A listed recipes - A to Z challenge
Mum's fondness for slices and cakes is evident throughout her recipe collection. From the orchard near the farmhouse she had access to many apricot and apple trees. Here are a few of her handwritten recipes. She often used dashes in her recipes to indicate the measuring device was the same as the one listed above. The eggs were farm fresh straight from the hen house so no size is given. I see the word coconut spelt with an a throughout the folder.Hannah Horgan, my mother, attended school until the end of her primary years and from age 12 she assisted the nuns in the Hamley Bridge convent school, helping with the smaller children. She placed high value on education and in later years was an avid Scrabble player ready to challenge any words we might play. She always had a trusty dictionary on hand.
I have transcribed the recipes as written with editorial comments in [square brackets] The underlining for titles was common practice so in this case they do not denote web links.
Apricot Slice
This is one of several apricot slice recipes from the collection. |
| Apricot slice recipe |
Apricot Slice
¼ lb butter
1 cup sugar
½ - milk
¾ - cocoanut
1 - plain flour
2 eggs Van. ess. [vanilla essence]
1 cup dried apricots (chopped)
½ hour in slice tin mod[erate] oven
In early years she baked in a wood oven where temperature regulation was moderated by the addition of extra logs or slight opening of the oven door to let heat escape. From the 1960s on she had access to an electric stove and oven but often preferred the wood stove.
Apricot chicken
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| Apricot chicken recipe |
Apricot Chicken
Flour 8 chicken pieces. Place in shallow casserole dish, sprinkle with 1 pkt french onion soup
Pour over 1 can apricot nectar 450 ml and bake in oven 180℃ for 1/¼ hours. (Serves 4)
Afghans
There are many theories about the origins of Afghans - the biscuits, but one thing they have in common is the chocolate flavouring added.
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| Afghan biscuit recipe |
Afghans
6 ozs margarine
4ozs sugar
1 egg
1½ cups S.R. Flour [self raising]
1 rounded tablespoon cocoa,
1 cup finely crushed cornflakes & van.ess [vanilla essence]
Cream shortening and sugar, add egg & beat again. Work in sifted flour, cocoa & cornflakes.
The mixture is stiff & requires considerable mixing.
Roll into balls & flatten slightly with a fork.
Mod.oven 15 - 20 mins.
Allow to cool on tray.
Apple Cake
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| Apple cake recipe |
Apple Cake
½ cup plain flour
⅓ cup sugar
1 egg
⅓ cup butter
Combine dry ingredients and
roll out, place ½ mixture in tin, cover with dry warmed stewed apple & remaining mixture on top.
About 20 minutes in mod. oven.
These recipes are in my mother's handwriting and are housed in an old blue plastic folder. They are transcribed here as part of the A-Z challenge 2019. Each day a new letter of the alphabet and accompanying recipes will be posted throughout April.
Lovely idea Carmel. I also have many of my Mum's handwritten recipes. She wasn't very organised(obviously where I get it from) and they were on scraps of paper and never in any order or in books or folders. I keep saying that I will organise them one day, but then again, like Mother like Daughter.
ReplyDeleteSome of these are on the backs of cards that friends had given her and then she pasted them in. I once had a similar collection, but just like to look at Mum’s handwriting. Definitely can’t recommend some of these recipes!
DeleteInteresting recipes, especially the Afghan biscuits! Look forward to the remaining recipes for April :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for visiting, some recipes are delicious and others too salty for today’s palate. Many savoury recipes use dried packet soups, quick and easy and reflect her limited tastes and budget.
DeleteA great project to undertake and a lovely memory for you.
ReplyDeleteWendy's Waffle
Thank you. All recipes now in a folder ready to be shared.
DeleteThere is something so comforting about seeing a recipe in a Mum's handwriting.
ReplyDeleteAgreed, she's been gone 6 years now.
DeleteOh what a wonderful way to organize and save these recipes for family members and future generations. I enjoyed reading each one along with your added text. Afghan biscuits...mmmmm. I can see how all of them could be adapted to today's cooking and baking. I've added you to my AtoZ Blog Roll...so, I'll be back. Hope you will visit my blog...here's the link.
ReplyDeleteSue at CollectInTexas Gal
Have visited and commented, what a creative theme!
DeleteBrilliant idea for A to Z—two birds with one stone, as it were!
ReplyDeleteIndeed 2 birds etc., a last minute idea but now I've got them scanned just some cleaning up to do and writing the posts.
DeleteLovely post Carmel! My mother filed her recipe cards neatly in a little wooden box and they are very similar to yours, including the afghans and apple cake,
ReplyDeletewhich were both family favourites. My sister and my daughters regularly ask me for copies of particular recipes, and when Mum passed away my brother and his wife made a number of them to serve as refreshments after the service, which was a nice thought, even if his versions didn't taste quite the same - he didn't have the originals.
Thanks Jo. The baking for the wake no doubt brought back many fond memories. Some of my nieces who baked with Mum are looking forward to this project.
DeleteRecipes are a great idea for A to Z. Including the cards in the original handwriting really adds the personal touch. I promise not to "steal" any, I don't like to cook. LOL
ReplyDeleteFeel free to use any recipes! Yes I loved her handwriting, it was always so clear.
DeleteGreat idea Carmel. I have some of my mum's and my grandmother's and uncle's (a professional baker)....I should put them together "some time".
ReplyDeleteNext year’s A- Z? i just thought of it Monday morning so it is all a bit of a rushed job, just took snaps of each page on my phone but “may” put them all together eventually as there are many that will not appear on the blog.
Delete