| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| CindyG |
Posted - Jun 24 2013 : 2:06:30 PM
Hi ladies,
I am looking to start this week off with some positive thoughts and nostalgia, so please share the one favorite thing your grandma made for you. It is kind of hard to pick because I have so many really nice Grandma memories, and many of them are kitchen or dining room table related.
To pick The One, it is an oddly simple and surprisingly commercial thing: incredible cookies made with basic cookie stuff plus Wheaties and coconut. Back in the day when companies gave out free recipe booklets in grocery stores or when you sent in "x" number of box tops, Wheaties came up with this recipe for cookies to get you to use more of their product. Worked for us!
They are also known as "Ranger Cookies". Has anyone had them? One bite and I go back to my grandma's sparkling clean white enamel kitchen....ahhhhhh.
A close second would be her seven-minute boiled frosting which I have never been able to recreate. I think it has to do with remembering the Colorado version of this and now I'm in the swamp known as Washington DC where humidity doesn't let anything ever really "set". |
| 25 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| wildflower17 |
Posted - Jul 26 2013 : 6:31:51 PM
Denise,
My mom loved pickled beans and pickled corn. She made jars of them every Summer. I never did aquire a taste for either of them though. DH and I picked a huge water bucket of beans earlier this evening...given to us by my sister in law...I too love the stories and would love to hear more of them. I love the memories of the past...simpler place...simpler times...
Hugs!
Judy
"Blessed Beyond Measure"!!!
"Country Girl at Heart"... |
| levisgrammy |
Posted - Jul 26 2013 : 4:01:49 PM
Judy,
Dilly beans are green beans made with dill, garlic and vinegar. Sort of like pickled beans but them don't taste as strong as pickles. You don't serve them in the juice they were canned in. I have been scouting around for somewhere I can get them by the bushel. Most of our farm markets around here sell by the pound.
There is one but it takes about 40 minutes to get there. I may venture out on Saturday (tomorrow) and see of they have any tomatoes and beans. A friend of mine just gave me three big boxes of jars for canning as she is moving and won't be using them.
Where is everyone with some more of their Grandma's treats stories? I apologize I know we did veer off track but I'd love to see more goodies made by grandmas shared.
Denise
Farmgirl Sister #43
"Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path."
Psalm 119:105
http://www.ladybugsandlilacs.blogspot.com/
http://www.torisgram.etsy.com |
| wildflower17 |
Posted - Jul 26 2013 : 05:38:05 AM
Denise,
I too am going to be putting up green beans next week...at least 2 bushel...I dry mine...we call them "shuck beans" here in KY. I try to put them outside to dry...but if the weather doesn't permit...I put them in a dehydrator. I am hoping to dry some apples this year too. I just got my dehydrator last year. I love it...never dreamed it would be so useful. I am hoping to put up several dozen ears of corn this year...along with tomatoes. Fresh things you put away tastes so much better...not to mention better for you than store bought stuff. What are "dilly beans"...never heard of them.
Hugs!
Judy
"Blessed Beyond Measure"!!!
"Country Girl at Heart"... |
| levisgrammy |
Posted - Jul 25 2013 : 4:29:46 PM
Judy, I've never heard of molasses stack cake but it sure sounds good! I want to go tomorrow and see about beans to can. We didn't have a garden this year due to life and all that has gone on in the past year, but I want to make some dilly beans and get some other things put up. Only thing is the pressure canner scares me to death but my dad is here and believe it or not has a lot of canning experience so it won't be so bad with his help I'm sure. No one could make dumplings like my mom, so light and fluffy, I know she learned that from my grandma. I think it is so cool how things were passed down like that. I never learned her secret for those and neither did my sister. 
This is such a great thread taking us down memory lane!
Denise
Farmgirl Sister #43
"Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path."
Psalm 119:105
http://www.ladybugsandlilacs.blogspot.com/
http://www.torisgram.etsy.com |
| wildflower17 |
Posted - Jul 25 2013 : 12:17:06 PM
Denise,
Oh the ice cream with the blackberry dumplings...yummeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee! Tis the season when a lot of garden stuff is coming in...and it takes me back to when I was a young girl...all the things we canned and froze and put away for the year. I still love "shuck beans"...and am planning to put away at least 2 bushel next week. I dry them outside weather permitting...if not I will use my dehydrator. I love this thread. Have you ever eaten a molasses stack cake...so delicious!!!
Hugs!
Judy
"Blessed Beyond Measure"!!!
"Country Girl at Heart"... |
| levisgrammy |
Posted - Jul 24 2013 : 5:48:08 PM
Oh Judy my sister and I were recently scouting around for my Mom's blackberry dumpling recipe. We found it and made some. They weren't as good as Mom's were but we loved the fact they brought back such wonderful memories of when we were kids. Mom always served them warm from the oven and sometimes she would add a little dollop of homemade vanilla ice cream. Oh to be a kid again!
Denise
Farmgirl Sister #43
"Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path."
Psalm 119:105
http://www.ladybugsandlilacs.blogspot.com/
http://www.torisgram.etsy.com |
| wildflower17 |
Posted - Jul 24 2013 : 5:15:37 PM
Today...I put 2 gallon blackberries in the freezer...made me think of the delicious "Blackberry Dumplings" my mom and grandma used to make...what sweet memories!!!
Hugs!
Judy
"Blessed Beyond Measure"!!!
"Country Girl at Heart"... |
| csmartyonline |
Posted - Jul 14 2013 : 07:16:09 AM
I remember the jar of cucumbers and onions in the fridge. I didn't like that too much back then but I love it now.
My maternal grandmother made fried peach pies to die for and wonderful apple pies. I have her recipe (framed) for the latter. Everything she made was good. I remember her green beans. Not fancy but very delicious. |
| ivmeer |
Posted - Jul 12 2013 : 11:33:40 AM
My grandma on my dad's side of the family was never a good cook, so my nostalgia treats that she gave me were coconut seven-layer bars (I still make them, even if they're totally prefab and shameful), and Viennese lace cookies that she bought from a bakery.
My other grandmother was the cook, and I remember her making me corn fritters, potato pancakes, pickled tomatoes, and the best Thanksgiving turkey stuffing ever. |
| lisalisa |
Posted - Jul 10 2013 : 1:02:09 PM
I agree with Cindy, it tasted better because you were at Grandma's!
My mom's parent's didn't like us much, so I have no memories of them. But my dad was an only child, so we were the only grandchildren! They were native New Englanders, so everything was a bland, boiled dinner! But we did make cookies together! I think that started me on the path to baking. My Nana would also let us make those Pillsbury cinnamon rolls (in the round canister). And the little container in the end of the package that was icing? We could use as much as we wanted!  |
| levisgrammy |
Posted - Jul 09 2013 : 06:39:02 AM
You're right Cindy, "atmosphere". I can remember my grandma's kitchen so well. We weren't in there very often because she was busy baking all the time it seemed but what I loved most was that she designed and built her own kitchen. She installed the cabinets and the flooring. That memory inspires me every time I have a diy project going on in the house.
Denise
Farmgirl Sister #43
"Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path."
Psalm 119:105
http://www.ladybugsandlilacs.blogspot.com/
http://www.torisgram.etsy.com |
| CindyG |
Posted - Jul 09 2013 : 03:55:20 AM
Ladies,
It has been a joy reading through the happy remembrances of grandmas. I could almost smell some f the delicious treats described. My favorite thing about many of them is that the simplest things - like hot chocolate from an envelope - for whatever reason just tasted better at Grandma's house. A testimony to the power of "atmosphere".
I also got some wonderful recipe ideas.
I look forward to more postings if anyone else chimes in-
Cindy
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| levisgrammy |
Posted - Jul 07 2013 : 4:05:25 PM
Heather~
My mom used to make those doughnuts for us when she stopped making the old fashioned cake doughnuts. Everybody loved her cake doughnuts but as she got older she did less and the biscuit kind made my kids just as happy!
Denise
Farmgirl Sister #43
"Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path."
Psalm 119:105
http://www.ladybugsandlilacs.blogspot.com/
http://www.torisgram.etsy.com |
| queenmushroom |
Posted - Jul 07 2013 : 2:57:46 PM
There wasn't anything that my grammies made that wasn't good.
Patience is worth a bushel of brains...from a chinese fortune cookie |
| forgetmenot |
Posted - Jul 07 2013 : 08:27:40 AM
raisin spice bars. I still have not found the exact recipe. But grandma baked by feel. Every Saturday Mom would take flour and crisco to the farm and gma would bake countless loaves of bread, cinnamon rolls, dinner rolls, cookies and the frosted spice bars (like a cake bar). I would love that recipe. This is a comforting topic.
Farmgirl sister #3926
"Courage is not the absence of fear, but the belief that something is more important than fear." Ambrose Red Moon |
| ceejay48 |
Posted - Jul 07 2013 : 07:10:38 AM
I don't have fond memories of either of my grandmothers and certainly none of "favorite treats". My dad's mother was mean and didn't like anybody, including her grandchildren. She raised eight children so she had lots of grandkids but none of us wanted to be around her and food at her house was weird and not particularly yummy.
My mom's mother was sweeter and more friendly to her grandchildren but she was always moaning and complaining about her ailments and she, too, did not prepare interesting meals or make treats.
I remember not wanting to stay at or eat at the home of either . . . isn't that sad??
I was always so grateful that my mom and my MIL had good, nurturing relationships with my kids and they can say they have fond memories of them!
CJ
..from the barefoot farmgirl in SW Colorado...sister chick #665.
2010 Farmgirl Sister of the Year
Mother Hen: FARMGIRLS SOUTHWEST HENHOUSE
my aprons - http://www.facebook.com/FarmFreshAprons
living life - www.snippetscja.blogspot.com
from my hands - www.cjscreations-ceejay.blogspot.com
from my heart - www.fromacelticheart.blogspot.com
from my hubby - www.aspenforge.blogspot.com |
| nndairy |
Posted - Jul 06 2013 : 6:19:11 PM
My grandma always had a huge bowl of cucumbers and onions in the fridge during the summer. She would just add to it as it got low adjusting the vinegar, water and sugar as she thought it needed to be. I have tried to do the same, but I can never quite get the same flavor as her. Another of my favorites as a kid was when grandma would help us make donuts! It was just a can of the biscuits in the fridge that we would cut in half or poke holes in (whatever we wanted). Grandma would then put them in the deep fryer for us. As soon as they turned golden brown she would drop them in a paper bag with sugar in it. We would shake them to coat them then enjoy! The worst thing I remember my grandma making is liver and onions!
Thanks to everyone for sharing their stories. Grandma's are the best!
Farmgirl Sister #4701 |
| neeter302 |
Posted - Jul 04 2013 : 4:01:29 PM
Such heartwarming stories, I'd love to read more!
Farmgirl #522
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| Killarney |
Posted - Jul 04 2013 : 11:34:56 AM
Denise what a beautiful story about your grandma! So many wonderful stories, I enjoyed them all!!
Imagine....#3392
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| levisgrammy |
Posted - Jul 04 2013 : 09:06:26 AM
What a great topic! My grandma was a baker. She had a little bake shop that she built( she was very handy in the area of carpentry from what I hear) and they lived on the lake. In the summertime she would get up around 4 in the morning and makes pies, turnovers, doughnuts and all manner of these huge cookies. She also was very handy in the sewing and craft dept. In the winter they would go to Florida to visit my aunt and she would pick up all sorts of things on the beach. Shells, driftwood and she would would make them into whatever her creative mind came up with. I wish I had pictures of some of the stuff. She crocheted jewelry and sold that too. That place was famous on the lake in the summers and she never lacked for customers. She had the bulk of her baking done by 6 when she opened the shop. Everything was baked fresh each day. I think the thing I loved the most that she made were her turnovers. They had the flakiest crust and she filled them with fruit till they were bursting when you bit into one. She never had anyone else help in the shop either. It was just a little place. Whenever we would go up to spend time my mom always gave us a dime or quarter for the candy counter and she would put whatever we bought in these little tiny brown bags that we toted home. The candy was usually eaten on the 45 minute trip home.
Thanks so much for letting me share some memories and for letting me go back in time today. Grandma has been gone since I was 11 but today in my minds eye she was alive and well.
Denise
Farmgirl Sister #43
"Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path."
Psalm 119:105
http://www.ladybugsandlilacs.blogspot.com/
http://www.torisgram.etsy.com |
| neeter302 |
Posted - Jul 04 2013 : 08:12:19 AM
You all are making my mouth water with all your fond memories of your grannies cooking. My granny was the best cook and did everything from scratch the hard way. I've never been able to duplicate how she made some things, she just had a special touch with everything she did. I'll never forget what she did for us one Easter and think of it still to this day. She pierced holes in the ends of eggs and blew out the eggs for scrambled eggs, cleaned out the shells and let them dry. Poured Jello into the cleaned out eggshells, placed them back into the egg carton and refrigerated. Of course we never knew how she did it and she told us the chickens had laid "jello eggs" which we totally believed. She would "crack the eggs" and to our amazement out came the beautiful multicolored jiggly eggs! What a treat! Many years later I tried to do it myself and let me tell you not easy! Bless her heart she always went out of her way to do special things to make her grandkids smile. She had a gas stove and would make the most wonderful toast I guess under the broiler that only toasted on one side that we would have with our oatmeal or eggs, another thing I've never been able to duplicate.
Farmgirl #522
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| wildflower17 |
Posted - Jul 03 2013 : 3:29:16 PM
Dumplings!!! My granny made the best chicken and dumplings, ham dumplings, and blackberry dumplings(blackberries always in season here around the 4th of July)! She and my mother were grand cooks. And to top off all of the many delicious things she cooked...well "Apple Stack Cake" was the bomb. I miss my granny so much. She lived with us from the time I was 4 until I was 22. She was in her mid 90's when she passed away. Thanks for such wonderful posts from all the farm sisters.
Hugs!
Judy
"Blessed Beyond Measure"!!!
"Country Girl at Heart"... |
| csmartyonline |
Posted - Jul 01 2013 : 2:25:47 PM
Oh yes ... fried pies. My grandmother made fried peach pies. Her homemade apple pie was delicious as well. Ditto on the Crisco. How times have changed. :) |
| Betty J. |
Posted - Jul 01 2013 : 10:16:02 AM
Jonni, I'm going to be looking for the Hoosier Sugar Cream Pie. I don't remember Grandma using her fingers in the piecrust, but she did make great pies. I was also able to help her make butter, especially when her churning arm got tired. She would then take the butter out of the jar and knead it with the wooden paddle to get all the buttermilk out of it. That was also delicious. When she got electricity in her house in the early 50's, she was pleased to have a butter warmer in the refrigerator. She obviously didn't like the cold, hard butter that would tear the bread apart. Can we imagine the calories and cholesterol in those delicious foods? Her fried chicken (fried in lard) was to die for, literally I suppose.
Betty in Pasco |
| HealingTouch |
Posted - Jul 01 2013 : 10:09:23 AM
My maternal GM was a great cook. I can still see her always with her apron on and cooking at her woodstove. I have one of her aprons but what I wouldn't give for that big old stove! She always made homemade bread and the minute we smelled it baking my sisters and cousins were at the table waiting for it to come out of the oven. We would slather it with butter and it would melt right into the hot bread! I always felt sorry for her because we ate all or most of it no matter how many she made!LOL! She also made the best apple strudel and poppyseed bread. She would stretch that dough so thin for the strudel without tearing it. I have no recipes. Everytime I asked her for one she would say, butter the size of an egg, a hand full or a coffee cup of whatever it was. As a young wife in 1969 it was frustrating but now I cook the same way. By look, feel or taste!
Be Blessed,
Darlene
Sister 1922
God first, everything else after!
When Satan's knocking at your door, just say "Jesus will you get that for me?"
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