The Burns Lake, B.C. Pine Lake Ladies Group produced a cookbook of favourite recipes in the mid 1970s called Look “N” Cook.
I couldn’t help but chuckle at some of the phrasing of directions and the inclusion of some tidbits that would certainly make hair stand on end today over some of the beliefs of those earlier decades.
For instance as part of the Beatitudes for Housewives, it is written: “Blessed is she who mends stockings and toys and broken hearts. . .; blessed is she who scours and scrubs . . .”
The book also offers directions on how to cater to large crowds, something church and community groups have learned from many years of experience. Meticulous records are passed forward to each new committee so the organizers don’t ever have an excuse for running out of food.
This week’s recipes come from this cookbook, found at a nearby community garage sale.
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Barbecued Summer Surprises
Place on a piece of greased heavy aluminum foil 1 serving piece broiler-fryer chicken, skin side down. Place on top of that:
1 small potato, sliced
1 slice onion
1 small carrot, sliced
1 large mushroom, sliced
few grains salt and pepper
2 tsps. butter or margarine
Prepare barbecue fire and allow white ashes to form over red coals. For each serving prepare the above.
Close foil package with a double fold on top and tuck ends in to keep juices from leaking out. Place on rack over hot coals, chicken side down. Barbecue for 40 minutes.
Turn package with tongs and cook 20 minutes longer. Open 1 package to see if chicken and vegetables are tender. If not, continue cooking until tender.
Chicken will brown if fire is quite hot to start. Serve in the foil. A spoonful of barbecue sauce makes delicious addition.
• • •
Strawberry Short Pie
3/4 cup flour
6 tbsps. margarine
1/3 cup chopped pecans
3 tbsps. brown sugar
1 cup whipping cream
1 tbsp. sugar
1 cup milk
1 small pkg. vanilla instant pudding
1 cup whole strawberries
Mix first four ingredients and press in an 8 inch pie plate and then bake at 400 degrees for 15 minutes.
Whip cream with sugar. Combine milk and pudding powder. Add this to cream mixture. Then fold in strawberries; pour into the baked pie crust and chill before serving.
• • •
Ham Supper For 225
48 lbs. canned ham
24 potato salads (solicited)
48 pkgs. peas
5 lbs. coffee
9 qts. cream
45 qts. strawberries
6 pkgs. Bisquick (mixed for shortcake)
6 qts. heavy cream
• • •
Cabbage Salad for 175
20 lbs. cabbage
1 1/2 qts. salad dressing
4 large cans crushed pineapple
2 bunches of carrots
• • •
Turkey Dinner for 250
7 turkeys
75 lbs. butternut squash
20 large cranberry rings
75 lbs. potatoes
10 bunches celery
44 pies
Joyce Walter can be reached at ronjoy@sasktel.net
