graham cracker crust
  • 9 Original graham crackers (1 package)
  • 2 tbsp sugar
  • 5 tbsp (70 g) butter, melted
Method
  1. Crust: crush the crackers in the processor and mix in the sugar. With the processor running, pour in the melted butter. Use a ½-cup (120 ml) measure to press it into the pie plate. Prebake the shell and let it cool. (Pastry or vanilla wafers work too.)
  2. Set aside a handful of nice berries for the top.
  3. Put 3 cups (425 g) of berries in a 2-quart (1.9 litres) saucepan over medium heat. Mash several times with a potato masher to release the juices. Cook, stirring, 8 minutes.
  4. Mix the cornstarch with the water and add the lemon zest and juice. Stir into the berries in the pan with the sugar.
  5. Add the other 3 cups (425 g) of berries and combine gently. Pour into the pie shell and put the saved berries on top.
  6. Let it set 2 hours.

On the back, “Original” (graham crackers) is underlined.

See also Graham Cracker Crust (Cook’s Illustrated)

Rose box, p. 356
Rose box, p. 357
Later cards · 1990s–2000sHandwrittenVegetarian

Pumpkin Pie (Gourmet)

Noted “Gourmet”; “use 10-inch pie shell” is circled in red

Yield One 10- or 11-inch (25 or 28 cm) pie

Ingredients
  • ¾ cup (160 g) dark brown sugar
  • ¼ cup (50 g) sugar
  • 1 tbsp flour
  • 1 tbsp molasses
  • 1½ tsp cinnamon
  • 1 tsp ginger
  • ¼ tsp nutmeg
  • ¼ tsp cloves
  • ¼ tsp salt
  • 2 cups (500 g) pumpkin purée
  • 3 large eggs
  • 1¾ cups (420 ml) heavy cream
  • 2 tbsp brandy
  • sweetened whipped cream, flavoured with vanilla or brandy, to serve
  • Crust: pâte brisée (make 1½ times the recipe)
  • 1½ cups (190 g) flour
  • ¾ stick (85 g) cold butter
  • 2 tbsp cold vegetable shortening (Crisco) (“8 Tb” is written in the margin, bracketing the butter and shortening)
  • 1½ [?] tbsp sugar (the amount and unit are written over)
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 3 to 4 tbsp ice water
Method
  1. Crust: blend the flour, butter, shortening and sugar in the processor until like coarse meal. Add 2 tbsp water and pulse 2 or 3 times until mixed. Try to form a ball with your hands.
  2. Knead lightly with the heel of your hand on a smooth surface for a few seconds. Dust with flour and chill, wrapped in wax paper, at least 1 hour, up to 2 days.
  3. Roll out ⅛ inch (3 mm) thick and line an 11-inch (28 cm) pie pan. Crimp the edges, prick the bottom with a fork and chill 1 hour.
  4. Heat the oven to 400°F (200°C). Bake the crust lined with wax paper and weights for 10 minutes. Remove the weights and paper and bake 10 to 15 minutes more, until lightly coloured. Cool on a rack. Reduce the oven to 375°F (190°C).
  5. In a bowl, combine the first 10 ingredients (sugars through pumpkin). In another bowl, combine the eggs, cream and brandy, then fold into the pumpkin mixture.
  6. Pour into the shell and bake in the middle of the oven 35 to 40 minutes, until the filling is set. Cool on a rack.

On the pastry, in brackets: “(Dt overwork!)”

Also: “(Gourmet)”, the serving line (“sweetened whip. or flavored w/ van or brandy”), “10 min” and “10-15 min” (more) are underlined; “400°F” and “375°F” are circled; and on the back the “1½” of “(Make 1½ recipe)” is underlined twice.

See also Pâte Brisée

Rose box, p. 358
Rose box, p. 359
Later cards · 1990s–2000sHandwrittenVegetarian

Apple Pie (9-inch)

The ingredients in green ink, the method in blue

Yield One 9-inch (23 cm) pie (6 cups / 675 g apples)

Ingredients
  • 6 to 7 sliced apples
  • ¾ to 1 cup (150–200 g) sugar
  • 2 tbsp flour
  • ½ to 1 tsp cinnamon
  • ¼ tsp nutmeg
  • ¼ tsp salt
  • 2 to 4 tbsp (28–55 g) butter
  • 1 tbsp lemon juice
  • pastry for a two-crust pie
Method
  1. Combine the sugar, flour, spices and salt and mix with the apples (and lemon juice).
  2. Fill the pie shell and dot with butter. Put on the top crust.
  3. Bake at 400°F (200°C) for 55 to 60 minutes.
Rose box, p. 360
Later cards · 1990s–2000sHandwrittenVegetarian

Rita’s Mürbeteig Plum Torte

Rita, headed “Rita’s Mürbeteig Crust with Topping (for Plum Torte)”

Yield One 10-inch (25 cm) torte

Ingredients
  • 2 cups (250 g) flour
  • ¼ cup (55 g) soft butter
  • ½ cup (100 g) sugar
  • 1 egg
  • a pinch of salt
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • Topping
  • 2 lb (900 g) sweet plums
  • ¾ cup (150 g) sugar
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
Method
  1. Mix everything and knead to a supple dough on a bread board.
  2. Roll it out and line a greased 10-inch (25 cm) springform tart pan.
  3. Pit the plums and arrange them in circles on the dough, skin side down. Sprinkle with the sugar and cinnamon.
  4. Bake at 375°F (190°C) for 30 minutes.

“Thoroughly cool before baking”, with “Thoroughly” underlined.

On the back: if the plums are very juicy, sprinkle a little cornstarch on the dough before arranging them, and mix a little cornstarch with the juice, to avoid a soggy crust.

See also Mrs. K’s Butter Cookies (Mürbeteig)

Rose box, p. 363
Rose box, p. 364
Later cards · 1990s–2000sHandwrittenVegetarian

Streusel-Topped Apple Pie

Two sets of figures, older ones crossed out and later ones in blue

Yield One pie

Ingredients
  • (A) Streusel
  • 1 cup (125 g) flour
  • ½ cup (110 g) brown sugar
  • ½ cup (115 g) butter, melted
  • (B) Filling
  • 3½ [?] lb (1.6 kg) cooking apples (5 to 6 cups / 575–675 g sliced)
  • ½ to ⅔ cup (100–135 g) sugar (“⅔+”; older figures crossed out)
  • 2½ tbsp flour
  • 1 tbsp lemon juice
  • ½ to ¾ tsp cinnamon
  • ¼ to ½ tsp nutmeg
Method
  1. Mix (A) and set aside.
  2. Toss (B) with the apples and put into a chilled pastry shell.
  3. Sprinkle (A) on top and pat it down evenly.
  4. Bake at 400°F (200°C) (later 350°F / 180°C) 45 to 60 minutes (later 60 to 70), until the apples are tender and the juice bubbles.

On the back, another timing: 450°F (230°C) for 10 minutes, then 380°F (195°C) for 35 to 45 minutes. Cover with foil if it gets too brown.

See also Apple Pie (10-inch, with streusel)

Rose box, p. 365
Rose box, p. 366
Later cards · 1990s–2000sHandwrittenVegetarian

Graham Cracker Crust (Cook’s Illustrated)

Noted “Cook’s 7/03”: Cook’s Illustrated, July 2003

Yield One 9-inch (23 cm) crust

Ingredients
  • 9 graham crackers, broken into rough pieces
  • 2 tbsp sugar
  • 5 tbsp (70 g) butter, melted and warm
Method
  1. Adjust the oven rack to the middle and heat the oven to 325°F (160°C).
  2. Process the crackers in the processor until fine, 30 seconds (1 cup / 85 g). Add the sugar and pulse to combine.
  3. Keep pulsing while adding the butter in a steady stream, until the mixture looks like wet sand.
  4. Transfer the crumbs to a 9-inch (23 cm) pie plate and press them up the sides and over the bottom.
  5. Bake until fragrant and beginning to brown, 15 to 18 minutes. Put on a wire rack to cool.

See also Sister’s Graham Cracker Crust

Rose box, p. 367
Later cards · 1990s–2000sHandwrittenVegetarian

Maureen’s [?] Key Lime Pie

Signed in the corner, “Maureen” [?]

Yield One 9-inch (23 cm) pie

Ingredients
  • 6 oz (170 g) Cool Whip
  • one 14-oz (395 g) can condensed milk (use less, about 12 oz / 340 g)
  • ½ cup (120 ml) Key lime juice
  • one 9-inch (23 cm) graham cracker crust, baked, cooled and chilled
  • raspberries, to serve
Method
  1. Beat the Cool Whip and condensed milk until well mixed. Add the lime juice and beat until smooth.
  2. Pour into the pie shell and freeze 2 hours or more.
  3. Take out of the freezer 10 minutes before serving. Scatter raspberries on top.
  4. Store in the freezer.
Rose box, p. 368
Later cards · 1990s–2000sHandwrittenVegetarian

Apple Pie (10-inch, with streusel)

“Greenings” crossed out, with “Golden Del.” and “Braeburn” written above

Yield One 10-inch (25 cm) pie

Ingredients
  • 6 large apples (Golden Delicious or Braeburn), thinly sliced
  • not quite 1 cup (200 g) sugar
  • 2 tbsp flour
  • ½ to 1 tsp cinnamon
  • ½ to ¾ tsp nutmeg
  • a pinch of salt
  • ½ tsp lemon rind, or 1 tbsp lemon juice
  • 2 to 4 tbsp (28–55 g) butter
  • Streusel topping
  • 1 cup (85–125 g) flour or oatmeal
  • ½ to 1 cup (110–215 g) brown sugar
  • ¾ cup (170 g) butter (or 1 cup / 225 g with ½ cup / 43 g oats added)
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
Method
  1. Mix the apples with the sugar, flour, spices, salt and lemon. Put them in the pie shell and dot with the butter.
  2. Mix the streusel and spread it over.
  3. Bake at 350°F (180°C) for 60 to 70 minutes (or 375°F / 190°C for 30 minutes in a convection oven). Cover the streusel with tin foil if it gets too brown.
  4. Cool on a rack.

“350° – 60-70” (min) is underlined at the top of the card.

Rose box, p. 369
Typed on her computer, 2005–16
Early cards · 1950s–80sTyped on her computer · 2005–16HandwrittenVegetarian

Cranberry Surprise Pie

A cranberry pie with a cake-like crust on top. One 10-inch (25 cm) pie. Serve warm with vanilla ice cream.

Ingredients
  • 2½ cups (250 g) fresh cranberries, picked over, washed and dried
  • ½ cup (100 g) sugar
  • ½ cup (60 g) chopped pecans (optional)
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 cup (200 g) sugar
  • 1 cup (125 g) flour
  • ½ cup (1 stick; 115 g) butter
  • ¼ cup (48–55 g) Crisco (or use all butter)
Method
  1. Heat the oven to 325°F (160°C). Melt the butter with the Crisco and set aside.
  2. Grease a 10-inch (25 cm) pie plate well and spread the cranberries over the bottom. Sprinkle evenly with the ½ cup (100 g) sugar (and the pecans, if using).
  3. Beat the eggs well. Gradually beat in the 1 cup (200 g) sugar until thoroughly mixed. Add the flour and melted shortening alternately, mixing well.
  4. Pour the batter over the cranberries. Bake 60 minutes, or until the crust is light golden brown. Cool on a rack.

The baked pie freezes well wrapped in plastic. Defrost to room temperature, then reheat slightly.

The handwritten original is in the grey box, badly stained from use. It calls for ½ cup (115 g) butter or margarine plus ¼ cup (48 g) Crisco, and says to bake “in a slow oven, 325°, 60 minutes, or until lightly golden”.

In pencil above the cranberries: “+½” [?]; the “2” of “2 cups fresh cranberries” is in blue ink.

Grey box, p. 107
Grey box, p. 108

Puddings & Desserts

Puddings, crisps and frozen desserts. Gigi’s steamed cranberry pudding (Gigi was Grammy’s mother, Golda) dates from about 1945, and Grammy’s later card finally gives its “Gorgeous Sauce”.

33 handwritten29 early cards18 later cards6 typed on her computer

All 53 in this chapter
  1. Blueberry Crêpes
  2. Crustless Blueberry Cobbler
  3. Linda’s Lemon Cake Pudding
  4. Chocolate Rocky Road
  5. Elizabeth Mynatt’s Deluxe Party Dessert
  6. Antonin Carême’s Apple Soufflé
  7. Frozen Passion (Eagle Brand)
  8. No-Cook Lemon Freeze (Eagle Brand)
  9. Fresh Fruit Dessert with Honey Yogurt Pasta
  10. Melon in Rum Lime Sauce
  11. Christmas Pudding
  12. Blueberry Treats (Duncan Hines)
  13. Orange Sherbet (One Gallon)
  14. Flan
  15. Apple Crisp
  16. Chocolate Fondue
  17. Apricot Chantilly
  18. Olivia’s Frozen Lemon Dessert
  19. Olivia’s Chocolate Dessert
  20. Beaten Ice Cream
  21. Oehring’s Chocolate Pudding Cake
  22. Baked Apples with Caramel Sauce
  23. Peach Cobbler
  24. Jessie’s Crunchy Apple Dessert
  25. Strawberries Romanoff
  26. Chocolate Almond Mousse
  27. Rum Custard Cream
  28. Russian Crème with Raspberries
  29. Grapes Juanita
  30. Blueberry Crisp (Crumble)
  31. Hattie’s Blueberry Buckle
  32. Mimsy’s Hot Poached Fruit
  33. White Chocolate Sauce for Fresh Berries
  34. Moxie’s Baked Hot Chocolate
  35. Butter Toffee
  36. Steamed Chocolate Pudding (New York Times)
  37. V. Taylor’s Lemon Ice Cream
  38. Elizabeth Mynatt’s Baked Fruit Dish (curried)
  39. Rhubarb-Berry Crisp
  40. Cranberry Cobbler
  41. Berries with French Cream
  42. Strawberries Dusted with Cardamom Sugar
  43. Golden Pumpkin Crème Brûlée
  44. Apple-Cranberry Crisp
  45. Lee Bailey’s Peppered Peaches
  46. Kir’s Peach Pudding
  47. Apple Crumble (“so easy and so good”)
  48. Gigi’s Cranberry Pudding
  49. Grilled Poached Pineapple
  50. Baked Fruit Compote
  51. Fruit Salad with Orange-Blossom Syrup
  52. Angel Food Summer Pudding with Mixed Berry Compote
  53. Skillet-Roasted Pears with Caramel-Pepper Sauce and Blue Cheese
Early cards, 1950s–80s
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegetarian

Blueberry Crêpes

Yield Serves 6 (24 crêpes)

Ingredients
  • 4 eggs
  • ½ cup (65 g) flour
  • 1 tbsp sugar
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 2 cups (475 ml) milk
  • butter
  • Blueberry sauce
  • 1 quart (675 g) blueberries
  • ½ cup (100 g) sugar
  • 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
  • 2 tbsp water
  • 1 tsp lemon rind
  • 2 tbsp kirsch
Method
  1. Beat the eggs. Add the flour, sugar and salt and beat until smooth. Add the milk gradually, beating constantly.
  2. Melt 1 tbsp (14 g) butter over moderately high heat in a skillet. When it sizzles, pour in 2 tbsp batter (for a 5-inch / 13 cm crêpe). Cook until brown on each side, about 2 minutes.
  3. Lay the crêpes flat on a towel on a baking sheet. Fold the towel back over them and repeat with another layer. Keep at room temperature.
  4. Heat in the towel at 250°F (120°C) for 5 to 8 minutes, until warm to the touch. Roll or fold into quarters and pour the sauce over.
  5. For the sauce, wash and drain the berries. Combine the sugar, lemon juice and water in a pan. Add the berries and boil, stirring constantly but gently. Remove from the heat and stir in the rind. Cool, then add the kirsch.

Underlined on the card: “sauce” (in “Put sauce over them”).

Grey box, p. 173
Grey box, p. 174
Early cards · 1950s–80sVegetarian

Crustless Blueberry Cobbler

From the same 1978 “High or Low?” magazine page as the Delta Queen Cake (Cakes & Frostings)

Yield Serves 8

Ingredients
  • 4 cups (2 pints; 575 g) blueberries, rinsed and drained well
  • ½ cup (65 g) unsifted all-purpose flour
  • ¼ cup (50 g) sugar
  • ¼ tsp cinnamon
  • 3 tbsp diet margarine
  • Sauce
  • 1 cup (8 oz; 240 g) low-fat lemon yogurt
  • 1 tsp grated lemon peel
Method
  1. Heat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Put the blueberries in an 8-inch (20 cm) square baking dish.
  2. Combine the flour, sugar and cinnamon. Rub in the margarine with your fingertips until it forms pea-sized crumbs and sprinkle over the berries.
  3. Bake 40 minutes, until the berries bubble. Serve at room temperature.
  4. Stir the yogurt and lemon peel together and refrigerate until serving time.

“An absolute delight — the lemon yogurt sets it off beautifully.”

The page also has the start of a low-calorie Pineapple Upside-Down Cake, but the rest is cut off.

See also Delta Queen Cake

Grey box, p. 180
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegetarian

Linda’s Lemon Cake Pudding

Linda [?]

Yield Serves 6

Ingredients
  • ¼ cup (31 g) flour
  • 1 cup (200 g) sugar
  • ¼ tsp salt
  • 1½ tsp lemon rind
  • ¼ cup (60 ml) lemon juice
  • 2 eggs, separated
  • 1 cup (240 ml) milk
Method
  1. Sift the flour, sugar and salt into a bowl. Stir in the lemon juice and rind.
  2. Beat the yolks until light, add the milk and stir into the flour mixture. Mix well. Fold in the stiffly beaten whites.
  3. Pour into a shallow buttered 8- or 9-inch (20 or 23 cm) baking dish and set in a pan of hot water (1 inch / 2.5 cm up the dish).
  4. Bake at 350°F (180°C) for 35 to 40 minutes. Serve plain or with sweetened whipped cream.
Grey box, p. 184
Early cards · 1950s–80sVegetarian

Chocolate Rocky Road

Typed card (“Rocky Rode”)

Ingredients
  • 4 eggs
  • 1 large angel food cake
  • 1 package chocolate chips (regular size)
  • ½ to 1 cup (60–120 g) nut meats
  • 1 pint (475 ml) whipping cream
Method
  1. Melt the chips in a double boiler.
  2. Whip the 4 egg whites until very stiff. Beat the 4 yolks. Whip half the cream. Cut up the nuts.
  3. Fold everything gently together.
  4. Break the cake into walnut-sized pieces. Pour the mixture over the cake and pack into a pan well.
  5. Chill. Serve with the rest of the cream, whipped, on top, with cherries.

Added by hand after the last step: “– with cherry [?] 8” (the middle is smudged).

“gently” (fold) is underlined.

Grey box, p. 185
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegetarian

Elizabeth Mynatt’s Deluxe Party Dessert

Elizabeth Mynatt, on a printed “My PetRecipe” card

Yield One 9-inch (23 cm) springform

Ingredients
  • 4 oz (115 g) unsweetened chocolate
  • ¾ cup (150 g) sugar
  • ⅓ cup (80 ml) milk
  • 6 eggs, separated
  • 1½ cups (340 g) unsalted butter
  • 1½ cups (175 g) confectioners’ sugar
  • ⅛ tsp salt
  • 1½ tsp vanilla
  • 3 dozen split ladyfingers
  • ¾ cup (180 ml) heavy cream, whipped
  • shaved unsweetened chocolate
Method
  1. Melt the chocolate in a double boiler. Combine the sugar, milk and egg yolks, add to the chocolate and cook until smooth and thick, stirring constantly. Cool.
  2. Cream the butter well. Add ¾ cup (85 g) of the confectioners’ sugar and cream thoroughly. Add the chocolate mixture and blend well.
  3. Beat the egg whites with the salt until stiff, gradually beating in the remaining ¾ cup (85 g) confectioners’ sugar. Fold into the chocolate mixture and add the vanilla.
  4. Line the sides and bottom of a deep 9-inch (23 cm) springform pan with split ladyfingers. Fill with alternate layers of ⅓ of the mixture and the remaining ladyfingers.
  5. Chill overnight. Garnish with whipped cream and shaved chocolate.

After “remaining ladyf.” is a parenthetical, partly crossed out and written over, ending “x3 l.f.)” [?].

Grey box, p. 201
Grey box, p. 202
Early cards · 1950s–80sVegetarian

Antonin Carême’s Apple Soufflé

From Anne Crutcher’s “Entertaining With…” newspaper feature, like Dolley Madison’s Macaroni Soup (Soups); Carême was Talleyrand’s chef

Yield Serves 4 to 6

Ingredients
  • 3 cups (340 g) sliced apples
  • 1 cup (115 g) powdered sugar
  • grated rind of 1 lemon
  • 1 cup (240 ml) water
  • 9 egg whites
  • 1 cup (115 g) confectioners’ sugar
Method
  1. Cook the apples with the powdered sugar, lemon rind and water until tender and dry but not burned.
  2. Beat the egg whites to soft peaks. Gradually add the confectioners’ sugar and beat until stiff.
  3. Carefully fold the apples into the whites and turn into a 2-quart (1.9 litres) soufflé dish.
  4. Bake at 350°F (180°C) for 40 minutes.

See also Dolley Madison’s Macaroni Soup

Grey box, p. 206
Early cards · 1950s–80sVegetarian

Frozen Passion (Eagle Brand)

“World’s Simplest Recipe”, from the Eagle Brand label

Yield About 2 quarts (1.9 litres) (halve it for less)

Ingredients
  • two 28-oz (830 ml) bottles of any flavour carbonated drink (or four 12-oz cans / 355 ml)
  • 2 cans Eagle Brand sweetened condensed milk
Method
  1. For a refrigerator freezer: blend well and pour into ice cube trays. Freeze until a firm mush forms.
  2. Turn into a chilled bowl, break up and beat until smooth with a rotary or electric beater. Quickly return to the trays and freeze until firm.
  3. For a hand or electric ice cream freezer, pour in and follow the freezer’s instructions.

The label promised “2 quarts of a wild, wonderful and creamy ice dessert” in minutes.

Grey box, p. 227
Grey box, p. 228
Early cards · 1950s–80sWell usedVegetarian

No-Cook Lemon Freeze (Eagle Brand)

From the Eagle Brand label; the top of the recipe is torn away

Yield Serves 8

Ingredients
  • [?] cup Kellogg’s Corn Flake Crumbs (the amount is torn away)
  • 2 tbsp sugar
  • ¼ cup (55 g) butter or margarine, melted
  • 2 eggs, separated
  • 1 can Eagle Brand sweetened condensed milk
  • ⅓ cup (80 ml) ReaLemon reconstituted lemon juice
  • 3 tbsp sugar
Method
  1. Mix the crumbs, 2 tbsp sugar and butter in an 8-inch (20 cm) pie pan or ice cube tray. Set aside 2 to 4 tbsp for the topping and press the rest firmly around the sides and bottom.
  2. Beat the yolks until very thick and lemon-coloured. Combine with the condensed milk, add the lemon juice and stir until thickened.
  3. Beat the whites until stiff but not dry, gradually beating in the 3 tbsp sugar. Fold gently into the lemon mixture.
  4. Pour into the lined pan, sprinkle with the reserved crumbs and freeze until firm.
  5. Cut into wedges or bars. If frozen very hard, set the pan on a hot wet towel for a few minutes before cutting.
Grey box, p. 230
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegetarian

Fresh Fruit Dessert with Honey Yogurt Pasta

Noted “Cold Pasta Bk” (from a cold pasta cookbook)

Yield Serves 8

Ingredients
  • 2 cups (290 g) berries: blackberries, blueberries, raspberries, strawberries
  • 1½ cups (250 g) melon: cantaloupe, Crenshaw, honeydew
  • 2 cups (250 g) other fruit: green grapes, kiwi, mango, peach
  • honey or sugar
  • 1 cup (240 ml) fresh orange juice
  • 2 tbsp lemon juice
  • ½ cup (120 ml) orange liqueur
  • shaved bittersweet chocolate and fresh mint leaves, to garnish
  • Optional pasta
  • 2 cups (475 g) plain yogurt
  • ¼ cup (85 g) honey
  • 12 oz (340 g) tubetti pasta (small tubes), cooked
Method
  1. Pour the orange juice, lemon juice and liqueur over the fruit and drizzle with honey. Cover and refrigerate several hours.
  2. If using the pasta, stir the honey into the yogurt and toss well with the pasta. Surround the pasta with the fruit.
  3. Garnish with shaved chocolate and mint.
Grey box, p. 315
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegan

Melon in Rum Lime Sauce

Marked “GD”

Yield Serves 8

Ingredients
  • 1 cantaloupe
  • 1 small honeydew
  • ⅛ watermelon
  • 1 cup (145 g) blueberries
  • ⅓ cup (65 g) sugar
  • ⅓ cup (80 ml) water
  • 1 tbsp grated lime rind (2 limes)
  • 6 tbsp lime juice
  • ½ cup (120 ml) rum
  • mint sprigs
Method
  1. Ball the melons and chill.
  2. Boil the sugar and water in a small saucepan, then simmer 5 minutes. Add the lime rind and let cool to room temperature.
  3. Add the lime juice and rum. Pour over the melon balls and blueberries and chill, covered, for several hours.
  4. Decorate with mint sprigs and add more rum if necessary.

“covered” is underlined.

Grey box, p. 316
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegetarian

Christmas Pudding

Yield Two 6½ × 4-inch (17 × 10 cm) pudding basins

Ingredients
  • 4 oz (115 g) flour (⅔ cup)
  • 1 tsp mixed spice
  • ½ tsp ground cinnamon
  • 4 oz (115 g) dry brown breadcrumbs
  • 4 oz (115 g) brown sugar
  • 4 oz (115 g) butter (1 stick)
  • ½ lb (225 g) raisins, light and golden
  • ½ lb (225 g) raisins, regular
  • 2 oz (55 g) candied mixed peel
  • 2 oz (55 g) carrots, grated
  • 2 oz (55 g) warm golden syrup or honey
  • grated rind and juice of ½ lemon
  • 2 eggs, beaten
  • 4 tbsp brandy (or milk)
Method
  1. Sift the flour and spices and mix with the crumbs and sugar. Cut in the butter.
  2. Add the fruit, peel, carrots, syrup, lemon rind and juice and eggs and mix thoroughly. Add the brandy.
  3. Turn into 2 pudding basins and cover with foil.
  4. Steam 4 to 4½ hours. Steam 1 hour more at Christmas.

A check mark is drawn in the margin before “Steam 4 – 4½ hrs.”

Grey box, p. 317
Early cards · 1950s–80sVegetarian

Blueberry Treats (Duncan Hines)

A Duncan Hines “Easy Blueberry Treats” leaflet, January 1969, printed with “Cut here and file with recipes”; all four use Duncan Hines Wild Blueberry Muffin Mix, which came with its own can of blueberries

Ingredients
  • Blueberry Oatmeal Cookies (about 2½ dozen)
  • 1 package Duncan Hines Wild Blueberry Muffin Mix
  • ¾ cup (65 g) quick-cooking oats
  • ¼ cup (55 g) brown sugar
  • ⅓ cup (80 ml) cooking oil
  • 1 tbsp milk
  • 1 egg
  • Blueberry-Peach Cobbler (12 to 15 servings)
  • 1 package muffin mix
  • ¼ cup (50 g) sugar plus ½ tsp cinnamon, for the topping
  • 6 tbsp (¾ stick; 85 g) butter or margarine
  • ½ cup (60 g) chopped pecans
  • 2 cans (1 lb 6 oz / 625 g each) peach pie filling
  • ¼ cup (50 g) sugar, 1 tsp cinnamon and 1 tsp almond extract, for the fruit
  • ice cream, if desired
  • Blueberry-Peach Coffee Cake (about 9 servings)
  • 1 package muffin mix
  • 1 can (1 lb / 450 g) sliced peaches
  • ¼ cup (50 g) sugar
  • ¼ cup (31 g) flour
  • ½ tsp cinnamon
  • 2 tbsp (¼ stick; 28 g) butter or margarine
  • Blueberry Bar Cookies (about 1½ dozen)
  • 1 package muffin mix
  • 1 cup (85 g) quick-cooking oats
  • ⅓ cup (70 g) brown sugar
  • 6 tbsp (¾ stick; 85 g) butter or margarine
  • ½ cup (160 g) raspberry or blackberry jam or preserves
Method
  1. For all four, wash the blueberries from the mix and drain them well.
  2. Cookies: heat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Mix everything except the blueberries and drop from a teaspoon onto an ungreased sheet. Make a deep dent in each and fill with 7 or 8 berries. Push the dough over to cover them and pat down. Bake 8 to 10 minutes, until light brown.
  3. Cobbler: heat the oven to 350°F (180°C). Mix the dry muffin mix with ¼ cup (50 g) sugar and ½ tsp cinnamon, cut in the butter and stir in the nuts. In a 13 × 9-inch (33 × 23 cm) pan, combine the pie filling, ¼ cup (50 g) sugar, 1 tsp cinnamon, the almond extract and the berries. Spoon the crumbs over and bake 35 to 40 minutes, until golden. Serve with ice cream.
  4. Coffee cake: heat the oven to 400°F (200°C). Drain the peaches and spread the fruit on paper towels. Mix the sugar, flour and cinnamon and cut in the butter. Make the muffin batter as directed on the label but don’t fold in the berries. Spread in a greased 8-inch (20 cm) square pan, top with the berries and peaches and sprinkle with the cinnamon mixture. Bake about 25 minutes, until golden.
  5. Bar cookies: heat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Combine the dry muffin mix, oats and sugar and cut in the butter. Press all but about 1½ cups of the crumbs into a greased 8-inch (20 cm) square pan. Fold the berries gently into the jam and spread over. Sprinkle with the rest of the crumbs and pat down. Bake 20 to 25 minutes, until golden. Cool completely before cutting into bars.
Grey box, p. 318
Grey box, p. 319
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegetarian

Orange Sherbet (One Gallon)

Yield 1 gallon (3.8 litres)

Ingredients
  • 3 oz (85 g) fruit pectin
  • 4 level cups sugar
  • 10 cups (2.4 litres) milk
  • ½ cup (120 ml) (scant) orange nectar
  • 3 cups (710 ml) water
Method
  1. Mix the pectin and sugar thoroughly.
  2. Dissolve in the milk and water. Add the nectar and freeze.

Across the top: “Burl [?] brought this home – never tried it!”

Grey box, p. 321
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegetarian

Flan

Written on a pink slip of paper, by a friend

Yield One 6- to 8-inch (15–20 cm) mold

Ingredients
  • plenty of sugar, for the caramel
  • 2 cans sweetened condensed milk
  • 4 eggs
  • vanilla
  • 2 cans (use the condensed milk can) milk or water
Method
  1. Caramelise the sugar in a saucepan. Use plenty of sugar and work very slowly so it doesn’t burn.
  2. Pour into a heated mold and turn to coat the sides.
  3. Beat the condensed milk, eggs, vanilla and milk or water in the blender and pour into the mold.
  4. Bake one hour or more at 325°F (160°C), until a toothpick comes out clean. You can let it set in the oven an extra half hour or so if it doesn’t seem firm enough.
  5. Chill well before turning out.

The postscript: “Oh yes – this also needs to be setting in a pan of water while baking. good luck –“

“heated” (form) is underlined.

Grey box, p. 322
Grey box, p. 323
Grey box, p. 324
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegetarian

Apple Crisp

For a 7 × 7-inch (18 × 18 cm) buttered dish

Ingredients
  • 7 to 8 large tart apples (2 lb / 900 g)
  • butter, to dot
  • 2 tsp lemon juice
  • 1 cup (145 g) dried currants, soaked 10 minutes in 1 cup (240 ml) boiling water
  • 1 cup (85–125 g) flour (or oatmeal)
  • 1 cup (215 g) brown sugar
  • ¾ cup (170 g) butter
  • ½ tsp salt (if the butter is unsalted)
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
Method
  1. Slice the apples into the buttered dish. Dot with butter, sprinkle with lemon juice and toss with the drained currants.
  2. Mix the flour, sugar, butter, salt and cinnamon like pastry and spread over the apples.
  3. Bake at 375°F (190°C) for 30 to 40 minutes.

Added in blue ink beside “Mix like pastry:”, with an arrow pointing down-left toward “/oatmeal”: “no need to double!” [?] (the “!” is a tall stroke with no dot).

Written above the pan size, top right: “Rome” [?]

Grey box, p. 325
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegetarian

Chocolate Fondue

Yield 1½ cups (360 ml)

Ingredients
  • 8 oz (225 g) semisweet and milk chocolate
  • ½ cup (120 ml) light or heavy cream
  • 2 tbsp liqueur: kirsch, cognac or orange Cointreau
  • ½ tsp instant coffee
  • fruit, chunks of pound cake and marshmallows, to dip
Method
  1. Cut the chocolate into small pieces. Melt with the cream in a heavy saucepan, stirring constantly.
  2. Off the heat, stir in the liqueur and coffee, making sure the coffee dissolves completely.
  3. Pour into a fondue pot or chafing dish over low heat (reheat over water if it cools). Serve with fruit, cake and marshmallows.
Grey box, p. 326
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwritten

Apricot Chantilly

Mrs. Thornton Smith, on her printed “My PetRecipe” card; a second card, “Apricot Pudding”, is marked “Sherry”

Ingredients
  • 1 box dried apricots
  • ¾ cup (150 g) sugar
  • grated rind of ½ lemon
  • 1 tsp unflavored gelatin, dissolved in ¼ cup (60 ml) water
  • 1 cup (240 ml) heavy cream, whipped
Method
  1. Cook the apricots as directed on the box and purée them in the blender, a portion at a time, with the water they cooked in.
  2. Add the sugar and lemon, then the gelatin. Cool in the refrigerator half an hour.
  3. Fold in the whipped cream. Refrigerate in a serving bowl and garnish if you like.

Sherry’s version uses ⅔ cup (135 g) sugar (“add more sugar”) and 1 tbsp Knox gelatin.

Grey box, p. 327
Grey box, p. 320
Early cards · 1950s–80sWell usedVegetarian

Olivia’s Frozen Lemon Dessert

Olivia, typed card

Yield Two shallow ice cube trays or 1 big 9- or 10-inch (23 or 25 cm) pie plate

Ingredients
  • 1 whole egg plus 2 egg yolks (whites kept)
  • ½ cup (100 g) sugar
  • ¼ tsp salt
  • ¼ cup (60 ml) strained lemon juice
  • 1 tsp lemon rind
  • 1 cup (240 ml) heavy cream, whipped
  • 1 cup (100 g) crushed vanilla wafers (12 wafers)
  • ¼ cup (55 g) melted butter or margarine
  • ¼ cup (55 g) brown sugar
Method
  1. Beat the egg and yolks together. Add the sugar, salt, lemon juice and rind and beat well. Cook in a double boiler until thickened, stirring often. Cool.
  2. Beat the remaining egg whites stiff and combine with the whipped cream. Add to the yolk mixture.
  3. Blend the wafer crumbs, butter and brown sugar. Press half into a well-greased refrigerator tray.
  4. Pour in the lemon mixture, top with the remaining crumbs and freeze until firm. Serve with whipped cream.
Grey box, p. 328
Grey box, p. 329
Early cards · 1950s–80sVegetarian

Olivia’s Chocolate Dessert

Olivia, typed card

Ingredients
  • 1 cup (225 g) butter
  • 2 cups (230 g) powdered sugar
  • 3 egg yolks
  • 2 squares (Baker’s) chocolate, melted
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 3 egg whites, stiffly beaten
  • crushed vanilla wafers or graham crackers
Method
  1. Cream the butter and sugar. Beat in the yolks, chocolate and vanilla. Fold in the egg whites.
  2. Pour into a well-greased pan lined with the crumb mixture. Sprinkle crumbs on top if you like.

Typed under the title: “(without nuts!)”

Grey box, p. 330
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegetarian

Beaten Ice Cream

Ingredients
  • vanilla ice cream
  • 3 tsp brandy, sherry or crème de menthe per serving
Method
  1. Whip together with the Mixmaster and serve in sherbet glasses.
Grey box, p. 331
Early and later cards · 1950s–2000sHandwrittenVegetarian

Oehring’s Chocolate Pudding Cake

Oehring’s

Ingredients
  • Group I
  • ½ cup (110 g) packed brown sugar
  • ½ cup (100 g) white sugar (or use 1 cup / 215 g brown sugar)
  • 4 tbsp cocoa
  • Group II
  • 1 cup (115 g) sifted flour
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 1½ to 2 tsp double-acting baking powder
  • ¾ cup (150 g) sugar
  • 1½ to 2 tbsp cocoa (or 1 square chocolate)
  • Group III
  • 2 tbsp (28 g) melted butter
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • ½ cup (120 ml) milk
  • ½ cup (60 g) chopped nuts
  • Group IV
  • 1¼ cups (300 ml) boiling water
Method
  1. Heat the oven to 350°F (180°C). Grease 4 to 6 individual casseroles, a 1- to 2-quart (950 ml–1.9 litres) casserole or a 5 × 9-inch (13 × 23 cm) pan.
  2. Chop the nuts and set aside. Mix group I and set aside.
  3. Sift the flour and baking powder with group II three times. Add to group III and mix only until smooth.
  4. Pour the batter into the dish. Sprinkle group I over the top, then pour group IV over.
  5. Bake individual dishes 30 minutes, a large dish 50 minutes (a 9-inch / 23 cm square, 40 minutes). Serve warm or cold with whipped cream.

Also in the rose box: “Oehring’s Chocolate Pudding, on Great Northern Railway paper”. Typed on Great Northern Railway letterhead (“Rocky Says… Great for Travel • Great for Freight”, with Rocky the goat and the railway’s red goat emblem; form 6075-1959), with “Oehring’s” added by hand. The same stationery as the purple box’s Spaghetti Meat Sauce and chicken sauces. Differences from the grey box card: 1 cup (240 ml) boiling water instead of 1¼ cups (300 ml), and a 2-quart (1.9 litres) dish. A note in blue ink at the top right is crossed out and can’t be read.

“Grease pan” is underlined in pencil.

Grey box, p. 332
Grey box, p. 333
Rose box, p. 323
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegetarian

Baked Apples with Caramel Sauce

Yield Serves 6

Ingredients
  • 6 Rome apples
  • ½ cup (110 g) firmly packed light brown sugar
  • 3 tbsp (43 g) softened butter
  • ½ tsp cinnamon
  • ⅓ cup (48 g) golden raisins
  • 1 cup (240 ml) water
  • Caramel sauce (makes 2 cups / 475 ml)
  • 1 cup (200 g) sugar
  • ⅓ cup (80 ml) water
  • pinch of cream of tartar
  • ½ cup (120 ml) heavy cream, heated
  • ½ cup (120 ml) water, heated
Method
  1. Cut scallops in the apple skin a third of the way down from the top. Core each apple to ½ inch (1 cm) from the bottom and peel the top third.
  2. Combine the brown sugar, butter and cinnamon and stir in the raisins. Fill the apple cavities.
  3. Arrange the apples in a baking dish and pour in the water. Bake at 400°F (200°C) for 30 minutes, basting every 5 minutes. Transfer with a slotted spoon to a serving plate.
  4. Sauce: in a heavy skillet, cook the sugar and water over moderate heat, stirring and washing down any sugar crystals on the sides with a brush dipped in cold water, until the sugar dissolves.
  5. Raise the heat to moderately high and add the cream of tartar. Cook without stirring, rotating the pan, until golden caramel.
  6. Off the heat, pour in the hot cream and water and rotate the pan to combine. Pour over the apples.

On the sauce card, “without” (stirring) and “each” (of the cream and water) are underlined.

Grey box, p. 336
Grey box, p. 337
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegetarian

Peach Cobbler

Noted “Country Weekends”

Yield A 1½- to 2-quart (1.4–1.9 litres) dish, greased

Ingredients
  • 1½ cups (190 g) flour [?] (the card reads only “½ flour”)
  • ¼ tsp salt
  • 4 to 5 tbsp ice water
  • 5 tbsp frozen unsalted butter
  • 4 tbsp frozen Crisco
  • 7 very large ripe peaches, pitted and skinned
  • 1 cup (200 g) sugar
  • ¼ cup (55 g) unsalted butter
  • ½ pint (240 ml) heavy cream, whipped
Method
  1. Pastry: put the flour and salt in the Cuisinart. Add the butter and Crisco and process to the size of small peas. Add 4 tbsp water and process until the dough begins to clump together (10 seconds). Gather into a ball, wrap in wax paper and refrigerate until needed.
  2. Roll the pastry into a large ragged circle. Dust it with flour and roll it up on the rolling pin “(i.e. window shade)”. Unroll over the dish and carefully slip it down to line the bottom and sides, letting the excess hang over.
  3. Cut each peach into 8 or 9 slices and heap into the dish. Cover with the sugar and dot with the butter.
  4. Flop the loose ends of pastry over the top and fill any gaps with loose pieces of dough.
  5. Preheat the oven to 450°F (230°C), then bake at 425°F (220°C) for 45 minutes. Cool and serve with the cream.

“preheat” is underlined.

Grey box, p. 338
Grey box, p. 339
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegetarian

Jessie’s Crunchy Apple Dessert

Jessie, Virginia

Ingredients
  • sliced apples, with sugar and cinnamon
  • ¾ cup (65 g) quick oatmeal
  • ¾ cup (160 g) brown sugar
  • ½ cup (65 g) flour
  • ½ cup (115 g) butter
  • ½ cup (60 g) chopped nuts or 1 cup (85 g) coconut, if desired
Method
  1. Mix the oatmeal, brown sugar, flour, butter and nuts thoroughly.
  2. Sprinkle the sliced apples with sugar and cinnamon and pour the topping over.
  3. Bake at 350°F (180°C) for 35 to 40 minutes. Serve with whipped cream, half-and-half or ice cream.
Grey box, p. 345
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegetarian

Strawberries Romanoff

Yield Serves 6

Ingredients
  • 1 quart (675 g) fresh strawberries
  • ½ cup (100 g) sugar
  • 1 cup (240 ml) cream, whipped
  • 4 tbsp brandy
Method
  1. Keep the large berries whole in a bowl. Mash 1 cup (145 g) of the small and cut berries with a potato masher.
  2. Add the sugar to the mashed berries, fold in the whipped cream and add the brandy.
  3. Refrigerate both bowls until ready to serve, then pour the mashed mixture over the whole berries.
Grey box, p. 346
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegetarian

Chocolate Almond Mousse

Titled “Chocolate Dessert” on the card

Ingredients
  • 2 bars (4 oz / 115 g each) German’s sweet chocolate
  • ½ cup (60 g) finely slivered blanched almonds
  • 8 eggs, separated
  • ¼ tsp salt
  • cream, slightly sweetened and flavoured with a few drops of almond extract
  • shaved unsweetened chocolate
Method
  1. Put the chocolate and almonds in the top of a double boiler over hot water and heat until the chocolate melts.
  2. Meanwhile, beat the whites with the salt until stiff but not dry. Beat the yolks until thick and lemon-coloured.
  3. Mix the chocolate and nuts into the yolks, then fold into the whites until very well blended.
  4. Pour into a shallow serving dish and chill at least 4 hours.
  5. Before serving, spread with the sweetened almond cream and sprinkle with shaved chocolate.

“unsweetened” (of the shaved chocolate) is underlined.

Grey box, p. 347
Grey box, p. 348
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegetarian

Rum Custard Cream

Ingredients
  • 2 tbsp dark rum
  • ½ cup (100 g) sugar
  • 2 tbsp flour
  • 1 egg, beaten
  • ⅔ cup (160 ml) light cream
  • 1 cup (240 ml) heavy cream, whipped
Method
  1. In the top of a double boiler, combine the sugar, flour, egg and light cream. Cook over boiling water, stirring constantly, 5 minutes.
  2. Add the rum and cook 5 minutes more. Cool, then chill 1 hour.
  3. Fold in the whipped cream.

“(2)” is written above the title.

Grey box, p. 349
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwritten

Russian Crème with Raspberries

Yield Serves 6 (“half more for 8”)

Ingredients
  • 1 cup (240 ml) sweet (heavy) cream
  • ¾ cup (150 g) sugar
  • 2 tsp gelatin
  • ½ cup (120 ml) cold water
  • 1 cup (240 g) sour cream, slightly beaten
  • ¼ tsp salt
  • ½ tsp vanilla
  • raspberries, to serve
Method
  1. Heat the cream with the sugar in a double boiler until lukewarm.
  2. Soak the gelatin in the cold water 5 minutes, add to the warm cream and stir until dissolved. Chill about 45 minutes.
  3. When it begins to thicken, fold in the sour cream, salt and vanilla.
  4. Pour into molds and refrigerate to set. Serve cold with raspberries.

The pencilled column for 8: 1½ cups (360 ml) cream, sugar “+ ⅓ C. + 1 T.”, 1 tbsp gelatin, ¾ cup (180 ml) cold water, 1½ cups (360 g) sour cream and ¾ tsp vanilla.

Grey box, p. 351
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegetarian

Grapes Juanita

Ingredients
  • 2 lb (900 g) seedless grapes
  • 1 cup (240 g) sour cream
  • ½ cup (110 g) light brown sugar
  • grated orange rind
Method
  1. Combine the grapes and sour cream, sprinkle the brown sugar on top and chill at least 2 hours.
  2. Garnish with grated orange rind.

“(Sprinkle br. s. on top)” is written on the next line, with an arrow drawn down to it from between “sr. cr.” and “& chill”.

Grey box, p. 352
Later cards, 1990s–2000s
Later cards · 1990s–2000sHandwrittenVegetarian

Blueberry Crisp (Crumble)

Noted “see Cooks 7/05 p 23”: Cook’s Illustrated, July 2005. Weights in ounces are pencilled beside the cups.

Yield A buttered 9 × 12-inch (23 × 30 cm) dish or a 10-inch (25 cm) deep-dish pie plate

Ingredients
  • Filling
  • ½ cup sugar (3½ oz / 100 g)
  • 6 cups fresh blueberries (30 oz / 850 g)
  • 1 tbsp cornstarch
  • less than ¼ tsp cinnamon (a pinch)
  • a pinch of salt (¼ tsp)
  • 1½ tsp grated lemon zest
  • 1 tbsp lemon juice
  • Topping
  • 1½ cups flour (7½ oz / 215 g)
  • 1½ cups dark brown sugar (11¾ oz / 335 g)
  • ¾ cup oats (2¼ oz / 65 g)
  • 1½ sticks (170 g) butter, melted
Method
  1. Heat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Stir the sugar, cornstarch, cinnamon and salt together in a large bowl.
  2. Add the berries and mix gently with a rubber spatula until evenly coated. Add the lemon juice and zest and mix to combine.
  3. Move to the buttered dish and cover with the topping (mixed together).
  4. Bake 25 minutes, until the filling is hot and bubbly. Raise the oven to 400°F (200°C) and bake 5 minutes more, until the topping is deep golden brown.

The “regular amount” of topping for a pie plate: 5 oz (140 g) flour, 7¾ oz [?] (220 g) brown sugar, ½ cup (1½ oz / 43 g) oats and 1 stick (115 g) butter.

Underlined on the card: “25 min”, “topping” (with “(over)” written below it), and “Cooks” and “Cooks 7/05” in the corner. An arrow is drawn from the lemon-zest line up to “(Crumble)” in the title. On the back, “Topping” and “regular amt for pie plate” are underlined.

Rose box, p. 50
Rose box, p. 51
Later cards · 1990s–2000sHandwrittenSpecial praiseVegetarian

Hattie’s Blueberry Buckle

Hattie; titled “Blueberry Cobbler”, with “Buckle” written above

Yield One 8-inch (20 cm) pan

Ingredients
  • Group I
  • 2 cups (290 g) blueberries
  • ⅓ cup (65 g) sugar
  • ⅛ tsp cinnamon
  • Group II
  • 1 cup (115 g) cake flour
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 egg
  • ⅔ cup (135 g) sugar
  • ¼ cup (55 g) margarine
  • ½ cup (120 ml) milk
  • ½ tsp vanilla
Method
  1. Grease the bottom only of an 8-inch (20 cm) pan.
  2. Mix group I and sprinkle in the pan. Mix group II and pour over the berries.
  3. Bake at 350°F (180°C) for 35 minutes. Serve warm, with ice cream.

Marked “delicious”, underlined.

See also Blueberry Buckle

Rose box, p. 59
Later cards · 1990s–2000sHandwrittenVegan

Mimsy’s Hot Poached Fruit

Mimsy; “see pg 573 [?] Best [?]”

Ingredients
  • 2 boxes pitted prunes
  • 2 packages dried apricots
  • 3 apples
  • 3 pears
  • 1 cup (120 g) dried cranberries
  • chopped ginger
  • orange peel (or lemon peel)
  • in a cheesecloth bag: 1 stick cinnamon, 2 cloves, 10 peppercorns and 1 bay leaf (all removed later)
  • 1 to 2 cups (240–475 ml) orange juice
Method
  1. Simmer the fruit with the ginger, peel and spice bag in the orange juice until tender.
  2. Remove the spice bag and serve hot.

The card gives no cooking time.

“OJ” is underlined.

Rose box, p. 231
Later cards · 1990s–2000sHandwrittenVegetarian

White Chocolate Sauce for Fresh Berries

In a neat, upright hand not Grammy’s; “used w/ fresh berries: rasp., blueberries, strawberries”

Ingredients
  • 6 oz (170 g) good-quality white chocolate
  • 1½ cups (360 ml) whipping cream
  • fresh raspberries, blueberries and strawberries
Method
  1. Put the chocolate, in pieces, in a small bowl. Bring the cream to a boil in a heavy saucepan.
  2. Pour the cream over the chocolate and whisk until smooth.
  3. It can be made a day ahead: cool, cover and chill, and rewarm in a saucepan over low heat, stirring often, before serving.

The note at the bottom: the fruit should be washed, dry and at room temperature. “Serve in martini glass or fancy glass.”

Rose box, p. 269
Later cards · 1990s–2000sVegetarian

Moxie’s Baked Hot Chocolate

Moxie; the ingredients handwritten, the method printed onto the card

Yield 4 cups (950 ml)

Ingredients
  • 4 eggs
  • 2 oz (55 g) white sugar
  • 9 oz (255 g) semisweet chocolate
  • 3 oz (85 g) butter
Method
  1. Melt the chocolate with the butter over a hot water bath.
  2. Next, heat the eggs and sugar over the water bath until the sugar has dissolved and the eggs are hotter than your finger.
  3. Strain the eggs into the mixer and mix on medium speed until tripled in volume. Fold in the chocolate until dark in colour.
  4. Pour into coffee cups and bake in a water bath at 350°F (180°C) for 40 minutes.
Rose box, p. 297
Later cards · 1990s–2000sHandwrittenVegetarian

Butter Toffee

“Double” written over the title

Ingredients
  • 1 cup (200 g) sugar
  • ½ tsp salt
  • ¼ cup (60 ml) water
  • ½ cup (115 g) butter
  • 1 tbsp corn syrup
  • ½ cup (60 g) chopped walnuts, plus ½ cup (60 g) more for each side
  • 2 packages (6 oz / 170 g each) semisweet chocolate
Method
  1. Combine the sugar, salt, water and butter, and also the corn syrup. Cook to 285°F (141°C).
  2. Add ½ cup (60 g) chopped walnuts and pour onto a well-greased cookie sheet. Cool.
  3. Melt the chocolate. Spread half on top and sprinkle with ½ cup (60 g) nuts. Cool.
  4. Turn it over and spread with the rest of the chocolate and nuts.

“Double” is underlined with an arrow.

Rose box, p. 315
Later cards · 1990s–2000sHandwrittenSpecial praiseVegetarian

Steamed Chocolate Pudding (New York Times)

Noted “NY Times 4/2/08”

Yield Serves 6 to 8

Ingredients
  • 8 tbsp (115 g) cold butter, cut into pieces, plus 2 tbsp softened
  • 8 oz (225 g) semisweet chocolate
  • ½ cup (110 g) light brown sugar
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • ½ cup (120 ml) heavy cream
  • ⅓ cup (38 g) cake flour
  • ½ tsp baking powder
  • 3 eggs
  • ice cream or whipped cream, to serve
Method
  1. Use the softened butter to grease a 4-cup (950 ml) Corning bowl.
  2. Grind the chocolate in the processor. Add the cold butter and sugar and process until combined.
  3. Add the remaining ingredients and process until smooth.
  4. Pour into the bowl, cover tightly with Saran and cook 4 to 5 minutes [in the microwave, presumably], until just set.
  5. Remove it, pierce the plastic with the tip of a knife and cover with a heavy plate. Let rest 10 minutes.
  6. Unmould onto a serving plate and serve warm or cold.

“Delicious”, underlined twice.

The “6-8” (servings) is circled.

Rose box, p. 324
Later cards · 1990s–2000sHandwrittenVegetarian

V. Taylor’s Lemon Ice Cream

V. Taylor, in an older hand

Ingredients
  • 1 egg
  • 1 cup (240 ml) cream
  • 1½ cups (300 g) sugar
  • juice of 2 lemons and grated rind of one
  • 1⅓ cups (320 ml) milk
  • a pinch of salt
Method
  1. Whip the egg and cream together until nearly stiff.
  2. Slowly beat in the sugar.
  3. Add the lemon juice and rind, milk and salt.
  4. Freeze.

“V. Taylor” is underlined.

Rose box, p. 327
Later cards · 1990s–2000sHandwrittenVegetarian

Elizabeth Mynatt’s Baked Fruit Dish (curried)

Elizabeth Mynatt, on her teal printed “My PetRecipe… A PetRecipe from Elizabeth Mynatt” card, in faded pencil

Ingredients
  • 1 No. 2 can (570 g) each of pears, apricots and pineapple chunks, drained
  • peaches (“I added peaches – any fruit combination can be used”)
  • ½ cup (75 g) raisins
  • ⅓ cup (75 g) margarine
  • ¾ cup (160 g) brown sugar
  • 1 tbsp curry powder
  • maraschino cherries
Method
  1. Drain the fruit and put it in a shallow baking dish with the raisins.
  2. Melt the margarine and pour it over the fruit. Sprinkle with the brown sugar and curry powder, and dot with maraschino cherries.
  3. Bake at 325°F (160°C) for about 35 minutes. Let it sit ½ hour before serving.
Rose box, p. 329
Later cards · 1990s–2000sHandwrittenSpecial praiseVegetarian

Rhubarb-Berry Crisp

Two cards and a reminder card, all pointing to Cook’s Illustrated’s The Best Recipe (“see Cook’s The Best Recipe for Crisps pg 503”). One is headed “Rhubarb Crisp” and marked “Delicious”.

Yield Serves 6 to 8

Ingredients
  • 1½ lb (675 g) rhubarb, trimmed and cut into ¾- to 1-inch (2–2.5 cm) pieces (about 4 to 5 cups)
  • 1 to 2 pints (340–675 g) strawberries, hulled and halved (about 4 cups / 600 g)
  • 1 pint (340 g) raspberries (the first card)
  • ¾ to 1 cup (150–200 g) sugar (brown sugar was “too sweet”)
  • ½ tsp cinnamon
  • ¾ tsp ginger
  • ¼ cup (36 g) flour (or 2 tbsp cornstarch)
  • 4 tbsp (55 g) melted butter (the first card)
  • Topping (Grammy increased it by half)
  • 1½ cups (215 g) flour (the first card: 1 cup / 140 g flour, perhaps rice flour [?])
  • 1½ cups (320 g) dark brown sugar
  • ¾ cup (65 g) oats
  • 1½ sticks (170 g) butter, melted
Method
  1. Heat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Butter an 8-inch (20 cm) square pan or a wide casserole.
  2. In a large bowl, toss the fruit with the sugar, flour (or cornstarch), cinnamon and ginger (and the melted butter, if using) until combined. Put it in the pan.
  3. Combine the topping ingredients and sprinkle over the fruit.
  4. Bake in the middle of the oven 40 to 45 minutes. Turn the oven up to 400°F (200°C) for the last 5 minutes.
  5. Cool, and serve with crème fraîche or ice cream.

Notes on the cards: “Delicious”, underlined twice, “too sweet” (beside “brown” sugar in the filling; both are crossed out) and, by the topping, “it’s been 1½ increased”.

Also on the cards: “Put”, “Mix” and “Combine” are underlined, and so is “(use ¾ c)” beside the sugar. Beside the crossed-out old topping is a margin note, crossed out with it: “Half again” [?], “Double” (circled) and “topping”. At the top right of the first card, a word is scribbled out above “see Cook’s Best Rec pg 503”. On the reminder card, “The Best Recipe” is underlined.

Rose box, p. 332
Rose box, p. 333
Rose box, p. 334
Later cards · 1990s–2000sHandwrittenVegetarian

Cranberry Cobbler

Ingredients
  • 6 cups (600 g) fresh cranberries (or two 12-oz / 340 g bags frozen)
  • 1 cup (240 ml) orange juice
  • 1¼ cups (250 g) sugar
  • zest of ½ orange
  • Topping
  • 6 tbsp (85 g) butter
  • ⅔ cup (135 g) sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 2 tsp vanilla
  • zest of 1 orange
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 1 cup (125 g) flour
Method
  1. Topping: cream the butter and sugar until well combined but not fluffy. Add the eggs, vanilla and zest and beat until mixed. Add the baking powder, salt and flour, mix well and set aside.
  2. Combine the cranberries, orange juice, sugar and zest in a 2-quart (1.9 litres) casserole and stir.
  3. Drop tablespoons of the topping all over.
  4. Bake at 350°F (180°C) until the topping is browned and the filling bubbly, about 1 hour.
  5. Keep in the refrigerator until ready to eat. It can be rewarmed in the microwave.

“Not” (in “not fluffy”) is underlined.

Rose box, p. 335
Rose box, p. 336
Later cards · 1990s–2000sVegetarian

Berries with French Cream

A printed recipe card in the magazine’s style (“Active time: 10 min. Start to finish: 10 min”), most likely Gourmet. Rewritten here.

Yield Serves 4

Ingredients
  • ⅓ cup (80 ml) chilled heavy cream
  • 3 tbsp confectioners’ sugar
  • ½ cup (120 g) sour cream
  • 1 tsp finely grated fresh orange zest
  • 2 cups raspberries (10 oz / 285 g)
  • 1 cup blueberries (6 oz / 170 g)
  • 2 tbsp grated semisweet chocolate
Method
  1. Whip the cream with an electric mixer until it just holds soft peaks. Add the sugar and beat until it just holds stiff peaks. Fold in the sour cream and zest gently.
  2. Toss the berries together.
  3. Put ⅓ cup (48 g) berries in each of 4 stemmed glasses and top with 2 tbsp cream. Repeat with the rest of the berries and cream, sprinkle with chocolate and serve at once.
Rose box, p. 337
Later cards · 1990s–2000sVegan

Strawberries Dusted with Cardamom Sugar

Bon Appétit (noted by Grammy), starred in blue, with the magazine’s colour photograph of sugared strawberries spilling from a wineglass. Rewritten here.

Yield 6 servings

Ingredients
  • ½ cup (100 g) sugar
  • ½ tsp ground cardamom
  • ¼ cup (60 ml) Grand Marnier, other orange liqueur or orange juice
  • 2 baskets (16 oz / 450 g each) strawberries, hulled, left whole
  • fresh mint sprigs (optional)
Method
  1. Whisk the sugar and cardamom together. (It keeps 3 days, covered, at room temperature.)
  2. Toss the strawberries in the Grand Marnier in a large bowl. Spread the cardamom sugar on a platter.
  3. With a slotted spoon, a few at a time, roll the berries in the sugar to coat well.
  4. Divide among 6 wineglasses and pour the remaining liqueur over. (They can wait 2 hours, covered and chilled.)
  5. Garnish with mint. The magazine served them with Chocolate-Orange Easter-Egg Truffles.

“Ground cardamom is a clever addition to the sugar in this simple recipe.”

Rose box, p. 338
Rose box, p. 339
Later cards · 1990s–2000sVegetarian

Golden Pumpkin Crème Brûlée

A New York Times clipping (noted “NY Times”), taped sideways on a card that Grammy titled “Golden Pumpkin Purée”, with “Crème” written above. Rewritten here.

Yield About 14 servings

Ingredients
  • 4 cups (950 ml) heavy cream
  • ¾ cup (150 g) granulated sugar, divided
  • 1 vanilla bean, split lengthwise
  • 22 egg yolks
  • 2 cups (500 g) pumpkin purée
  • ½ tsp each ground cardamom, cinnamon and ginger
  • ¾ to 1 cup (160–215 g) brown sugar, for glazing the tops
  • 14-carat gold dust, from baking-supply stores (optional)
Method
  1. Heat the oven to 325°F (160°C). In a large saucepan, heat the cream, half the sugar and the vanilla bean just to boiling.
  2. Whisk the yolks with the rest of the sugar in a large bowl. Whisk in half the hot cream, then pour it all back into the saucepan.
  3. Stir constantly over low heat until the custard coats the back of a wooden spoon. Strain into a large bowl, discard the vanilla bean and whisk in the pumpkin and spices.
  4. Fill about 14 four-ounce ramekins and set them in a large roasting pan. Pour in boiling water halfway up their sides.
  5. Bake about 35 minutes, until just set; they should still jiggle a little in the centre. Cool, cover and refrigerate overnight.
  6. To serve, cover each custard with a ⅛-inch (3 mm) layer of brown sugar and caramelize under the broiler or with a kitchen blowtorch. Sprinkle with a little gold dust.

Underlined: “kitchen blowtorch”.

A small star-like mark is drawn in black in the bottom-left corner.

Rose box, p. 340
Later cards · 1990s–2000sVegetarian

Apple-Cranberry Crisp

A newspaper clipping with a red star drawn beside the title; Grammy underlined “Granny Smith” and “dried”. Rewritten here.

Yield 6 servings; about 1 hour

Ingredients
  • 2 lb (900 g) Granny Smith apples (5 or 6), peeled, cored, quartered and sliced ¼ inch (5 mm) thick
  • ½ cup (60 g) dried cranberries
  • 2 tbsp plus 1 cup (125 g) flour
  • ¼ cup (40 g) finely cut candied ginger
  • 6 tbsp granulated sugar
  • 6 tbsp brown sugar
  • 2 cups (240 g) chopped pecans
  • a few shakes of salt
  • ½ tsp cinnamon
  • 2 tsp grated lemon rind
  • 2 tsp lemon juice
  • ½ cup (115 g) chilled unsalted butter
Method
  1. Heat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Toss the apples and cranberries with 2 tbsp flour and spoon into a 9 × 9-inch (23 × 23 cm) baking dish.
  2. Rub the rest of the flour and all the other ingredients together with your fingers or a pastry blender into a crumb topping. Sprinkle it evenly over the fruit.
  3. Cover with foil and bake 20 minutes. Uncover and bake 20 minutes more, until browned and bubbling. Cool, cover and refrigerate.
  4. To serve, bring to room temperature and warm through at 350°F (180°C), about 15 minutes. Serve plain or with crème fraîche.

It can be made up to two days ahead.

Rose box, p. 341
Later cards · 1990s–2000sVegan

Lee Bailey’s Peppered Peaches

A New York Times clipping (noted “NY Times”), from “Lee Bailey’s Country Weekends”, taped sideways on a card that Grammy titled “Peppered Peaches” and starred. Rewritten here.

Yield 6 servings

Ingredients
  • 6 large peaches
  • 3 tbsp fresh lemon juice
  • 1½ tbsp sugar, or to taste
  • ¾ tsp salt, or to taste
  • ¼ tsp black pepper, or to taste
  • ¼ tsp cayenne pepper, or to taste
Method
  1. Bring a large saucepan of water to the boil. Dip the peaches in, a few at a time, for about 6 seconds, then put them in a bowl of cold water.
  2. Peel, pit and halve them and arrange the halves in one layer on a baking sheet. Brush both sides with lemon juice and sprinkle both sides with the sugar, salt and peppers.
  3. Let them stand at room temperature until you serve them, up to 3 hours.

A note across the clipping: “Serve as a side [?] dish”.

Rose box, p. 349
Later cards · 1990s–2000sHandwrittenVegetarian

Kir’s Peach Pudding

Kir, noted “J. Oliver” (Jamie Oliver)

Yield Serves 6

Ingredients
  • 6 ripe peaches (or nectarines, plums or rhubarb), halved and stoned
  • 4 heaped tsp light brown sugar (large crystal) “demerara”
  • 1 vanilla pod, scored lengthwise and seeds removed
  • 4½ oz butter (125 g)
  • 4½ oz caster sugar (125 g)
  • 2 large eggs
  • 4½ oz self-rising flour (125 g)
Method
  1. Heat the oven to 350°F (180°C). Put the peaches in a saucepan with the demerara sugar, vanilla seeds and 4 tbsp water. Simmer 5 minutes.
  2. Put them in a well-greased, lightly floured dish (round).
  3. Beat the butter, sugar and eggs together until light and fluffy. Add the flour, mix, and spread over the peaches.
  4. Bake 45 minutes. Serve hot with hot custard (Eng.), vanilla ice cream or crème fraîche.

“peaches” is underlined, and on the back so is “custard”.

Rose box, p. 350
Rose box, p. 351
Later cards · 1990s–2000sVegetarian

Apple Crumble (“so easy and so good”)

A clipping from a cooking newsletter by “Let’s Start Cooking”, with Grammy’s notes: the apple varieties “Cortland, Baldwin, No. Spy”, the topping multiplied by 1½, a “6” beside the 4 apples, and, in blue, “8 TB unbutter” (8 tbsp / 115 g unsalted butter). Rewritten here.

Yield Serves 6

Ingredients
  • 4 medium apples (Grammy: 6) (Cortland, Baldwin or Northern Spy), peeled, cored and sliced (about 6 cups / 675 g; the 6 is written in blue over the printed figure)
  • 4 tbsp firmly packed brown sugar
  • 1 tsp fresh lemon juice
  • ¼ tsp salt
  • ¾ tsp cinnamon
  • ⅛ tsp nutmeg
  • 1 tbsp (14 g) unsalted butter, melted
  • Topping (Grammy made 1½ times this)
  • 3 tbsp brown sugar
  • 1 tbsp sugar
  • ¼ cup (21 g) oatmeal
  • ¼ cup (30 g) walnuts or pecans
  • ¼ tsp salt
  • ½ cup (65 g) flour
  • ¼ cup (55 g) butter, slightly softened
  • ½ tsp vanilla extract
Method
  1. Heat the oven to 400°F (200°C). Toss the apples with the next 6 ingredients until well coated. Put them in an 8 × 8-inch (20 × 20 cm) ovenproof dish.
  2. Cover with foil, cut a few holes in the top and bake 30 minutes.
  3. Meanwhile, pulse the topping ingredients except the butter in a food processor until coarsely chopped. Add the butter and pulse until crumbly. Pinch into small clumps with your fingers.
  4. Take the apples out, spread the topping evenly over and bake uncovered 25 minutes more. Serve warm.

The writer’s promise: “The recipe to follow is so easy and so good; you’ll wonder why anyone would bake anything else.”

Underlined in blue on the clipping: “400 degrees”, “8 x 8-inch square”, “30 minutes” and “additional 25”.

Rose box, p. 352
Typed on her computer, 2005–16
Later cards · 1990s–2000sTyped on her computer · 2005–16HandwrittenVegetarian

Gigi’s Cranberry Pudding

Gigi’s recipe, circa 1945. A steamed pudding for a 1-quart (950 ml) mould.

Ingredients
  • 2 tsp baking soda
  • ½ cup (170 g) molasses (sorghum)
  • ½ cup (120 ml) boiling water
  • 1⅓ cups (165 g) flour, sifted, plus a little extra for the berries
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 2 cups (200 g) fresh cranberries
Method
  1. Add the soda to the molasses, stir in the boiling water and “dump the whole business into a large bowl”.
  2. Sift the flour, measure, and sift again with the baking powder. Combine with the molasses mixture.
  3. Toss the cranberries in a little extra flour so they don’t sink to the bottom, then mix them into the batter.
  4. Grease a 1-quart (950 ml) mould or cake pan and pour in the batter. Cover tightly with a lid, or make a secure lid of heavy brown paper tied on well with string. (Joy of Cooking suggests heavy foil crimped over the edge, with a plate on top to hold it down.)
  5. If you don’t have a steamer, set the mould on a rack in a roasting pan with at least 2 inches (5 cm) of boiling water. Steam 2 hours on the stovetop, topping up with boiling water to keep the 2-inch (5 cm) level.
  6. Turn out onto a pretty platter and serve hot with “Gorgeous Sauce (sic)”.

Grammy’s note on the sauce: “I remember this to be a hard sauce, brandy sauce similar to that used with Christmas pudding (see Joy).”

Steamed Cranberry Pudding (a second version saved with Gigi’s, from the Food Network, adapted from Gourmet’s Best Desserts; 2-quart / 1.9 litres mould; about 2 hours)

  • Butter and flour, for the mould
  • 3¾ cups (380 g) fresh cranberries
  • ½ cup (48 g) ground blanched almonds
  • 1 cup (200 g) plus 2 tbsp sugar
  • 3 tbsp flour
  • 2 tbsp orange zest
  • 1 tbsp minced fresh ginger
  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon
  • ¼ tsp allspice
  • 3 cups (330 g) fine breadcrumbs
  • 1½ sticks (170 g) butter, melted and cooled
  • ⅔ cup (160 ml) milk
  • 3 large eggs, lightly beaten
  • 1 tbsp double-acting baking powder
  • ½ tsp salt
  • ¾ cup (150 g) sugar
  • Glaze: 1 cup (240 ml) cranberry juice, 1 cup (200 g) sugar, a pinch of salt and 1 cup (100 g) cranberries
  1. Butter a 2-quart (1.9 litres) pudding mould, line it with wax paper, then butter and flour the paper.
  2. Coarsely chop the cranberries in a food processor. Combine with the almonds, 1 cup (200 g) plus 2 tbsp sugar, flour, zest, ginger, cinnamon and allspice.
  3. In another bowl, mix the breadcrumbs, butter, milk, eggs, baking powder, ¾ cup (150 g) sugar and salt. Combine the two mixtures.
  4. Spoon into the mould a little at a time, tapping it to knock out air bubbles. Cover tightly with the lid, then tie on a towel wrung out in cold water and floured, knotted at the top for lifting.
  5. Set on a rack in a kettle with simmering water 3 inches (8 cm) up the sides of the mould. Cover the kettle and steam 2 hours at a brisk (not rolling) boil, topping up with water as needed. A skewer in the centre should come out with crumbs attached. It stays warm, covered in the mould, for several hours.
  6. Glaze: simmer the cranberry juice, sugar and salt, stirring until the sugar dissolves. Boil, swirling gently, to 250°F (121°C) on a candy thermometer. Add the cranberries, take off the heat, cool and chill, covered.
  7. Unmould onto a plate and pour the glaze over.

Gigi, great-grandma to Grammy’s grandchildren, was Grammy’s mother, Golda. The rose box holds the original: an older pink card in a chatty hand, “Cranberry Pudding”, with Grammy’s own card beside it. Her card gives the sauce: cook ½ cup (115 g) butter, 1 cup (200 g) sugar, 1 tbsp flour and ½ cup (120 ml) half-and-half (later 1 cup / 240 ml) over boiling water for 15 minutes, add 1 tbsp Grand Marnier and serve warm. So the “Gorgeous Sauce” was a warm butter sauce. Her card also adds the cranberry glaze and “see pg 328 in Gourmet’s Desserts”.

The old card’s ending: “Turn out on a pretty platter & serve hot w. Gorgeous sauce.”

A note in the corner: “Double or triple for my mold (3 qt).”

Underlined on the old card: “fresh” (cranberries) and “boiling” (water to top up); on the “Steamed Cranberry Pudding” card, “any” (sort of steamer).

Rose box, p. 325
Rose box, p. 326
Rose box, p. 330
Rose box, p. 331
Typed on her computer · 2005–16Vegan

Grilled Poached Pineapple

From a chef in Naples.

  1. Peel a fresh, ripe pineapple and slice it ¾–1 inch (2–2.5 cm) thick.
  2. In a large non-stick sauté pan, combine enough dark rum, brandy or tequila to cover (½–¾ cup / 120–180 ml) with some brown sugar (maybe ¼ cup / 55 g), a vanilla bean split lengthwise with the seeds scraped into the liquor, and some peppercorns. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat.
  3. When the sugar has dissolved, add the pineapple and cover. Poach on low for 15 minutes.
  4. Lift the pineapple onto a tray. Remove the vanilla bean and peppercorns and cook the sauce until reduced and thicker, 5–7 minutes.
  5. To serve, heat the grill on high for 15 minutes and spray the grate. Grill the pineapple until golden brown with grill lines.
  6. Serve 2 slices in a bowl of a contrasting colour, with ¼ cup (60 ml) ice cream in the middle if you like, drizzled with 2+ tsp warm sauce.
Typed on her computer · 2005–16Special praiseVegetarian

Baked Fruit Compote

More side dish than dessert.

Grammy’s note: “Delicious with pork, ham and lamb.”

Ingredients
  • 4 No. 2 cans (about 20 oz / 575 g each) pears, apricots, pineapple chunks and peaches, drained well
  • ½ cup (75 g) raisins
  • ¼ cup (55 g) butter, melted
  • 1 cup (215 g) brown sugar
  • 2 tsp curry powder
  • Maraschino cherries, to taste (optional)
Method
  1. Put the drained fruit and raisins in a shallow baking dish and pour the melted butter over.
  2. Sprinkle with the brown sugar, curry powder and cherries.
  3. Bake at 325°F (160°C) for about 35 minutes. Cool a bit and serve.
Typed on her computer · 2005–16Vegan

Fruit Salad with Orange-Blossom Syrup

From CIA Taste, Summer/Fall 2008, in its “CIA Boot Camp Courses and Recipes” section. The recipe comes from The CIA’s Gourmet Meals in Minutes cookbook. Serves 8.

Orange-blossom water is distilled from bitter-orange flowers and used in drinks, sweets and baking; health food stores and Middle Eastern shops sell it. It gives the syrup its scent.

Ingredients
  • 5 fl oz (150 ml) orange-blossom water
  • 2 tbsp sugar
  • 1¼ cups (205 g) diced cantaloupe
  • 2 cups (330 g) diced pineapple
  • 1¼ cups (190 g) red grapes
  • 1½ cups (225 g) quartered strawberries
  • 1 cup (145 g) blueberries
  • ⅔ cup (115 g) diced kiwi
  • Zest of 1 orange
  • ¼ cup (15 g) mint, cut in fine ribbons
Method
  1. Warm the orange-blossom water and sugar in a small pan, stirring now and then, until the sugar dissolves. Set aside.
  2. Combine all the fruit except the kiwi. Serve at once or chill until needed.
  3. For each serving, put 1 cup (125 g) of fruit in a glass or dish, drizzle with 1 tbsp syrup and top with 1 tbsp kiwi. Garnish with orange zest and mint. (Or dress and garnish the whole salad in one large bowl.)
Fruit salad with orange-blossom syrup, kiwi and orange zest. CIA Taste, Summer/Fall 2008, page 23
The recipe page as printed in Taste (page 23). CIA Taste, Summer/Fall 2008, page 23
Typed on her computer · 2005–16Vegetarian

Angel Food Summer Pudding with Mixed Berry Compote

From CIA Taste, Summer/Fall 2008, in its “Career Discovery Courses and Recipes” section. The recipe comes from The CIA’s Baking Boot Camp cookbook. Makes 6.

A twist on the English summer pudding, with angel food cake soaked in berry syrup instead of bread. It isn’t cooked, just moulded, which is why it looks like a steamed pudding. For one large pudding, layer it in a glass bowl or footed trifle dish and serve straight from that (no plastic wrap needed).

Puddings
  • 2 cups (300 g) stemmed, quartered strawberries
  • 2 cups (290 g) blackberries
  • 2 cups (250 g) raspberries
  • ½ cup (100 g) sugar
  • 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
  • 2 tbsp framboise or another raspberry liqueur (optional)
  • 2 tbsp honey, or to taste
  • 1 angel food cake
Mixed berry compote
  • 1 lb (450 g) fresh or frozen raspberries (3½ cups)
  • ¾–1 cup (150–200 g) sugar
  • 1–2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
  • 1 cup (125 g) mixed fresh raspberries, strawberries, blackberries and blueberries
  • Whipped cream, to serve
Method
  1. Simmer the berries with the sugar and lemon juice over low heat for 5 minutes. Off the heat, stir in the framboise and honey. Lift the berries out with a slotted spoon and keep them and the syrup separately.
  2. Slice the cake ½ inch (1 cm) thick and turn the slices in the berry syrup to coat.
  3. Line six 10-oz (295 ml) soufflé dishes with plastic wrap, then line the bottoms and sides completely with cake, keeping 6 slices for the tops. Fill with the berries and cover with the last slices. Fold the wrap over and press down gently. Chill at least 3 hours, or overnight.
  4. Compote: bring the 3½ cups (450 g) raspberries, ¾ cup (150 g) sugar and 1 tbsp lemon juice to a simmer over medium heat and cook until the sugar has dissolved, about 10 minutes. Taste, adding more sugar if needed and cooking until it dissolves. Strain through a fine sieve, adjust with more lemon juice and stir in the fresh berries. It can be served warm or cold, thickens slightly in the refrigerator and keeps up to 10 days.
  5. Unwrap and turn out the puddings onto dessert plates, add some whipped cream and serve with the compote.
Angel food summer pudding with berry compote and cream. CIA Taste, Summer/Fall 2008, page 52
The recipe page as printed in Taste (page 52). CIA Taste, Summer/Fall 2008, page 52
Typed on her computer · 2005–16Vegetarian

Skillet-Roasted Pears with Caramel-Pepper Sauce and Blue Cheese

From the Cook’s Illustrated website, 2014, where it is credited to The Best Slow and Easy Recipes. Serves 6: it is rich, so half a pear each is plenty.

Ingredients
  • 3 Bosc or Bartlett pears, ripe but firm (they should give just slightly when pressed)
  • ⅓ cup (80 ml) water
  • ⅔ cup (135 g) sugar
  • ⅔ cup (160 ml) heavy cream
  • ¼ tsp whole black peppercorns, coarsely crushed
  • Salt
  • 3 oz (85 g) blue cheese (such as Stilton), cut into 6 attractive wedges
Method
  1. Set a wire rack in a large foil-lined rimmed baking sheet. Halve and core the pears, then trim ¼ inch (5 mm) off the bottom of each half so it will stand upright. Crush the peppercorns under the base of a heavy pan, or in a zipper-lock bag with a rolling pin.
  2. Pour the water into a 12-inch (30 cm) nonstick skillet, then pour the sugar into the centre, keeping it off the sides of the pan. Stir gently with a clean spatula until all the sugar is moistened. Boil over high heat, stirring now and then, until the sugar has dissolved completely and the syrup is bubbling, about 2 minutes.
  3. Add the pears cut side down, cover, turn the heat to medium-high and cook until almost tender (a fork meets slight resistance in the centre), 13–15 minutes, turning the heat down if the caramel darkens too fast.
  4. Uncover, turn the heat to medium and cook until the sauce turns golden brown and the cut sides begin to brown, 3–5 minutes. Pour the cream around the pears and keep cooking, shaking the pan, until the sauce is smooth and a deep caramel colour and the cut sides are golden brown, 3–5 minutes more.
  5. Off the heat, lift the pears cut side up onto the rack to cool slightly. Season the sauce in the pan with salt and the crushed peppercorns and pour it into a small bowl. Carefully stand each hot pear half upright on a plate or platter, drizzle with the caramel and serve with a wedge of blue cheese.
Early cards, 1950s–80s
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwritten

Saba: Ways to Use It

Grammy’s notes on a spiral notepad page

Ingredients
  • Braise onions or endive, lamb shanks or medallions of pork with it.
  • Combine it with a touch of red wine vinegar and olive oil for a vinaigrette.
  • Mix it with club soda for a drink.
  • Roast Cornish hens or poussin with it, along with apple cider, carrots and white wine.

Saba is a sweet, syrupy vinegar made from grape must; Grammy bought hers at Fairway (see Special Spinach).

Grey box, p. 1
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegan

Rum Dressing for Avocados

The card is headed “Rum Balls”

Yield For 1 to 2 avocados

Ingredients
  • ½ cup (120 ml) olive oil
  • 3 tbsp cider vinegar
  • 1 garlic clove, crushed
  • 2 tbsp rum
Method
  1. Shake together and spoon over halved avocados.
Grey box, p. 50
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegetarian

Chocolate Sauce for Ice Cream Pie

Yield 1¾ cups (420 ml)

Ingredients
  • four 1-oz (28 g) squares unsweetened chocolate
  • ¾ cup (180 ml) water
  • 1 cup (200 g) sugar
  • dash of salt
  • 6 tbsp (85 g) butter
  • 1 tsp vanilla
Method
  1. Heat the chocolate and water in a saucepan over low heat, stirring constantly, until smooth and melted.
  2. Add the sugar and salt and simmer until slightly thickened, 5 minutes.
  3. Off the heat, blend in the butter and vanilla. Serve warm.
Grey box, p. 259
Early and later cards · 1950s–2000sHandwrittenVegetarian

Hot Fudge Sauce

Two cards: an old pencilled one and a newer copy with a note in Spanish

Ingredients
  • 3 squares unsweetened chocolate
  • 3 squares semisweet chocolate
  • 1½ cups (300 g) sugar
  • 1 large can evaporated milk (1¾ cups / 420 ml)
  • 1 stick (¼ lb; 115 g) butter
  • 2 tsp vanilla
  • cream, to thin
Method
  1. Melt the chocolates. Add the sugar and evaporated milk and cook in a heavy pot or double boiler until thick, stirring occasionally.
  2. Add the butter and vanilla and cook until melted, stirring. Add cream to thin.
  3. Freeze or refrigerate. Serve hot.

At the bottom of the newer card, in Spanish: “hacer 4 fraseos de plástico” (make 4 plastic jars); the 4 and a 3 are written over each other.

Also in the rose box: “Chocolate Sauce (Hot Fudge), two more copies”. Two more copies of the grey box’s Hot Fudge Sauce: a big handwritten sheet headed “Chocolate Sauce 6X”, and a card headed “M’s Chocolate Sauce (Hot fudge)”. Same quantities as the grey box version. The big sheet is marked “6X” and “(Double recipe 3X)”, so it was made in quantity.

On the “M’s” card, “Add” (the butter and vanilla) is underlined.

Grey box, p. 294
Grey box, p. 310
Rose box, p. 261
Rose box, p. 264
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegan

Cranberry Sauce (see Joy)

Method
  1. Make the cranberry sauce from the “Joy” cookbook (Joy of Cooking), page 443, with a little less sugar.

That is the whole card: “Cranberries Sauce ‘Joy’ Cook book. Page 443, Sugar a little less,”

Grey box, p. 307
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegetarian

Henry Bain Sauce

Marked “Fondue”

Ingredients
  • ¼ cup (60 ml) ketchup
  • 9 oz (255 g) chutney
  • ½ cup (120 ml) chili sauce
  • 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
  • ½ tsp dry mustard
  • 1½ tsp Tabasco, or less
Method
  1. Whip in the blender to the consistency of thick ketchup, or grind the large pieces of chutney and mix with the other ingredients.
  2. Bottle and keep on hand to serve with meats and fish.

“or less” (of the Tabasco) is underlined.

The card spells it “Henry Bane Sauce”.

Grey box, p. 311
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwritten

Brown Sherry Sauce

Ingredients
  • 2 tbsp (28 g) butter
  • ¼ cup (31 g) flour
  • 3 cups (710 ml) stock
  • 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tbsp ketchup
  • ¼ tsp paprika
  • 1 tsp Kitchen Bouquet
  • 2 to 3 tbsp minced parsley
  • ½ cup (120 ml) heavy cream or evaporated milk
  • 3 tbsp sherry, or more
Method
  1. Cook the butter and flour until browned. Add the stock and stir constantly over low heat until thick.
  2. Add the other ingredients except the cream and sherry. Cover and simmer about 20 minutes, stirring occasionally so it doesn’t stick.
  3. Add the cream and sherry, cover and simmer 10 minutes longer. Correct the seasoning and serve.
  4. To reheat, add more sherry if needed.
Grey box, p. 312
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegetarian

Wine Steak Sauce with Mushrooms

Marked “Double”

Ingredients
  • ¼ [?] cup (40 g) minced onion (the fraction is under a stain)
  • 1 garlic clove, crushed
  • 2 cups (475 ml) Pinot Noir or other red wine
  • ⅓ cup (80 ml) lemon juice
  • 1 tbsp chopped parsley
  • salt and pepper
  • butter, for the mushrooms
  • mushrooms
Method
  1. Cook the onion, garlic and wine until reduced by half. Strain out the garlic and onion.
  2. Add the lemon juice, parsley, salt and pepper.
  3. Melt butter until the foam subsides, add the mushrooms and cook 3 minutes. Add to the hot sauce and serve immediately.

“Double” at the top is underlined, and “Strain” (after removing the garlic and onion) is circled.

Grey box, p. 313
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegan

Jelly Sauce

Filed directly behind the ham card

Ingredients
  • one 7-oz (200 g) jar tart jelly: plum, raspberry or currant
  • 1 tsp French mustard
Method
  1. Boil together and serve.
Purple box, p. 4
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwritten

Giblet Gravy

On the back of the Washington Hilton Christmas list

Ingredients
  • ½ cup (120 ml) fat from the roasting pan
  • ½ cup (65 g) flour
  • 2 cups (475 ml) pan juices and stock
  • chopped cooked giblets
  • ¼ cup (60 ml) cream
  • salt and pepper
Method
  1. Pour off and reserve the fat from the roasting pan.
  2. Heat ½ cup (120 ml) of the fat in a saucepan. Stir in the flour.
  3. Stir in the pan juices and stock (2 cups / 475 ml). Cook and stir until smooth, then simmer 5 minutes.
  4. Add the chopped giblets, and the cream, stirring constantly. Season.
  5. Add the brown bits from the roasting pan [?].

At the top left, underlined: “4 C”, the 4 written over another figure.

Purple box, p. 21
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegetarian

Herb Butter for Corn

Yield For 8 ears

Ingredients
  • 1½ sticks (170 g) unsalted butter, softened
  • 1½ tbsp minced fresh parsley
  • 1½ tbsp snipped fresh chives
  • 1½ tbsp minced scallion
  • 1½ tsp fresh lemon juice
  • ¾ tsp salt
  • Tabasco and Worcestershire sauce, to taste
Method
  1. Combine, cover and chill 1 hour or more.
Purple box, p. 216
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegetarian

Vegetable Zippy Sauce

Ingredients
  • 1 cup (225 g) mayonnaise
  • 2 hard-cooked eggs, chopped
  • 3 tbsp lemon juice
  • 2 tbsp minced onion
  • 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tsp prepared mustard
  • ¼ tsp garlic salt
  • a dash of red pepper sauce (Tabasco)
Method
  1. Combine and heat, stirring, over low heat until hot.
  2. Pour over hot vegetables, any kind.

In “over low heat”, “low” is underlined.

Purple box, p. 252
Purple box, p. 253
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegetarian

Sauce for Avocado and Watercress

In an older, rounder hand

Ingredients
  • 2 tbsp (28 g) butter
  • 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 2 tbsp catsup
  • 2 tbsp vinegar
  • 2 tbsp sugar
  • red pepper, salt, pepper and paprika
Method
  1. Heat everything together and season.
  2. Serve warm in half an avocado, with watercress around it.

Her later typed copy

Her typed copy, labelled “Pat Engel”, uses light brown sugar instead of sugar and a dash of Tabasco in place of the red pepper, salt, pepper and paprika. Nest each avocado half in a bed of cleaned, dry watercress and serve with the hot sauce in the seed hole, with extra on the table.

Purple box, p. 309
Early cards · 1950s–80s

Mrs. K’s Barbecue Sauce

Mrs. K’s typed card (“Barbeque Sause”), with Grammy’s pencilled changes

Ingredients
  • ½ cup (120 ml) catsup (Grammy: ¼ cup / 60 ml, plus 1 cup / 240 ml tomato juice)
  • ½ cup (120 ml) water
  • ¼ cup (60 ml) vinegar
  • 2 tbsp sugar (Grammy: brown)
  • 1 tbsp prepared mustard (or 1 tsp dry)
  • ½ tsp pepper
  • 1½ tsp salt
  • ¼ tsp cayenne pepper (Grammy: ⅛)
  • 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 thick slice lemon
  • 1 medium onion, cut fine
  • Grammy’s additions: 1 tbsp [?] and ¼ tsp chili powder
Method
  1. Bring to a boil and simmer 20 minutes or longer.
  2. Pre-cook the ribs, or whatever meat you use.

In pencil, a line is drawn over the “¼” of the vinegar and another slants up beneath its “¼ cup”; the catsup “½”, the salt “1½”, the cayenne “¼” and the Worcestershire “2 Tblsp.” are underlined.

Purple box, p. 312
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegetarian

Blue Cheese Dressing

Pencilled on yellow memo paper printed “from the desk of … G. Johnson”

Ingredients
  • 3 oz (85 g) blue cheese
  • red wine vinegar
  • olive oil
  • 2 to 3 shakes Worcestershire sauce
  • ½ tsp pepper
  • garlic powder (optional)
Method
  1. Break up the cheese in a shallow bowl. Add enough vinegar to cover and let it soak up for a while.
  2. Add olive oil to a good consistency, then the Worcestershire, pepper and garlic powder.
Purple box, p. 322
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegan

Basil Vinaigrette

Two cards. The second, titled “Pesto Dressing for Tomato & Mozz. Cheese” (“Dressing” struck through in blue), is noted “G – Jun 80” (Gourmet, June 1980 [?]).

Yield 1 cup (240 ml)

Ingredients
  • 3 tbsp white wine vinegar
  • 2 tsp Dijon mustard
  • 1 garlic clove, minced
  • salt and pepper
  • ½ to ¾ cup (120–180 ml) olive oil
  • 2 tbsp minced fresh basil leaves
Method
  1. Combine the vinegar, mustard, garlic, salt and pepper.
  2. Add the oil in a stream, beating until emulsified. Stir in the basil.
  3. Serve in a sauce boat, or store in a jar.

Circled in the margin of the first card: “Double recipe & use 1 bunch of basil”

Purple box, p. 335
Purple box, p. 369
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegan

Elizabeth Mynatt’s Mandarin Orange–Cranberry Relish

Elizabeth Mynatt, on her printed “My PetRecipe… A PetRecipe from Elizabeth Mynatt” card

Yield 2½ cups (590 ml)

Ingredients
  • one 11-oz (310 g) can mandarin oranges, drained
  • one 16-oz (450 g) can whole cranberry sauce
  • 1 tbsp juice from the oranges
  • 1 tbsp lemon rind
  • ¼ cup (30 g) chopped walnuts
  • ½ cup (75 g) light or dark raisins
  • ½ tsp cinnamon
Method
  1. Combine well.

Beside the walnuts someone has written “?? !!”

Purple box, p. 342
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwrittenVegan

Tomato Butter

On a long, narrow slip with a round hole punched at the top, in an older hand

Ingredients
  • 10 lb (4.5 kg) peeled tomatoes
  • 1 quart (950 ml) vinegar
  • a spice bag: 1 tbsp whole cinnamon, 1 tbsp whole cloves, 1 tbsp allspice
  • 1 tbsp salt
  • ½ tsp red pepper, or chili sauce
  • 3 lb (1.4 kg) sugar
  • 2 tbsp cornstarch, in a little water
Method
  1. Cover the tomatoes with the vinegar and let stand overnight. Boil 10 minutes.
  2. Add the spice bag, salt and red pepper. Boil 3 hours, until thick.
  3. Add the sugar and bring to the boil, then add the cornstarch.
  4. Cook, and jar while hot.

In “red pep. or chili sauce”, “or” is underlined.

Purple box, p. 356
Early cards · 1950s–80sHandwritten

Blue Cheese Sauce

Yield 1½ cups (360 ml), for 6

Ingredients
  • ¾ cup (180 ml) Sercial Madeira
  • 2 tbsp minced shallot
  • 1 cup (240 ml) heavy cream
  • ½ cup (120 ml) tinned beef broth
  • 6 oz (170 g) blue cheese, crumbled
  • 1 stick (115 g) unsalted butter, softened
  • salt, cayenne and paprika
Method
  1. In a pan, reduce the Madeira and shallot over moderately high heat to 2 tbsp.
  2. Add the cream and broth and reduce to 1 cup (240 ml).
  3. In a bowl, cream the cheese and butter together until smooth. Whisk into the saucepan and simmer 3 minutes.
  4. Strain through a sieve into a bowl. Add salt and cayenne to taste and sprinkle with paprika.
Purple box, p. 373
Later cards, 1990s–2000s
Later cards · 1990s–2000sHandwrittenVegan

Raw Seed Mixture

On a torn sheet of yellow legal paper; “to use on rice, salads, yogurt [?]”

Ingredients
  • 1 cup (140 g) pumpkin seeds
  • 1 cup (90 g) sliced (flaked) almonds
  • 1 cup (120 g) pistachios, chopped up
  • 1 cup (140 g) sunflower seeds
  • ½ cup (70 g) sesame seeds
  • ½ cup (70 g) poppy seeds (dark)
  • sunflower oil (not canola or olive oil)
  • salt and red pepper flakes
Method
  1. Fry the seeds and nuts in sunflower oil with salt and red pepper flakes until slightly brown at the edges: “only barely”.

“Slightly” is underlined.

Rose box, p. 21
Later cards · 1990s–2000sHandwrittenVegetarian

Dru’s Creamy Parmesan Dressing

Dru, printed neatly in her own hand, with “Dru” in blue in the corner

Ingredients
  • 2 cups (450 g) mayonnaise
  • ½ cup (120 ml) water
  • ½ cup (50 g) grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • ½ tsp paprika
  • ¼ tsp turmeric
Method
  1. Combine until blended.
  2. Cover and refrigerate several hours or overnight.

“Dru” in the corner is underlined.

Rose box, p. 226
Later cards · 1990s–2000sHandwrittenVegan

Two Dressings for Spinach Salad

Ingredients
  • For spinach with strawberries, scallions, pine nuts and yellow pepper
  • 1 part red wine vinegar
  • 1 part champagne vinegar
  • 2 parts olive oil [?]
  • salt and pepper
  • 1 tsp sugar
  • For spinach with grape tomatoes, mandarin oranges, scallions, yellow peppers and pine nuts
  • 2 parts raspberry balsamic vinegar
  • 1 part olive oil
  • minced garlic
  • 1 tsp sugar
  • salt and pepper
Method
  1. Whisk or shake each dressing together and toss with the salad it goes with.
Rose box, p. 252
Later cards · 1990s–2000sHandwritten

Warm Bacon Dressing

Yield 1¾ cups (420 ml)

Ingredients
  • 1 package bacon, diced
  • ½ cup (120 ml) apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
  • ¼ cup (50 g) sugar
  • ½ tsp black pepper
Method
  1. In a large skillet, cook the bacon over medium-high heat until crisp.
  2. Add the remaining ingredients, mix well and serve warm.

Serve with spinach or lettuce, or with boiled potatoes or steamed green beans.

Rose box, p. 253
Later cards · 1990s–2000sHandwrittenVegetarian

Kir’s Mustard Vinaigrette

Kir

Ingredients
  • 50 g (3½ tbsp) sherry vinegar
  • 25 g (1½ tbsp) balsamic vinegar
  • 100 ml (7 tbsp) extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 heaping tbsp Dijon mustard
  • 1 heaping tbsp honey
  • 1 tsp sea salt
  • fresh black pepper
  • ½ tsp herbes de Provence
  • 1 clove garlic, crushed (“if used minced”)
Method
  1. Whisk or shake everything together.

Circled at the top: “don’t dbl” (don’t double it).

Her later typed copy

Her typed copies use 50 ml (3½ tbsp) red wine vinegar instead of sherry vinegar and 25 ml (1½ tbsp) balsamic, with 1 tbsp each of Dijon mustard and honey (22 g / ¾ oz) rather than heaped ones. For the garlic: “garlic crushed (but, if used, dressing won’t keep for long, so I use garlic powder)”.

See also Balsamic Vinaigrette

Rose box, p. 257
Later cards · 1990s–2000sHandwritten

Von Bargen’s Port Wine Sauce

Two cards, headed “Port Wine Sauce (Von Bargen’s)” and “Van Bargen’s Port Wine Sauce” [?]

Ingredients
  • ½ to ¾ bottle good port (tawny, on the second card)
  • a few peppercorns
  • 1 bay leaf
  • a handful of fresh mushrooms, crushed in your hand
  • ½ stick cinnamon (second card)
  • ½ tbsp demi-glace de boeuf (first card)
  • cold butter, in chunks
Method
  1. Reduce the port with the peppercorns, bay leaf, mushrooms (and cinnamon) to about ¼ cup (60 ml) of syrup, almost dry.
  2. Strain. Over moderate heat, slowly whisk in the cold butter (and the demi-glace) a chunk at a time until the reduction has a nice consistency.
  3. Serve with sautéed spinach and poached fish, or beef.

The warning, on both cards: don’t stir too vigorously “or sauce will loose its ruby color”.

On the “Van Bargen’s” [?] card, “Don’t” is underlined.

Rose box, p. 260
Rose box, p. 265
Later cards · 1990s–2000sHandwrittenVegan

Maria’s Balsamic Vinaigrette and Marinade

Maria

Ingredients
  • ¼ cup (60 ml) balsamic vinegar
  • up to ¼ cup (60 ml) olive oil (canola for pasta salad)
  • 2 or more large garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 heaping tsp (or more) sugar (to thicken)
  • salt and pepper
Method
  1. Whisk together.
  2. Use on steak and portabello mushrooms.

See also Maria’s Steak Salad

Rose box, p. 262
Later cards · 1990s–2000sHandwrittenSpecial praiseVegan

Cranberry Sauce with Caramelized Onions

Noted “Fine Cooking 09” and “Delicious”

Yield 2½ to 3 cups (590–710 ml)

Ingredients
  • 1 tbsp canola oil
  • 1 large yellow onion, medium dice
  • ⅛ tsp or less ground cloves (“use hardly any”)
  • kosher salt and ground pepper
  • 1 bag fresh or frozen (thawed) cranberries (3½ cups / 350 g)
  • 1 cup (200 g) sugar
  • ½ cup (120 ml) water
Method
  1. In a 10-inch (25 cm) skillet or sauté pan, heat the oil over medium heat. Add the onion, cloves, a pinch of salt and a grind or two of pepper.
  2. Reduce the heat to low, cover and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions are golden brown and very soft, 20 to 25 minutes.
  3. Uncover, raise the heat to medium-high and cook, stirring often, until deep caramel-brown, 2 to 3 minutes.
  4. Add the cranberries, sugar, a pinch of salt and the water and simmer over medium-high heat 1 minute. Cover, turn off the heat and cool to room temperature.

Serve at room temperature. It keeps 3 days.

“Delicious”, underlined.

Rose box, p. 263
Later cards · 1990s–2000sHandwrittenVegan

Lindy’s Cranberry-Cherry Relish

Lindy; “(similar to Cooks – see pg 373)”

Yield 12 servings

Ingredients
  • 1 lb (450 g) cranberries, rinsed and drained
  • 2 cups (400 g) sugar
  • ½ cup (120 ml) fresh orange juice
  • ½ cup (120 ml) cranberry juice
  • grated zest of 1 orange
  • 1 cup (145 g) dried cherries
Method
  1. Combine the cranberries, sugar, juices and zest. Over medium heat, boil slowly until the berries pop open, about 10 minutes (a “5” is written in above the 10).
  2. Skim off the foam with a metal spoon. Stir in the cherries and let cool to room temperature.
  3. Cover and refrigerate. It keeps 1 month.
Rose box, p. 266
Later cards · 1990s–2000sHandwrittenVegan

Cranberry Sauce with Cherries and Cloves

Noted “Bon Appétit”

Ingredients
  • 2½ cups (590 ml) cherry cider or cranberry juice cocktail
  • one 8-oz (225 g) package dried tart cherries (about 2 cups)
  • ¾ (or 1) cup sugar
  • one 12-oz (340 g) package cranberries
  • ⅛ to ¼ tsp ground cloves
Method
  1. Bring the cider to a simmer in a heavy pot and take it off the heat. Add the cherries and let stand 8 minutes.
  2. Mix in the sugar, then the cranberries and cloves. Cook over medium-high heat until the cranberries burst, stirring occasionally, about 9 minutes.
  3. Refrigerate until cold, about 4 hours; it will thicken. (It can be made 4 days ahead.) Keep covered and refrigerated.
Rose box, p. 267
Later cards · 1990s–2000sHandwrittenVegan

Berry Coulis (for cheesecake)

Noted “Delia – Summer 144” [?]: probably Delia Smith’s Summer Collection, page 144

Yield Serves 6

Ingredients
  • 8 oz blackberries and raspberries (225 g); the card first said blackcurrants
  • 1½ oz caster sugar (35 g)
  • or: 1 pint (340 g) berries, ½ cup (100 g) sugar and 2 tbsp lemon juice
  • 4 fresh raspberries and 5 mint leaves, to decorate
Method
  1. Sprinkle the berries with the sugar in a bowl. Let them macerate, covered, at room temperature until the juices run, about 1 hour.
  2. Either sieve them, mashing with a spoon, or process them first and then sieve into a bowl.
  3. Check the sugar, pour into a jug and chill.
  4. Pour over a corner of the cheesecake and let it puddle on the plate. Decorate the cake with 4 fresh raspberries and 5 mint leaves.

“Process 1st” is underlined.

Rose box, p. 344
Typed on her computer, 2005–16
Typed on her computer · 2005–16Special praiseVegan

Chinese Peanut Sauce

Adapted from Mollie Katzen and Madhur Jaffrey.

Grammy’s note: “Delicious intense flavor.”

Use it on stir-fried chicken and Chinese noodles (usually served at room temperature or slightly warm), or as a dip for raw vegetables. It can be made a day ahead.

Ingredients
  • ½ cup (135 g) good peanut butter, smooth or crunchy
  • ½ cup (120 ml) hot water
  • 2 tbsp soy sauce
  • 2 tbsp sugar
  • 3 medium garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 tsp minced fresh ginger
  • 2 tsp Chinese Shaoxing wine, dry sherry or cider vinegar
  • 1 tbsp toasted sesame oil
  • 2 tbsp minced fresh cilantro, or more
  • Ground cayenne, to taste
  • Salt, to taste (if the peanut butter is unsalted)
Method
  1. Put the peanut butter in a small bowl. Add the hot water and stir patiently with a spoon or small whisk until uniformly mixed.
  2. Stir in everything else and mix well.
  3. Cover tightly and refrigerate for a while so the flavours mature. Bring to room temperature before serving.
Typed on her computer · 2005–16Vegan

Balsamic Reduction

  • 2 cups (475 ml) balsamic vinegar
  • ½ cup (110 g) brown sugar

Boil until reduced by half, and no longer, or it will caramelise. Store in a squeeze bottle.

Still to add: Grammy also saved a web page, “How to Cook Rice Perfectly” (April 2007), in a format that can’t be opened through Drive here. It can go in once the folder is linked.

Typed on her computer · 2005–16Vegan

How to Cook Rice Perfectly

Niloufer King, “How to Cook Rice Perfectly”, Fine Cooking #31, pages 16–18 (photos by Steve Hunter), saved from the Fine Cooking website in April 2007. The saved page greets “Welcome Patricia!”, so Grammy was logged in to Fine Cooking when she saved it. Summarised here in our own words.

The method is almost the one on the back of the box. What the box leaves out is the rest at the end: it evens out the texture from top to bottom, and it gives you up to half an hour of leeway for the rest of the meal.

For each cup of rice
  • 1 cup (190 g) white rice
  • 1½–2 cups (355–475 ml) water: the larger amount for long-grain, less for medium- and short-grain, and a little less if the rice has been rinsed
  • A little butter or olive oil
  • Salt
Method
  1. Rinsing is optional. A few changes of cold water wash off any talc (still used as a milling aid outside the US) and some loose starch, so the rice is less sticky. Soaking, usually about 30 minutes, helps long-grain rice and older basmati expand without breaking; drain soaked rice thoroughly.
  2. Choose a heavy-based pot with plenty of room above the rice and a tight lid. If the lid is loose, lay a clean kitchen cloth between pot and lid, folded up over the top so it can’t burn. The cloth also catches the condensation, which gives drier, fluffier rice.
  3. Combine the rice, water, butter or oil and salt, bring to a boil, cover and turn down to a slow simmer. On an electric stove, bring it to the boil on one burner and slide the pot onto a second one already set to low.
  4. After about 12 minutes the water should be absorbed and the rice still al dente.
  5. Take the pot off the heat and leave it, lid on and undisturbed, for at least 5 and up to 30 minutes, until the moist bottom layer is as fluffy as the top. Fluff and serve.
More water or less

More water gives softer, stickier rice, good for stir-fries. Less keeps the grains separate and firmer, good for rice salads. Expect to experiment a little: rice varies from variety to variety and batch to batch, and old rice absorbs more water than new.

When it goes wrong
  • Still chewy or hard in the middle: add just enough water to make a little steam (¼ cup / 60 ml or less), cover and cook on very low heat for 5 minutes more.
  • Cooked but too wet: uncover and cook over low heat to drive off the water, or spread it gently on a baking sheet and dry it in a low oven.
  • Split and mushy: turn it into rice pudding, and start again if there’s time.
  • Burned on the bottom: run cold water over the outside of the pot’s base to stop the burnt taste spreading (don’t add water to the rice) and spoon out whatever you can save.
  • A quick peek is allowed, despite the old rule never to lift the lid: it shows you when most of the water has gone and the pot can come off the heat. Keep the lid off only for a moment.
Perfectly cooked rice: “tasty, light, and fluffy”, with distinct, tender grains. Fine Cooking #31 (photo: Steve Hunter)
Rinse, strain, boil, and then simmer. Fine Cooking #31 (photo: Steve Hunter)
Typed on her computer · 2005–16Vegan

Raspberry Coulis

Three versions saved from the web on one page, with Grammy’s notes; no sources are named.

With fresh raspberries
  • 1 pint (340 g) raspberries
  • 3–4 tbsp sugar
  1. Purée the raspberries and sugar in a food processor until smooth, about 1½ minutes.
  2. Strain through a fine-mesh sieve into a clean nonreactive bowl. Use straight away, or refrigerate in a well-sealed container for up to 2 days.

With frozen raspberries in syrup (makes about 1 cup / 240 ml)

  • 1 (10-oz / 285 g) package frozen raspberries in syrup (“DEFROSTED”)
  • 2 tbsp sugar
  • 1 tsp fresh lemon juice, or to taste
  1. Purée the raspberries and their syrup with the sugar and lemon juice in a blender or food processor.
  2. Pour through a fine sieve into a bowl, pressing on the solids. It keeps 3 days, covered and chilled.

For fresh raspberries instead, use 2½ cups (310 g) fresh raspberries and ¼ cup (50 g) sugar.

With sugar syrup and kirsch (makes 1½ cups / 360 ml)

  • ½ cup (100 g) sugar
  • 3 tbsp water
  • 1 lb (450 g) fresh raspberries, or 1 (12-oz / 340 g) bag frozen raspberries, thawed
  • 1 tsp kirsch or framboise eau-de-vie, optional (“or Brandy”)
  1. Warm the sugar and water in a small saucepan over medium heat, stirring now and then, until the sugar has completely dissolved, about 5 minutes.
  2. Purée the raspberries with the syrup in a blender.
  3. Strain through a fine-mesh sieve to remove the seeds, then stir in the kirsch, framboise or brandy, if using. It keeps 4–5 days tightly covered in the fridge and freezes perfectly for several months.
Typed on her computer · 2005–16Vegan

Rhubarb-Ginger Compote

From the NY Times Cookbook, with Grammy’s notes. Makes 2½ cups (590 ml).

Ingredients
  • 2 tsp olive oil
  • 2 shallots, minced
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 tbsp grated fresh ginger
  • 2 cups (475 ml) water
  • 1 cup (200 g) sugar (“or Splenda”)
  • 4 cups (500 g) ¼-inch-thick (5 mm) slices trimmed rhubarb
  • 2 tbsp plus 2 tsp rice wine vinegar
  • ⅛ tsp salt
  • Freshly ground pepper
Method
  1. Heat the oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Cook the shallots and garlic until soft, about 2 minutes, then add the ginger and stir for 45 seconds.
  2. Add the water and sugar and bring to a boil, then turn the heat down until the liquid barely simmers. Add the rhubarb and poach it, without letting it simmer, until tender but still whole, 8–10 minutes.
  3. Lift the rhubarb out with a slotted spoon into a strainer set over a bowl. Boil the liquid over medium heat, adding the juices that drip from the rhubarb, until reduced to 1 cup (240 ml), 30–40 minutes; it is ready when it starts to bubble up the sides of the pan. Let it cool.
  4. Season the syrup with the vinegar, salt and pepper to taste, then stir in the rhubarb. Serve, or keep in the fridge.

Grammy’s note: “Serve on toast, cheese, salmon, cottage cheese...”

Typed on her computer · 2005–16Vegetarian

Beurre Blanc

No source is named. Makes 2¼ cups (530 ml).

Ingredients
  • ½ cup (120 ml) freshly squeezed lemon or lime juice
  • ½ cup (120 ml) dry white wine
  • ½ tsp kosher salt
  • ¼ tsp white pepper
  • ½ small bay leaf
  • ½ cup (120 ml) heavy cream
  • 2 cups (1 lb / 450 g) unsalted butter, cut into tablespoon-sized pieces and lightly chilled
Method
  1. Combine the lemon juice, wine, salt, pepper and bay leaf in a heavy-bottomed 2-quart (1.9 litres) saucepan and cook over medium heat until reduced by half.
  2. Add the cream, bring to a boil and reduce by half again. Discard the bay leaf, take the pan off the heat and let the reduction cool slightly.
  3. Turn the burner to its lowest setting and put the pan back on. Add the butter 3 tbsp at a time, whisking constantly and letting each addition be absorbed before adding the next, until the sauce is smooth and creamy.
  4. Taste and adjust the seasoning. Cover and keep warm over barely lukewarm water until serving.

Variations: add capers, minced herbs, fresh garlic or curry powder; use lime juice instead of lemon; or whisk in puréed roasted red pepper.

Fresh Mango Beurre Blanc
  • 1 tbsp (14 g) unsalted butter
  • 2 tbsp finely minced onion
  • 2 tsp finely minced garlic
  • 1 cup (165 g) cubed fresh mango
  • 1 recipe lemon beurre blanc (above)
  • 2–4 tbsp dry white wine
  1. Melt the butter in a small skillet over medium-low heat. Add the onion, garlic and mango and cook, stirring often, until the onion is soft but not browned, 2–3 minutes.
  2. Pulse in a blender until smooth. With the motor running, pour the beurre blanc slowly through the opening in the lid until it is all in and the sauce is very smooth. If it is too thick, thin it with a little of the wine. Season with salt and pepper and keep warm over lukewarm water until serving.

See also Fish with Pistachio Crumble, Fish with Crispy Red Onion Crust

Typed on her computer · 2005–16Vegan

Herbed Pomegranate Salsa

No source is named.

Ingredients
  • 1½ sprigs fresh mint, chopped
  • 1½ bunches fresh cilantro, chopped
  • 1½ bunches Italian flat-leaf parsley, chopped
  • 1 small red onion, chopped
  • 1 pomegranate, skin and light-coloured membrane removed
  • 6 tbsp fresh lime juice
  • 2 tsp grated lime zest
  • 1 jalapeño pepper, chopped
  • 1 serrano pepper, chopped
  • 1 small tomato, diced
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • Salt to taste
  • Ground white pepper to taste
Method
  1. In a medium bowl, toss together the mint, cilantro, parsley, onion, pomegranate seeds, lime juice and zest, jalapeño, serrano, tomato and olive oil. Season with salt and white pepper.
  2. Cover and chill for at least 2 hours before serving.

See also Lamb and Date Tagine

Typed on her computer · 2005–16Vegetarian

Lime Butter Sauce

No source is named. Makes about ¾ cup (180 ml).

Ingredients
  • 1 large garlic clove, minced (optional)
  • ¼ cup (60 ml) fresh lime juice
  • Zest of 1 lime
  • 1 tsp salt
  • ½ tsp black pepper
  • 1 stick (½ cup; 115 g) unsalted butter, at room temperature
Method
  1. Stir the garlic, lime juice and zest, salt and pepper together in a large bowl.
  2. Add the butter [?] (the list says room-temperature butter, the method “melted butter”) and blend with a stand mixer or an immersion blender until emulsified, about 30 seconds. Without the garlic, a bowl and a spoon will do.

Make ahead: the sauce keeps for 2 days in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Bring it back to room temperature and stir before using.

Typed on her computer · 2005–16Vegetarian

Dill Cream Sauce

From eHow.com, “How to Make Salmon and Dill Cream Sauce”. Grammy saved only the sauce steps.

Ingredients
  • 1 lemon
  • ¼ cup (15 g) chopped fresh dill, or 1 tsp dried dill weed
  • ¼ cup (25 g) chopped green onions
  • 1 carton plain low-fat yogurt (the size is not given)
  • 1 tbsp capers
Method
  1. Wash the lemon under cold running water and grate ½ tsp of the zest. Set the lemon aside.
  2. Put the dill and green onions in a glass or plastic bowl.
  3. Stir in the yogurt and capers until the mixture is creamy.

The saved steps end there, without saying what to do with the zest or the rest of the lemon.

Early cards, 1950s–80s
Early cards · 1950s–80s

Note: address card

On the back of Betsy Winslow’s curry dip card: a typed address, crossed out, for a Mr. John Lynch of Wilton, Connecticut, “c/o Mrs. Kenneth C. Carter”.

Grey box, p. 23
Early cards · 1950s–80s

Note: the index card packet

The cardboard front of a packet of “Write Well” 4 × 6 horizontal-ruled index cards, kept in the grey box. Grammy used it for her flour weights: 4 cups flour = 1 lb = 16 oz; 1 cup = 4 oz; ½ cup = 2 oz; 4 tbsp = ¼ cup = 1 oz; 2 tbsp = ⅛ cup = ½ oz.

Grey box, p. 54
Early cards · 1950s–80s

Note: names on a card

On a faded divider card tabbed “Cheese”, pencilled down the side: “Blue Ribbon – German” [?], “Headquarters – steak” (with “reasonable” written small beneath), “Champlain”. These look like restaurant names.

A star is drawn in pencil in the lower left corner, below the names.

Grey box, p. 87
Early cards · 1950s–80s

Note: Mrs. Herbert Schreiner’s address

An address card for Mrs. Herbert Schreiner of Lancaster, Wisconsin, with the name crossed through. She was Anna Schreiner, born Virum, the wife of Herbert Schreiner, youngest brother of John’s grandfather Frank Schreiner (John was Grammy’s first husband). She died in 1994, aged 103. The end of Betty’s Rum Apricot Cake is written upside down at the bottom of the same card.

Grey box, p. 210
Early cards · 1950s–80s

A Christmas dinner list on Washington Hilton notepaper

A sheet of notepaper from The Washington Hilton, “The Resort Hotel of the Nation’s Capital”, with a holiday dinner plan in Grammy’s hand, some prices circled: goose [?] ($5.45), cranberry pie [?] ($6.75), cranberry pudding (“6 pm” [?], circled), Christmas pudding ($8.15), gravy, boiled potatoes, artichokes, Brussels sprouts, peas and buttermilk. Crossed off as done: chestnut dressing, fruit, giblet stock, hard sauce, pudding and cabbage.

The first word on the list, “Goose” [?], is underlined.

See also Giblet Gravy

Purple box, p. 20
Early cards · 1950s–80s

Note: a list of dishes

Written sideways on a card, perhaps menu ideas: turkey hash; pumpkin pie; steak spread (Roquefort, Tabasco, mustard); tuna loaf (salmon); fillet with Chablis sauce; codfish cakes. Some are circled or crossed through.

Purple box, p. 348
Early cards · 1950s–80s

Address card: Mr. and Mrs. John Schreiner, Stamford

An address card in an older hand for Mr. and Mrs. John Schreiner of Stamford, Connecticut. “Schreiner” and part of the line are struck through, and “Gray” [?] is written at the end. John Schreiner was Grammy’s first husband (the typed Great Northern Railway note talks about cooking “for you and John”), so this was probably their early address in Stamford, where they raised Kirsten and Karin. John’s mother was Ester Gray Schreiner.

Purple box, p. 366
Later cards, 1990s–2000s
Later cards · 1990s–2000s

Aligot from a mix (clipping)

A strip torn from The New York Times Dining section, Wednesday, January 3, 2007 (page F2, “From a Mix, A Quick Trip To France”, with Tony Cenicola’s photo of the packet). The other side is the section front, Peter Meehan’s “Music And Food? The Pros Step In”, about restaurant soundtracks (Drew Nieporent remembering Warner LeRoy banning Barbra Streisand’s eight-track at Maxwell’s Plum).

Aligot, from south-central France, is a purée of potatoes made supple, elastic and rich with cream, garlic and fresh Laguiole or Cantal cheese, served with roast or grilled meat (or, at Michel Bras’s restaurant in Laguiole, as a course of its own). Marie de Livinhac, a company in the Auvergne, makes a dehydrated aligot mix that needs only crème fraîche, water and five minutes; rubbing the pot with garlic is optional, and the secret is beating it with a wooden spoon into satiny ribbons as it cooks. A packet for two cost $7.99 and one for four or five $11.99, both at Fairway.

Rose box, p. 1
Rose box, p. 2
Later cards · 1990s–2000s

“The Pour”: brown ales (back of the Bittman pasta clipping)

Eric Asimov’s wine and beer column, The New York Times, probably winter 2007

A tasting of brown ales. It quotes Garrett Oliver of the Brooklyn Brewery (from his 2003 book “The Brewmaster’s Table”) on mild brown ale as the drink of thirsty coal miners and dock workers, and praises Ithaca, Brooklyn and Smuttynose, along with Dogfish Head, Samuel Adams, Alaskan, Newcastle, Southampton’s Secret Ale and Grolsch’s amber ale.

Rose box, p. 4
Later cards · 1990s–2000s

A party menu on a sticky note

A yellow sticky note listing a run of cocktail nibbles, most of which have cards in this part of the box: Spinach Pesto Dip, Asparagus Puffs, Peaches & Prosc[iutto], Manchego & Quince, Stuffed Mushrooms, Almonds.

Rose box, p. 30
Later cards · 1990s–2000s

“If You Like Goat Cheese…” (magazine clipping)

A magazine article pasted on two cards, with a blue cross in the margin; the second card is the colour photograph of six numbered cheeses

Max McCalman, maître fromager at Picholine in New York City, says goat cheese was long a hard sell to Americans because of the many bland supermarket chèvres. His picks include Coach Farm’s Green Peppercorn Pyramid (made in New York by the family that founded the Coach leather company; two months old, with a “lovely, fluffy texture”, great with leafy salads), Queso Ibores (a firm, moist raw-milk cheese from western Spain, rubbed with paprika and olive oil) and Garrotxa, also from Spain; the rest of the article is cut off.

Rose box, p. 42
Rose box, p. 43
Typed on her computer, 2005–16
Typed on her computer · 2005–16

“A New Taste Sensation” (Wall Street Journal, 8 December 2007)

Katy McLaughlin’s article on umami, the savoury “fifth taste” named a century earlier by Japanese scientist Kikunae Ikeda. It describes chefs and food companies building dishes around glutamate-rich ingredients.

Its advice for home cooks: add aged cheese (even a Parmesan rind in the soup pot), soy sauce, tomato products or fish sauces. Pair them with mushrooms, seafood or bone stocks for a bigger effect, and use slow cooking, drying, curing and ageing. Its two recipes are in this book: Gary Danko’s Tomato Soup (Soups) and Jody Adams’s Balsamic-Marinated Chicken (Chicken).

Umami in a bowl: shaved Parmesan with dried mushrooms, one of the article’s photographs. The Wall Street Journal, 8 December 2007 (photo: Donna Alberico)
Typed on her computer · 2005–16

CIA Taste magazine (Summer/Fall 2008)

The Culinary Institute of America’s catalogue of courses for food enthusiasts, from Hyde Park boot camps to a Vietnam and Thailand class at the CIA’s Astor Center in New York. Its 11 recipes are written out in their chapters:

  • Prosciutto and Melon Canapés; Capellini with Grilled Vegetables; Fruit Salad with Orange-Blossom Syrup (from Gourmet Meals in Minutes)
  • Chilled Cucumber Soup with Shrimp and Dill (Breakfasts & Brunches)
  • Grilled Baby Octopus with Coconut Rice (Grilling)
  • Chayote and Pineapple Chimichangas (Vegetables)
  • Summer Stew au Pistou; Vietnamese Salad Rolls (One Dish Meals)
  • Angel Food Summer Pudding with Mixed Berry Compote (Baking Boot Camp)
  • Sugar Marshmallow Cupcakes (Cake Art)
  • Shrimp in Garlic (Spain and the World Table)
The cover of the CIA’s Taste catalogue, Summer/Fall 2008, with its shrimp in garlic. CIA Taste, Summer/Fall 2008
Typed on her computer · 2005–16

Meat and Fowl Temperatures

Grammy’s own chart, typed for the kitchen: the temperatures she cooked meat to, in °F as she wrote them.

Meat Temperature Doneness
Beef (steaks or hamburger) 120°F (49°C) Rare
125°F (52°C) Medium rare
135°F (57°C) Medium
155°F (68°C) Well-done
Chicken, turkey 160°F (71°C) Thighs
155°F (68°C) Breasts
Ground turkey burgers 155°F (68°C)
Lamb 120°F (49°C) Rare
125°F (52°C) Medium rare
155°F (68°C) Well-done (a travesty!)
Pork 145°F (63°C) Medium
155°F (68°C) Well-done

Grammy’s note, beside well-done lamb: “(a travesty!)”

Typed on her computer · 2005–16

Weight of Ingredients

Grammy’s chart of what a cup weighs, set out side by side from Cook’s Illustrated, King Arthur Flour and Zojirushi, the bread-machine maker, with a last column of her own, headed “Pat”.

Per cup Cook’s Illus. King Arthur Zojirushi Pat
All-purpose flour 142 g 120 g — 140 g
Bread flour 156 g 120 g 128 g 140 g
Whole wheat flour 156 g 113 g 120 g 140 g
Cake flour 113 g — — 113 g
Granulated sugar 198 g — 186 g 200 g
Light or dark brown sugar 198 g
Confectioner’s sugar 113 g
Fine (caster) sugar 225 g
Cocoa 85 g
Oats 85 g

Where the experts disagreed, she settled on her own round numbers: 140 g (5 oz) for a cup of any everyday flour and 200 g (7 oz) for a cup of sugar. She also saved King Arthur Flour’s full weight chart from its website, which lists everything from almond flour to shredded zucchini, in ounces.

Typed on her computer · 2005–16

Camp Grammy Master Shopping List

Grammy’s list for stocking the house before the grandchildren arrived for Camp Grammy, with her spellings. A second copy, saved a few days later, leaves out the candy, the s’mores makings, the Oreos, the salted peanuts, the baking chocolate and the ice-cream cones, and asks for “Arnolds” white bread.

Groceries: Dinosaur Eggs · Apple Cinn. Cheerios · Cheerios · Rice Krispies · Diced Tomatoes · Chicken broth · Motts applesauce · Tunafish in oil · Spagetti · Rice/risotto and basmati · Pine nuts · Tostitos/regular & lime · salsa · M&Ms · Reeses pcs. · Marshmellos · Hersey bars · Graham crackers · Db. stuffed oreos · Ice Cream cones · Popcorn · Salted whole peanuts · Dry roasted peanuts · Pistachios · Cashew pieces · Keebler Toasted Wheat crackers · Rice crackers · Nabisco 5 grain wheat thins · Brownberry wheat bread · White bread

The cupboard: Pickled jalapeno/mild · Dijon Mustard · Ketchup · Mayo · Pb smooth · Smuckers grape jelly · Raspberry jelly · Sunflower oil · Baking chocolate · Chocolate chips · Flour · Sugar · Cake flour · Brown sugar · Bisquick

Household: Toilet paper · Paper towels · Seran · Baggies (sandwich, gal., freezer)

Drinks: Fresca · DC · Tonic water · Soda water · Apple juices · Lt. cranberry · Molson Ice/Stella Artois · Perrier w/lime · Instant Coffee

Dairy: 2% milk, 3 gal. (11.4 litres) · skim milk, 1 qt (950 ml) · 1% lactaid milk, ½ gal. (1.9 litres) · ½ & ½, 1 qt (950 ml) · butter · lactaid cottage cheese · sour cream, pt · eggs · cheese/Amer. slices · Jarlsberg, sharp ched. · Cheese sticks · Parmesan wedges · Feta · Creamed cheese · Dannon Yogurt, fruit on bottom · Buitoni cheese tortellini, 4 # (1.8 kg) · All beef Oscar M. hot dogs · Bacon

Deli: Hard salami sliced thinly · Rare roast beef sliced · Munster sliced · Ham sliced · Turkey breast shaved

Fruits & veggies: Grapes · Plums · Apples (Braeburn) · Pinapple · Oranges · Bananas · Kiwi · Limes · Lemons · Cantelope · Watermelon · Strawberries · Blueberries · Baking potatoes · Red peppers · Red onion · Onions · Garlic · Brocoli · celery · Carrots · Cucumbers · Tomatoes · Lettuce · Cilantro

Freezer: H. Daz ice cream (pb/cc, van, choc. chip) · OJ, no pulp, 6 cans

Meats: Chix breasts (bone in, skin on) · Ground Chuck

Typed on her computer · 2005–16

The Best Potatoes for Mashing

Notes on mashed potatoes that Grammy saved beside her potato recipes; the source isn’t named. Summarised here.

For mashing, use a mix: yellow-fleshed potatoes such as Yukon Golds taste better, and white-fleshed russets are fluffier. Choose big potatoes, so there is less peeling, and keep small or waxy ones for roasting and salads.

Don’t refrigerate cooked potatoes if you can help it: the cold makes them heavy and gluey. Julia Child wouldn’t even cover hers, because she thought they tasted “smothered” afterwards. To get ahead, peel and quarter the raw potatoes the night before and keep them in the fridge covered with cold water. Cook them in the morning and keep them somewhere cool until it is time to reheat.

Typed on her computer · 2005–16

A Pantry List

An untitled list in British wording (“sachets”, “chillies”), filed with the chicken recipes and last saved in 2018, after her recipe files end. It is the newest file in her folders.

4 packs of Uncle Ben’s ready rice (microwavable sachets) · 2 cans of pinto beans · 2 cans garbanzo beans/chickpeas · 4 cans diced tomatoes with green chillies (e.g. Rotel brand) · 1 tub of old fashioned oats · 1 pack of 6 little tubs of unsweetened applesauce with berries · 1 jar smooth peanut butter (no hydrogenated oils) · 1 pack of medium soft white flour tortillas

Index

B

C

D

F

G

H

K

L

M

O

P

R

S

T

U

V

W

Y