Sweet Potato Pie (Mary McLeod Bethune)

I don’t know how this recipe was collected originally, as its source passed on in 1955. Maybe the recipe was published in my long-ago subscription to Gourmet magazine. At any rate, it is pretty cool to have the bona fide sweet-potato pie recipe of Mary McLeod Bethune, a bona fide civil rights leader. 9 medium sweet… Continue reading Sweet Potato Pie (Mary McLeod Bethune)

Chocolate Drop Cookies

Sour Milk:½ cup milk½ teaspoon vinegar 1 ¾ cups flour½ teaspoon baking soda1 teaspoon baking powder½ teaspoon salt ½ cup shortening1 ¼ cups sugar2 eggs3/8 cup cocoa1 teaspoon vanilla extract Heat oven to 350°. Stir together the milk and vinegar. Set aside. Sift together flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Set aside. In a… Continue reading Chocolate Drop Cookies

Chocolate Drop Cookies

The texture of the finished confection is less like a crunchy cookie and more like that of a cake. Sour Milk:½ cup milk½ teaspoon white vinegar 1 ¾ cups flour½ teaspoon baking soda1 teaspoon baking powder½ teaspoon salt ½ cup shortening1 ¼ cups sugar2 eggs3/8 cup cocoa1 teaspoon vanilla extract Heat oven to 350°. Stir… Continue reading Chocolate Drop Cookies

Orange Kiss Me Cake

While my sister and I were growing up, Mom packed lunches for us that contained as little junk food as it was possible to contain. I remember this story from when I was in first grade. Back then, I might have envied someone who had a serving of potato chips in a waxed-paper bag, or… Continue reading Orange Kiss Me Cake

2 Dozen Cupcakes

Another old family recipe here. There are three variations written down. Marked on the recipe card after the title, with a different pen and handwriting: “(1 ½, really)”. With that warning in mind, we begin. 1 ½ cups flour1 cup sugar2 teaspoons baking powder1 tablespoon orange extract½ teaspoon vanilla extract½ teaspoon salt2/3 cup milk1/3 cup Crisco1… Continue reading 2 Dozen Cupcakes

Double-Chocolate Cake

For the cake:4 ounces bittersweet chocolate1 teaspoon vegetable oil2 ¼ cups flour½ cup cocoa powder1 ½ teaspoons baking soda½ teaspoon salt¾ cup (1 ½ sticks) unsalted butter, softened1 ½ cups sugar4 eggs2 teaspoons vanilla extract2 teaspoons white vinegar1 ½ cups milk For the frosting:12 ounces white chocolate chips8 ounces sour cream½ cup (1 stick) unsalted… Continue reading Double-Chocolate Cake

Orange Raisin Brunch Bread

2 ¼ to 3 ¼ cups flour1 package active dry yeast½ cup butter¼ cup milk¼ cup water2 tablespoons sugar½ teaspoon salt2 eggs1 tablespoon finely-shredded orange zest¾ cup golden raisinsmilkapricot jam In a large mixing bowl, combine 1 ½ cups flour and yeast; set aside. In medium saucepan, heat butter, the ¼ cup milk, water, sugar,… Continue reading Orange Raisin Brunch Bread

Old-Fashioned Brown Rice Pudding (Custard)

3 eggs½ cup sugar3 cups milk, scalded¼ teaspoon salt½ teaspoon vanilla extract1 ½ cups cooked brown rice½ cup raisinsground nutmeg Preheat oven to 350°. Grease a shallow baking dish, 13" x 9". Beat eggs, add the sugar, and beat until smooth. Pour in scalded milk, salt and vanilla. Add rice and raisins. Pour into prepared… Continue reading Old-Fashioned Brown Rice Pudding (Custard)

Chocolate Cut-Out Cookies

(Adapted from “Mom’s Old-Fashioned Sugar Cookies”) 8 ½ cups flour6 cups sugar2 cups Crisco1 ½ cups milk3 cups cocoa3 eggs2 teaspoons baking soda1 teaspoon salt4 teaspoons vanilla In a large bowl, make a nest out of the flour. Combine all other ingredients in a separate bowl and pour into the center of the nest. Stir… Continue reading Chocolate Cut-Out Cookies