After sharing the story of my Mom’s cookbook in a post a few weeks back, Carol sent me a very interesting email:
“Just read your blog about your parents and life changes and I wanted to share with you this quilt that I made about 20 years ago. I was lucky enough to inherit my grandmother’s recipe box that included recipes in her handwriting as well as some recipes that had been handed down from my great grandmothers. My brother helped me scan and print them (he even cleaned up some of the stains on the cards). I chose the quilt blocks, Grandmothers Favorite and Grandmothers Choice for the quilt. At the bottom of the quilt, I machine embroidered a limited family tree showing my relationship to the grandmothers. This quilt hangs in my kitchen. BTW the recipe Pork Cake is the old German Fruitcake recipe and it does have pork sausage in it and is very good (even though fruitcake gets a bad rap nowadays).“
And here’s a photograph of her beautiful, prizewinning quilt:
What a wonderful idea! She even sent close ups of some of the recipes:
As far as Carol’s grandmother’s recipe ~ I’m not sure I’m ready to put pork sausage in my fruitcake, but I’ll think about it 😁. Thanks for sharing your lovely quilt with us – and congratulations on your well deserved ribbons Carol.
I had to laugh when she mentioned fruit cake because I have a story to go with my Mom’s recipe for fruitcake:
Around 15 or 20 years ago my Mom was put on a medication that had some awful side effects. She became very depressed (which is not like Mom), and she lost her enthusiasm for everything. As Christmas approached I called her to talk about our cookie baking day. We always made all our family cookies together, but it was a tradition for Mom to make the fruitcake ahead of time (even though she didn’t like it). During the conversation she said she’d come and help bake but she didn’t want to make the fruitcake. I was bummed!!! I told her it was fine, but after hanging up the phone I banged my fist on the table and started talking to myself (a very selfish reaction 😔). I went looking for Mike so I could whine. He responded with “why don’t you get her recipe and make it yourself?” DUH!
So I called her back and asked for the recipe. It was an obvious effort for her, but she acquiesced. She seemed to be struggling to tell me the ingredients, and I figured it was because she wasn’t feeling well. I told her it could wait, but she wanted to continue. At one point she gave me a list of dry ingredients to mix together, and told be to add them alternating with 1 cup of any liquid. I asked what that meant. She said “whatever you want”, and I jokingly asked “chicken broth?” She laughed. Then I asked her what she usually used. Her response? “Oh I guess I mix a 1/2 cup of milk with a 1/2 cup of grape jelly”. To which I said “that’s not just any liquid ~ that’s pretty specific”. I wrote it down and have been making it that way ever since.
We love it! And fortunately my Mom was able to stop taking that medication, and a short time later she was Mom again.
Now for the humorous ending to this story. As I began to write out this post I decided to look up the recipe in Mom’s cookbook. Fruitcake was on page 142.
No wonder it was difficult for her to share her recipe over the phone! Virginia Walters had made just a few alterations to the original ~ 🤣😂😵💫 ! Mom’s cookbook is a treasure.
And, since many of you may not be familiar with Schaum Torte, I thought I’d share this recipe here. It is a favorite for everyone in my family. I remember Mom telling me my grandma would say: “when you think you’ve beaten the egg whites long enough, beat them for 1 more minute”. We always serve it with ice cream, fresh strawberries, and fresh whipping cream.
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I also want to share a Mom update this week. After 3 months of joy filled family time and ministry since Mom was first put on hospice, her body and mind are failing. She was placed in “end of life” care by her hospice nurse on Friday. Hospice is keeping her comfortable, and I know she is ready to be with her Savior. Thanks to all who have prayed and are praying!
Mary Wedor says
So, sew, wonderful 💖
Doris Ast says
I hope you are able to share your time with her and enjoy some memories and stories as long as possible-so sorry.
judy raddatz says
God Bless you and your lovely mother
Colleen Terry says
When my aunt died, I asked if I could have her recipes. Another aunt gave my brother a grocery bag full of recipes (since I lived out of state). My brother scanned all of the recipes into the computer and made a CD, complete with my aunt’s picture on the CD and handed them out to everyone at the funeral. It was a huge hit. Now everyone in the family has those treasured recipes.
Diane Poyzer says
New to your group after taking your borders class at Carson Valley Guild. I know this will be a bright spot in my day as was your wonderful class. With all this going on in your life, it’s amazing how you were able to present your classes with such Grace and humor. We are truly blessed that God helps us find our way through the many bumps and ruts in the road of our lives. Thank you again.
Doris Rindfleisch says
I’ve loved these family stories. Thank you for sharing them. I don’t like to bake or cook, but after my mom was taken to Heaven, I kind of wished I had her recipe for one of my favorite desserts she made: Poppyseed Torte. Unbeknownst to me, my sister had it and sent it to my bachelor son who surprised me by making it for me. You know the expression, “It’s the thought that counts”? Well, in his hurry to cook the custard part, he burned it but didn’t realize the scorched taste would completely permeate the custard. (Mom always used a double boiler.) We ended up throwing almost all of it out, but he has since made it again and exercised more patience. Even so, his first attempt is still a treasured memory because it was the thought that counted.
clkquilt says
What a delightful story! Thanks for sharing – and for your kind words 😊.
Doris Rindfleisch says
Another comment: Of all the blessings, including special recipes and fruitcakes you shared with your mom, what a blessing that your parents nurtured you with the gift of knowing the Savior Jesus!
laura says
This is soooo cool. My mom made schaum torte all the time. I really love the older cookbooks.
Tomi Fay Forbes says
My husband and I grew up in Pennsylvania and moved to Wisconsin when our kids were young. I know plenty of Pennsylvania Dutch recipes, but I never heard of Schaum Torte until we moved here. Thank you for sharing your story. I’ve heard it said that if you want to leave a legacy, write a book or leave a recipe. I guess the person who thought of that did not have a quilter in the family!
My Blessings.
Mary says
I have many of my mom’s recipes and treasure them dearly. A few I had to write down as she made them (my favorite one for German potato salad) because she didn’t have a written recipe but would say: you’ll know when it’s enough! I’m not the cook my mom was so I needed written instructions.
I’m so glad I could share those moments with her.
Hope you can savor your mom memories also.
Have a blessed day.
Kathy Bangsund says
It is hard to think of the time when your Mom meets your Savior. My thoughts are with you and your family.
Joyce Hach says
This past Christmas, my two sisters and I helped our Mom make mini cookbooks with some of her recipes for all five of us kids and her ten grandchildren. It was a wonderful project and led to much reminiscing. Favorite foods, like quilts, help tie families together and pass family lore down through the generations.
Keeping you and your family in my prayers.
Janine says
Praying for you all and your mom.
Sandra Robertson says
Chris, I’m thinking of you sitting with your Mom as I did with my Mom 30 years ago. I still miss her so much! Thank you for sharing some of your private memories of your Mom. My Mom loved to bake and I use many of her recipes, Cocoa Squares being one of them. I haven’t made them in a long time so am going to do that today! Love to you and your Mom.💝