Mondays & Memories of My Mom – When You’re Doing What You Love

Thank God Its Monday and, as such, #HappyMonday to everyone! I personally look forward to all Mondays because they’re my 52 Chances a year, in which I get to share Memories of My Mom with you!

#TheRecipeDetective

In what seems like the blink of an eye, January is already almost gone. However, it’s not gone yet! These last two days of January are still observing, among other things… National Soup Month, National Blood Donor Month, National Hobby Month, National Hot Tea Month, National Mentoring Month, National Oatmeal Month, and National Slow Cooking Month.

Just because the month is ending, don’t stop your hobby or donating blood or mentoring someone. Don’t stop enjoying soup, hot tea, or oatmeal. And definitely continue having and appreciating slow cooked meals throughout the year. Any day can be celebrated on any day – look at “Christmas in July”.

#NationalHobbyMonth

‘Find a job you enjoy doing, and you will never have to work a day in your life’ – Mark Twain

As I wrote about recently, a lot of New Year’s resolutions include starting a new hobby. Another is turning a hobby into a livelihood! Similarly to Mark Twain, NationalDayCalendar.com says about hobbies: “…if you’re really lucky, you can find what you love to do and turn it into your career. You know what they say: ‘If you make your hobby your job, you’ll never have to work a day in your life.’”

The authoring seed was planted in Mom’s soul decades before her Secret RecipesTM business really took off in the mid-1970s. Whenever Mom was asked “how did it all start”, she always found it hard to pinpoint that one single moment.

However, she was initially inspired to be a writer, after watching the 1946 Warner Brothers movie, “Devotion”, about the Bronte sisters. Mom said that was when she began to journal, seriously – on a daily basis – usually writing about her life and her faith.

Mom filled journal after journal, for well-over 70 years, with her thoughts and feelings and observations, from the time she was 10 years old until she physically couldn’t, shortly before she passed away in January 2018. Writing was so much more than “just a hobby” or a vocation, to Mom. It was a DEVOTION!

‘Succeeding against the odds…When I look back now, I realize that I was so busy trying to prove that others were wrong about me, I couldn’t see how events were already taking place that would sooner or later put me where I had always wanted to be – writing for a worthwhile living, while it made living worthwhile.’ – Gloria Pitzer My Cup Runneth Over – And I Can’t Find My Mop (Secret RecipesTM, St. Clair, MI; Dec. 1989, p. 81)

MORE FROM MOM’S MEMORIES…

As seen in…

My Cup Runneth Over And I Can’t Find My Mop (Secret RecipesTM, St. Clair, MI; Dec. 1989, p. 25)

THE LITTLE STEPS

OVER THE YEARS, the reporters who came to interview us, somehow arrived at our doorstep anticipating a happy cross between the Walton’s and the Brady Bunch. I don’t know if they were disappointed or relieved to learn that we weren’t even close to either of the adorable, but fictional, families they expected.

There were times when the reporters asked to come out to our home, then, in Pearl Beach (near Algonac) and so small, I use to say, if we had a City Hall it would be located over a phone booth!

They would approach the story as if it were just another housewife with a happy little hobby who turned it into a profitable business. My writing was never a hobby… For lack of a better definition, the Internal Revenue Service calls our enterprise a ‘business’… [while] others call it our ‘work’. I, however, like the word ‘livelihood’ because it is a lively experience.

Mom always felt that writing was her “true calling”, claiming that she made a living with it, but it was her writing that made living worthwhile! I’ve found many articles online, regarding hobbies for making you happy, as well as making you money. Three great reads that I especially liked are:

Personally, I have a lot of hobbies that I love. I’ve even made a little money from some of them. However, I’m not a very good sales person and that is a very important element one needs, if they’re going to succeed at making money from their hobby.

You really need to be able to sell yourself, your brand, and your product/service – OR be able to pay someone else (which is usually a lot of money) to do it for you.

OTHER THOUGHTS…

We can also look forward to Wednesday, as it begins the month of February; which celebrates, among other things… National Fasting February, National An Affair to Remember Month, National Black History Month, National Canned Food Month, National Creative Romance Month, and National Great American Pies Month.

Additionally, it will also be National Bake for Family Fun Month, National Bird Feeding Month, National Cherry Month, National Grapefruit Month, National Hot Breakfast Month, National Library Lover’s Month, National Snack Food Month, and National Weddings Month!

Moreover, February is also home to many food-oriented, official and non-official holidays like the NFL’s Super Bowl Sunday, Valentine’s Day, Fat Tuesday (aka: Mardi Gras), Ash Wednesday and Lent. I’d like to add that it’s also the anniversary month of Mom’s first appearance on ABC’s “Home” show, which aired in 1988 – shortly after the show first began.

Following the overwhelming fallout from her first Donahue Show appearance, in 1981 – when she received over a million letters in response – Mom insisted that she would never do another national television show. Nonetheless, when her friend and famous crafter, Carol Duvall, called, to ask her to give ABC’s “Home” show a try, Mom couldn’t say no.

Home” was a relatively new show, in which Carol, herself, had come to be involved. It turned out to be a really rewarding experience for Mom; especially when she was surprised by Wally Amos, being there, in person, to taste-test her imitation of his own famous, chocolate-chip cookies.

ABC’s “Home” show began as a half-hour program in mid-January 1988. Mom was, first, a guest in February 1988. Following a 60-minute trial run in September 1988, “Home” expanded permanently to an hour-long series in January 1989. Mom returned, to appear on another episode, for the entire hour, in March 1991.

After “Home” ended, in 1994, host, Rob Weller formed a production company with someone else and, together, they developed “The Carol Duvall Show”; which aired on HGTV from 1994 until 2005, after which it moved to the DIY Network and ran for another 4 years.

AGAIN, MORE FROM MOM’S MEMORIES…

As seen in…

Gloria Pitzer’s Cookbook – The Best of the Recipe Detective (Balboa Press; Jan. 2018, p. 68)

THE HOME SHOW & WALLY AMOS

THE HOME SHOW… in February 1988, were wonderful to us [Paul and me]. They flew us to Los Angeles, and we appeared with Rob Weller and Sandy Hill in a [half] hour segment that re-created some of our recipes. They were very specific that I do our ‘Famous Nameless Cookies’ and I could not see the reason they absolutely insisted on that recipe.

I had trouble finding the right ingredients an hour before airtime, but we made compromises there and came up with an even BETTER version than before. What had happened, without my knowing it, was Wally Amos, himself [was there]. They flew him in from Hawaii to taste-test my version of HIS product.

What a delightful man! What a warm and generous soul. He brought me a tin of an assortment of his favorite cookies and, after tasting my version of his product, made me promise that I would never go into the cookie business! Meeting Wally Amos was one of those cherished memories that I will always look back on warmly.

#BakeForFamilyFunMonth

In time for February’s National Bake for Family Fun Month, here’s a re-share of two versions of Mom’s secret recipes for re-creating these cookies at home. Years ago, Mom gave these away, on her free sample recipes and ordering information sheets, in exchange for an SASE – self-addressed, stamped envelope.

LAST THOUGHTS…

In 1993, after Mom’s second appearances on both, ABC’s “Home” show and “The Donahue Show”, Guthie-Renker Corp. created an hour-long infomercial, called “Ask Mike”, for Secret RecipesTM and the Recipe DetectiveTM (it was also produced & directed by Positive Response Television).

Similar to her appearances on “Home” and “Donahue”, the infomercial included food demonstrations, in a talk show setting, with “taste tests” and a guest-appearance by Wally Amos. Our family received copies of the production, when it was finished, but it never aired on television.

A lot of turmoil and drama surrounded the making of the infomercial. After that upsetting experience, Mom decided to never do television shows, again. For 40 years, she loved doing radio talk shows so much more and, other than some local TV talk shows, radio interviews was all she did until 2014, when she had to fully retire due to health issues.

‘I had found that television appearances were merely food demonstrations that I did not enjoy experiencing. I enjoyed my radio work more, and the number of stations on which I had become a regular participant had grown to include over 100 across the country and in Canada.’ – Gloria Pitzer [As seen in… Gloria Pitzer’s Cookbook – The Best of the Recipe Detective (Balboa Press; Jan. 2018, p. 298)]

IN CLOSING…

Beginning yesterday, the last Sunday in January, and through next Sunday, is National Meat Week! Plus, in honor of January, still being National Sunday Supper Month, here is Mom’s copycat recipe for “Beef In Wine Sauce”; as seen in her early-1970s syndicated column, Cookbook Corner By Gloria Pitzer.

#MeatWeek

#SundaySupperMonth

P.S. Food-for-thought until we meet again, next Monday…

#LearnSomethingNewEveryDay

Today is also… National Croissant Day! Plus, as the last Monday of January (2023), it’s also… National Bubble Wrap Day!

Tomorrow is… National Backward Day, National Hot Chocolate Day, and National Inspire Your Heart With Art Day! Plus, as the last Tuesday in January (2023), it’s also… Plan for Vacation Day!

Wednesday begins the month of February. The first week of February observes, among other things… African Heritage and Health Week (which is always February 1st-7th) and US Snow Sculpting Week (which is a five-day celebration that starts on the first Wednesday in February (1st-5th for 2023).

Wednesday, February 1st is also… National Baked Alaska Day, National Freedom Day (Freedom From Slavery), National Get Up Day, and National Texas Day!

February 2nd is… National Heavenly Hash Day, National Tater Tot Day, and National Groundhog Day! Plus, as the first Thursday in February (2023), it’s also… National Optimist Day!

February 3rd is… National Carrot Cake Day and National Day the Music Died Day! Plus, as the first Friday in February (2023), it’s also… National Wear Red Day and National Bubble Gum Day!

February 4th is… National Homemade Soup Day and National Thank a Mail Carrier Day! Plus, as the first Saturday of February (2023), it’s also… National Ice Cream for Breakfast Day and National Play Outside Day (which is the first Saturday of EVERY month)!

February 5th is… National Weatherperson’s Day and World Nutella Day! Plus, as the start of the 2nd week of February, it’s also… Burn Awareness Week and National Boy Scout Anniversary Week (which is always February 5th-11th).

#GloriaPitzersCookbook

https://www.balboapress.com/Bookstore/BookDetail.aspx?BookId=SKU-001062253

#TGIM

https://nationaldaycalendar.com/national-thank-god-its-monday-day-first-monday-in-january/

…5 down and 47 to go!

Mondays & Memories of My Mom – Pay A Compliment

Thank God Its Monday and, as such, #HappyMonday to everyone! I personally look forward to all Mondays because they’re my 52 Chances a year, in which I get to share Memories of My Mom with you!

#TheRecipeDetective

#NationalComplimentDay

Tomorrow is, among other things, National Compliment Day! And guess what – paying a compliment doesn’t cost a thing! Other than a few seconds of your time, compliments are absolutely free – one of the few things, these days, untouched by inflation (unless you equate compliments with tips).

Compliments are simply special words of affirmation and positivity, showing acknowledgement and appreciation. In fact, compliments are so extraordinary, they also have a world-wide observance dedicated to them. World Compliment Day is coming up soon, as it’s observed yearly, on the first day of March.

Likewise, this is another one of those national observances that everyone should practice daily – with family, friends, colleagues, neighbors, strangers – even with yourself, as well.

Words of praise spread happiness and increase confidence levels. Everyone needs confidence boosters! Sincere compliments can go a long way in spreading good will and happiness in someone’s life. In the end, we all appreciate being appreciated.

FROM MOM’S MEMORIES…

As seen in…

This is not a Cook Book! It’s Gloria Pitzer’s Food for Thought (Secret RecipesTM, St. Clair, MI; Oct. 1986, p. 24)

DOING SOMETHING NICE

DON’T EXPECT THE WORLD to think you’re wonderful just because you do something ‘good’ – for someone else! Good people do good things all of the time – everyday, and no one pats them on the back for it. You have to do good – not for what others are going to think of you, but what you’re going to think of yourself!

If you get a kick out of doing something good for somebody… do it! But don’t expect any rewards or special recognition for having gone out of your way. Every once in a while you may be complimented for something good that you’ve done, and that’s very nice.

But most of the time, whatever you do is to make yourself feel better about what has to be done, or what should be done! It’s not a matter of conscience, but of compassion. Either you have it, or you don’t!

‘Life’s most precious gifts don’t come in packages. They come from the heart, wrapped in love.’ – Gloria Pitzer

Like happiness, compliments provide numerous health and emotional benefits to, both, the giver and the receiver. It’s a win-win! And did I mention it doesn’t cost anything? Happiness is well-known to be able to drive up energy, as well as self-esteem; which, in turn, is also good for the heart and, thereby, likely to help us live longer.

Paying a compliment activates certain networks in our brains, positively improving feelings, attitudes, and mindsets; while reducing stress, anxiety, and tension. Giving and receiving compliments prompt the brain to reduce cortisol and produce more endorphins and serotonin, which simply makes you feel good.

Dictionary.com says, “to imitate someone is to pay the person a genuine compliment…” similarly to Charles Colton’s theory that “imitation is the sincerest form of flattery”. Thus, Mom intended her copycat recipes to be compliments, paid to their originals.

Not all but many companies, whose products Mom had imitated, such as JL Hudson’s, Sanders’ Chocolatiers, and Wendy’s – just to name a few – were quite pleased by Mom’s imitations and took them as the compliments they were intended to be.

Others, like Wally Amos (the former “Famous” Amos), Harland Sanders (the original “Colonel” of KFC fame), Arthur Treacher (actor turned restaurateur), the people of White Castle, General Foods, Hershey’s, and McDonald’s own Paul Duncan, appreciated Mom’s flattery attempts to compliment them through her personal imitations of their products.

They’ve even complimented her on the delightful caricature names that she gave her own creations. Mom always said that those are the ones that made being the Secret Recipes Detective all worthwhile!

MORE FROM MOM’S MEMORIES…

As seen in…

Gloria Pitzer’s Mixed Blessings – Recipes & Remedies (Secret RecipesTM, St. Clair, MI; March 1984, p. v)

UPLIFTING WORDS & THOUGHTS FOR EVERYDAY LIVING & TROUBLED TIMES

THE WORLD, IT IS SAID, is divided into two kinds of cooks – those who thrive on the personal inner rewards, from being good at it, and those who regard it as an occupational hazard. [My] book [‘Mixed Blessings’] is for the cook who finds the experience one that must be endured with a minimum of effort and still achieve a maximum result!

If cooking means to you, a series of achievements from which you derive great personal satisfaction and continuous compliments, you may be excused from this explanation and forge at once ahead into the recipe portion of the book. The rest of you – please, pay attention! You’re about to find reassurance that cooking can be accomplished with confidence.

When you’re not an exceptional cook, you can muddle through the murky waters of an offshore success, hoping that one dish will come along to prompt a little praise and, with a little practice, more praise. But when cooking doesn’t come easily to you, the search for a successful recipe continues, cookbook after cookbook.

So you go into the experience each time, promising yourself that you will give it your all and make your mark as a masterpiece chef. It never works out as well in your kitchen, as the cookbooks promise it will if you follow their very involved recommendations.

You only want to coax an occasional compliment now and then from those who doubt your culinary capabilities – not win the Pillsbury Bake-Off! After all, one compliment in a climate of continuous catastrophes is often just the ticket to keep you going long enough to try another dish that may prompt more praise. We all love approval!

When you are not positive about your cooking skills, however, life in your kitchen may seem like mishap without merit. You have neither the time nor inclination to master your own fate, counteract your caution with confidence, nor pursue the practice of food preparation with purpose!

For those of us who cook without confidence, life in the kitchen can be a comedy of errors! It is for this kind of cook that I’ve written [‘Mixed Blessings’].

LAST THOUGHTS…

Unfortunately, in general, most people are more likely to criticize something or someone – and spread the word of it – than they are to pay a compliment and share it. It’s pretty sad that, in our world, good news (compliments) only travels so far, while bad news (criticism) travels so much farther (and faster). We, as a public, can change that, though.

Always pay compliments to others – not criticism. Create positive, complimentary reviews on social media. Make a habit of sharing others’ positive compliments, as well. Mom always preached to me and my siblings, while we were growing up, “if you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all.” In which case, I suppose, silence really is golden.

AGAIN, MORE FROM MOM’S MEMORIES…

As seen in…

Gloria Pitzer’s Mixed Blessings – Recipes & Remedies (Secret RecipesTM, St. Clair, MI; March 1984, p. 81)

CRITICIZE vs. COMPLIMENT

WE ALWAYS EXPECT MORE of others than we want them to expect of us. We’re more often, in our heart of hearts, the victim rather than the cause. We need more than wanting to be needed. We criticize more than we compliment. We jump to conclusions when a particle of truth justifies our discontent was someone we have cared about because it is a bandage for our emotional wounds.

We avoid touching and hugging and pats on the back because we’re afraid of being accused that we’re gushy, or strange – or worse yet – that we might be rejected. We can’t take that risk.

Notice how some people become quite stiff when you reach out to hug them or touch them. They are almost plastic in their refusal to submit to your expression of warmth. And because we are afraid of how others will accept us, we build cocoons in which to reside emotionally rather than risk rejection or confront criticism.

What a shame! We’re missing so much! We entertain false pride at our table of regrets as if it were an honored guest. We could just as easily express genuine human kindness, but somehow the impersonal dignity of the ‘Divine’ righteousness seems a fair and probably acceptable cop-out for being personally exempt from the involvement with others.

https://www.balboapress.com/Bookstore/BookDetail.aspx?BookId=SKU-001062253

IN CLOSING…

In honor of Friday, being National Chocolate Cake Day, here are Mom’s copycat recipes for “Exotic Chocolate Cake”, “Exotic Chocolate Icing”, and “Buttercream Icing”; as seen in… Gloria Pitzer’s Cookbook – The Best of the Recipe Detective (Balboa Press; Jan. 2018, pp. 195 & 197). [A revised reprint of Gloria Pitzer’s Better Cookery Cookbook (Secret RecipesTM, St. Clair, MI; May 1983, 3rd Edition)].

#NationalChocolateCakeDay

 

#GloriaPitzersCookbook

https://www.balboapress.com/Bookstore/BookDetail.aspx?BookId=SKU-001062253

P.S. Food-for-thought until we meet again, next Monday…

#LearnSomethingNewEveryDay

January observes, among other things… National Soup Month, National Blood Donor Month, National Hobby Month, National Hot Tea Month, National Mentoring Month, National Oatmeal Month, National Slow Cooking Month, and National Sunday Supper Month!

Since yesterday was the start of the fourth week of January, this is also… Tax Identity Theft Week!

Today also celebrates… National Handwriting Day and National Pie Day!

Tomorrow is… National Beer Can Appreciation Day and National Peanut Butter Day!

January 25th is… National Florida Day, National Irish Coffee Day, and National Opposite Day! Plus, as the fourth Wednesday in January (2023), it’s also… National Library Shelfie Day!

Thursday, January 26th is… National Green Juice Day, National Peanut Brittle Day, and National Spouses Day!

January 28th is… National Blueberry Pancake Day and National Have Fun At Work Day! Plus, as the last Saturday in January (2023), it’s also… National Seed Swap Day!

January 29th is… National Corn Chip Day and National Puzzle Day! Beginning the last Sunday in January and celebrated for eight days is… National Meat Week!

#TGIM

https://nationaldaycalendar.com/national-thank-god-its-monday-day-first-monday-in-january/

…4 down and 48 to go!

ICE CREAM SANDWICHES

ICE CREAM SANDWICHES

By Gloria Pitzer, as seen in her self-published cookbook… The Secrets Of Homemade Groceries (Secret RecipesTM, St. Clair, MI; Sept. 1979, p. 37)

If you’ve never made your own ice cream sandwiches, you’ve been missing something (besides hips and double chins)! All things in moderation. These are the very best and so simple, you’ll wonder why you didn’t think of it sooner…

INGREDIENTS:

The Cake:

2/3 cup flour

½ tsp baking powder

¼ tsp salt

2-oz bitter baking chocolate

1/3 cup butter or margarine

1 cup sugar

2 beaten eggs

1 tsp vanilla

INSTRUCTIONS:

Stir the first three ingredients together, twice. Melt chocolate and butter [in a double boiler] over hot water. While it cools a little, beat the sugar, eggs, and vanilla [together], thoroughly. Blend in the chocolate mixture and then the flour mixture, a little at a time.

You want to have a very thin cake, so be certain to spread the batter evenly over the bottom of a well-greased 10x13x2-inch pan or use two 9-inch-square pans, also greased well. Bake in 350°F oven for 22-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

You’ll see them firming up quite a bit while they’re cooling off, so don’t over-bake them. When completely cool to the touch, place a cookie sheet over the pan and gently invert cake onto the cookie sheet to cut into [24] bars, about 2×3½-inches each.

Freeze them for an hour or so and then add a slice of firmly frozen ice cream [same size] in any flavor of your choice, creating a sandwich, with two bars of cake; remembering to place the ice cream on the bottom side of each bar so the shiny side is out.

Wrap in double foil and seal ends. Label, date, and freeze. Keep for months. Makes about a dozen sandwiches.

#GloriaPitzersCookbook

https://www.balboapress.com/Bookstore/BookDetail.aspx?BookId=SKU-001062253

See also…

Mondays & Memories of My Mom – Life Is Good

BISCUIT MIX, LIKE BISQUICK

BISCUIT MIX, LIKE BISQUICK

By Gloria Pitzer, as seen in her self-published cookbook… The Original 200 Plus Secret Recipes© Book (Secret RecipesTM, Marysville, MI; June 1997, p. 5)

INGREDIENTS:

8 cups flour

3 TB baking powder

2 tsp baking soda

2 tsp salt

¾ cup dry, milk powder

1 cup solid Crisco

INSTRUCTIONS:

Combine all [ingredients] but Crisco, sifting 3 times into a large bowl. Cut in Crisco until it resembles coarse crumbs. Store in 3-qt container, covered, at room temperature to use in 30 days or refrigerate to use in 2 months. Makes 10 ½ cups mix.

To use mix for making biscuits: Combine 2 ½ cups mix with ½ cup buttermilk (or ¼ cup milk and ¼ cup sour cream, plus 3 TB butter or margarine. Knead on floured surface or in a bowl until smooth and elastic.

Roll out ½-inch thick. Cut into 2-inch circles with juice glass dipped into biscuit mix [if you don’t have a biscuit cutter]. Place close together in greased 9-inch baking pans, wiping tops of each in dab of butter or sour cream. Bake at 450°F for 12 to 15 minutes or until golden brown.

#GloriaPitzersCookbook

https://www.balboapress.com/Bookstore/BookDetail.aspx?BookId=SKU-001062253

See also…

Mondays & Memories of My Mom – The Flavors Of Michigan

TUNA SALAD, LIKE SANDERS’

TUNA SALAD, LIKE SANDERS’

By Gloria Pitzer, as seen in her self-published cookbook… The Original 200 Plus Secret Recipes© Book (Secret RecipesTM, St. Clair, MI; June 1997, p. 37).

INGREDIENTS:

2 cans (6-oz each) tuna packed in water (not oil), drained

1 rib celery, finely minced

½ cup mayonnaise

3 TB sweet pickle relish

3 TB sweet orange marmalade

1 TB lemon juice

2 tsp dry, minced onions

Yolks of 3 hard-cooked eggs, mashed well with fork

INSTRUCTIONS:

Combine [ingredients as listed] with mixer. When well-combined, refrigerate in a tightly capped container to use as sandwich filling within a week, at least. Do not freeze, please. Makes 8 [servings].

#GloriaPitzersCookbook

https://www.balboapress.com/Bookstore/BookDetail.aspx?BookId=SKU-001062253

See also…

Mondays & Memories of My Mom – Americana Happiness

CHICKEN SALAD, LIKE SANDERS’

CHICKEN SALAD, LIKE SANDERS’

By Gloria Pitzer, as seen in her self-published cookbook… The Original 200 Plus Secret Recipes© Book (Secret RecipesTM, St. Clair, MI; June 1997, p. 37).

INGREDIENTS:

2 cups chopped celery [prepared*]

2 cups canned, drained, chunk chicken (white meat, like Hormel’s)

2/3 cup real mayonnaise

½ cup canned, jellied cranberry sauce; mashed with fork

3 TB lemon juice

2 tsp dry, minced parsley flakes

½ tsp onion salt

¼ tsp black pepper

3 TB creamer powder (like Creamora)

3 hard-cooked eggs, yolks only – mashed well

INSTRUCTIONS:

Simmer, just until blanched, [the] celery in just enough water to cover; just a bit salted, too, for even boiling and simmer gently – perhaps 5 minutes. Drain and refrigerate, covered, until cold.

Then combine celery with chunk chicken. To this add the mayonnaise and cranberry sauce. Then add lemon juice, parsley, onion salt, pepper, powdered creamer and the yolks only of 3 hard-cooked eggs, mashed well.

Blend it all together nicely, with mixer on medium speed; adding more mayonnaise or chicken, to your liking. Keep refrigerated, tightly capped, to use as a sandwich spread within a week to 10 days. Do NOT freeze, please.

Makes 8 sandwiches. Or scoop this onto a lettuce-lined plate, surrounded with slices of apples, bananas, and canned, drained pineapple [chunks or slices].

#GloriaPitzersCookbook

https://www.balboapress.com/Bookstore/BookDetail.aspx?BookId=SKU-001062253

See also…

Mondays & Memories of My Mom – Americana Happiness

MONTE CRISTO, TORONTO-STYLE

MONTE CRISTO, TORONTO-STYLE

By Gloria Pitzer, as seen in… Gloria Pitzer’s Cookbook – Best Of The Recipe Detective (Balboa Press; Jan. 2018, p. 185). [A revised reprint of Gloria Pitzer’s Better Cookery Cookbook (Secret RecipesTM, St. Clair, MI; May 1983, 3rd Edition).]

Allow 3 slices of bread per sandwich. You’ll assemble the sandwiches and trim off the crusts and then dip them into a batter, like that for making French toast, and grill them to perfection.

INGREDIENTS:

6 slices of white bread

¼ cup butter or margarine

2 slices each (cut to fit the bread): baked ham, cooked white chicken, Swiss cheese and tomato

2 eggs

¼ cup milk

½ teaspoon season salt

INSTRUCTIONS:

Butter one side of each slice of bread, allowing 1 teaspoon of butter per slice. Melt remaining butter in a small skillet. Assemble the sandwiches so that you have a slice of ham between 2 slices of bread (buttered-sides-inward) and the chicken, cheese and tomato slices on the 2nd layer, with the 3rd slice of bread, buttered-side-down. Secure with toothpicks and cut, diagonally, into 2 triangles. Trim off the crusts. Beat the eggs, milk and salt together, dipping the sandwich pieces in the mixture to coat the bread on top and bottom. Fry in melted butter until golden brown. Serve at once. Makes 2 sandwiches.

#GloriaPitzersCookbook

https://www.balboapress.com/Bookstore/BookDetail.aspx?BookId=SKU-001062253

See also…

Mondays & Memories of My Mom – The Food Effect

HOPELESS BROWNIE MIX

HOPELESS BROWNIE MIX

By Gloria Pitzer, as seen in… Gloria Pitzer’s Cookbook – Best Of The Recipe Detective (Balboa Press; Jan. 2018, p. 211). [A revised reprint of Gloria Pitzer’s Better Cookery Cookbook (Secret RecipesTM, St. Clair, MI; May 1983, 3rd Edition).]

One of the best recipes that I ever had was for a brownie mix that kept very well in a covered container in the refrigerator. The brownies were moist and rich and fudgy, like those of the Hostess company – only better! Or so the kids said!

INGREDIENTS:

5 cups sugar

3 cups flour

2 cups unsweetened baking cocoa

1 tablespoon baking powder

1 tablespoon salt

3 ½ cups Crisco

INSTRUCTIONS:

To make the mix: In a large bowl, thoroughly stir together everything but the Crisco. Cut in the Crisco until the mixture resembles gravel. Store in covered container up to 6 weeks in the refrigerator. Freeze it up to 6 months. To measure, lightly spoon mix into measuring cup and level off with flat side of a knife. Makes about 14 cups mix. It will look like a mess of wet sand when you’ve mixed it all together – but it makes beautiful brownies, sufficient to prepare five 8-inch square pans.

To make the brownies: beat 2 eggs, 1 teaspoon vanilla and 2/4 cups brownie mix. Stir until nearly smooth. Add ½ cup chopped nuts if you wish. Spread evenly in a greased 8-inch square pan. Bake at 350°F for 30 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pan. Dust in powdered sugar or frost with my Fudge Icing (see Index.) Makes 16 2-inch squares.

#GloriaPitzersCookbook

https://www.balboapress.com/Bookstore/BookDetail.aspx?BookId=SKU-001062253

See also…

Mondays & Memories of My Mom – Laughter Is The Best Medicine

LUNCHBOX BROWNIES

LUNCHBOX BROWNIES

By Gloria Pitzer, as seen in… Gloria Pitzer’s Cookbook – Best Of The Recipe Detective (Balboa Press; Jan. 2018, p. 207). [A revised reprint of Gloria Pitzer’s Better Cookery Cookbook (Secret RecipesTM, St. Clair, MI; May 1983, 3rd Edition).]

This is a brownie cake recipe that makes up like a Texas-type sheet-cake, but comes out like a moist, chewy brownie; because you pour the warm frosting over the warm brownies as soon as you take them out of the oven. The frosting forces the brownies to “fall”.

When they have cooled, and are cut into squares, they have a custardy texture, rather than a cake texture. Originally, I developed this recipe for a bakery in Algonac, MI where we lived many years ago…

INGREDIENTS:

The Brownie Batter:

2 cups each: sugar and flour

1 cup each: water and margarine

6 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa

1/3 cup real buttermilk, do not use sour milk for this

2 eggs

1 teaspoon baking soda

¼ teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon vanilla

INSTRUCTIONS:

Stir the sugar and flour together in large mixing bowl and set aside. In 1 ½-quart sauce pan, put the water, margarine and cocoa together, stirring until smooth and cocoa has dissolved.

Bring just to a bubble – without letting it boil, so it won’t scorch – and immediately pour the hot mixture over the sugar and flour, mixing it on medium speed with an electric mixer until smooth. Add buttermilk, mixing for 2 minutes [more] on medium. Mix in eggs, soda, salt and vanilla until blended.

Pour batter into greased 10x17x2½-inch pan (or 13x10x2-inch pan for thicker bars). Bake at 375°F for only 20 minutes. While the brownies are in the oven, you should be preparing the [Fudge Cake Icing].

#GloriaPitzersCookbook

https://www.balboapress.com/Bookstore/BookDetail.aspx?BookId=SKU-001062253

See also…

Mondays & Memories of My Mom – Bargain Hunting

FUDGE CAKE ICING

FUDGE CAKE ICING

By Gloria Pitzer, as seen in… Gloria Pitzer’s Cookbook – Best Of The Recipe Detective (Balboa Press; Jan. 2018, p. 207). [A revised reprint of Gloria Pitzer’s Better Cookery Cookbook (Secret RecipesTM, St. Clair, MI; May 1983, 3rd Edition).]

In a 1 ½-quart sauce pan, combine 1/3 cup whole milk (not buttermilk, this time) with 1/3 cup margarine, 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder, 3 tablespoons packed brown sugar and a dash of salt.

Bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Let it boil gently for half a minute. Remove from heat. Beat in 1-pound powdered sugar until smooth. Beat in 1 teaspoon vanilla. Stir in 1 cup broken walnuts or pecans (which, by the way, really “makes” it!)

Keep the icing warm until brownies are out of oven, using the top of a double boiler over simmering water, or on lowest heat possible on top of stove. Remove brownies from oven and, at once, pour the icing over the warm brownies. Cut brownies into bars when slightly cool. Makes about 36 bars.

#GloriaPitzersCookbook

https://www.balboapress.com/Bookstore/BookDetail.aspx?BookId=SKU-001062253

See also…

Mondays & Memories of My Mom – Bargain Hunting