Month: November 2013

Blueberries and Coconuts

Holiday Baking It’s cold outside. Winter has begun to bluster kindling a genuine appreciation for warm fires and hearty holiday meals this late November. The refrigerator is stocked with the traditional excess of the season and I am baking Blueberry Tropic Oat Muffins, with warm notes of coconut and ginger. […]

Dad's Plain Bread Stuffing made with rustic sourdough bread in a ceramic casserole dish.

Dad’s Plain Bread Stuffing

Dad’s Plain Bread Stuffing is home cooking at its best. It takes a basic recipe from an old cookbook and, without any special ingredients, creates a side dish that always earns compliments.

A Thanksgiving menu, and decorative cover, from 1938.

Our Thanksgiving Menu – A Look Back to 1938

Looking at my father-in-law’s keepsake menu it seems little has changed in the past 75 years. Like today, 1938 found people feeling uneasy about fluctuations in an economy they wanted to believe was improving. They were also disturbed about world events, climate fluctuations and even the effects of the media on the minds of the masses. And yet, what was not uncertain in 1938 was the expectation of celebrating with a traditional Thanksgiving dinner.

A bowl of Navy Bean Soup served in Mom's Courier and Ives Ironstone bowl.

Navy Bean Soup

One of Aunt Betty’s signature dishes was Navy Bean Soup. This hearty soup is simple to make and quite practical. Inexpensive but tasty, it can be made ahead and left to simmer as guest arrive or family gathers. That gave my aunt ample opportunity to make everyone feel welcome as she exercised her gift of hospitality.

Cauliflower and Green Beans with Buttered Nuts and Crumbs on a plate with Chicken and Rice Pilaf

Cauliflower Medley with Buttered Crumbs

Testing Tradition With traditional meals and family favorites on my mind it can be a real challenge to think of new ways to add variety to the menus of the season. Recently, updating my Thanksgiving Menu Planner, I felt like I was in the company of old friends. Would they […]