One evening, Mom cooked Elephant Ears for dinner. We were told if we wished to realize all of the health benefits of this rare and hard to acquire super food, it was important we eat all of the Elephant Ears on our plates and not discuss the meal with ANYBODY.
We were told the health benefits derived from Elephant Ears included among other things:
Increased Intelligence
Cleared complexion
Longevity
Enhanced strength and vitality
Immunity from colds and disease
Feelings of elation, joy, and well being once your plate was cleared
To cook Elephant Ears, use the same recipe as liver and onions, except substitute Elephant Ears for the liver.
Best French Fries in the World
After Mom made fried chicken, she would fry up potato slivers in the used fryer fat with all of the fried chicken spices. As good as the chicken was, it was the French fries that stood out as unique. Some fast food company would make a fortune if they put such an item on the menu.
Scientific Methodology in Mom’s kitchen
To this day Mom swears by the superior moistness and lightness of baked goods made with White Lily flour. At some point Mom had received enough skeptical looks from people who believed that “flour is flour” that she felt her credibility was in question.
One time when Mom needed two White Cakes and only had enough White Lily flour to make one, she put her theory to test. She made the two cakes, one with White Lily flour and the other with Gold Medal flour, with all other ingredients being the same.
Mom was absolutely right. Side by side, even a non gourmand could tell the difference. Good for Mom for being confident of her convictions and not being afraid to test them in a blind taste test.
The Never-Too-Late-To-Celebrate-A-Birthday Pecan Tart
Another fun fact: Mosingers, Freedmans, Severances, and Ogilvies have long mastered the art of celebrating birthdays. We’ve become so good, in fact, that we’ve learned the value of stretching out birthdays over several days, delivering late gifts, and doing anything we possibly can to prolong the happiness and celebration. This post is definitely not an example of this. I promise. Totally, 100%, serious.
Below is my own recipe for day-late pecan tarts (loosely adapted from allrecipes.com):
Cook time:
20 minutes prep, 10 minutes baking, and 2 weeks procrastination
Ingredients:
1 jar of impossible to open sauce
1 brownie to snack on
1/2 cup margarine
1/2 cup white sugar
2 egg yolks
1 teaspoon almond extract
2 cups sifted all-purpose flour
1/2 cup margarine
1/2 cup corn syrup
1 cup confectioners’ sugar
1 cup chopped pecans
Directions
Think long and hard about fun memories of cooking with Grandma. These include feelings of safety, comfort, and joy that only Grandma and Grandpa’s house can bring. Ponder them for two weeks while procrastinating.
Find a jar that you are unable to open. Ask Grandma to take care of it for you, because she has HUGE MUSCLES! Set jar aside.
Snack on a brownie when Grandma’s not looking. There’s always room for one more, right?
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
In a large bowl, mix 1/2 cup margarine (NOT butter) and 1/2 cup sugar. Stir in egg yolks, almond extract, and sifted flour.
Spray tiny muffin cups with non-stick spray. Press mixture evenly into tiny muffin cups. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes.
To make Filling: Bring to a boil 1/2 cup margarine, corn syrup, and confectioner’s sugar. Stir in chopped pecans.
Spoon into shells no more than 1/2 way. Top with pecan halves. Bake in a 350 degrees F (180 degrees C) oven for 5 minutes.
Love you grandma!!!!
Joe
Orange Juice
From Rachel:
Fact: Grandma Shirley runs the best B&B ever.
Although this special treat does not fall under the “dessert” category, it is essential to note that Grandma Shirley fully understands the importance of a fresh-squeezed glass of orange juice. For that, I am grateful. I cannot remember a single visit to Grandma’s where there was not a glass of the orange deliciousness waiting for me when I woke up. I am convinced that fresh orange juice from Grandma is the key to happiness, and I love hearing her tell the story about when a visitor was so excited she exclaimed, “Mommy! Mrs. Mosinger makes orange juice from oranges!“
Some Recipe Requests
Meatloaf
Chinese Chews
From Laura Muckerman Johnson
I don’t think your Mother’s cookbook would be complete without Chinese Chews. I have attached the page from the Pi Phi cookbook, where I placed the recipe back in 1983. I have so many fond memories of eating all the great food in your mom’s kitchen. Whenever I came over to your house, the first place I went was to the kitchen to see what was in the baking pan with the sliding lid, and the Chinese Chews were my favorite! I think I may make some tomorrow!
From Peggy Mosinger Freedman
When I got married in 1972, the recipe was more complicated. This is what Grandma Anne Yudelson sent me for my Recipe Shower:
Expanding Table
One of the most delightful features of the Mosinger Household is the dining room table. It has the ability to magically expand to accommodate any number of dinner guests. Usually with the help of the beautiful obi cloth from Sako. After all, you need a place to put all of the wonderful food that comes out of Grandma’s kitchen!
Lemon Squares
Lemon Squares – posted by Tyler
It’s a well known fact that when Grandchildren are choosing an airport to use for all of their long distance travel, they will always choose the airport that is closest to Grandma. However, what is not well known is that the reasoning is not due to convenience or socializing, but rather it is so that said grandchild can load up on Lemon Squares before traveling far away from home. Clutch
Another favorite for me is Jello Oreo Pie. It isn’t really appropriate for airplane travel, but here is how it works:
1) Team up with Grandma to make a delicious/fresh/awesome oreo pie. 2) Eat a slice of said oreo pie. 3) Eat another slice of said oreo pie
Grandma – You Rock! (And you are still the fastest kisser!)
Nighty-Nights
My favorite dessert from Grandma’s Kitchen would be Nighty-Nights! They are magical because they go in the oven at night and PRESTO they come out in the morning, perfect! Many times when going to St Louis Grandma has anticipated our arrival so I don’t even have to wait until the morning! When she gives us some extras to take back to Jefferson City most of the time I take care of them before they even make it home!