Nana's Cookbook and the Kelley Thanksgiving

The beautiful china cabinet, dinning room table, china, elegant crystal and silver moved in at the same time as Lavender. These things didn't exactly fit the other things that moved in with her like the hockey stick coat rack.

These things, like almost everything Lavender owns, have sentimental value. They belonged to her Nana (grandma). In the past seven years, through the stories that Lavender's told, letters that were written from Lavender's grandfather when he was in the war, pictures, and a handwritten cookbook, I have learned a lot about the woman that was raised during the depression with 13 siblings, fell in love and stayed in love to the same man until she died years after him, fought for the rights of her disabled son to obtain a public education, and raised her granddaughter when her own daughter wasn't capable.

I wear her engagement ring. Lavender gave it to me at our "making it legal ceremony." It reminds me how powerful love can be and how much love can do. It reminds me to take care of my marriage and all the people I love.

Lavender and I don't have traditional holidays. We sometimes come close to what resembles how others celebrate. We sometimes do that "thing we usually do." We are a family that loves to celebrate so we ALWAYS celebrate.

This year for Thanksgiving we have three couch surfers staying with us, whom we have never met. We know that they are Atheist, Orthodox Christian, and Muslim. They come from all over the world. Of course Susan will be joining us. She is bringing her roommate from Twain and her boyfriend.  Our friends who fall into that category of "things we usually do" will be joining us for the 7th year. Our neighbor Mike who usually partakes in all of our family celebrations will be there. My cousin and his girlfriend, who live in Arizona and are more people we have never met, will hopefully be joining us too. This isn't the final list, at least I hope not. I hope we also have the usual "mind if we stop by" "can so and so also come" "is there room for me?" or the "we haven't seen so and so in forever so lets see if they can make it." This year we are celebrating on Friday after Thanksgiving, just in case you want to stop by.

We will celebrate the diversity of people. We will give thanks for the gift of being able to host and feed others. We will be thankful for the way that food and drink can bring together people. We will be grateful that the people who choose to come into our lives don't just tolerate each others religions, political views, gender, sexuality, education, and careers but celebrate these things and honor them.

This year, we will do this by gathering around Lavender's Nana's table and eating the recipes that she lovingly hand wrote. Recipes that she made to share with people she wanted to comfort, bring joy, or just feed in times of need. There are notes written next to some of these recipes like "My favorite" "Johns Favorite" and "Feeds 18." Food is an amazing gift and meant to be shared. I look forward to cooking with Nana on Thanksgiving and many more times. Out of all the meaningful gifts she left behind, this cookbook is my favorite. Sharing food is always an act of love for me.

Nana's Recipes that are being used for Thanksgiving 2015

Holiday Cheese Ball
6oz of smoked or chipped beef, diced fine
2 packages of cream cheese
8oz sharp cheddar cheese, grated
2tbsp. Worcestershire Sauce
1/4 cup  pickle relish
1/8 tsp of Tabasco sauce
1/4 tsp onion salt
dash of white pepper

Cream all ingredients together. Be sure they are mixed well. Form into ball and roll in chopped parsley or grated pecans. Serve with crackers.

Dinner Rolls
1 package of active dry yeast
1/4 cup of warm water
1 cup of boiling water
1/3 cup of butter
3 tbsp. sugar
1 tsp salt
1/2 cup of dry milk
3 1/2 to 4 cups of flour
1 egg

Soften yeast in 1/4 cup of warm water. Combine boiling water, butter, sugar, and salt. Cool to luke warm and add yeast mixture. Stir in beaten egg. Add dry milk. Beat in as much flour as possible and then continue to add enough to make soft dough, kneading 8 to 10 minutes. Put in a large bowl that has been oiled, turning dough to coat it all over. Cover and let rise in a warm place (85 degrees) until doubles, about 1 to 1 1/2 hours. Form dough into rolls. Brush top with butter. Fold in half to make parker rolls. Place on greased cookie sheet. Brush with melted butter. Let rise in warm place, until doubled, about 30 to 40 minutes. Bake at 375 for 15 to 20 minutes or until golden brown. Yields about 2 dozen.

Shoepeg Corn Salad

1 cup chopped celery
5 green onions chopped and the tops
1 green pepper
1 *can of corn
1 *can of party peas (I am not sure what part peas are but I am using frozen petite peas)
1 *can of French green beans
I medium jar of pimento (drain)
1/2 cup of oil
1 tsp of salt
3/4 cup vinegar
1 cup of sugar

Mix it all up.
*I am using frozen vegetables just because I prefer the taste of them to canned.

Cranberry Salad

1 pound of crushed cranberries
2 small boxes of strawberry jello
1 2oz can of crushed pineapple juice, do not drain
2 cups of sugar
2 cups of boiling water
crushed pecans

Mix and refrigerate

Nep's Dressing (Nep was the neighbor across the street)
First make the bread for dressing

1 cup of corn meal
1/2 cup of flour
2 eggs
1 cup of milk
1/2 cup of butter
1 cup of celery
1 cup chopped onions
1/2 tbsp. of sugar
1/2 tbsp. of tabasco sauce

Sorry, folks there is no directions here. I am guessing your mixing and  baking at 350 for 30-45 minutes.

Next
Corn Bread in pieces
12 slices of bread in pieces
1 cup of milk
1/2 cup of half and half
4 eggs
2 cups of broth
1 tsp of lemon pepper
1 tbsp. of chicken bouillon
1 tbsp. of poultry seasoning

Again no directions. I am guessing you mix wet ingredients toss in dry and bake 350 for 30-45 minutes.

Harvest Potatoes

32 oz frozen hash brown  potatoes, thawed
1 can condensed cream of soup
1 cup of sour cream
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
1/2 cup butter
1 1/2 tsp salt
1 medium onion diced

Topping
2 cups cornflakes crushed
1/4 cup of butter melted

Grease 13x9 baking dish. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In large bowl combine all ingredients except for topping. Spoon into baking dish. In small bowl combine topping ingredients. Sprinkle over potatoes. Bake 45 minutes or until bubbly.

Asparagus Casserole
3/4 pound grated cheese
10 or 12 crackers crushed
2 *cans of asparagus spears
slivered almonds
2 cans of cream of mushroom soup
1 stick of butter
1/4 cup of sweet milk

Mix grated cheese and cracker crumbs. Place half of the mixture on the bottom of a long Pyrex dish. Drain asparagus spears and arrange on crumb mixture. Sprinkle with almonds. Pour mushroom soup over this. Cut butter over this. Add remaining cheese and crumb mixture. Add the 1/4 cup of sweet milk. Bake at 400 degrees for about 45 minutes.
* I am using frozen asparagus. Canned asparagus is gross, according to Lavender.

Broccoli Casserole *This is something that often gets served at holidays because Susan and Lavender love it.

2 packages frozen broccoli
1 can mushroom soup
1 cup cheddar cheese grated
1 egg well beaten
1 cup mayonnaise (not salad dressing)
1 cup cheese cracker crumbs
salt and pepper
Combine other ingredients saving 1/2 cup of  cheese crackers. Combine with broccoli and spoon into a greased pan. Top with remaining crackers.  Bake in a 400 degree oven for 20 minutes.

Cocoa Cake (This cake recipe is on the first page and is marked "My Favorite Cake.")

1 cup boiling water
1 stick of butter
1/2 cup of cooking oil
4 tbsp. cocoa
2 cups sugar
2 cups flour
2 eggs
1/4 cup of buttermilk
1 tsp of soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla

Combine water, butter, oil, cocoa heat until blended. Pour over sugar, flour, and eggs. Beat well. Add buttermilk, soda salt, and vanilla. Beat well. Pour into a greased 9X12 pan. Bake at 400 degrees for 20 minutes.

Topping
1 stick of butter
6 tbsp. of buttermilk
4 tbsp. of cocoa
1 box of powdered sugar

Combine butter, milk and cocoa. Bring to boil. Add powdered sugar. Pour over hot cake.

Mamie's Pumpkin Pie *I did an internet search and found some recipes similar to this with credit to Mamie Eisenhower. I am not sure because the recipes are not exact but I think the Mamie could be referring to First Lady Eisenhower.

3 egg yolks
3/4 cups brown sugar
1 1/2 cups pumpkin
1 cup of canned milk
1/2 tsp salt
1 package of plain gelatin
1/4 cup of water
3 egg whites, beaten
1 tbsp. pumpkin pie spice
1/4 cup of powder sugar
Pie crust

Cook egg yolks, brown sugar, pumpkin and milk in a double broiler. Dissolve gelatin in water with pumpkin spice. Cool. Then fold in egg whites and powdered sugar. Spoon into a  baked pie crust.

Easy Pecan Pie

1/3 cup of butter
1 cup of sugar
1 cup of light corn syrup
1/2 tsp salt
2 tsp vanilla
4 eggs
 1 cup of coarsely chopped pecans (The side note says, "I add a little more."
1 unbaked pie shell

Combine butter, sugar, corn syrup, salt, and vanilla beat well. Add eggs beat well. Stir in pecans. Pour into pastry shell. Bake at 375 for 45 to 50 minutes.