Thursday, November 3, 2011

Betty Crocker Cookbook for Boys & Girls - Republished!!


Betty Crocker Cookbook for Boys and Girls

The book was published in 1957. My sister and I had already prepared many of the recipes in this book by the time my youngest brother was born.. and that was in 1962. This cookbook was used so often (and still is!) and is now stored in a plastic bag (a no-no for vintage items) because it is in pieces.
I love to look at the page where my mother had made a list of meals and the order of preparation for my sister and me so that when my mother was in the hospital having my brother, our family would still have meals on the table.
Heaven forbid that we have to eat out. In my childhood eating out was a rarity.
I still use the gingerbread recipe in this book and my brothers and even my sons all consider Saucy Hamburger Crumble to be the ultimate in comfort food.

Time passes... and life goes on... Sunday, October 23rd I had my parents on my mind. It had been three years since my father had passed away and my mother just four months before him.

I was with my friend, Sherry, and we were having  so much fun shopping in Wimberly, Texas. We wandered through Kiss the Cook, a fabulous store loaded with cooking all sorts of cooking utensils and cookbooks. So much fun!!
paraphernalia

It had been laying heavy on my heart that I had not received a "sign" from my parents in some time. On that particular day it was actually nagging at me. Some little something that would only be understood by my parents and me.

As I enjoyed looking through the cookbooks I looked up and suddenly saw THE cookbook. It was the Betty Crocker Cookbook for Boys and Girls! One single copy and on a little stand. No way to miss it. It's been republished.. is that a word??
It was the sign!!



My new cookbook!!

I whipped that cookbook off the shelf and there could not be any purchase that I will make for a very long time that will hold a candle to this cookbook.

... and, yes, that is a picture of my parents in my collage.

Gingerbread

"Little girls in hoop skirts and boys in ruffled collars ate gingerbread, too."

Heat oven to 325 degrees

Grease and flour a 9-inch square pan.

Mix thoroughly:
1/2 cup soft shortening
2 tablespoons sugar
1 egg

Blend in:
1 cup dark molasses
1 cup boiling water

Stir in:
2 1/4 cups sifted Gold Medal Flour
1 teaspoon soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ginger
1 teaspoon cinnamon

Beat until smooth.  Pour into prepared pan.  Bake 45 to 50 minutes.

Saucy Hamburger Crumble

Melt in frying pan:
1 tablespoon fat

Add and brown lightly:
1 small onion, chopped

Then add and brown:
1 pound ground beef

Break the meat into small pieces.

Stir in:
1/4 cup Gold Medal Flour

Then stir in:
2 cups water or milk (I use milk)

Heat until gravy bubbles. Serve over mashed potatoes.  4 servings

I am linking to:




Show and Tell Friday at My Romantic Home


Wednesday, November 2, 2011

The Devil and the Ghost! - Wordless Wednesday


This lasted about five minutes!


Be sure to make a visit to "Wordless Wednesday"!!

Farewell, my children!


Aren't grandchildren just the BEST?

My "grands" live in Mexico.  I don't see them often
so when my son sends pictures... my heart skips a beat.

Carmen is so sweet and gentle. An excellent student she
is top in her second grade class.
David ... named after my husband, well... just look at that
expression on his face. He is just as sweet as his big sister, but has a look of mischief in all of his pictures.

They are preparing to leave for a trip to California to
visit relatives so for them.. it's a day of adventure.

 "Que le vaya bien, mi niños !"


Saturday, October 29, 2011

Dump Cake at Las Islas Ranch

Las Islas Ranch is our retreat

These are just a few pictures that we've taken over the past
few years.
You'll see deer, turkey, javelina, wildflowers,
bluebonnets (our state flower), blooming cactus, my husband with friends chatting by the firepit,
and my husband and me.
We go here to refresh and "replenish".



Today while we are here I have made
Dump Cake... a ranch favorite.
Photography-challenged I am even tested further
due to just being at the ranch (poor lighting and only
serviceable dishes)
Oh well...

This recipe is from my friend, Beverly Moody, who is
a wonderful cook!


Beverly with her husband, Pat
and friend, "Dobie".

Beverly's Dump Cake

1 can cherry pie filling
1 can crushed pineapple, drained (save juice!)
1 box yellow cake mix
1 stick butter, melted and pineapple juice mixed with it
1 c. coconut
1 c. chopped pecans

In a large pyrex dish layer:
Pie filling and crushed pineapple, mixed
Sprinkle cake mix over mixture
Drizzle melted butter and pineapple juice over cake mix
Top with coconut and pecans

Bake 1 hour at 350 degrees

Enjoy!


I am linking to two of my favs!!


Monday, October 24, 2011

Pecan-crusted Tilapia, Royal Star Papaya, Okra - A Winner!

 
Supper was a hit!

We spent part of the day shopping in
Wimberly, Texas yesterday.
I came home with a little cookbook...
Cordon Bubba
by Barry Shlachter

Pecan-crusted Catfish sounded so good,
but, alas, no catfish in the freezer.
So... I thawed out a package of tilapia fillets.
There was..
No dry wine in the house.
Barely enough Dijon mustard

and so I followed the recipe... somewhat.

The following is my recipe inspired by this cute cookbook
that shares part of their earnings with
Habitat for Humanity.

Pecan-crusted Tilapia

1/4 cup Dijon-style mustard
1/4 cup cooking sherry
1 cup coarsley ground, lightly toasted pecans
2 large cloves garlic, finely minced
1/2 cup seasoned bread crumbs
1 pound of tilapia fillets

Lightly toast pecans. Heat oven to 375 degrees.
Thoroughly mix mustard, sherry and garlic in a
small bowl. Set aside

Mix bread crumbs and pecans together in a deep
dish pie plate.

Pat fillets dry on paper towels. Sprinkle the tiniest bit of
sea salt on the fish... not much!

Dip each fillet in the mustard mixture and press into the pecan/bread crumb
mixture, creating a heavy crust.

Spray Pam on jelly roll pan and lay fish fillets in the pan. Sprinkle any leftover
crumb mixture of the fish.

Bake 30 minutes... maybe a little longer depending on thickness of fillets.



As with most of our meals, I served fresh
Royal Star Papaya..
this time with fresh blueberries.
(A moment to brag a bit: My husband and our oldest son grow these magnificant
papayas in Mexico. We ship all over the U.S. and soon in Canada.)

The okra is salted and broiled on a "Pam'd" cookie
sheet... no oil! We love it!!

I'm joining the fun at All the Small Stuff for
Tuesdays at the Table
http://allthesmallstuff-cole.blogspot.com/
Come join the party!


Cestohowa, Texas


Nativity of the Blessed Blessed Mary Virgin Church

My husband and I were returning to our home from a wedding in Wimberly, Texas when we decided to make a visit to this church in Cestohowa (the "w" is pronounced as a "v"). Close friends of ours have their famil roots well-established in this church and had spoken of it many times.
It is truly a beautiful church and so rich in history!


Cestohowa, Texas

The second Polish colony in Karnes County, the village in this area grew out of a small settlement known as St. Joe and was formally established in 1873. At times the priest at Panna Maria would conduct services at St. Joseph School in what would become Czestochowa. The Mother Colony church at Panna Maria was destroyed by lightning in 1877; Czestochowa settlers decided to build their own church. This was the subject of much controversy among the Polish pioneers of Karnes County. Anton Jarzombek (1836-1922) and Frank Mutz (1814-1891) each donated land for the church. Area residents contributed their labor to build the eighty-five by forty foot church with Gervase Gabrysch (1830-1904) as contractor. Bishop Anthony D. Pellicer blessed the church on February 10, 1878. Father W. Pelczar was assigned as the first pastor that September. As a sign of their reconciliation, the parishioners from the newly rebuilt Panna Maria church presented the new parish a large painting of the Virgin Mary of Czestochowa, the Patroness of Poland. The two congregations often shared leadership in the ensuing years. The Cestohowa church (adopting the Americanized spelling of the community) thrived into the 20th century. In the 1930s the church underwent intensive additions and remodeling. Though the original walls remained, the roof was completely removed and the ceiling raised. The north and south wings were added and the steeple was increased in height. In 1998, the church celebrated its 125th anniversary. At that time, the parish consisted of 380 members. The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church continues in the traditions of its founders. (2000)


Today I am linking to Little Red House
for Mosaic Monday