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Pastry for 8" or 9" Two-Crust Pie

Ingredients

• 2 cups plain flour and sift it
• 1 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 cup oil
• 1/4 cup milk (pour into same cup as oil)

Method

Mix it all together in a large bowl with a fork. Make two lumps. Roll out between greaseproof paper. Peel one sheet off but leave there. Flip and peel other sheet off entirely. Flip again, this time into pie plate. When filled, do the same with the other lump and fasten edges without moistening and prick top. Bake in 425oF oven for 40 mins or so.

Enormous Apple Pie

Ingredients

• Lots of Granny Smiths apples
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 tbsp flour
• juice of 1 small lemon
• big blob butter
• cinnamon

Method

Make pastry as like the above recipe. Mix sugar, flour and a snitch of salt. Strew a small handful of it on bottom crust. Heap with cored, peeled and sliced apples, to a nice anthill shape. Pour the rest of the sugar and flour on top (but not on the pastry), dot with butter and pour on the lemon juice. Sprinkle with a modest amount of cinnamon. Bake in 425oF oven for 40 - 50 mins, depending on how enormous.

NOTE: This pie is likely to run over in the over. Put a tray or something underneath
it.

Rhubarb Pie

Ingredients

• 4 cups rhubarb, cut into 1/2" pieces
• 2 tbsp flour
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 1/4 tsp cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp nutmeg
• 1 egg, beaten
• 2 tbsp butter

Methods

Toss the rhubarb, flour, sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg together. Pile into shell. Pour egg over top and dot with butter. Bake in 425oF oven for 35 mins or so.

For Stewed Rhubarb

3 cups rhubarb, 1 1/2 cups sugar, bit of cinnamon and 1/2 lb butter. Do it in top of double boiler for ages, watching that bottom doesn't boil dry. This is terrific warm . none of your watery stuff.

Isreali Chocolate Cake

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 1/2 cup water
• 1/4 cup cocoa
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 200g margarine
• 4 eggs
• 1 cup flour
• 1 tsp baking powder

Method

Cook together sugar, water, cocoa. Add margerine and remove from fire. Add egg YOLKS, vanilla and beat. Remove 1/2 cup of this lot for icing. Make well in middle of flour and add the rest of the chocolate mixture to it bit by bit. Whip egg whites. Put a spoonful of them into flour/chocolate mixture then blend the rest, gently, so whites remain whipped. It's a matter of folding rather than stirring. Bake in 350oF oven for 35 mins. When cool, pour the remaining chocolate mixture over it.

Orange Cake

Ingredients

• 1 orange, rind grated and juiced approximately 1/2 cup
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 3/4 cup butter
• 3 eggs
• 3 cups flour
• 3/4 tsp salt
• 4 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 cup water
• 2 tbsps lemon juice

Butter Frosting

• icing sugar
• 1 tbsp butter
• orange juice

Method

Mix orange rind into sugar and cream this with butter until fluffy. Beat in eggs one at a time. Sift flour, salt and baking powder. Add sifted ingredients in 3 parts to butter mixture alternately with orange juice, lemon juice and water. Bake in 2" deep or 3 shallow 9" cake pan. Bake in 375oF for 30 mins. Mix all frosting ingredients to make a goo and spread on cooled cake.

Meat Loaf

Ingredients

• 1 lb minced steak
• 1/2 lb sausage meat
• 1 good handful of oats
• 1 egg
• 1/2 cup water
• 2 large carrots, grated finely
• left over gravy, stews, bits and pieces
• 1 onion, grated
• Anything else you fancy

Method

Mix it all together. Pour mixture into a loaf pan. Bake in 350oF oven for 1 1/2 hours or so.

I sometimes put strips of cheese on top. I usually add some water on top before cooking it, if it looks dry. The oats usually absorb a lot of liquid. Sometimes I put some tomato paste in it. Sometimes I don't.

NOTE: Baked potatoes on a skewer will cook in the same time.

Potato Pancakes

Ingredients

• 3 large potatoes, grated (let potatoes stand after grating and pour off the juice)
• salt
• 2 eggs, separated and whip the whites
• 1 chopped onion, better grated
• 1/4 cup parsley, chopped

Method

Mix all ingredients except whites. Add the whites in the end for a lighter pancake.

Fry. Serve with sour cream or apple sauce.

Chicken in a Paper Bag

Method

Place a great deal of tarragon and 1/4 lb butter inside the chicken. Oh... and a good spoonful of salt. Oil the outside of the chicken and if you can afford it, put 3 strips of bacon on top. Place in a brown paper bag on a rack in a roasting pan and cook at high temperature (450oF). Keep bag away from flame. Takes 1 to 1 1/2 hours. If bag ignites, extinguish.

When opening bag to extract chicken, slit along top. You can pour all the juices into a jar and save for something else.

Brown Rice

Serves 8

Ingredients

• 1 pkt brown rice
• 1/2 lb butter
• 1 tin consomme
• 2 tbsps salt

Method

Gently brown the rice in the butter. Add salt, consomme and another tin of water. Cook slowly for ages, adding water if necessary. Keep lid on all the while.

Purple Cabbage Meal

Ingredients

• 1 purple cabbage, roughly sliced
• 2 onions, ditto
• 2 Granny Smiths apples, ditto
• 1 Polish sausage (kolbasy for instance - not a hot one) cut into 1" chunks

Method

Layer it by turns, add 1/4 cups of water and cook very slowly for 2 hours. Sugar in the apples will make it catch (= burn) if liquid too low. This is a complete meal.

Brownies

Ingredients

• 1/3 cup margerine
• 1/2 cup cocoa
• 1/2 tsp vanilla
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 eggs
• 3/4 cup flour
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 3/4 cup chopped nuts (or coconut, or both)
• 1/2 tsp baking powder

Method

Melt marg. Cool a bit. Stir in sugar and cocoa and vanilla. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well. Sift flour, salt and baking powder. Put liquid into well in flour. Stir and add nuts. 8" x 8" x 2" pan (greased). Bake in 325oF for 25 minutes. Cool and cut in squares.

[Ah well, some mothers are like that!]

Chocolate Marshmallow

Ingredients

• 113g dark chocolate
• 2 tbsp sugar
• 1/2 cup milk
• 12 white marshmallows
• 1 tsp instant coffee
• 1 1/2 cups cocoa

Method

Heat over hot water, and stir until blended all ingredients except cocoa. Remove from heat and stir until cold. Fold in cocoa, whipped. Chill.

Steak Fantasie

Method

Trim and lay in flat oven proof dish (with lid) 6 pieces oyster blade. Sprinkle with Worchestershire sauce. Cover each piece with 3 pitted prunes and bits of bacon. Place lid on dish. Bake for 2 1/2 - 3 hours at 250o/275oF.

Ma's Sludge Supreme

Ingredients

• bag of cottage cheese (continental non-fat is best)
• similar quantity sour cream
• small tin chestnut puree (unsweetened better) or
• similar quantity really good jam (cherry, raspberry)

Method

Mash like hell, and call it something else. Both are important.

Brandied Coffee Jelly

Ingredients

• 2 tbsp gelatin
• 2 cups hot strong coffee
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 2 tbsp lemon juice
• 4 tbsp brandy
• sour cream sauce

Method

Soften gelatin in 1/2 cup cold water. Add hot coffee and sugar and stir until all dissolved. Add lemon juice and brandy. Pour into 8" square pan and chill. Cut into lozenges and put in dish. Smother with Sour Cream Sauce*.

*Sour Cream Sauce

Ingredients

• 1 cup sour cream
• 1/4 cup packed lightly brown sugar
• 1/8 tsp cinnamon

Method

Beat until sugar dissolved

A Salad

• Greenery ~ well, lettuce
• Small quantity Red things (radishes or tomatoes)
• Crunch (celery, cuke etc)
• Bite (salt, spring onions)
• Slosh ~ 1/4 cup oil
• Tang ~ 1/8 cup vinegar or lemon juice
• Dark Green (peppers, parsley, peas)
• Fragrance (dill or basil or something and don't let it take over)

Granny Synge's Lazy Cake

All you need is 1 bowl, 1 spoon, 1 cup and 1 pan.

• Oven at 400oF.
• Melt 1/6 lb (1/3 cup) butter in pan in oven
• Sift: 1 cup flour
• cup sugar
• pinch of salt
• heaping tsp baking powder

Method

1. Rinse cup with cold water and pour in fat.
2. Grease and paper pan.
3. Put 2 unbeaten eggs into butter.
4. Fill cup with milk and a few drops vanilla.
5. Add liquids to dry ingredients.
6. Mix and pour into pan.
7. Bake for 5 mins.

Cheese Souffle

Ingredients

• 1 cup grated cheese
• 1 cup Thick Cream Sauce
• 3 egg yolks, well beaten
• 1/4 tsp cream of tartar
• 3 egg whites

Method

Heat oven to 350oF. Blend cheese into *Cream Sauce; add egg yolks. Add cream of tartar to egg whites; beat until stiff. Fold in cheese mixture. Pour into ungreased 1 1/2 quart baking dish; make groove with spoon 1" from edge. Bake in pan of hot water (1" deep) 50 to 60 mins, until puffed and golden brown.

*Cream Sauce (Thick)

Ingredients

• 3 to 4 tbsp butter
• 4 tbsp flour
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1 cup milk

Method

Melt butter in top of double boiler, blend in flour, let cook a bit. Add salt and milk and stir it till thick.

Easy Borscht (Cold)

• 1 tin consomme
• 1 tin beet juice and smashed beets
• 1 carton sour cream

Serve with hot new potatoes and more sour cream

[a little grated raw beetroot is a good addition]

Boston Baked Beans

• Soak overnight: 1 quart navy beans. Drain and cover with more cold water (adding 1/4 tsp baking soda). Bring to boil for 5 minutes. Mix in: 1 large shredded onion
• 1/4 lb salt pork, cubed
• 1/3 cup treacle (molasses)
• 1/2 tsp mustard
• 2 tsp salt

Cover with cold water and lid. 8 hours in a moderate oven. You may have to add water after 4 hours. During last hour and half, lift up pork from bottom to top.

Julia Kovesi's Butter Cookies

• 2 cups flour
• 1/4 lb margarine (1/2 cup)
• 2 egg yolks
• sour cream to make a stiff dough (over 1/2 a carton)
• 1/2 cup sugar, pinch of salt

bake at 425F for 8 minutes.

Pop Overs

TWO VERSIONS

Version ONE

Ingredients

• 1cup flour
  1/2 tsp salt
  1 cup milk
  2 eggs

  Method

  Mix dry ingredients with milk and egg. Pour into greased pattie tray. Half fill the cups. Bake in 425F oven for 40 - 45 mins.

  Version TWO
  (from The Complete Jewish Cookbook, 1972)
  Yield 6 to 8 popovers.

  Ingredients

  2 eggs, well beaten
  1 Cup Milk
  1 Cup sifted all-purpose or plain flour (not SR)
  1/4 tsp salt

  Method

  Combine milk, eggs & Shortening.
  Add flour and salt.
  Beat 'till batter is smooth.
  Pour into hot or cold greased muffin pans until 1/3 to 1/2 full.

  Bake in a hot oven (230C) for 10 mins (until popovers pop),
  then reduce temp to moderate (180C) & bake 20-30 mins longer (until dry).

  REMOVE at once from pan!
  PUNCTURE to let steam escape.

  NOTES:

  1. Try greasing only the bottoms of the pans.

  2. Don't beat the batter for too long (overmixing can cause soggy texture). If using an electric beater, only mix for 1/2 min.

  3. Make an executive decision that how your popovers turn out is how they are meant to be (it's very likely).

Warm Tuna Salad

Ingredients

• 2-3 potatoe, not peeled
• Head of Fennel
• Tin of Tuna (95g? 210g?) in chunks
• Oil 3 Tblsp
• Vinegar or Lemon 1 1/2 tblsp
• Dill weed (tops off the fennel)
• Pepper
• Lettuce - 6 leaves cos or whatever
• Capers - about 8
• A little Onion finely sliced

Method

• Boil potatoes until just done
• Slice Fennel thin and put in potatoe pot about 2-3 mins before potatoes are doneH
• Wash lettuce and drain
• Slice Capers in 2
• When potatoes and Fennel are done, add everything else, tearing up the lettuce.
• EAT

(Potatoes and Fennel will warm up the rest.

© Jack Seddon 1998 jseddon@hotmail.com