A Sentiment

God knew what He was doing when He sent a gentle breeze and brought a lovely butterfly to set my heart at ease. The happiness of your friendship and the gentleness of your words have touched my life in special ways and now I feel assured. Thank you for your loyalty and for reading everyday. I only hope you find things to make a happy day.

Sunday, November 21, 2010

A couple of Cooking Memories before the Holidays


My house smells so good right now. I have 2 butternut squash in the oven and a couple of acorn squash in the microwave. I'll mix the two together and have this for Thanksgiving and the Sunday after, when my daughter will be here. When she was here last week for our lasagna dinner, she said, "No squash or mashed potatoes?" She's coming again for her favorite dinner on the Sunday after Thanksgiving...and I'll send a care package for eating at her home in Wisconsin.
One of the things that my Mom always made for the holidays was her Chex Mix. She called it, Tidbits. She made it in the turkey roaster and shared with everybody. I decided to follow her old recipe this year.I found that it is really quite expensive to make. It makes me appreciate her making it all the more. We had it even when times were tough. Here's how she made it...

I pkg pretzel sticks (slim jims)

1 pkg rice chex (ralston)

1 pkg corn chex (ralston)

1 pkg wheat chex (ralston)

1 pkg cherrios can substitute for 1 chex cereal

1 pkg kix

1-1 1/2 lb nuts

1 lb butter

1T worcestershire sauce

1-2 T of Celery salt or onion salt

Put all cereal in a pan. Melt butter add seasonings, dribble over cereal and bake for 2 hours at 200 degrees. Stir every 10 - 15 min. Season with additional salt to taste.


Well, in looking at the recipe I decided to change it up a bit. I have 1 box of corn chex, 1 box of little cheese crackers, 1 pkg bagel chips, pretzels, lg can of Spanish peanuts, 1 lg can mixed nuts, cherrios, and a new cracker...flat bread crisps. I have found through the years that the wheat chex are the last to be eaten. I like to have some little crackers in it too. So when my squash is done in the oven...I'll be putting my turkey roaster in to bake this old time favorite. It makes enough for all our holiday entertaining.
When I rummage through my recipe box and come across an old yellowed with age one...that my Mom, Mother in law, or Grandma...or even Great Grandma made, it brings back so many memories. I can almost feel the women with me in my little kitchen. They were the ones who influenced my cooking...they were my "Food Network" in days past.
Balisha


4 comments:

Diana LaMarre said...

I think it's all those memories that make old family recipes the best!

Wsprsweetly Of Cottages said...

This was interesting because yesterday an email arrived asking me to send a good recipe and a simple one for the holidays...I believe I have just found it.
I have snacked on this at homes in the past but never made it myself.
NOW I can...and I can share it!
Once again...you have come to my rescue. :)
HUGE hugs for this..and of course for your wise comment.
Mona

Pat said...

I have notecards in my recipe book written in my Grandmother's handwriting. It's nice to be able to look at those words on paper and remember wonderful times with her.

One Woman's Journey - a journal being written from Woodhaven - her cottage in the woods. said...

So many of my recipes have stories and memories connected to them.
I cook my butternut squash the day before Thanksgiving and then warm with maple syrup.
How do you prepare yours? Always looking for a new idea...