Indian Pudding

Recipe Name: Indian Pudding

Story: This is a handwritten recipe found in Grandma / Grandpa Whittier's old documents. I had never heard of "Indian Pudding" before, but apparently it was such a thing that Grammy had 2 recipes for it. See note for some historical information on it.

Author / Creator: Grammy Whittier

Submitted by: Dustin

Ingredients: 

1. 1 quart milk (heated in double boiler)
2. 2/3 or 1 cup corn meal
3. 1 cup molasses
4. 1 egg? (seen in one recipe, not the other)
5. Butter (something) walnuts
6. 1/2 tsp of salt

Directions: 

• 1st recipe: Put corn meal and molasses together and add to heated milk. Stir for the first half hour to thoroughly mix together.
• 2nd recipe: Put in double boiler and cook until thick. Put into casserole and add 1 point cold milk and bake 4 hours. Add more milk after it has cooked a while, if desired.

Notes: 

Sometimes it is hard to read the handwriting, I did my best here.

Indian pudding is a traditional New England dessert with colonial American origins, made primarily from cornmeal, molasses, and spices, and is slow-baked until it reaches a rich, custard-like consistency. It is typically served warm with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream. 

The name "Indian pudding" is derived from the colonial term "Indian meal" for cornmeal, which was a staple grain that Native Americans taught early European settlers how to cultivate and use. The dish is an adaptation of the British "hasty pudding," a simple wheat-flour porridge. Due to the scarcity of wheat in the New World, colonists substituted the readily available cornmeal and added local sweeteners like molasses or maple syrup, transforming it into a distinctly American dish. 

Cheese Souffle

Recipe Name: Cheese Souffle (for 2)

Story: This is a handwritten recipe found in Grandma / Grandpa Whittier's old documents.

Author / Creator: Grammy Whittier

Submitted by: Dustin

Ingredients: 

• 1 Egg
• 1 tsp flour
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1/4 cup bread crumbs
• 1/4 tsp paprika
• 1/4 cup grated cheese
• 1 tsp butter

Directions: 

1. Blend butter and flour, add milk to which the yolk is added.
2. Cook until smooth over double boiler, stirring constantly.
3. Add cheese, crumbs, and seasoning.
4. Let stand a few minutes until crumbs are soft, then fold in stiffly beaten white.
5. Pour in pan and bake 20 mins in med(?) oven.
6. Serve at once.

Notes: 

Sometimes it is hard to read the handwriting, I did my best here.

Peanut Butter Cookies

Recipe Name: Peanut Butter Cookies

Story: This is a handwritten recipe found in Grandma / Grandpa Whittier's old documents.

Author / Creator: Grammy Whittier

Submitted by: Dustin

Ingredients: 

• 1 1/2 cup flour
• 1/2 cup peanut butter
• 1 cup brown(?) sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 tsp vanilla
• 2 cup chopped coconut
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/2 c shortening
• 1 1/2 tsp baking powder

Directions: 

1. Sift flour, baking powder, and salt.
2. Cream(?) shortening and peanut butter, add sugar, beat and add egg and flour back(?)
3. Add coconut and mix well.
4. Add dry ingredients last.
5. Drop by spoon and flatten slightly with fork.
6. If white sugar, add one tsp molasses.

Notes: 

Sometimes it is hard to read the handwriting, I did my best here.

Scalloped Oysters

 

Recipe Name: Scalloped Oysters

Story: This is a handwritten recipe found in Grandma / Grandpa Whittier's old documents.

Years you've been making it: 1960s

Author / Creator: Grammy Whittier

Submitted by: Dustin

Ingredients: 

• 1 Pint oysters plus liquor
• 1/4 lb mushrooms
• 6 Tbls of butter
• 3 Tbls of flour
• Milk
• 1/4 tsp oregano
• 2 Tbls parsley
• Salt and pepper
• 8 oz large egg noodles, cooked
• 4 hard boiled eggs, chopped
• 1 cup buttered bread crumbs

Directions: 

1. Set overn to 400
2. Drain oysters, save liquor. Set aside
3. Melt butter in saucepan, add mushrooms. Take mushrooms out of butter.
4. Blend in flour.
5. Measure oyster liquor and add milk to make 1 3/4 cups liquid.
6. Slowly add and stir liquid into flour mixture.
7. Stir in oregano, parsley, and seasonings.
8. Cook and Stir until sauce is thick, 3 mins.
9. In shallow baking dish, alternate layers of cooked noodles, eggs, oyster and mushrooms.
10. Pour sauce overtop, sprinkle with bread crumbs.
11. Bake 15 mins.
12. 4 to 6 servings.

Brine: For Smoking King Fish

 

Recipe Name: Brine: For Smoking King Fish

Story: This is a handwritten recipe found in Grandma / Grandpa Whittier's old documents.  I chose this recipe because I have heard countless stories of Grandpa Whittier and his smoked fish.

Years you've been making it: Unknown

Author / Creator: Grandpa Whittier

Submitted by: Dustin

Ingredients: (as best as I can discern from the handwriting)

• 1 gal water
• 4 cups coarse salt (Reg Solution)
• 2 cups sugar (onion powder, garlic powder, lime juice - optional)
• 2 tbls saltpeter (holds color, usually 1 Tbls)
• 2 tbls peppercorns (optional) crushed
• 1 tsp allspice (optional)
• 1 tsp clove (optional)
• 10 oz bay leaves (4 or 5) also 
• (can use pickling spices)

Directions: 

1. Soak fish 8 hrs or as desired. 4 hrs is a mild cure
2. Preference is how salt(y) you would like it.  A little salty keeps better - I prefer 8 hrs+ fish is usually 3" chunks
3. Remove fish and rinse
4. Allow to dry until a glaze forms on outside surface
5. Smoke 10 to 12 hours, 120 to 130 degrees

Notes: 

This is a 2nd version of the recipe, but I still wanted to add it because it was in the original handwriting. Here is the other post with the same / similar recipe, this post seems to have a little more detail:

https://heritagesoup.blogspot.com/2022/12/smoked-fish-brine.html

Raisin Oatmeal (cookies)

 

Recipe Name: Raisin Oatmeal (cookies?)

Story: This is a handwritten recipe found in Grandma / Grandpa Whittier's old documents.

Author / Creator: Grammy Whittier

Submitted by: Dustin

Ingredients: 

• 1 Cup Sugar
• 2 Egg
• 1 Cup shortening
• 2 cup flour
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 2 cup oatmeal
• 1/4 cup raisins
• 1 tsp (baking) soda
• 1 tsp vanilla

Directions: 

1. Save 5 Tbls raisin water
2. Dissolve tsp soda and 1 tsp vanilla
3. Bake 350 for 15 mins. Cook till soft

Mustard Pickles

 

Recipe Name: Mustard Pickles

Story: We found this old recipe notebook in an envelope at Dad's place. This appears to be, likely, Grammy Whittier's recipes, though could be even older.

Author / Creator: Grammy Whittier?

Submitted by: Dad / Chuck

Ingredients / Directions: 

• 1 qt cucumbers
• 1 qt tomatoes
• 1 qt onions
• 1 qt cauliflower
• 4 peppers cut fine

Soak 24 hrs in a brine made of:

• 1 pt Salt
• 4 qts water

Cook in brine until tender, drain and put in the following:

• 1 cup flour
• 6 tbls mustard
• 1 dessert spoon turmeric
• 2 cups brown sugar
• 2 qts vinegar

Cook till it thickens

Tomato Catsup

 

Recipe Name: Tomato Catsup

Story: We found this old recipe notebook in an envelope at Dad's place. This appear to be, likely, Grammy Whittier's recipes, though could be even older.

Author / Creator: Grammy Whittier?

Submitted by: Dad / Chuck

Ingredients / Directions: 

• 4 qts tomatoes (raw)
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/2 tsp pepper
• 1 tsp mustard
• 1/8 tsp cayenne
• 2 tsp salt
• 1 (or 1.5) cups vinegar

Smoked Fish Brine

Recipe Name: Smoked Fish Brine

Story: This is a handwritten recipe found in Grandma / Grandpa Whittier's old documents.  I chose this recipe because I have heard countless stories of Grandpa Whittier and his smoked fish.  Chuck could probably add much more commentary here I'm sure.

Years you've been making it: Unknown

Author / Creator: Grandpa Whittier

Submitted by: Dustin

Ingredients: (as best I can discern from the handwriting)

• 1 gal water
• 4 cups coarse salt (Kosher)
• 2 cups sugar
• 2 tbls saltpeter (holds color)
• 3 tbls peppercorns (optional)
• 1 tsp allspice
• 1 tsp clove
• 10 oz bay leaves (5 or 6 crumbled)
• 2 tbls pickling spice
• some garlic if you like

Directions: 

1. Soak fish 6 to 10 hours
2. Preference is how salt(y) you would like it.  A little salty keeps better - I prefer 8 hrs+ fish is usually 3" chunks
3. Remove fish and rinse quickly
4. Allow to dry 3 to 5 hrs or until a glaze forms on outside surface
5. Smoke 9 to 12 hours
6. Keep some water in pan suspended if necessary to keep fish from drying out
7. should smoke at about 130 F

Key Lime Pie

Recipe Name: Key Lime Pie

Story: This is a handwritten recipe found in Grandma / Grandpa Whittier's old documents.  I chose this recipe because a) key lime pie is so good, and b) because I assume that living in Florida would lend oneself to learning how to make a good key lime pie, and c) I remember all of the fruit trees at Grandma and Grandpa Whittier's house in West Palm.

Years you've been making it: Unknown

Author / Creator: Grandma / Grandpa Whittier

Submitted by: Dustin

Ingredients: (as best I can discern from the handwriting)

• 1 can condensed milk
• 4 egg yolks
• 1/2 cup lime juice
• 1 small grated lime skin if available
• 1/2 tsp cream tartar
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 6 egg whites (meringue)

Directions: 

1. Beat egg yolks thoroughly and add milk slowly
2. Add lime juice, mix well
3. Add 1/2 cup sugar ??
4. Add cream tartar to egg whites and beat until they peak.  add 1/4 cup sugar, 1 tbls at a time
5. Beat until stiff
6. Fold 6 tbls egg white into lemon mixture
7. Pour into pie and top with meringue
8. Bake at 330 until gold brown

Cocktail Sauce

Recipe Name: Cocktail Sauce

Story: This is a handwritten recipe found in Grandma / Grandpa Whittier's old documents.  I chose this recipe because living in Florida near so much seafood, having a good cocktail sauce recipe was probably something used quite often.

Years you've been making it: Unknown

Author / Creator: Grandma / Grandpa Whittier

Submitted by: Dustin

Ingredients: (as best I can discern from the handwriting)

• 2 tsp Horseradish
• 3 Tbls tomato ketchup
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 2 Tbls vinegar
• 4 Tbls lemon juice
• 1/4 tsp tabasco

Directions: 

1. Mix all together