Recipes from My Mother

I grew up in the 1950s in the midwest. My mother cooked simple, wholesome fare. I hope you enjoy these recipes.

1 lb. round steak, cubed

¼ cup shortening

1 ½ cup chopped onions

2 tbsp flour

1 cup canned tomatoes

1 cup water

1 can tomato paste

1 tbsp sugar

1 ½ tsp salt

¼ tsp pepper

½ tsp worcestershire sauce

1 can mushrooms

¾ cup sour cream

Brown meat in shortening. Add onion and flour. Cook until onion is tender. Add tomatoes, water, tomato paste, sugar, salt, pepper and worcestershire sauce. Simmer 1 ½ hours, covered. Add mushrooms and sour cream. Cook five minutes.

1 ½ lbs. ground chuck

½ lb. ground pork

8 tbsp bread crumbs

2 eggs

2 tsp salt

pepper to taste

1 ¼ cups milk

4 tbsp water

Mix together ingredients in a loaf pan. Bake at 350 degrees for two hours.

1 lb. smoked ham

1 lb. pork

1 cup cracker crumbs (22 squares)

2 eggs

1 cup milk

Grind ham and pork together in meat grinder. Mix meats and all other ingredients. Press into loaf pan. Bake at 350 degrees for two hours.

2 cups bread, broken (4 slices)

2 eggs, beaten

1 cup milk

salt and pepper to taste

large can of salmon

Mix together all ingredients in a loaf pan. Bake at 375 degrees for one hour.

1 cup flour

½ cup sugar

5 tsp baking powder

½ tsp salt

½ tsp ground cinnamon

4 tbsp melted butter

1 beaten egg

½ cup milk

Mix flour, baking powder, salt, melted butter, beaten egg and milk into soft dough. Spread in a shallow pan. Sprinkle thickly with sugar and cinnamon. Bake at 375 degrees for 35 minutes.

We always faced a tough decision when supper included mashed potatoes. We could eat all the potatoes or leave enough so that mom could make mashed potato doughnuts. The nutmeg and cinnamon add a subtle taste that's not overtly spicy.

2 cups mashed potatoes

3 cups sugar

1 cup milk

3 eggs

5 tsp baking powder

3 tsp butter

1 tsp salt

¼ tsp nutmeg

¼ tsp cinnamon

4 cups flour

powdered sugar

Mix all ingredients and deep fry. Place some powdered sugar in a paper bag and shake some of the doughnuts in the bag to coat them.

1 package dry yeast

¼ cup warm water

¾ cup milk

½ cup shortening

½ cup sugar

1 ½ tsp salt

3 well beaten eggs

5 to 5 ½ cups flour

Sprinkle yeast on ¼ cup warm water. Scald milk and put in shortening. Cool. Transfer the yeast and water to a mixing bowl. Add the milk and shortening to the bowl, then add sugar, salt and eggs. Add flour and knead. Let stand overnight. Divide into quarters. Roll each portion 1/4-inch thick. Brush with melted butter. Cut into eighths (pie-shaped). Fold corners and roll. Pinch tip and bend into crescent shape. Let stand two hours. Put in 400-degree oven and turn to 325 degrees immediately. Bake 20 minutes.

2 cups whole wheat flour

½ tsp salt

1 tsp baking soda

2 tbsp honey

1 cup buttermilk (you can make this from 1 tbsp vinegar and a cup of milk)

1 egg

Combine dry ingredients. Combine with other ingredients and mix until just moistened. If too dry, add more honey. Shape into round loaf and put on a baking sheet. Bake at 375 degrees for 20 to 25 minutes.

3 eggs

1 cup oil

2 cups sugar

2 tsp vanilla extract

2 cups shredded, uncooked zucchini

1 can (8 ¼ oz) crushed pineapple, drained

3 cups flour

2 tsp baking soda

1 ½ tsp ground cinnamon

1 tsp salt

¾ tsp nutmeg

¼ tsp baking powder

1 cup chopped dates

1 cup chopped pecans

Beat eggs, oil, sugar and vanilla in a bowl. Stir in remaining ingredients. Pour into two greased 9” x 5” loaf pans. Bake at 350 degrees for one hour, until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.

1 lb. (3 dozen) ladyfingers

3 1/4-lb. bars German sweet chocolate

2 tbsp milk

1 tbsp sugar

4 eggs, separated

whipped cream

Heat chocolate, milk and sugar until melted. Cool. Add 4 egg yolks, one at a time. Add beaten egg whites. Alternate ladyfingers and chocolate in wax paper-lined loaf pan. Refrigerate. Served with whipped cream.

½ cup flour

½ tsp baking powder

½ tsp salt

3 squares chocolate

1/3 cup shortening

2 eggs

1 cup sugar

1 tsp vanilla extract

Sift flour, baking powder and salt. Melt chocolate and shortening over boiling water; remove from heat. Add beaten eggs, sugar and vanilla. Add chocolate mixture to dry ingredients. Transfer to an 8” x 8” x 2” baking pan. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes at 350 degrees.

2 cups flour

½ tsp salt

¾ cup shortening

¼ cup butter

½ cup powdered sugar

1 tbsp vanilla extract

1 tsp almond extract

½ cup chopped nuts

Cream shortening and butter into dry ingredients. Add flavorings and nuts. Shape into small balls and place on an un-greased cooking sheet. Bake at 325 degrees for 25 minutes.

1 cup pumpkin

¾ cup brown sugar

2 tbsp white sugar

¼ tsp cinnamon

¼ tsp nutmeg

¼ tsp ginger

butter, size of an egg

½ tsp salt

2 eggs

scant tbsp flour

1 small can condensed milk, plus milk to make 1 1/4 cups

pie shell

Cream dry ingredients into butter. Add eggs and stir smooth. Add the pumpkin and milk. Mix all together and place in pie shell. Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Bake for 10 minutes, then lower oven to 325 degrees and bake another 45 minutes.

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