Mrs. Murphy's Fruit Cake, a.k.a. the JFK recipe

Mrs. Murphy's Fruit Cake, a.k.a. the JFK recipe

Mom wrote: I was talking to Mrs. Murphy, Sue's mother, on the phone in 1963 when she told me she thought she had heard that John Kennedy -- the President -- had been shot! She and I were talking about this recipe while her radio or TV was on -- and of course the unbelievably sad news was true -- so this must have been 11/22/63. I had just returned from my first plane trip to Chicago for Uncle Henry McNeely's funeral.

Mom originally got the recipe in Dec. 1958. She and Dad made it in late 1974 or 1975 so recopied it then.

2 cups sugar
1 cup butter
2 cups cold water
1 pound dates, cut up
1 pound raisins (and white raisins)
1/2 pound fruit mixture
4 cups flour
1 tablespoon baking soda dissolved in 1/2 c cold water
3 eggs, beaten
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon ginger
1 cup walnuts
1 cup brazil nuts
candied cherries

Boil first six ingredients 5-10 minutes. Cool. Add rest of ingredients. Bake 1 1/2 hour at 275 or test.

Christmas Wreath Cookies

Christmas Wreath Cookies

Cute Christmas recipe, Mom thinks it's from Anne.

Melt 30 large marshmallows, 1/2 cup margarine. Add 1 t vanilla, 1 1/2 t green coloring

Measure 3 1/2 c corn flakes. Put syrup mixture into cornflakes. Drop by teaspoons on ungreased cookie sheet. Decorate with red hots candy

Bernell's Calico Beans

Bernell's Calico Beans, from Mom

Mom recopies this recipe 10-11-05 from her original copy written 12-84.

She says: On a day in December 1984 I stopped at Bernell's house to drop off some of Ed's candleboxes that Bernell and Eileen had ordered. The two of them were out shopping but Don was home and they came home shortly after I got there. They had already had lunch but Don was having some of these beans for his lunch. Of course we all had coffee and the beans looked so good I had some too. We had a great visit.

Then, about 10 days later, Don died without any warning as he sat talking to Bernell who had the day off and was making her poppyseed coffeecake, so sadly, that was the last visit the four of us had. Earlier, Don had gone out to do some snowblowing -- not really very much at all -- and collapsed shortly after sitting down to watch Bernell and visit with her. Evidently he had a heart problem and didn't know it. This was much too sudden and sad. And, of course, every time I use this recipe, I remember that lovely winter day that I got it...and I miss days like that so much.

Gael says: Mom made these when I was visiting in fall of 2005 or 2006. They were delicious and I don't even think of myself as someone who likes beans! They're almost as much a meal as a side dish with all the meat in them.

1 can pork and beans
1 can kidney beans, rinsed and drained
1 can pinto beans
1 can butter beans
1/2 pound bacon, chopped fine
1 pound ground beef
1 onion, chopped
3/4 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon dry mustard
1 teaspoon vinegar
salt, optional


Brown ground beef, bacon, onion.

Add brown sugar, dry mustard, vinegar. Salt is optional so skip that until you taste finished dish. Add beans.

Put in oven for 40 minutes or so at 325-350, really just to be heated so flavors can blend.

Mom makes this with more pork and beans than above and also adds a can of garbanzo beans. She likes to make it in the crockpot rather than the oven. It works well for a large group and can be kept warm that way.

Caramel Buttons

Caramel Buttons

From KSTP, 7-18-78.

1 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup melted margarine
2 packages vanilla pudding
2 tablespoons milk
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

Mix sugar, margarine and pudding. Add milk and cinnamon and heat until mixed.

Cut frozen bread dough (or sweet dough), partly thawed, into 1" slices. Then cut these 4 x. Drop a layer of dough chunks into buttered 9 x 13 pan. Pour pudding mixture over and cover with balls of bread. Let double in size (3 hours approx.). Then bake an hour at 350.

Bernell's Meat Loaf

Bernell's Meat Loaf

Mom wrote: This is from late 1940s or early 1950s when we lived at 1813 Sheridan. Grandpa Fashingbauer really liked it so used to make it for him. It has a different texture and flavor (note sage and nutmeg) and Ed likes it for sandwiches which is what Bernell said it was especially good for.

Mom says (2007): When you put the eggs and milk in you think it's going to be too much, but it makes it just right for slicing.

2/3 cup bread crumbs or cracker crumbs
1 cup milk
1 1/2 pounds ground beef
2 eggs, slightly beaten
1/4 cup grated onion
1 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
1/2 teaspoon sage

TOPPING
3 tablespoons brown sugar
1/4 cup ketchup (Mom uses more)
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1 teaspoon dry (or other) mustard

Mix all together. Put in loaf pan. Add topping. Bake at 350 for 45-60 minutes.

Beer bread

Beer bread

Mom copied this in January, 1985 and just wrote "try this." Note that flour must be self-rising since there is no yeast (except in the beer!).

2 tablespoons sugar
3 cups self-rising flour
12 ounces bottled beer

Mix sugar and flour. Add beer (4 oz at a time). Stir well. Pour into 3 well-greased 3 x 6 (or?) bread pans.

Drizzle 1/2 c melted butter over (should make layer). Bake 50 minutes at 350.

Beer biscuits

Beer biscuits

Mom copied from Heloise, 5/15/1981

4 cups biscuit mix
3 tablespoons sugar
12 ounces beer, room temperature

Mix and bake as usual.

Evelyn Coda's Brownies

Evelyn Coda's Brownies
Mom writes: This recipe is from Evelyn Coda, the night nurse in charge at St. Luke's Hospital when I worked there in 1970-71. The brownies are very good and easy to make and so is the frosting -- it's one of my favorites. (Mom recopied it over numerous times in her recipe box.)

1 stick margarine
1 cup sugar
4 eggs
1 cup flour
1 can Hershey's syrup (16 oz.)

Mix and bake for 30 minutes in a greased (bottom only) 9 x 13 pan at 350.

FROSTING: 1 c sugar, 4 T milk (I use 1/4 c), 4 T margarine. Mix in saucepan. Boil 1/2 min. Turn off heat and add 3/4 c (6 oz) chocolate chips. Allow to melt and then spread.

Orange Jello Mold, from Dorothy Bunde

Orange Jello Mold, from Dorothy Bunde

June 1969. Dorothy made for Claudia's graduation party. Mom says: Dorothy puts this in a large glass bowl rather than a mold and it looks very pretty.

1 small can Minute Maid orange juice
3 packages orange jello
1 pint whipping cream
1 can crushed pineapple (tall thin can)
2 cups mandarin oranges
1/2 package small marshmallows

Add 2 cups hot water to Jello, then add frozen OJ. Then add 3 c cold water. Jell slightly, add whipping cream with no sugar, add drained pineapple, drained oranges and marshmallows.

Coconut Cookies, from Mom

Coconut Cookies, from Mom

Mom wrote: My favorite! About 1949, Murphy's.

Note from Gael: I made these for July 4, 2007. I was a little wary since the recipe was so vague, but they turned out great. Very crisp. I wasn't sure if they had quick-cooking oatmeal back in 1949 or not, so I used half quick-cooking oats, half regular. And the dough didn't seem like it held together, but when I squished it into balls, it worked, and spread out nicely on the pan. Took about 15+ minutes per sheet.

1 cup shortening
1 cup sugar
1 cup brown sugar
2 eggs
1 1/2 cups Quaker oatmeal
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup coconut
2 cups flour
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon salt

Melt shortening and pour over sugars. (Mix and add remaining ingredients.)

Drop onto greased cookie sheet, bake at 375 for 10-15 minutes.

Sweet Dough, from Auckie via Mom

Sweet Dough, from Auckie via Mom

Mom typed this on 1/15/72. She wrote: This is Ed's favorite dough. Makes delicious nut streudel and prune coffeecake and delicious plain rolls.

2 packages dry yeast
1 1/2 cups warm water
3 eggs
1 1/2 cups milk, scalded
1/2 cup oil
1/2 cup sugar
2 teaspoons salt

Mix yeast and water. Mix rest of ingredients. Cool. Then add yeast/water mix. Then add 9-10 c flour. Knead until smooth. Let rise (1 1/2 hr) then make into coffeecake or rolls.

Depression Raisin Bread, from Marge via Mom

Depression Raisin Bread, from Marge via Mom

Mom says: “Marge puts them in bean cans--they bake up cute and round.”

3 cups raisins
4 teaspoons baking soda
4 tablespoons butter
Take 4 cups of boiling water and pour over first 3 ingredients--let stand one hour

Add 3 c sugar
1 t salt
6 1/2 c flour
1 1/2 t cinnamon
Bake in greased pans at 375 for 45 minutes

Rhubarb Crunch, from Mom

Rhubarb Crunch, from Mom

CRUST:
1 cup flour -- sifted
5 tablespoons powdered sugar
1/2 cup butter

Mix like pie crust and pat in bottom of 8 or 9 inch square pan. Bake at 350 till golden.

FILLING:
Two eggs beaten
1 1/2 c sugar
1/4 c flour
3/4 t baking powder
pinch salt
2 c diced rhubarb

Add dry ingredients to eggs. Stir, add rhubarb, stir, pour over baked crust, bake again about 35 min.

Orange Dessert, from Mom

Orange Dessert, from Mom

Mom’s copy of this recipe is dated 12-27-72!

2 packages orange tapioca
3 cups milk
1 c crushed pineapple
1 can pineapple tidbits
1 can mandarin oranges
Small marshmallows (option)
1 pint Cool Whip

Cook milk and tapioca till boils (stir often). Cool and add: 1 c crushed pineapple, 1 can pineapple tidbits, 1 can mandarin oranges, small marshmallows (optional), 1 pint Cool Whip. Refrigerate.

Lemon Bars, from Mom

Lemon Bars, from Mom

1 cup butter
2 cups flour
1/2 cup powdered sugar

Mix and pat first 3 ingredients in lightly greased 9 x 13 pan. Bake 15 minutes at 350.

Then mix: 4 T lemon juice
4 eggs beaten
2 c sugar
1 t baking powder
4 T flour

Mix this and pour over crust, bake 15-30 minutes. Watch carefully.

Brownies and Frosting, from Mom

Brownies and Frosting, from Mom

1 cup sugar
1/2 cup butter
2 squares unsweetened chocolate, melted
2 eggs
1/2 cup flour
1/2 cup nuts
1/2 teaspoon salt

Cream butter and sugar. Add melted choc and eggs, mix well. Add dry ingredients. Pour in greased 9-inch pan Bake 350 for 15 minutes

FROSTING:
1/4 c sugar
3 T butter
3 T milk
Boil for 1 1/2 minutes and add 6 oz choc chips. Beat until spreadable.

Beef Stroganoff and Rice, from Ken Bunde

Beef Stroganoff and Rice, from Ken Bunde

Mom dated this 7-99.

3 pounds cubed round steak
2 cans cream of chicken soup
2 cans mushrooms stems and pieces
2 cups sour cream
4 tablespoons oil

Brown meat, salt and pepper to taste. Add soup and simmer one hour. Add sour cream and mushrooms. Heat through. Cook rice.

Al's Best Doggone Pancakes, from Mrs. Quie

Al's Best Doggone Pancakes, from Mrs. Quie

Dated 10-31-81, when Al Quie was governor of Minnesota.

1 cup milk
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 egg
1 cup flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons baking powder (yes, 2 tablespoons)

Combine first three ingredients. Beat. Add dry ingredients and stir to make smooth batter. Grease grill if necessary. Cook over low heat. If using buttermilk, decrease baking powder to 1 1/2 teaspoons and add 1/2 teaspoon soda. With 2 T baking powder, these are said to be very light and good.

Makes about 9 4" pancakes.

24-hour salad, from Mom's club

24-hour salad, from Mom's club

From Mom's club, late 1940s or early 1950s. Mom writes: Great served with nut bread and cheese spreads, cream cheese, etc.

3/4 cup pineapple juice
juice of one lemon
1 tablespoon sugar
4 eggs, beaten
1/4 cup cream

FRUIT
1 cup pineapple chunks
12 large marshmallows (or 1 1/2 c small)
1/2 cup almonds
1/2 cup cherries
1/2 pint whipping cream

Mix first five ingredients and cook till it thickens. Cool slightly and pour over fruit.

Russian Tea, from Mom

Russian Tea, from Mom

Mom dated this 1-7-73, and notes “day after Drew’s wedding.” Also in the original recipe she noted that the package of lemonade was the 10 cent size. Well...it was 1973.

3/4 cup instant tea
10 ounces Orange Tang
1/2 cup sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon cloves, ground
1 package Wyler's lemonade

Mix--store in covered jar--Salute!