Quiche Lorraine I

We’ve never been able to precisely replicate the “cheese pie” served at Andre’s Confiserie Suisse in Kansas City, but this one is close. There is no quiche recipe, notwithstanding the excellent work of Julia Child, that will turn out a cheese pie, or a cheese pie with onion and bacon, as good as Andre Bollier’s. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line 9-inch pie pan with … Continue reading Quiche Lorraine I

Irish Soda Bread

Rob and Hallie If this bread isn’t on the table, it isn’t St. Patrick’s Day dinner. Preheat oven to 350 degrees, and generously butter an 8- to 9-inch round pan. Stir dry ingredients together, then add currants. Add milk until mix resembles biscuit dough. Pour into buttered pan, and immediately* bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes. Cool 10 minutes and remove from pan; cool … Continue reading Irish Soda Bread

Tamale Pie

In large skillet, brown large onion in 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Add ground beef, and brown well. Add tomatoes, salt, pepper, paprika and chili powder to taste. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix water, cornmeal and 1/2 teaspoon of salt in a small saucepan. Cook over medium heat until it thickens, about 5 minutes. Spread layer of cooked cornmeal in bottom of greased 9 … Continue reading Tamale Pie

Cheese and Mushroom Casserole

Auntie Ruth was Granddaddy’s older sister – a kindergarten teacher and the darling of all the tots in the family. She passed down the one truly infallible cure for hiccups, time-tested in all her decades of dealing with five-year-olds: ten swallows of water, with no pauses for breath or anything else. She also was a wonderful cook who turned out perfect, elegant meals in the … Continue reading Cheese and Mushroom Casserole

Celery Casserole

Cut celery into half-inch slices; put into stockpot and cover halfway with boiling salted water. Return to boil and cook for 10-15 minutes. Reserve one cup of the cooking water, and drain the rest. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In separate saucepan, melt 4 tablespoons of butter, add flour and make a roux. Gradually add the milk, and cook until smooth. Add celery water; toss … Continue reading Celery Casserole

Cherry Chicken Salad

Ania and Carla got hooked on this salad in Traverse City, Michigan, at a now-closed restaurant called Mabel’s. To make it, we now routinely order dried cherries and cherry vinaigrette dressing from Traverse City stores – our favorite is Benjamin Twiggs. This salad is perfect for a hot July night, even if you’re nowhere near the Cherry Capital of the World. Gently sauté chicken breasts … Continue reading Cherry Chicken Salad

Bread and Butter Pickles

This was one of our great-great-grandmother’s canning recipes. If you know how to can produce safely, go for it. We make a half- or quarter-recipe – the pickles will keep in the refrigerator for about a week, and the neighbors are very happy when we share a jar or two. Combine cucumbers, onions, salt, and a couple of cups of ice cubes in a large … Continue reading Bread and Butter Pickles