Secret RecipesHi! I'm Laura Emerich and Gloria Pitzer, the ORIGINAL Secret Recipe Detective, is my mom. This website is lovingly dedicated to her memory and legacy.
CANDY CANES By Gloria Pitzer, as seen in her self-published cookbook, Eating Out at Home (National Home News, St. Clair, MI; September 1978, p. 19). INGREDIENTS: 2 cups sugar ½ cup light corn syrup ½ cup water ¼ tsp cream of tartar 1 tsp peppermint extract 1 tsp red food coloring INSTRUCTIONS: Mix sugar, corn […]
Happy Monday, again. I love Mondays. They’re my 52 Chances a year, in which I get to share Memories of My Mom with you. Actually, 2024 offers 53 chances. Next week, Monday is a bonus chance! #TheRecipeDetective #WriteABusinessPlanMonth For those who are thinking about starting their own business in 2025, December is, among other things, […]
Thursday will be National Hard Candy Day and National Gingerbread House Day was just celebrated last Thursday. Thus, here’s Mom’s “Christmas Candy House” instructions, which she originally shared with her readers 50 years ago. CHRISTMAS CANDY HOUSE By Gloria Pitzer, as seen in her self-published newsletter, Gloria Pitzer’s Secret Recipes Newsletter (Secret RecipesTM, St. Clair, […]
LIFE SLIVERS (The Candy Without The Hole) By Gloria Pitzer, as seen in… Eating Out at Home (National Home News, St. Clair, MI; September 1978, p. 19). INGREDIENTS: 3¾ cups sugar 1 ½ cup light corn syrup 1 cup water 1 tsp flavoring oil of your choice 5 to 6 drops food color INSTRUCTIONS: Mix […]
Once again, happy Monday. Mondays are what you make them. I look forward to all Mondays, as they’re my 52 Chances a year, in which I get to share Memories of My Mom with you! #TheRecipeDetective HOW POP CULTURE AND COMMERCIALISM HAVE IMPACTED THE WAYS WE CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS AND HANUKKAH… The clock is winding down. […]
DANISH PASTRY DOUGH By Gloria Pitzer, as seen in… Gloria Pitzer’s Cookbook – Best Of The Recipe Detective (Balboa Press; Jan. 2018, p. 155). [A revised reprint of Gloria Pitzer’s Better Cookery Cookbook (Secret RecipesTM, St. Clair, MI; May 1983, 3rd Edition).] This is the basic recipe for dough that can become coffeecake, Hawaiian bread, […]
GERMAN CHOCOLATE CAKE AND FROSTING By Gloria Pitzer, as seen in… Eating Out at Home (National Home News, St. Clair, MI; September 1978, p. 45). Introducing the first pudding cake with the wonderful taste of traditional chocolate cake. [It is] so much easier because you start with a simple cake mix and instant pudding [mix]. […]
Happy Monday, again. I look forward to all Mondays, as they’re my 52 Chances a year, in which I get to share Memories of My Mom with you. #TheRecipeDetective #ChristmasCardDay ‘Tis the season of holiday traditions. The 10 most common may be exchanging gifts, decorating (inside and out), baking cookies, making a gingerbread house, watching […]
WINDMILL COOKIES By Gloria Pitzer, as seen in… Secret Fast Food Recipes – Revised (Secret RecipesTM, Marysville, MI; Oct. 1998, 20th printing; p, 43). My biggest problem with these cookies was trying to find a windmill shaped cookie cutter. But we finally settled for various shapes [of cookie cutters]. The flavor, however, is the same […]
Thank God it’s Monday, again. I always look forward to Mondays, as they’re my 52 Chances a year, in which I get to share Memories of My Mom with you! Therefore, happy Monday. #TheRecipeDetective #NationalCookieCutterWeek #NationalCookieDay Happy December and happy National Cookie Cutter Week. If you haven’t started your holiday cookie making yet, now is […]