Light as a Feather Ginger Bread (1960)

1/2 C. boiling water
1/2 C. shortening
1/2 C. brown sugar
1/2 C. molasses
1 egg, beaten
1 1/2 C. all purpose flour
1/2 t. salt
1/2 t. baking powder
1/2 t. baking soda
3/4 t. ginger
3/4 t. cinnamon

Pour boiling water over vegetable shortening to melt. Add sugar molasses, egg and beat together. Add dry ingredients and combine well. Put in a greased 8×8 pan and bake at 350 degrees for 35 minutes. Serve warm or cold with whip cream, lemon sauce or ice cream.

From the kitchen of Edna Schmidt

Cranberry-Orange Relish (1960)

4 C. fresh cranberries
2 oranges (quartered and seeded)
2 C. sugar
1 apple, unpeeled but remove seeds

Put the cranberries, apple and oranges through a food chopper and add sugar. Mix well and chill several hours before serving. Makes 1 quart relish.

From the kitchen of Edna Schmidt

Smothered Chicken (1968)

6 chicken breasts
salt and pepper
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 C. dairy sour cream
1/2 C. chopped almonds

Place chicken breasts in a shallow baking pan. Add salt and pepper to taste. Combine the mushroom and chicken soup and pour over chicken. Spread sour cream over all and sprinkle almonds on top. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 1/2 to 2 hours or until tender. Serve rice with the gravy.

From Your Neighbor Lady WNAX Yankton, S.D. October 1968

Donated by the family of Edna Schmidt

Hot Cranberry SPAMwich

I haven’t tried this recipe yet but it seemed appropriate for fall and a unique combination of flavors.

SPAM slices
Bread slices
Cheese slices
mustard
Jellied cranberry sauce

Toast a slice of bread on one side under broiler. Cover untoasted side with 2 slices of SPAM, slightly browned. Add prepared mustard and a slice of cheese. Broil until cheese softens, then add a slice of jellied cranberry sauce and broil until the cheese melts.

Better Homes and Garden Magazine March 1968

Donated by the family of Edna Schmidt

SPAM Flamenco (1968)

1/4 C. chopped onions
1/4 C. diced green pepper
1 small clove garlic, minced
2 T. cooking oil
2 C. (1 lb. can) tomatoes (cut in small pieces)
1 C. Minute Rice
1 C. frozen green peas
1 C. hot water
1/2 t. salt
1 t. oregano
dash of black pepper
1 can (12 oz.) SPAM

In deep skillet, over low heat, cook onions and green pepper in oil and garlic until tender. Add remaining ingredients except SPAM. Cut SPAM into six even slices and place in center of skillet. Bring to boil. Cover, cook over low heat 10 minutes or until rice is tender and has absorbed the extra liquid. As an added touch, heat 1/2 C. tomato sauce and pour over SPAM just before serving.

Better Homes and Garden Magazine March 1968

Recipe donated by the family of Edna Schmidt

Apricot Nut Bread (1945)

1/2 C. dried apricots, chopped fine
1 egg
1 C. granulated sugar
2 T. melted butter
2 C. flour
2 t. baking powder
1/4 t. baking soda
1/2 C. orange juice
1/4 C. water
1 C. chopped Brazil nuts
3/4 t. salt

Beat egg until light, stir in sugar and mix well. Stir in butter. Sift flour with baking powder, soda and salt. Add alternately with the orange juice and water to the sugar mixture. Add Brazil nuts and apricots. Mix well. Pour into greased bread pan and bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour.

I didn’t have Brazil nuts on hand so I substituted almonds and that worked out fine. The apricot and orange flavor together was great!

The Settlement Cookbook (1945)

Date Bread (1945)

1 C. dates, cut and stoned
1 C. hot water
1 egg, beaten
1/2 C. white or brown sugar
1 1/2 C. flour
1 t. baking powder
1 t. soda
1 t. salt
1/2 C. pecans, cut into pieces

Pour hot water over the dates. Let stand until cool. Beat egg, add sugar, then add to date mixture. Sift dry ingredients, stir well and add to mixture. Add nuts last. Place in buttered bread pan and bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour. Let cool in pan.

I used brown sugar and added a few Cinnamon chips and it turned out well. It was a very moist bread.

From The Settlement Cookbook (1945)

Bread/Cinnamon Rolls

This recipe is from my stepmom, Cris. She makes this recipe for us everytime we visit and we all anxiously wait for these warm, gooey rolls to come out of the oven.

1/3 C. cornmeal (yellow)
1/2 C. sugar
2 t. salt
1/2 C. shortening (part butter)
2 C. milk

Heat the above ingredients on low heat, stirring constantly until thick. Cool.

2 eggs
4 C. flour
1 t. baking powder
1 pkg. yeast (dissolve in 1/4 C. warm water with 1 t. sugar)

Sift flour and baking powder together. Combine eggs with first ingredients and slowing add flour/baking powder mixture one cup at a time. Mix thoroughly until no longer sticky. Let rise 1 hour. Punch down and let rise another hour. Put in pans and let rise one hour again. Bake bread at 350 degrees for 35 minutes. (Three rises total for bread or rolls. The reason is so the bread has less air bubbles and a smoother texture).

To Make Cinnamon Rolls:
Roll part of dough 1/2 inch thick (after 2nd rising). Dot with butter and sprinkle on cinnamon and brown sugar. Roll up and cut into 3/4-1 inch slices and put in pans that have been buttered and sprinkled with more brown sugar and cinnamon. Drizzle bottom of pan with a little water (not much). Put rolls in pan, leaving a little space between them. Let rise 1 hour.(This is your 3rd rising) Bake at 350 degrees for 35 minutes.

Can add pecans to top or before rolling up. Frost with powdered sugar frosting that has a drop or two of maple flavoring added and a little vanilla extract.

Can make dinner rolls or loaf of bread from the remaining dough.

From the kitchen of: Crystal Mashak

Enchiladas (1964)

1 lb. Ground Beef
1/2 t. Salt
1 C. chopped Onions
1 C. chopped Green Olives

    Sauce:
    1 C. grated Jack or Cheddar Cheese
    2 (8 oz.) cans Tomato sauce
    1 (6 oz.) can Tomato paste
    1 can Condensed Tomato Soup
    2 C. water
    1/2 C. salad oil
    2 T. Chili Powder
    1/2 t. Salt

    1 dozen Corn Tortillas
    1 C. grated Jack or Cheddar Cheese

    Brown Beef. Stir in salt, onions and olives. Set aside. Combine sauce ingredients and simmer 20 minutes. Dip each tortilla into hot sauce until soft enough to roll without breaking. Fill each tortilla with meat mixture, roll and place top side down into baking pan. Pour remaining sauce over top and sprinkle with cheese. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Makes 4-6 servings.

    I changed a few things. First, I omitted the 1/2 C. Salad oil–didn’t see a need for it and dish turned out fine without it. Also I cut back on the green olives but in the end, we couldn’t really taste them so next time I will use the full amount. I tried dipping the tortillas in the sauce and decided it was way too messy so I added a little sauce to the meat and warmed the tortillas in the microwave and rolled up.
    The Enchiladas had great flavor. I used Cheddar chesse but it would be great with a spicy cheese too if you wanted to heat them up a bit.

    From the Saint Louis Cookbook (1964) Bicentennial Issue celebrating Saint Louis’s 200th year Birthday.

Zucchini Bars

This recipe is from my aunt. I’m not sure how old it is but looks like a classic to me.

2 C. sugar
1/2 C. raisins
1/2 C. chopped nuts
2 C. medium shredded zucchini
1 C. oil
1 t. vanilla
3 eggs
2 1/2 C. flour
1 t. salt
1 t. cinnamon
1/2 t. baking soda
1/2 t. baking powder
1/2 t. nutmeg
1/4 t. cloves

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease 15×10 inch jelly roll pan. Combine sugar, raisins, nuts, zucchini, oil vanilla and eggs. Blend well by hand. In a large bowl, combine dry ingredients and then combine with moist ingredients. Pour into a greased pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 25-35 minutes. Cool completely. Frost with a powdered sugar frosting. (I used the Butter Cream Frosting from this site and it went very well together).

I always try to cut the fat when I can and so I used 1/2 C. oil and 1/2 C. applesauce in these bars and they turned out fine, couldn’t tell a difference.

I used an Air-Bake jelly roll pan and I think I baked it about 28 minutes but wished I would have gone a little longer. As it cooled, there seemed to be a saggy part in the very middle that wasn’t all the way done.

From the kitchen of Virginia Twite

Butter Cream Frosting (1953)

1/4 C. soft butter
2 C. sifted XXXX sugar (confectioner sugar)
1/4 t. salt
1 t. vanilla
2 T. cream
1 T. corn syrup

Cream butter until very smooth; then add sugar gradually, creaming thoroughly. Add salt and vanilla. Gradually work in the cream, then the corn syrup to produce a smooth spreading consistency. Spread on cake. Sufficient for two 8 inch layers.

I didn’t have cream so I used Skim milk and frosting still came out great!

This is from The Modern Family Cookbook by Meta Givens (1953)

Creamed Broccoli With Bread Crumbs

Thank you to the person who threw away The Joy of Cooking (1943) cookbook at the Colorado Springs flea market two weeks ago. I will thoroughly enjoy it! Here is the first recipe I tried.

2 lbs. broccoli
2 T. butter
2 T. flour
1 C. milk
1/4 t. salt
1/8 t. paprika
1/4 t. grated onion or onion juice
bread crumbs or crushed cornflakes
grated cheese

Soak broccoli in cold water for 12 minutes. Drain it well. Remove the large leaves and the tough part of the stalks. Cut deep gashes in the bottom of the stalks. Place the broccoli in boiling salted water that nearly covers it. Cook it covered until it is barely tender(I boiled it about 10 minutes). Drain it and chop it until it is very fine.

Melt butter and stir in flour. Slowly stir in milk. Season it with salt, paprika and onion. Add broccoli and mix well. Place in a baking dish and sprinkle it with bread crumbs and cheese. Bake at 425 degrees until cheese is melted.

Jello Cookies

3/4 C. shortening (part butter)
1/2 C. sugar
3 oz. fruit flavored Jello (use dry)
2 eggs
1 t. vanilla
2 1/2 C. flour
1 t. baking powder
1 t. salt

Mix shortening, Jello, eggs and sugar. Blend in dry ingredients. Roll dough in 3/4 inch balls. Place 3 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheet. Flatten with bottom of tumbler dipped in sugar. These cookies look pretty on a tray with other cookies as they take on the color of the Jello used. Bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes. Makes about 4 dozen.

Thank you to Teresa Leithold for contributing this recipe.

Bean and Cabbage Salad

I thought this was a little sour so I added more sugar than it called for, you can adjust to your taste. To speed things up, I used bagged coleslaw mix and precooked bacon crumbles. I’m sure it’s better made the original way but sometimes life gets busy 🙂

1 (15 oz.) can large red kidney beans, drained
1 (15 oz.) can garbanzo beans, drained
1/2 small head of cabbage, cut fine
1 small onion, finely chopped
1 small clove garlic, finely chopped
1/2 C. green and red pepper, coarsely chopped
1/4 C. vinegar
1/4 C. oil
1 1/2 t. salt
1/2 t. dry mustard
1 t. sugar or more
Dash of pepper
1 t. celery seed
5 slices of bacon

Place beans, cabbage, onion and peppers in a large bowl. Mix well. Combine oil, vinegar, garlic, salt, dry mustard, sugar, pepper and celery seed. Pour dressing over bean mixure. Toss lightly to combine. Cover and chill 4-6 hours, stirring occasionally. Cut bacon into 1/2 -1 inch pieces and cook in a large frying pan until crisp. Remove to absorbent paper towel. Toss vegetables before serving. Garnish with bacon. Serves 6.

Applesauce Salad

1 (3 oz.) package strawberry or cherry gelatin
1 C. boiling water
1 C. applesauce
1 C. miniature marshmallows

Combine boiling water with gelatin. Stir in applesauce and marshmallows. Chill until firm in refrigerator.

Cottage Cheese Salad

2 C. small curd cottage cheese
1 (8 oz.) carton of Cool Whip
1 (20 oz.) can crushed pineapple, well drained
1 (3 oz.) box orange Jello

Mix cottage cheese, Cool Whip and pineapple. Then add dry Jello. Mix well and refrigerate until ready to serve. Serve with a spoon.
Serves 8.

French’s Saucewich (1957)

1 tall can evaporated milk
1/3 C. ketchup or tomato paste
1/3 C. French’s mustard

Scald milk in double boiler. Blend in ketchup and mustard thoroughly. Serve hot on toasted or grilled cheese sandwiches, closed or open-faced, or toasted English muffins.

Lots of sandwich filling variations; for instance: 1. Add tuna to sauce, serve with toast. 2. Add deviled or ground ham, pour over poached egg on toasted English muffin 3. Add grated cheee, cover burger on bun.

Other ideas: Pour sauce over sliced egg on a toasted English muffin. Make a Hero sandwich with ham and chicken (or bacon and sliced chicken) on a split French loaf or roll and cover with sauce.

From a French’s ad in a Better Homes and Garden magazine. November 1957.

Rice Casserole

1 1/2 lbs. ground beef
1 stalk celery, cut fine
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 can chicken with rice soup
1 can mixed vegetables
2 C. water
1 T. soy sauce
2 t. worcestershire sauce
1 C. rice
Chow mein noodles

Brown hamburger with celery and drain. Add other ingredients, except chow mein noodles. Bake at 350 for 30 minutes, add the chow mein noodles to the top and bake another 30 minutes.

From the kitchen of Ella Meyer

Pilgrim Corn

3 C. whole kernel corn
1 green pepper, minced
2 eggs
2/3 C. buttered crumbs
2 T. melted margarine
2/3 t. salt
1/4 t. paprika

Beat eggs slightly and add to corn. Add green pepper, melted butter, salt and paprika. Put into a baking dish and sprinkle crumbs on top. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes.

From the kitchen of Ella Meyer

Rocky Road Frosting

2 (1 oz. squares) unsweetened chocolate
1/4 C. water
2 C. sifted powdered sugar
1/2 C. chopped walnuts
2 C. tiny marshmallows
1/4 C. butter
1 t. vanilla

In a small saucepan, place chocolate, 1 C. marshmallows, water and butter. Heat over low heat, stirring until blended. Cool. Add sugar and vanilla. Beat until smooth and slightly thick–about 2 minutes. Stir in rest of marshmallows and nuts.

From the kitchen of Ella Meyer