Does your family have a special recipe that has been passed down, or a story that goes along with a recipe? Family recipes can make great traditions and also remind us of our loved ones. Here are a few favorites from Christi Center clients and friends – and if you have any to share, please post them in the comments section below!
Wonderful Sena’s Wonderful Pie Crust – from Ellen Brumder
About 40 years ago, when I was meeting my future in-laws, I was to bring a pie to dinner and I thought if Sena’s crust is so flaky, if I add more Crisco and butter—it will still be flakier! I will never forget the distress of having everyone’s piecrust stick to the roof of their mouths! Keep to the recipe!!!
Sena is 94 now, and the matriarch of our family, and a legendary cook.
Cut together until it is crumbly:
4C. flour
1T. sugar
1/4t. salt
1 1/4 C. Crisco
1 stick butter
Mix together in a small bowl:
1 t. vinegar
1 egg (beaten)
1/2 c. water
Mix wet and dry ingredients well– divide into 4 balls, for pie crusts.
Grandma Ede’s Pecan Pie
(A friend of mine after years of calling me at Thanksgiving to get the recipe again, wrote it in her Bible!)
1 unbaked pie crust
3 eggs
1 cup Karo white corn syrup
1/3 c. butter melted
1/4 t. salt
1 t. Vanilla
1 C. Pecans
Beat eggs slightly. Add Karo, sugar, butter, sugar, salt and vanilla. Put 1 cup whole pecans in pie crust and pour on egg mixture.
Bake 45 minutes at 350.
Spinach Balls – Always part of Brumder Holiday Dinners
6 eggs, well beaten
2 pkg. frozen spinach, or 3 cups fresh spinach or greens, cooked until wilted and squeezed dry……
1 lg. chopped onion
1/2 c. melted butter
2 c. stuffing mix
1/2 c. Parmesan cheese, grated
1 t. garlic herb salt
1T fresh thyme (or 1 t. dried)
Combine all and make into balls (of about 3T each). Baked on greased baking sheet, for 20 minutes at 350. May freeze before baking, and pull out as needed—defrost first.
Grandma’s Sugar Cookies – from Cara Fox
My grandma used to make them every year and when she got older and they started tasting bad because she mis-measured, we would fight over who had to make the edible batch for the family gathering (they are quite a bit of work to roll out and decorate). Now that she is gone, we ALL make them every year and we have cookies coming out of our ears!
2 C shortening
2 1/4 C sugar
2 tsp Vanilla
4 eggs
6 C. sifted flour1 1/2 tsp salt
2 tsp baking powder
2 1/4 C sugar
2 tsp Vanilla
4 eggs
6 C. sifted flour1 1/2 tsp salt
2 tsp baking powder
Cream shortening, sugar, eggs, vanilla. Add dry ingredients. Divide into batches and wrap in wax paper and refrigerate for several hours. Roll out, cut out, bake in 400 degree oven for 10 minutes.