Banana Bread

Mom must’ve had a thing for banana bread.  In her journal, particularly the college years, she records trying various banana bread recipes in search of the perfect one.  She even has several of the recipes recorded and her notes on what needed to be changed.  Here (as she wrote it) is mom’s final Banana Bread recipe that she developed over the years and was her perfect version of banana bread.

3 c. Bisquick

2/3 c. sugar

2 eggs

1/2 c. milk

1 c. mashed bananas (about 2)

3/4 c. chopped nuts

Mix together.  Beat 30 seconds on low.  Beat 3 minutes at medium.  Stir in nuts.  Pour into greased & floured loaf pan.  Bake 55-60 minutes- until wooden pick comes out clean.  Cool 10 minutes.

Oven 350

Taco Salad

I’ve found that a lot of mom’s recipes were not written out very well.  Either she winged it a lot or her friends that she got the recipes from did.  In any case, there is many a one written like this one.  This recipe came from her friend Jean Santiago- who was in the old ward when we lived by Mitchells (the first time).

Taco Salad

1 head lettuce
1 1/2 lbs hamburger
3/4 lb cheddar cheese
1 bag tortilla chips
1 soup can size Ranch Style beans (with juice)
1 can diced green chiles
Picante Sauce
1 bottle Ranch dressing
—– (optional)
black olives
purple onions
avacadoes
tomatoes
celery
mushrooms

Brown hamburger. Shred cheese. Rip lettuce into bite-sized pieces. Break up chips. Mix all together and add any additional toppings desired.

Apple Pie

I’d like to include recipes from our childhood that mom made often.  I remember how hard she worked to get this pie crust just right.  Mom was in charge of the pie every Thanksgiving.  I just dared to make this for the first time ever.  I can’t believe it’s been 10 years since I’ve had it!  Maybe I’ll try her pecan pie soon.

Pam Alger’s Apple Pie

Source: The crust was my mom’s recipe and the pie filling was Grandma Douglas’

Flaky Pie Crust (makes a 9′ or 10′ double crust):

2 c. sifted flour
1 tsp. salt
2/3 c. shortening
6-7 Tbsp. cold water

Sift together flour and salt. Cut in shortening with pastry blender till pieces are the size of small peas. Add water, a tablespoon at a time, and mix with fork. Split dough in half and roll out to make two crusts.

Apple Pie:

4 c. prepared apples (4 or 5 apples, peeled and sliced)
3/4 to 1 c. sugar (amount depends on tartness of apples)
1 Tbsp. flour
dash salt
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 tsp. nutmeg
2 Tbsp. butter

Prepare pastry and apples. Sprinkle some sugar on bottom pastry. Add apple slices. Mix sugar, flour, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Sprinkle over apples then dot with butter. Put top crust on, moistening edge of bottom crust with water to seal edges. Flute edges, trim, and cut slits in top crust. Bake at 450 for 15 minutes, then decrease to 350 and bake for 30 minutes.