Thursday, December 2, 2010

Thirties Thursdays


Two more recipes from the 1930s for you to try! The first one would have been made for a special occasion, while the second one would have been made for family desserts.

Enjoy reading and making. Or maybe just thinking about making. It's up to you!



Hawaiian Refrigerator Pie
Crust

20 graham crackers, rolled fine
4 tablespoons sugar
5 tablespoons melted butter
Filling
1 package lemon flavored gelatin
1 3/4 cups boiling water
1 cup canned crushed pineapple and juice
1 1/2 cups cream, whipped stiff
8 graham crackers, rolled fine
1 tablespoon confectioner's sugar
Combine the ingredients of the crust, blending well. Pat the mixture firmly over the inside, bottom, and sides of a ten inch pie pan. Chill this while you make the filling. For the filling, dissolve the gelatin mixture in the boiling water, then add the pineapple, which--if fresh--must be scalded. Chill this combination and just as it starts to thicken add the whipped cream, graham cracker crumbs, and the sugar. Our the mixture into the cracker shell until set."
---"Tribune Recipes," Chicago Daily Tribune, September 11, 1936



Tomato Soup Cake also known as Mystery Cake

Makes 1 Loaf Cake

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 tablespoon shortening
  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon ground cloves
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1 can condensed tomato soup
  • 2 cups all-purpose white flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 cup seedless raisins
Directions:
  1. Liberally grease an 8 inch by 4 inch loaf pan and set aside.
  2. Preheat oven to 350F
  3. In a large mixing bowl, using the back of a wooden spoon, blend the shortening and butter into the granulated sugar. The mix will be crumbly and any pieces of butter or shortening should be quite small, similar to the texture of sand.
  4. Add the cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg and condensed tomato soup to the mixing bowl and stir until all of the ingredients are fully combined. The mixture should be homogeneous and without any lumps.
  5. Slowly add the flour to the mixing bowl in half cup increments, stirring between each addition until all of the flour is fully combined.
  6. Add baking powder, baking soda, and the seedless raisins to the mixing bowl. Continue stirring until all ingredients are fully incorporated into the cake batter.
  7. Pour the cake batter into the greased loaf pan (8" x 4"). Place the loaf pan into the oven and bake at 350F for about 1 hour or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake tests done.
  8. Cool the loaf pan on a wire rack for 20 minutes before removing the cake from the pan.
  9. Slice the cake and serve warm.

The cake can be served on its own or it can be accompanied by a dollop of whipped cream or ice cream.


10 comments:

  1. Tomoato soup cake is a southern recipe, yes? (Then again, what do I know? I eat pop tarts.)

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  2. Elisa; All I know is it began to be made in the '30s. However, southern roots wouldn't surprise me, since red velvet cake comes from the south. Considering where you live, you should make it to be one with your locale. Or, eat more pop tarts.

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  3. I might try the pie. But tomato soup in a cake? Probably not. These are cool :)

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  4. Carol; I'm glad you're intrigued by them. I'm going to try the cake. You never know.

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  5. Elspeth - That refrigerator pie sounds amazing! But where is the part where it does nothing to harm one's diet?? Hmm??? I think you just forgot to post the guarantee that there's delicious taste without consequences ;-).

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  6. Margot; I tell myself that anything I eat in the name of research has no calories.

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  7. I remember seeing the tomato soup cake recipe, although the 30's are just a tad before my time.

    And it just so happens I've got a recipe at my blog today as well--although it's more recent.

    Terry
    Terry's Place
    Romance with a Twist--of Mystery

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  8. I'm dying to hear how that tomato soup thing turns out. These recipes are so fun.

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  9. Intriguing recipes, but I'm a bit wary of the soup in a cake. Let us know how it turns out Elspeth. You can be the guinea pig. LOL

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  10. That Hawaiian Refrigerator Pie sounds wonderful. I used to make something similar that used whipped Milnot, but this one looks easier. Gonna try it.

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