mrs. copple’s banana bread
Posted: April 20, 2020 Filed under: breakfast, desserts | Tags: baking powder, baking soda, banana, butter, cream cheese, eggs, flour, lemon juice, salt, sugar 3 Comments
Breadwinners
Back in 2012 I posted this banana nut loaf cake recipe (which is really just banana bread, disguised with the “loaf” part). It has remained a family favorite to this day and I look forward to making muffins out of my Aunt’s recipe on our next go.
My friend Suzanne will be delighted to hear that Mrs. Copple’s banana bread recipe doesn’t call for nuts (shorthand for pecans, here in Texas). She and I continuously arm wrestle over whether banana bread should or should not have nuts and since I’m the fingers behind this post we know that “with nuts” wins. Yay me! But I will admit – this banana bread packs a great taste. Even if the nuts were forgotten! đź¤
Regardless of nuts and butter (or no nuts and margarine), I think we can agree we’re “breadwinners” when we enjoy a baked banana slice of home sweet home.
Foodie Tips
❤ You won’t see a bread picture in this post. Why? We decided to gift some of this sweetness to neighbors and thought muffins would be more portable than slices of bread. This recipe yielded 6 large (jumbo) muffins and 12 mini muffins (yielding 18 in total). For the large muffins you’ll cook about 25 minutes at 350°F; the minis were ready in 15 minutes.
❤ In addition to arm wrestling over nuts or no nuts, you can add butter vs. margarine to the list! We used butter in this recipe vs. margarine. Sorry, Mrs. Copple! During the 2020 COVID-19 lockdown all we stock is unsalted butter so that’s what we used. There are some culinary differences between butter and margarine that you might want to read more about in this post.
❤ I thought it interesting lemon juice was called for to prevent turning the bananas brown (the bananas wouldn’t be sitting out for a long period of time). But I’m not willing to risk a brown banana bread so in the lemon juice went!
❤ To serve, my favorite way to enjoy a bread or muffin is “toasty warm” with a smear of plain Philadelphia Whipped Cream Cheese on top! There’s nothing better!
i. Time
Total prep: About 40-75 minutes (depending on whether you make mini muffins or bread)
ii. Ingredients
1 stick | margarine or unsalted butter (my Grandmother “Nanny” always insisted on Falfurrias brand butter)
1 cup | sugar
2 | cage free eggs, at room temperature
1 teaspoon | baking soda
1 teaspoon | baking powder
1 teaspoon | salt
2 cups | flour, sifted
3 | bananas
a tad | fresh lemon juice
iii. What To Do
1. In a mixing bowl cream the margarine (or butter) and sugar together.
2. Add the room temperature eggs and beat well.
3. In a separate bowl add the baking soda, baking powder, and salt to the flour.
4. Mash the bananas and sprinkle them lightly with a squeeze or two of fresh lemon juice to keep them from turning brown.
5. Mix together the flour mixture and the creamed butter/sugar mixture.
6. With a spatula hand mix-in the bananas and your banana batter is ready!
7. Decide whether or not you’re making bread or muffins. Prepare your chosen baking pan (we used nonstick spray) and fill Âľ full.
8. Bake for 50-60 minutes for the bread; about 25 minutes for jumbo-sized muffins; or 15 minutes for the mini muffins… all until an inserted toothpick comes out clean.
Betty’s Son
Founder and “Nostalgic Food Blogger” of Betty’s Cook Nook
A Scan Of My Mom “Betty’s” Coveted Banana Bread Recipe (in her handwriting)
caesar salad
Posted: June 30, 2019 Filed under: salads, sides | Tags: anchovies, croutons, egg, garlic oil, lemon juice, lettuce, parmesan cheese, pepper, red wine vinegar, salt, worcestershire sauce Leave a comment
Seize The Caesar
More than 44 years after the original surprise party I received a surprise text from my cherished Cousin Alison.
Click Image For A Close-Up View
Sadly Alison’s not near my front door to whisk me to Dime Box, Texas to visit family, but she’s texting because she’s found an old article from yesteryear about something I don’t even remember as a young tot – one special feast honoring my Grandmother’s 75th birthday!
I’ll spare you my many fabulously fond stories about my dear Nanny but I hope you’ve enjoyed one of the greatest gifts life has to offer – Grandparents!
What’s special about this ol’ newspaper post is that it honored my Grandmother at one of the fanciest restaurants in San Antonio – La Louisianne. Sadly “La Lou” closed its doors in 1992 but trust me when I say it gifted memorable meals to thousands of folks who graced passed its front doors.
How remarkable that this birthday party appeared in the San Antonio Express-News. I’m crediting my Mom, Betty, for what’s probably the only time my name has been in *real* newspaper print. Hooray!
While Cousin Alison’s name didn’t make 1974 print, just the week before Nanny’s great dinner my Cousins Billy and Debbie found out they were blessed with her arrival, coming in 1975. What a great gift in our lives!
My Cousin Lorin texted me this caesar salad recipe proving that food can last beyond the best of times. Thank you, Lorin!
Enjoy food, salad, and family to the fullest!
Homemade Breadcrumbs Are Easy To Make… And Eat
Foodie Tips
❤ Two heads of lettuce? Yikes – where’s room for dessert!? We cut this recipe in half. Even for two ambitious Texans.
❤ To coddle and egg: Don’t hug it near and dear. :) Drop it in hot water for about 40 seconds to make it nice and toasty!
❤ Hangry? Add sliced grilled chicken breast for a more bountiful meal.
❤ Love salads? Don’t forget to click here (and scroll down) for more salad ideas here at Betty’s Cook Nook!
❤ Thanks to Joe! I bought a head of CABBAGE at the store, thinking it was Romaine lettuce. He fixed my wrong. #Guh
i. Time
Total prep: About 15 minutes (sans the grilled chicken)
ii. Ingredients
2 heads | romaine lettuce, cold, dry, and crisp
ÂĽ teaspoon | salt
ÂĽ teaspoon | fresh cracked black pepper
½ cup | croutons
2 ounces | garlic oil
½ ounce | worcestershire sauce
½ ounce | red wine vinegar
½ ounce | lemon juice
1 | cage free egg, coddled
1 tablespoon | anchovies, chopped
2 tablespoons | parmesan cheese, shredded
iii. What to do
1. Pull apart the Romaine lettuce into 2-inch pieces.
2. Mix the lettuce with salt and pepper.
3. Form a bed of croutons in the center of the lettuce,.
4. Mix the next 4 ingredients and pour over the crouton-lettuce mixture.
Here Goes The Egg + The Anchovies
5. Add the egg and anchovies.
6. Toss well and sprinkle with the parmesan cheese.
Let’s Give This A Good Toss
Serves: 4
Betty’s Son
Founder and “Nostalgic Food Blogger” of Betty’s Cook Nook
chicken divan
Posted: September 30, 2018 Filed under: casseroles and one-dish meals, meats poultry and fish | Tags: bread crumbs, broccoli, butter, cheddar cheese, chicken, cream of mushroom soup, curry powder, gruyere cheese, lemon juice, mayonnaise, parmesan cheese, pepper, salt, sour cream, white wine Leave a comment
Divine Divan
This delicious recipe comes to my kitchen via my awesome Cousin Julie’s kitchen. Julie had the best taste in many things – art, decorating, food, and Cousins!
My Cousin Jennifer said Chicken Divan was a Sunday staple that they enjoyed quite regularly. So if you want to help create a few cherished family memories, chicken divan may be a wonderfully tasty starting place!
While the original recipe is not vintage per se it comes to our bellies via Paula Dean, so you know it’s gotta be good.
I hope you try this dish that’s been known as a classic American casserole since the 1960s. In fact, the dish has origins back much earlier to its birthplace as the signature dish of New York City’s Chatham Hotel.
“In English, the word “divan” came to mean sofa, from the council chamber’s benches. In France it meant a meeting place or great hall. It was this meaning that attracted the notice of the owners of the New York restaurant as they searched for a name that would imply continental elegance.” ~ GlutenSugarDairyFree.com
Foodie Tips
❤ Pull up a chair and let’s talk cheese. I try to refrain from buying bagged shredded cheese. For years I used it but as my hunger for knowing more about food intensified I realized I preferred freshly grated cheese vs. bagged cheese. I found it melted better and on closer inspection discovered bagged cheese has a coating on it that prevents clumping. Some posts I read said this dusty white coating was actually cellulose, which is made from wood pulp. I’m out.
❤ Is Parmesan Cheese the same thing as Parmigiano-Reggiano Cheese? You might be surprised after reading this article! And this one, too. Hint: No shaker cheese for this recipe!
❤ In a flurry to get this dish made? We used shredded chicken from our grocery and it shaved some serious time time off of the food prep clock.
i. Time
Total prep: About an hour.
ii. Ingredients
2 10-ounce packages | frozen broccoli, chopped
6 cups | shredded chicken, cooked
2 10Âľ-ounce cans | condensed cream of mushroom soup
1 cup | mayonnaise
1 cup | sour cream
1 cup | sharp cheddar cheese, grated
1 tablespoon | fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon | curry powder
to taste | kosher salt
to taste | fresh cracked black pepper
½ cup | dry white wine
½ cup | parmesan cheese, freshly grated
½ cup | soft bread crumbs
2 tablespoons | unsalted butter, melted (my Grandmother “Nanny” insisted on Falfurrias)
1-2 handfuls | gruyere or more sharp cheddar cheese, grated (optional and highly suggested)
iii. What to do
0. Preheat your oven to 350°F.
1. Remove the outer wrappers from the boxes of broccoli. Open one end of each box and microwave on full power for 2 minutes, or until thawed. Drain the broccoli into a strainer and add the shredded chicken and let rest.
2. In a medium-sized bowl, add the soup, mayonnaise, sour cream, cheddar, lemon juice, curry powder, salt and pepper to taste, and the wine. Whisk everything together to make a sauce. Transfer the broccoli-chicken mixture to the bowl with the sauce and gently mix things well using a spatula.
3. Place the mixture into an 11-inch x 7-inch casserole dish that’s been sprayed with vegetable oil cooking spray. Pat the Divan mixture down evenly and smooth with a spatula.
4. In a small bowl combine the parmesan, bread crumbs and butter and sprinkle this over the top of the Divan mixture.
5. Bake for about 30 to 45 minutes until bubbly. If desired, about halfway through baking remove from oven, top with cheese, and return to bake until toasty. Remove from oven let rest and serve!
Pairs well with a salad – enjoy!
Betty’s Son
Founder and “Nostalgic Food Blogger” of Betty’s Cook Nook
shrimp victoria
Posted: August 20, 2018 Filed under: appetizers, seafood | Tags: butter, flour, lemon juice, mushrooms, onion, parsley, pepper, rice, seasoned salt, shrimp, sour cream, toast, worcestershire sauce Leave a comment
Tales From The Sea
I found this recipe folded in my Mom “Betty’s” index card holder. I recognized her handwriting immediately.
There’s no doubting Mom’s love for seafood as this recipe is one of several shrimp recipes I’ve discovered in her cookbook (surf the shrimp recipe archive).
While I tell a few funny stories on this food blog about my dislike for most types of seafood, this recipe is delicious, proving once again that my distaste for seafood is waning. Mom would be proud.
The Write Stuff
I look closer at the paper containing the recipe and notice the phone number “CA6-4141”. I was time-warped back to an era when phone numbers began with exchange names. Exchanges were phased out in the 1960s and 70s, so this would date the origin of this recipe back about 50 years ago. The number CA6-4141? “CA” stood for “Capitol” which translated to “22” so the full phone number would have been 226-4141. Confusing short-code, huh? Today San Antonio has 10-digit dialing like most large cities. The city’s newest area code 726 went into effect in 2017 and made me smile because 726 is my birthdate, July 26th.
Also on the paper recipe (below) I see The Clegg Company. A quick Google and this San Antonio Business Journal article popped-up in sight. I was surprised to learn that the then 104-year-old retailer was purchased by Herman Miller – the maker of the iconic Herman Miller Aeron chair. This very chair was one I sat on during my days working for a large internet consultancy that went belly up after the dot-com bust. That’s another long twisty, turbulent story for another day!
While stories like these likely don’t mean much to folks outside my family I include them here as an example of the amazing ways we are connected to the past if we’re open to it. All this from a Shrimp Victoria recipe scribbled on a notepad… and tucked away for more than 50 years!
Foodie Tips
❤ The rice was good but believe it or not I’m trying buttered toast on the next go (we were out of bread)!
❤ Not sure how to clean and devein your shrimp? I’ve included a couple of YouTube videos below that will show you how easy it is!
❤ I thought I was being fancy by letting my shrimp marinate overnight in the fridge. Turns out that it’s not really necessary! My online sleuthing showed that a 30-minute marinade should be fine but with an acid-based marinade (this recipe has lemon juice) the shrimp can turn “mushy” as the acid can start to break down the shrimp. I didn’t experience this with my dish, however!
❤ While stores may not be consistent in how they classify shrimp, when you’re at the seafood counter there’s a method to the madness for how many shrimp typically come per pound (this is indicative of their size). Resources that will be helpful include the Certi-Fresh Shrimp Sizing Guide you can print, and keep with your cookbooks (score!)… and the Farm to Table guide that provides some detail on larger-sized shrimp. Now you’ll be able to decipher shrimp-like code like PUD, P&D, U/15, and 61/70!
i. Time
Total prep: About 30 minutes.
ii. Ingredients
½ cup | unsalted butter (my grandmother “Nanny” insisted on Falfurrias)
1 ½ pounds | cleaned, raw shrimp
½ cup | onion, chopped
1 cup | fresh mushrooms, sliced
2 tablespoons | lemon juice
1 tablespoon | worcestershire sauce
2 tablespoons | flour
1 ½ teaspoons | seasoned salt
dash | fresh cracked black pepper
1 ½ cups | sour cream
1 tablespoon | fresh parsley, chopped
to serve | rice or buttered toast (optional)
iii. What to do
1. In a large skillet over medium-high heat melt the butter. Cook shrimp and onion, stirring until the shrimp is almost tender, about 5 minutes.
A Mound Of Sour Cream? Texans “Yee Haw” About This!
2. Add the mushrooms, lemon juice and the Worcestershire sauce. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 5 more minutes. Remove from heat.
3. Stir in the flour, seasoned salt and black pepper. Then the sour cream. Return the skillet to the heat and cook over low heat stirring until hot, but not boiling.
4. Sprinkle with parsley. Serve at once over rice or buttered toast.
Yields 6 servings
Betty’s Son
Founder and “Nostalgic Food Blogger” of Betty’s Cook Nook
A Scan Of Mom’s Shrimp Victoria Recipe ~ Note The Suggested Pairings
For The Perfect Meal (see bottom of recipe)
lemon herb dressing
Posted: June 24, 2018 Filed under: salads, sauces | Tags: basil, garlic, lemon juice, oregano, pepper, safflower oil, salt, tarragon, thyme Leave a comment
Simple Yet Sophisticated
This salad dressing recipe hails from my Cousin Julie’s kitchen and it’s a little slice of history from a speciality retailer that is no more – Frost Brothers. It graced cities including San Antonio, Austin, Houston, Laredo, Corpus Christi… and I saw something about a Dallas opening in my second hometown – Dallas – at the iconic North Park Center.
With San Antonio roots dating back to 1917, Frost Brothers is a Texas original considered one of this country’s finest retailers… until it met its demise in the late 80s. 70 years is a long haul and Frost Bros. will be forever missed by those who experienced it.
Frost Bros. At San Antonio’s North Star Mall
My Aunt Delores would have racks of the season’s finest clothes delivered to her Terrell Hills home so she could try them on and decide the chosen ones… this was about as “froufrou” a thing I could imagine! But then again my Aunt and Uncle also got in-home haircuts back in the 70s and 80s so my relatives were definitely a beat ahead of the tempo before the days of Amazon or the monthly box subscription.
I remember when I was a kid I always referred to the fancy store as “Fross Bross” because I didn’t know “Bros.” was the abbreviation for brothers. Who knew?! Apparently my Mom, “Betty,” did because she’d laugh at me when I butchered the pronunciation of the store’s name.
For those who remember Frost you’ll likely enjoy this lemon-herb dressing recipe that’s a treasured treat that comes to us via their “Tastesetter” Restaurant… and my Cousin’s kitchen!
Foodie Tips
❤ We served this dressing on top of this family favorite – Jackson Salad. These two creations make a remarkable and tasty pairing, so try them if you can! Especially if you like a salad with artichoke, hearts of palm, bacon, and gorgonzola graced by the touch of fresh lemon and herbs!
❤ While my gut said to use fresh herbs we mostly used dried. Either way you’ll eat your way home a hero.
❤ I noticed on the original recipe (below) Cousin Julie pumped up the jam with MORE basil, oregano, and tarragon (or thyme). We used thyme from the garden (sorry, tarragon).
i. Time
Total prep: About 10 minutes.
ii. Ingredients
1 cup | safflower oil
⅓ cup | fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon | salt
ÂĽ teaspoon (or more)Â |Â fresh cracked pepper
ÂĽ teaspoon (or more)Â |Â sweet basil
ÂĽ teaspoon (or more)Â |Â oregano
ÂĽ teaspoon (or more)Â |Â tarragon or thyme
1 clove |Â garlic, minced
iii. What to do
1. In a medium-sized bowl blend all ingredients together with a wire whisk until things are nice and smooth.
2. Serve immediately or you can let it rest in the fridge before serving.
Yield: 1 â…“ cups, prepared.
Betty’s Son
Founder and “Nostalgic Food Blogger” of Betty’s Cook Nook
A Scan Of The Original Tastesetter Lemon-Herb Dressing Recipe From Frost Bros.
While you whip up this dressing why not get your kitchen a rockin’ with this 1980s favorite from Technotronic!? Crank it!
lemon springtime cake
Posted: May 13, 2018 Filed under: desserts | Tags: angel food cake mix, butter, confectioner's sugar, egg yolks, food coloring, lemon juice, lemon pudding mix, milk, water Leave a comment
Debuting in my kitchen on Mother’s Day 2018,
this springtime cake recipe is dedicated to all you Moms out there!
Thank you for everything you do…
and for ensuring we never go to bed hungry!
~   ♥   ~
Pucker Up, Cake Lovers
Just before jettisoning to my first official family vacation in over 5 years (insert glad face here) I made this cake. Before I dive into why you should make it, too, I want to share a crazy family story connection with this recipe!
Before leaving for the Texas Coast I was reminded of a list I recalled that was tucked away in my Mom “Betty’s” cookbook. For 7 years I had thought it was a list Mom wrote in preparation for an October trip to the coast to enjoy the temperatures of the beachy, breezy 70s and 80s which is quite delightful after the typical blazing Texas summer.
Since I was reminded of the beachtime list I snapped a few pics of the list (below) and texted them to my Dear Cousin Alison, who is as much a fellow Foodie as one could hope for. She and I texted back and forth while Joe drove me and the Dogs to Port Aransas… somewhere around Refugio, Texas, I had a huge revelation – the list wasn’t for a family vacation, it was preparing for an e-vacuation!
What Chew Talking About, Willis?
I stumbled across the date “10-22-62” that was written off to the side of my Mom’s list and after seeing my Googled search results my heart started beating faster. My family wasn’t about to to go on a joyride trip – they were preparing for the Cuban Missile Crisis! I had heard about the Cuban Missile Crisis before, but I didn’t realize its potential for devastation here on U.S. soil.
Aggressively searching on Google for more clues about this date and it’s significance to San Antonio I stumbled upon a passage from the book A Tale of Three Cities (authored by R. Douglas Brackenridge and published by Trinity University).
“During the Cuban missile crisis in the fall of 1962, students monitored events closely, aware that because of its military bases, San Antonio was a prime target in case of enemy attack. One student wrote, ‘We live in an age in which we have five minutes to rush to a bomb shelter to live. For that is how long it would take for a nuclear missile launched from Cuba to reach San Antonio.’ … The university was preparing shelter areas with minimum provisions in case an emergency should arise.”
Sobering. As a alum of Trinity University, there’s no doubt Mom’s ties to her alma mater rang loud during this scary time. Even more so, I was amazed how – once again – a simple recipe from Mom’s cookbook could unearth so much history and relevancy to my family.
Um, Did You Forget About The Cake?
Of course not! As a self-proclaimed extreme foodie, culinary consumables are always on my mind. So let’s get to it! What I think you’ll love about this cake:
- The checkerboard cake pattern. 50+ years ago alternating yellow and white cake was surely quite a surprise, cleverly “hidden” beneath the lemony frosting.
- Layered pudding cake. Need I say more?
- The tart and sweet taste of the lemon frosting. You can peel off the frosting recipe and make it for cupcakes or any other cake where you want a citrusy lemon appeal.
Foodie Tips
❤ Mom’s Options For The Frosting: 1) Mix lemon juice into 2 packages (7 ounces each) butter-cream style frosting mix or; 2) Make your own delicious Lemon-Butter Frosting compliments of Mom’s recipe that pairs wonderfully with this cake! The instructions below presume we will be making scratch frosting, since that’s how I enjoyed it. The scratch frosting was super-simple to make and the taste was excellent!
❤ Tube pan vs. bundt pan. I didn’t know the difference until I was already into baking this recipe! Luckily my bundt wasn’t extremely fluted and the cake popped right out. But I was panicking that the batter was going to ooze all over my oven as the tube pan holds a little more batter than the typical bundt.
i. Time
Total prep: About 2Â hours, including baking, cooling and chilling.
ii. Ingredients
for the cake:
1 package | angel food cake mix
6-8 or so | drops of yellow food coloring
1 package | lemon instant pudding
varies | milk or water (read directions on the pudding package)
for the frosting: (yields 2 ½ cups)
½ cup (1 stick) | butter, softened (my grandmother insisted on Falfurrias)
2Â | cage free egg yolks
4 cups (1 pound)Â | confectioner’s sugar, sifted
3 tablespoons | lemon juice
iii. What to do
for the cake:
0. Preheat your oven to 375°F.
1. While that’s prepping, in a large bowl prepare the cake mix. Spoon half the batter into a second bowl and add about 6-8 drops of yellow food color and stir well; leave the other batter original “white.”
2. Fill an ungreased 10-inch tube pan with alternating spoonfuls of yellow and white batters. Do not stir! I wound up with 3 layers of alternating colored batters in total; yours may vary.
3. Bake your cake mix in your preheated oven about 1 hour, or until done.
4. Remove the cake from the oven, turn the pan upside down onto a wire rack and cool completely.
5. Prepare the instant pudding mix and chill it about 10 minutes to allow it to thicken.
6. Loosen and turn out the cake (mine literally fell out of the pan). Using a large serrated knife to slice the cake into 3 horizontal layers. Spread the pudding between layers leaving the top of the cake plain.
7. Frost the top and sides of the cake (frosting recipe below).
for the frosting:
1. With a hand mixer cream the butter until soft.
2. Blend in the egg yolks.
3. Add sugar a little at a time and alternate with the lemon juice.
4. Blend until everything is thick and creamy-smooth. The suspense is killing me! Let’s frost the cake and get to it!
Despite my excitement to devour this I was able to wait and chill my cake for 15Â minutes or so. This step is totally optional but I like my citrusy cakes chilled and refreshing.
Yields 12-16 servings!
Betty’s Son
Founder and “Nostalgic Food Blogger” of Betty’s Cook Nook
Scans Of My Mom “Betty’s” Original Springtime Cake + Frosting Recipes
Hats Off To You, Springtime Cake
Ready for my Mom’s Cuban Missile evacuation lists?
Here they are followed by a few comments from the “me” of today to yesterday.
- Pink Baby Quilt – Since Mom and Dad only had two boys I thought this one was interesting. Then I was reminded that ultrasounds didn’t become popular until the 1980s so undoubtedly they received a pink blanket for what turned out to be baby boys. Surprise!
- Snowsuits, Coveralls, and Flannel Shirts? In San Antonio? Alison noted a passage in the “Fallout Protection” book below that explained the wintry coverups: “Young people might be injured more by nuclear radiation than older people. This is because young people are more apt to absorb radioactive elements into their bones and internal organs than are older people.”
- Water (5 Gallons) and Toilet Paper (4 rolls): I found these quantities disproportionate to what I would insist upon – more like 80 rolls of toilet paper and 5 boxes of wine… to get me through the weekend.
- Bonus Reading Below: My Cousin Alison gave me links to so many awesome references about nuclear fallout. I know it’s weird to be posting about them here, but they are a blast from the past, so I’m sharing them.
President JFK’s Cuban Missle Crisis 10-22-62 Address:
A Fallout Shelter Audio Clip:
Fallout Protection: What to Know and Do
New Homeowner Opens Shelter Sealed Since 1961
A Special Treat: Something From the 80s
blueberry cheese pie
Posted: May 8, 2015 Filed under: desserts | Tags: blueberry pie filling, cherry pie filling, cream cheese, fresh fruit, lemon juice, pie crust, sweetened condensed milk Leave a comment
Tastes Like Cheesecake … But It’s Really A Delicious CheeseFake™
This no-bake cheese pie recipe is super simple to make! There are just a few ingredients involved and a little bit of time in the fridge and voilĂ – you’re ready to send your tastebuds off on a fruity flavor adventure.
I’m ok with a cheesecake imposter recipe – especially when it means less time preparing and more time eating a delicious treat!
foodie tips ~
❤  One of my favorite foodie “secret weapons” are mini fillo cups. These bite-sized wonders are perfect for desserts and raclette. You can keep them in your freezer and they require no defrosting or baking! The instructions below assume we are making the mini cups version.
❤ The blueberry topping is good and I see cherry pie filling was listed below as an option. You can also top this pie with fresh fruit like strawberries, banana, kiwi – or all of your favorites!
❤  You can leave these in the fridge for a few hours but I wouldn’t suggest you leave them more than 4-6 hours; these present best fresh.
We’re turning four this weekend! Thanks to my Mom Betty and fellow Foodies who keep our passion alive!
i. ingredients
8 ounce package | cream cheese, softened
2 tablespoons | lemon juice
½ cup | sweetened condensed milk
9 inch | pie crust, baked then cooled (or the mini fillo cups ❤)
21 ounce can | blueberry pie filling (or cherry … or fresh fruit)
to serve | powdered sugar (optional)
ii. what to do
1. Soften It Up: Let the cream cheese soften before you jump to Step 2. This will ensure that you can get a really creamy cheese mixture. Just rest the cream cheese on your kitchen counter while you phone a family member, play fetch with the dogs, write a friend a letter … or whatever your heart desires.
2. Mix It Up: Beat until smooth the cream cheese, the lemon juice and the condensed milk. (sidenote: I laughed out hard when I saw the recipe instructions originally said to “beat up” the ingredients. “Kitchen violence” is not tolerated here at Betty’s Cook Nook! LOL.)
3. Fill ‘Em Up:Â Fill your mini fillo cups (or your pie crust) with the cheese mixture. Leave a little bit of room for your fruit topping (Step 4). You can use a spoon to do this … or … one trick I like is to transfer the filling into a Ziploc bag, close it tight and snip a bit of one corner off with some scissors. You just made your own piping bag which makes filling the cups a snap.
4. Top ‘Em Up:Â Top the filled cups with your fruit filling or fresh fruit and chill thoroughly for an hour or two. If you don’t plan on serving these in a few hours you can always reserve the fruit until about an hour before you’re ready … and let the cheese-filled cups (sans fruit) chill ahead of time.
5. Serve ‘Em Up:Â Plate your pies. You can dust with some powdered sugar to create a pretty contrast on top of the fruit.
Serves: 8-12 folks, depending on how you make this dish (pie or mini cups).
~ Patrick
Betty’s Son
Founder and “Nostalgic Food Blogger” of Betty’s Cook Nook
Here’s a scan of Mom’s original recipe.
The handwriting isn’t Mom’s but it looks suspiciously like my Aunt Delores’ handwriting. Cousin Julie says she thinks it’s hers, so either way, I win!
sweet and sour slaw
Posted: July 7, 2013 Filed under: sides | Tags: bean sprouts, cabbage, lemon juice, mayonnaise, onion, pimiento, pineapple juice, water chestnuts Leave a comment
‘Twas 1976
I was just a tot of 9 when this recipe was published.
Not that I remember or should remember, but I’ve developed a sixth sense affectionately termed “internet stalking.” Rather than use my acquired skills for ill will, I use my skills for the betterment of nostalgic foodie-ism. Which brings me to this recipe.
I really had no reason to turn over the “sweet and sour slaw” recipe (see the two-sided scan below) Mom had apparently torn from a magazine. But “curious me” did turn it over!
Reading the recipe’s back revealed an authors name “James Farrell.” And his book, “The Dunne Family.” In two clicks I found the book’s publish year of 1976, our nation’s bicentennial. Keying in a few words from the article – specifically “james farrell 1976 it was late afternoon when we picked up our boat in Newton Falls” and I was taken to this. A scan of the article which revealed it was from the May 2, 1976 issue of FAMILY WEEKLY.
I then found this black and white of the original cover that was from Florida (I think each city just printed their name on the front). Little House on the Prairie star Melissa Gilbert was on the cover with her two Moms. Melissa was a kid-time favorite of mine – bonnet and all. <– Shakes head, but true!
This recipe was a great find! It’s a kissing-cousin of cole slaw and the dressing is what makes it truly unique. Pineapple and lemon juice are the key dressing ingredients that make this crunchy salad a reacquired family favorite.
Hopefully this story reminds us all that sometimes things are greater than their initial face value. Turning over a stone here and there can be a good thing. In this case, I discovered another publication my Mom read when I was too young to take notice … plus I was able to reignite fond memories of a childhood friend … in just a few clicks.
foodie tips ~
♥  Unless you’re feeding a small village or love cabbage, I’d suggest easily “halving” this recipe! There were easily 15-25 servings based on the original recipe. I was eating slaw for days! The hips do not lie.
♥  This stored extremely well in the fridge. I think the flavors were able to buddy-up and become BFFs. At least that’s what my taste buds say.
♥  Whenever possible, use fresh ingredients vs. canned – in this case use fresh bean sprouts as I’ve never seen fresh water chestnuts.
i. ingredients
2 ½ pounds | cabbage, shredded
2 cans (16 ounces) |Â bean sprouts, drained
2 cans (8.5 ounces) |Â water chestnuts, drained and thinly sliced
1 ½ cups | mayonnaise
6 tablespoons |Â lemon juice
⅔ cups | unsweetened pineapple juice
2 teaspoons |Â salt
1 ½ cups | onion, finely chopped
2 cans (4 ounces) |Â pimiento, drained and diced
ii. what to do
1. In a large bowl mix cabbage, sprouts and chestnuts. Cover and chill in the fridge.
2. Combine mayo, pineapple juice, lemon juice, salt and onion.
3. Pour dressing over the chilled veggies and toss until well coated.
4. Stir in the pimientos and serve!
Yields: 4 Quarts. QUARTS!
bbq baked pork chops
Posted: June 30, 2013 Filed under: meats poultry and fish | Tags: brown sugar, celery, fat, lemon juice, mustard, pepper, pork, salt, tomato sauce, water Leave a comment
Pork. The Other White Meat.
I did some research and found out that “The Other White Meat” campaign debuted in 1987 – the same year Mom died and after she would have cooked this dish in the kitchen. So I guess you could call Mom a pork visionary. :)
I learned that this ad campaign has been one of the top 5 most memorable promotional taglines in the history of contemporary advertising. I can promise you that as an ad guy, that’s a huge accomplishment.
So lean meat and tagline aside, Mom was making pork in the Kiker kitchen and she was throwing fat into the mix … pre Paula Dean. I can see why – this bbq pork chop recipe holds its own, with or without bones.
This dish was so tender I could actually cut my chop with a fork. Well worth the wait coming out of the oven. Enjoy!
i. ingredients
4 | pork chops (Mom would have used chops with bones)
to season | fat for skillet
â…“Â cup | celery, diced
½ | lemon, juiced
2 tablespoons | brown sugar
½ teaspoon | salt
½ teaspoon | mustard
⅛ teaspoon | black pepper (I added more)
2 cans | hunt’s tomato sauce
½ cup | water
The Pork Chops Are About To Go Into The Oven
ii. what to do
0. Preheat oven to 350°F.
1. Brown the pork chops in the fat.
2. Transfer chops to a shallow greased baking dish that has a cover.
3. Sprinkle chops with celery, lemon juice, brown sugar and the seasonings. Pour tomato sauce and water over the chops.
4. Cover and bake in oven 75 minutes or until chops are tender.
Yields: 4 Servings
foodie tip ~
♥  You’ll have leftover sauce from this recipe. Make good use of it on pasta or as a dip for grilled veggies.
Here’s a scan of Mom’s original recipe:
Plated and ready to eat!
Chef’s Note: On the side is the tasty Blue Cheese and Bacon Twice Baked Potato. The recipe is also here at BCN!
steak diane
Posted: May 9, 2013 Filed under: meats poultry and fish, The Best Of The Best Recipes | Tags: butter, chives, dry mustard, lemon juice, mushrooms, sirloin, worcestershire sauce Leave a comment
The Great Steak Escape
When the Kiker-Sutton family had a special event to celebrate, the entire family went to La Louisiane (aka “La Lou”).
La Lou was certainly tops of the “frou frou” with white cloth covered tables, elaborate place settings and a fine dining menu, including favored treats like Steak Diane.
During the La Lou meal, my cousins and I would snort-laugh (in that order) as we tried to secretly place empty cracker wrappers underneath plates only to find that the wait staff’s magically darting eyes were too quick to pick them up and 
discard them. Butter arrived pre-sliced and placed on your personal butter dish by the waiters who had a butter-flicking device I’ve never seen since!
La Lou opened in 1935 during the Great Depression. It survived for almost 60 years but sadly is no longer around. But that doesn’t mean we can’t have La Lou grace our kitchen compliments of this recipe from Mom’s recipe book.
I made this recipe on the 2Â year anniversary of this blog. This recipe and the blog hold a special place in my heart … and most importantly my belly. Give Steak Diane a try and you’ll see!
Let’s Get Cookin’
i. ingredients
4 | sirloin strip steaks, ½ inch thick
to taste |Â salt
to taste |Â black pepper, freshly ground
1 teaspoon |Â dry mustard
4 tablespoons |Â Falfurrias brand butter (per Nanny)
3 tablespoons |Â lemon juice
2 teaspoons |Â chives, snipped
1 teaspoon |Â worcestershire sauce
to garnish |Â mushrooms, cooked and fluted
ii. what to do
1. With a meat mallet, pound steaks to 1/3-inch thickness.
2. Sprinkle one side of each steak with salt, pepper and 1/8 teaspoon of the dry mustard; pound into meat. Repeat on the other side of the meat and continue until all steaks are done.
3. Melt the butter in a skillet or chafing dish. Add the meat and cook 2 minutes only on each side. Transfer the steaks to a hot serving plate.
4. To skillet, add the lemon juice, chives, and worcestershire sauce; bring to a boil. Pour sauce over meat. Garnish with cooked, fluted mushrooms, if desired.
Serves: 4
foodie tips ~
♥ Don’t overcook the meat. Go with the flow and follow the directions. A pink center is a tasty center.
♥ “Fluting a mushroom?” At first I thought it meant you held a jam session with mushroom to mouth, while wiggling the fingers. Not so much. Here’s a video and a blog that will help you turn mere fungus to life of the party. I couldn’t determine if you cook the mushrooms before or after fluting (per recipe) but they are really more for decoration so I’d suggest keep them raw and real and basting with lemon juice after cutting for a fresh presentation.
♥  This steak goes great with my newest favorite spud ~ the blue cheese bacon potato! I loved how the blue cheese taste didn’t punch you in the taste buds!
♥ Wiki says that Steak Diane is typically made with brandy. Somebody’s been holding out!
♥ Note that this recipe hails from Better Homes and Gardens, March 1968. Why, I was just a young tot of one way back then!
