Quick Onion Sauce (1967)

3 T. onion soup mix (1/2 envelope)
2 T. sugar
1/2 t. salt
Dash of pepper
1 T. prepared mustard
3/4 C. water
1/2 C. catsup
1/4 C. cider vinegar
1 T. lemon juice

Combine ingredients in saucepan. Simmer, covered, about 10 minutes. Serve with steak, hamburgers or frankfurters or use as basting sauce. Yield: 1 1/2 C. sauce

*I reduced the water and added it to 2 1/4 lbs. ground cooked hamburger for a Sloppy Joe styled sandwich and it was very good.

Sunday Hot Bread (1930’s-1940’s)

3/4 C. sugar
1 egg
2 T. butter
2/3 C. milk
Pinch of Salt
1 1/2 C. flour
3 t. baking powder
3 t. lemon extract
Granulated sugar
Cinnamon

Cream butter and sugar, add egg mixed with milk and extract, then flour and baking powder. Spread in 2 large cake tins, sprinkle with mixture of sugar and cinnamon. Bake 20-25 minutes in a quick oven (400 degrees). Serve preferably hot for Sunday night supper.

From McNess Recipes From “Round the World”–No date of publication but it looks like early 1930’s-1940’s. Handwritten by previous owner states July 1942–probably the date she received it but not necessarily near the publication date.

Brown Sugar Glazed Ham

I typically purchase a fully-cooked ham and that will take between 12-15 minutes a pound in a 325 degree oven to properly heat to 160 degrees internal temp.

To cook the ham, I put it in a pan with a rack and pour one can of 7-Up over it and cover it. Bake to about 1/2 hour before it’s done cooking and add the glaze.

Glaze:
1 C. brown sugar
2 T. prepared mustard
a little pineapple juice to thin it

Once the glaze has been basted on, you can put pineapple slices over the top and continue baking the last hour.

My kids also love it if I cook the glaze on the stove and use it as a dipping sauce instead of basting the ham with it. This also gives you more options for using the leftover ham.

Yule Logs

These are the most traditional cookie in our house. There has never been a Christmas in my lifetime where these have been missing. They are my personal favorite. I’ve included slightly different recipes for a pecan version and a walnut version. They’re very close in flavor so you can try both and pick your favorite. The walnut version is my grandmother’s recipe and it’s the one I grew up with but during a time when I didn’t have access to this recipe, I found the pecan version and so I am including it because it is also very good. (and fast and easy!)

Pecan Yule Logs

1 C. butter
4 T. powdered sugar (plus extra for rolling in)
1 t. vanilla
2 C. flour
1 C. pecans, chopped

Mix all ingredients together. Form into logs, balls or crescents. Bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes. Just before cool, roll in additional powdered sugar. Can be placed close together on the cookie sheet since they don’t spread.

From the kitchen of: Laurie Neader

Walnut Yule Logs

1 C. butter
1 C. sifted confectioner’s sugar
2 t. vanilla
1 egg
2 C. sifted flour
1 C. chopped walnuts
1 1/2 C. rolled oats (Quick or Old-Fashioned are fine)

Heat oven to 325 degrees. Beat butter and sugar until creamy. Add vanilla and egg and beat until fluffy. Add flour; mix thoroughly. Stir in nutmeats and oats. Dough will be stiff. Shape into logs and place on ungreased cookie sheets. Bake about 20 minutes. Cool. Frost with a confectioner’s sugar frosting or roll in powdered sugar.

From the kitchen of: Ella Meyer

Norwegian Sandbakkles

This recipe comes from a dear Norwegian friend who shared many of her recipe secrets with me when I was just learning to cook. It amazes me how great this cookie tastes when it’s made with so few ingredients.

1 C. butter
1 C. sugar
1 egg
1 1/2 t. vanilla
2 1/2 C. flour

Cream butter, beat in sugar and eggs. Stir in flour. Press into sandbukkle tins and bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes. Cool, gently squeeze to remove from tins.

I often sprinkle colored sugar on the top to give them a little color.

From the kitchen of: Arlene Nelson