Elsa Weschler Koestler 1909-1993
APPETIZERS
Chicken liver pate:
Boil fresh chicken liver for ten minutes with chopped onion. Chop and add egg, boiled hard (12 minutes) (one egg for each liver) to liver mashed smooth. Add lump butter, salt, pepper and paprika to taste. Moisten slightly with water. Chill before serving. Grated onion can be added if desired.
BREAD FAMILY
French toast:
Mix whole egg with 1/4 cup milk thoroughly. Soak 2 slices white bread in mixture and fry in butter. Serve with maple syrup (or jelly).
Popovers:
1 and 1/4 cups flour, 1/4 tsp. salt, 1 tsp sugar, 2 eggs, 1 cup milk.
Mix flour, salt & sugar. Gradually add milk and well beaten eggs. Beat thoroughly. Fill heated and well greased cup cake pan about half full of batter and bake in hot oven 30-40 minutes. Reduce heat near end of baking to avoid popovers becoming too brown. Split and serve with jelly, jam or marmalade. Serve cold with chocolate filling.
Waffles – excellent – crisp & light:
2 egg yolks, 1 cup milk, 1and 1/2 cups sifted flour, 2 tsp. sugar, 1tsp salt, stirred to smooth batter. Add 1/4 cup butter melted. Then beaten 2 egg whites stiff and fold into batter with 2 tsp baking power. Makes 2 quadruple waffles or 4 round ones
CONDIMENTS
Cranberry Relish
grind with medium blade 1 pound fresh cranberries and 2 seeded quartered unpeeled oranges; stir in two cups sugar; refrigerate. Makes 2 pts.
DESSERTS
Elsa Koestler in her kitchen 1967
Brownies
1 cup sugar creamed with one-half cup butter; Add 2 whole eggs. Add one-half cup flour and 1 tsp. baking powder sifted together and milk to thin if necessary (approx. 2 tbs) Add 3 sq. bitter chocolate melted with about 2 tbs butter. Clean out pan of chocolate with 3 tbs sour cream and add to mixture. Add 1 or one-half cup chopped walnuts. Bake 20 min. in moderate oven (350 degree) and cut in squares
Chocolate Bit Crunch
Crush 32 graham crackers (can put thru meat chopper). Stir in 2 cans sweetened condensed milk and 2 bags chocolate bits. Bake in rectangular pans well greased in 375 degree oven for 25-30 min. until brown. Cut while hot and remove from pan immediately onto wax paper to cool.
Chocolate Cake – Sherry’s
one-fourth lb. butter creamed; one rind of orange or lemon; 3 tbs cocoa; one and one-fourth cups sugar; one cup flour sifted with one tsp baking powder; one and one-half tsp. vanilla (Burnetts); one-half cup milk; 3 whites of egg beaten stiff. bake in 3 layers.
Filling – one-fourth (?) lb butter; three-fourths cup sugar; 1 yolk of egg; 1 tsp corn starch; 2 heaping tbs cocoa; 1 cup milk; 1 tbs vanilla. Cook in double boiler until thick. Cool. Spread between layers.
Icing – 3 squares chocolate melted. Add two-thirds cup cream; 2 egg yolks; pinch of salt; 1 tsp vanilla; 1 tsp butter. Cook together. Add 2-3 cups of confectionary sugar and spread fast.
Chocolate Cake – Violet’s
4 eggs separated; 2 cups sugar; one- fourth lb. Baker’s bitter chocolate; 1 cup milk; 1 cup flour; 1 tsp baking powder.
Mix egg yolks and sugar until almost white. Add chocolate dissolved in milk alternately with flour sieved with baking powder. Fold in stiffly beaten whites. Bake in two layers at 375 degree
Icing – one-fourth lb chocolate; butter size of an egg; 2 cups powdered sugar; 2 tbs boiling water. Increase quantity of icing if you split the layers.
Chocolate Coconut Mounds
Two and one-half squares Bakers bitter chocolate melted in top of double boiler with one-fourth lb. boxed coconut. Beat 3 egg whites very stiff. Add one-half cup granulated sugar and 1 tsp. vanilla and combine with slightly cooled coconut-chocolate mixture which has been well mixed. Bake in small buttered cup cake pans in moderate oven (350 degree) about 20 min. Can double recipe.
Chocolate Crispy Bits
1 cup butter melted blended with two-thirds cup granulated sugar and two-thirds cup dark brown sugar. Add 2 large eggs beaten whole and 8 oz. semi-sweet chocolate bits (or bar) melted Stir in two and one-fourths cups sifted flour with 1 tsp salt and 1 tsp baking soda. Add 1 tsp vanilla (Burnett) and 8 oz semi-sweet chocolate bits. Drop by half teaspoons on greased cookie sheet. Bake 10-12 min. in 375 degree oven. Makes about 100 cookies.
Chocolate Gelatin Pudding
3 heaping tbs Bakers Cocoa dissolved in one-half cup milk and brought to boil. Add one-half tbs/ Knox gelatin (1 envelope) dissolved in one-half cup water. Beat yolks 4 eggs with one-half cup granulated sugar. Combine egg and chocolate mixtures. Beat 4 egg whites stiff and fold into slightly cooled mixture. Add 1 tsp. vanilla (Burnetts). Chill in mold.
Coconut Macaroons
Can sweetened condensed milk blended with 2 large packages shredded coconut (about 14-16 oz.) and 2 tsp vanilla. Drop half recipe by tsp onto well buttered cookie pan. To other half recipe add one and one-half squares melted bitter chocolate and stir well. Drop on well-greased cookie pan. Bake 8-12 minutes moderate oven (350 degree) Remove at once on to wax paper. Butter spatula for easier removal.
Date and Nut Sticks
2 eggs beaten whole. Add one-half cup granulated sugar and keep beating until creamy white. Add one-half cup dark brown sugar and continue beating. (May be added together.) Add one-half lb chopped dates and one cup chopped walnuts (or pecans) Then add 5 tbs flour (one-half cup); 1 tsp baking powder and pinch salt sifted together. Add 1 tsp vanilla. Bake in rectangular pan for 20 min at 350 degree. Cut in strips when cool.
Fudge Pie:
Sift one cup sugar and stir in one-half cup butter melted (one fourth pound) gradually. Beat in two egg-yolks separately. Melt 2 oz. Baker bitter chocolate and beat in. Beat one-third cup sifted flour into butter mixture. Add one tsp. vanilla. Fold in two egg whites stiffly beaten with one-eighth tsp. salt into batter. Bake in an 8 and one-half inch pie plate at 325 degrees for 30 minutes. Served topped with ice cream. Recipe may be doubled (use 9 or 10 inch pie pan and bake a little longer) or tripled.
Fudge Squares — EWK pet recipe
2 whole eggs well beaten. Add 1 cup sugar and keep beating. Add three-quarters cup melted butter. Add 2 and one-half sq. Baker bitter chocolate melted with tbs. butter in frying pan over low heat. Add one-half cup flour, one tsp baking powder & pinch salt sifted together. Fold in one-half cup broken nut meats (walnuts or pecans). Bake 17 minutes in 375 degree oven. Cut when cool in squares. Should be under done (gooey) Recipe is best when doubled. Can omit nuts in part of one pan for Bob.
Gingerbread
One-half cup sugar; 3 tbs. butter; 1 egg beaten; One and one-half cups flour; one-eighth tsp. salt; 2 tsp ginger; 1 tsp cinnamon; one-half tsp clove; one tsp baking soda; one-half cup milk; one-half cup dark (sulfur free) molasses (Try Grandma’s Molasses).
Mix butter & sugar to creamy paste, add beaten egg. Mix spices, salt and soda with flour and add alternately with milk & molasses mixed. 325 degree oven 30-45 minutes rectangular pan. Serve with applesauce made with a lot of cinnamon added.
Lemon Ice Box Cake
Crush 15 graham crackers to which add one-half cup melted butter and stir in thoroughly. Pat to sides and bottom of well-greased spring form (with back of teaspoon).
6 eggs separated. Mix yolks thoroughly and
add 1 can sweetened condensed milk very slowly while beating.
Add juice and grated rind of two lemons.
Beat whites and when foaming add one-half tsp. cream of tarter. Beat stiff.
Add 5 tbs (heaping) of egg whites to mixture,
fold in well, and pour into graham crust in spring form.
Add one-half cup sugar to remaining whites, beat, cover yolk mixture with this meringue.
Brown in oven. 325 degree about 15 minutes.
Place pan under spring form while baking to keep butter from dripping on to oven.
Cool. Put on ice for at least 6 hours before serving.
Recipe may be doubled or tripled for large parties. May take up to one-half hour to bake.
Oatmeal Cookies
Mix 1 cup granulated sugar, one-half tsp salt, 2 tsp baking powder, 1 tbs melted butter, 2 whole eggs, and 1 tsp. vanilla. Add two and one-half cups Quaker oats (dry uncooked) a little at a time and mix in thoroughly. Put in buttered tins by tsp. thinly with space between as they spread. Bake until light brown in med. oven 350 degree and remove fast (while still hot) from pan. Butter edge of spatula for easier removal. Cool on wax paper.
ENTREES
Never less than 30 pound turkey for Thanksgiving!!
Elsa calls for help. The transfer from pan to platter
Finnan Haddie:
Steam finnan haddie fillets in mixture of half milk, half water until fish flakes. Prepare white sauce of 6 Tbs. butter, 3 Tbs flour, 2 cups milk seasoned with salt, pepper and multiple herbs. Partially melt 1 lb. sharp (cheddar) cheese in white sauce. Add to fish and 2 large potatoes (boiled) in small cubes and mix thoroughly. Put in buttered baking dishes, add small amt. milk and cover with one-half pound sharp cheese in chunks. Bake 30 minutes in 350 degree oven. Makes 8 casseroles (indiv.) or 4 casseroles and 1 baking dish.
Fish Ring:
2 lbs halibut – boil with carrot, celery, tbs. vinegar and when cold shred. Cream yolks of 3 eggs with 1/4 lb. of butter and add 1/2 cup cream or top milk, 1 tbs. sugar, 1 or 2 tbs. Worcestershire Sauce, paprika, and 1/2 tsp. salt. Combine with shredded halibut. Beat whites of 3 eggs stiff and fold into fish mixture. Butter ring mold well, put fish mixture in, and bake for 20-30 min. in moderate oven by placing ring mold into pan of hot water.
Scalloped Corned Beef:
2 cups cooked corned beef cut into cubes. 1 cup medium white sauce, seasoned well with salt, pepper & herbs. Butter, 1 stalk celery, 2 slices onion, bread crumbs. Cook chopped celery and onions in sauce. Put corned beef in shallow buttered baking dish and add sauce. Sprinkle with bread crumbs moistened with melted butter. Brown in hot oven.
Roast Beef, etc.
Score fat in diagonal lines. Rub cut surface with garlic all over (or use garlic salt) Season with salt, pepper, ginger, allspice, paprika, and dust with flour over all. Put in 500-550 oven, uncovered pan, for 20 minutes. Reduce temp. to 400 and cook far about one and one-half to two hours altogether. Last hour add small peeled potatoes into bottom of pan and turn occasionally.
For leg of lamb season in same way but eliminate allspice. Peel small onions as well as potatoes and bake in pan with lamb. Add can of tomato soup and 2 cans of water for last 45 minutes of cooking for gravy. Strain and serve.
Roast veal: use rump. Season with salt, pepper and lots of ginger and flour. Add fat to pan, preferably chicken fat or butter and cook with top on until fairly well done. Veal should be done all the way through, at least 2 hours. Add hot water about half through and baste frequently. This should make gravy but more can be made by adding flour and more water. Can dissolve flour in a little butter to prevent lumps.
Roast beef gravy: add flour to 3 Tbs pan fat, brown. Add water, bring to boil. Season.
Souffle – Foundation Recipe
2 tbs. butter, 1 tbs. flour, 1/2 tsp salt, 1/4 tsp pepper, 1/2 cup milk, 4 eggs, 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce.
Melt butter, add flour, seasonings & mix to a smooth paste. Add milk slowly & let cook for several minutes, stirring to avoid lumping. Remove from fire & add well beaten egg yolks & Worc. sauce. Keep in refrig. until half hour before meal. Add stiffly beaten egg whites folded gently into mixture with whatever variation is desired (see below). Pour into buttered baking dish, place in pan of hot water and bake at 350 degrees for 30-35 min. Serve immediately.
Variations:
1. 2 cups ham, 2 cups grated cheddar cheese
2. 2 cups finely minces chicken
3. 2 cups crab meat or tuna
4. 2 cups cheese
Fritter Batter:
1 cup flour, 1 tsp baking power, 1/2 tsp salt, 2 eggs, 2/3 cup milk, 1 tsp melted butter
Mix & sift flour, baking-power, & salt. Add well beaten eggs combined with milk. Beat until smooth and add butter. Keep in refrigerator until meal time when variation such as 1/2 cup grated cheese or 1 cup well drained corn can be added. Drop by tablespoons into deep hot fat and fry a delicate brown. Drain on brown paper (or paper toweling) and serve.
Elsa Koestler in her kitchen 1991
Visiting with GG while she cooks
Julie, Max, and Maddie