by
CateC_BettyCrocker_MOD
10/24/2009 12:00:00 AM
“I used to bake in high heels everyday.”- Grandma Joann
My grandmother, entertainer extraordinaire, loved to bring her family and friends together around the kitchen table throughout the years. As a mother of eight, she was always budget-conscious.
So, when she passed away a few weeks ago, I wanted to pay tribute by throwing a family gathering on just a $25 budget. A mass email to my family confirmed that brunch was the best time, which also happened to be perfect for my budget!
I had one simple request for my family. Bring a dish that reminds you of Grandma.
The last time I saw my grandmother she gave me her beloved Betty Crocker cookbooks. Her fingerprints, notes and scraps of paper are scattered throughout the books. Picking a menu became a fun treasure hunt through my grandma’s culinary past.
I went through the books a couple of times. Once I learned what my guests wanted to bring (and looked at what I had in the house already), I was able to narrow down my menu. I really wanted it to be simplistic so that I wouldn’t stress out an hour before the guests arrived.
The Menu:
Special Drink:
Hot Apple Cider Punch
Appetizer:
English Muffins and Orange Marmalade… Grandma’s favorite jelly! (Uncle Joe)
Main:
Potato Casserole (Cousin-in-law, Katy)
Kielbasa
Simple Fruit Salad
Eggplant Marcille
Dessert:
Grandma’s Cheesecake (Cousin Brad)
Takeaway Goodies:
Applesauce Raisin Cookies*
Canadian Oatmeal Shortbread*
The Shopping Experience:
Honestly, this was one of the easier shopping trip challenges I’ve done. Kielbasa was on sale. (Thank you, Oktoberfest!) For the fruit salad, I chose two fruits that were on sale. I wanted to buy the smaller eggplants for the Eggplant Marcille, but they were more expensive so I ended up buying the bigger eggplant. Finally, I didn’t have whole allspice. I intended to buy it until I realized a jar cost $6.99. Well, Grandma always said, make do with what you have… so ground allspice was going to have to work. In the end, I cut it close at $24.88.
*The cookies came from ingredients that I already had, except for the butter which I had included in my budget.
Menu Prepping:
I made the cookies the day before… in high heels. Well only for about 20 minutes until I reached for my slippers again. I seriously don’t know how Grandma did it!
The Entertainment:
I set the table the night before. (I even picked out all my serving platters the night before.) To simplify the seating arrangement and to makes everyone feel special, I made place cards. But not wanting to stress about writing out each name perfectly, I printed a small photo of each guest on regular printing paper and glued it on some white computer paper. Overall this idea was a wonderful conversation starter.
Music always helps set the mood. I went to http://www.pandora.com/ to set up a station that had the classics of Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday and Frank Sinatra. I like this site because it’s free and you can personalize the music to fit the occasion. I also, had five CDs in the disk changer just in case I had technical difficulties.
I also made sure to have a few toys handy since my cousins were bringing their kids. As they played, the grown ups were able to catch up.
Here are the recipes I used:
Hot Apple Cider Punch: (Betty Crocker Cookbook, Copyright 1971)
1 gallon Apple Cider
2 teaspoons whole cloves
2 teaspoons allspice
2 three-inch cinnamon sticks
2/3 cup sugar
2 oranges, studded with cloves
1. Heat cider, cloves, allspice, cinnamon and sugar to boiling.
2. Cover and simmer for 20 minutes.
3. Strain punch and pour into punch bowl. Float oranges in bowl.
Makes 32 servings (1/2 cup each)
Notes: For a party of six, you can cut this recipe in half and still have some left leftovers. I decided to make this in the slow cooker - had it on high for at least 20 minutes and kept it on low during the party before I took out the whole spices. Because I didn’t have whole allspice, I added 1 teaspoon of ground allspice to the mix. Confession: I bought the oranges and forgot to add them to the drinks! I went back and added an orange for the photo so you could get the full effect.
Results: I didn’t tell my guests about forgetting the oranges. We thought it was great anyway and many of us went back for seconds. This is also good cold!
Eggplant Marcille: (My Betty Crocker Notebook – exact copyright date is unknown, but the page has the 1955 Betty Crocker photo)
*Please note the recipe doesn’t say how much of each ingredient. So I did my best to eyeball it. I used two large eggplants, 3-4 large tomatoes and 4 cups of shredded cheddar cheese.
1. Heat oven to 350°
2. Arrange in alternate layers in baking dish sautéed eggplant strips, tomato slices and grated cheddar cheese.
3. Repeat layers, seasoning each.
4. Bake 30 minutes until cheese melts.
Notes: I seasoned layers with dried basil and thyme and ground pepper.
To sauté eggplant: Melt 3 to 4 tablespoons butter or margarine in 10-inch skillet over medium-high heat. Cook eggplant in butter uncovered 5 to 10 minutes, stirring frequently, until tender.
Results: Mixed Reviews. Katy and I were fans, but little Caroline and my husband were not. I might peal the skin off the eggplant if I make this again.
Potato Casserole Supreme: (Betty Crocker Cookbook, Copyright 2000)
1 (10 ¾ oz) can condensed cream of mushroom soup
1 (10 ¾ oz) can cream of chicken soup
1 (8 oz) container sour cream
1/2 cup milk
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 (30 oz) package frozen shredded hash brown potatoes
8 medium green onions, sliced (1/2 cup)
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1. Heat oven to 350°. Grease rectangular baking dish, 13 x 9 x 2 inches.
2. Mix soups, sour cream, milk and pepper in very large bowl. Stir in potatoes and onions. Spoon into baking dish.
3. Bake uncovered 30 minutes. Sprinkle with cheese. Bake uncovered 15 to 20 minutes or until golden brown on top and bubbly around edges.
Notes: The book calls for cream of chicken soup, but Katy used cheddar cheese soup because she is a vegetarian. Katy also used low fat sour cream, milk and cheddar cheese to lower the calories.
Results: Nobody noticed it was a “healthified” version! Yum!
Simple Fruit Salad:
Notes:
I used three peaches and four plums. I cut them up and drizzled them with a little lemon juice so it stayed fresh. I made the salad 2 hours ahead and let it chill in the fridge before serving.
Results: Simple and easy but most importantly, only $3 to make.
Grandma’s Cherry Cheese Cake: Source Unknown
Crust
1 stick of margarine
1 cup plus 4 tablespoons flour
1 egg beaten
½ cup of sugar
Cream Cheese Filling
1 can cherry pie (or any other fruit) filling
2, 8 oz packages of cream cheese
3 eggs, well beaten
1 ½ cups of milk
1 ½ tablespoons flour
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
1. Heat oven to 350°.
2. Mix the crust ingredients together until soft dough is obtained. It might be a little crumbly.
3. Pat mixture into an ungreased pan (9x13) working up sides. Add pie filling on top. Set aside.
4. In a separate bowl mix cream cheese, flour and sugar. Blend well and then add beaten eggs and milk slowly, mixing well. Add vanilla. Then pour cream cheese mixture on top of pie filling. Sprinkle top with cinnamon.
5. Bake for 45-50 minutes. Cool and refrigerate. It can be eaten a few days after made.
Notes: I don’t know where this recipe came from, but grandma made it every Christmas! My cousin said he greased the 9x13 pan. My sister, who makes this recipe often, doesn’t normally grease it. It easily pops out of the pan either way!
Results: Perfect every time!
Applesauce Raisin Cookies: First Edition Betty Crocker Cookie Book, Copyright 1963
¾ cup shortening
1 cup brown sugar (packed)
1 egg
½ cup applesauce
2 ¼ cups Gold Medal Flour
½ teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon salt
¾ teaspoon cinnamon
¼ teaspoon cloves
1 cup raisins
½ cup nuts, chopped
1. Heat oven to 375°
2. Mix shortening, sugar and egg thoroughly. Stir in applesauce.
3. Measure flour by dipping method or by sifting. Blend dry ingredients and stir in. Mix in raisins and nuts.
4. Drop dough by teaspoonfuls on greased baking sheet. Bake 10 to 12 min., or until lightly browned.
Makes four dozen cookies.
Note: If you use Gold Medal Self-Rising Flour, omit baking soda and salt.
Notes: I don’t like my cookies that small, so I made each one with more tablespoons. I had just over three-dozen cookies instead.
Results: Cakey and moist. Fun with a cup of coffee or tea!
Canadian Oatmeal Shortbread: First Edition Betty Crocker Cookie Book, Copyright 1963
1 cup butter or margarine
½ cup brown sugar (packed)
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup Gold Medal Flour
½ teaspoon soda (baking soda)
2 cups rolled oats
1. Mix butter, sugar and vanilla until fluffy. Measure flour by dipping method or by sifting. Blend flour, soda, and rolled oats; stir into mixture. Chill 1 to 2 hours.
2. Heat oven to 350°. Roll dough ¼ inch thick on a lightly floured board. Cut in 1 ½ inch squares or fancy shapes.
3. Baked on ungreased baking sheet 10-12 minutes.
Makes 3 ½ to 4 dozen cookies.
Notes: According to the book, “Do not use Gold Medal Self-Rising Flour in this recipe.” I didn’t let dough chill for an hour or two, but doing so would have helped me cut the dough into shapes. I just made simple flat circles. Also, I put closer to two teaspoons of vanilla in by accident.
Results: These were by far my favorite! The recipe says these are even better after they have been stored a few days and I agree. I might make some of these for Christmas presents. And once again, I couldn’t get 3 ½ dozen cookies. It was closer to 2 ½ dozen cookies. It definitely depends on what size your cookies are.
Lessons Learned:
1. Get your guests involved in the menu! My family thought it was great there was a theme they could work with. Your guests want to help and feel part of the party. Have them bring a dish!
2. Look and see what you already have in the house. That may inspire or help you narrow down recipe ideas!
3. Do prepping the day before if you can. I made the cookies the day before. I also set the table, prepped the music and tidied the house so the morning of I could just focus on the meal.
4. Keep the menu simple. Write the menu out so you can see how much food you actually have. No, I didn’t have to make the cookies (we already had dessert.) I thought it would be a nice “thank you” to my guests for bringing a dish and selfishly I wanted to make them to use my grandmother’s cookie book!
5. Keep it simple. If you have a lot of guests, all you need is a simple name card and music to set the mood!
6. Make a toast. I forgot to do this… but it’s often done at our family gatherings. Even if there is nothing big to celebrate, I always find that a meal together with loved ones is worthy enough to cheers.
7. Share! Send leftovers home with your guests.
8. Everything doesn’t have to be perfect. Were my photos cards all the right size? No. Did I forget to add the oranges to the special drink? Yes. Did it matter? No. Everyone had a great time just being together and catching up. Though the little things make it extra special, they don’t make or break a party experience.
Next Week: Pantry Challenge
I keep a well-stocked pantry. (I love those 10 for $10 deals!) But how far will it get me with pantry-only recipes? Check back here next Sunday to see how it turned out.
Tags:
budget, entertaining, "Eggplant Marcille", brunch, "Applesauce Raisin Cookies", "Potato Casserole Supreme", "Canadian Oatmeal Shortbread", "Hot Apple Cider", "Cherry Cheesecake", party