Iowa Recipe Corner

I had a request from a fellow blogger from England to post some local family recipes. The following are typical foods you'd find at any Iowa get together..

Appetizer:

Ham Roll-Ups (a standard at parties)
1- (8-12 oz.) pkg. thin sliced ham
1 jar whole sweet pickles
1 - (8 oz.) pkg. cream cheese, softened
Blot dry each ham slice and spread a thin layer of cream cheese over ham. Blot dry a pickle and lay on short end of ham/cheese slice and roll into a log. Repeat until all slices are rolled up. Wrap each roll in celophane and refridgerate a few hours. When ready to serve remove from refridgerator and slice each log into 1/2 inch pieces.

Beverage:
Hootch (we have this every year on Christmas Eve or New Years Eve)
1-12 oz. can frozen lemonade
1-12 oz. can frozen orange juice
8 cups water
2 cups sugar
1 pint Vodka
Mix all together in a big plastic bucket or bowl with a lid. Put in freezer and stir every hour until frozen/slushy. Serve 3/4 cup slush in a tall glass with 7-Up over the top until glass is full. Stir and enjoy. Be ware it an catch up with you quickly.

Bread:
Zucchini Bread (gardeners always have an excess of zucchini, this is how we use them up)
Beat 3 eggs until light and fluffy, add 1 cup vegetable oil, 2 cups sugar, 2 cups peeled and grated zucchini, 1 tsp. vanilla. Mix well. Add 3 cups flour, 1 tsp. baking soda, 1/4 tsp. baking powder, 1 tsp. salt, 3 tsp. cinnamon, 1/4 tsp. nutmeg and 1/2 cup chopped walnuts. Stir all together well and pour into 2 greased loaf pans. Bake at 325* for aproximately 60 minutes.

Cake:
Wacky Cake (my granny made this one-pan recipe a lot, it's from the Depression era, 1930's)
3 cups flour
2 cups sugar
6 tbl. cocoa
2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp.salt, 3/4 cup vegetable oil
2 tbl. vinegar
2 tsp. vanilla
2 cups cold water
Sift sugar, flour,salt,cocoa and soda into ungreased 9x13 pan. Add vinegar,vanilla,oiland water. Stir mixture in pan until no lumps.Bake at 350* for 30 minutes.This cake has no frosting. Lots of times in was served in a bowl with a splash of milk over it.

Casserole:
Breakfast Casserole (this is a favorite brunch entre', make it the night before and sleep in)
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
1 lb. bulk sausage browned
2 cups milk
4 eggs,beaten
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
2 cups cubed white bread
Optional: 1/4 cup chopped green pepper,mushrooms,onions
Cover and refrigerate over night. Bake at 350* 45-50 minutes. Serve hot.

Dessert:
Apple Crisp (this is a fall favorite and makes the house smell so good while baking)
1st step: 3/4 cup sugar, 2 tbl. flour, 1/8 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp cinnamon, 4 cups peeled and sliced apples. Coat the apples with this mixture and place in 2 qt. casserole dish or 9x13 pan.
2nd step: Mix 1 cup quick cooking oatmeal, 1 cup flour,1 cup brown sugar, 1/8 tsp. baking soda, 1/8 tsp baking powder, add 1/2 softened butter and work mixture into crumbs. Pat crumb mixture on top of apple mixture and bake 350* for 45-50 minutes. Serve warm with a scoop of vanilla icecream or a dollop of whipped cream.

Main Dish:
Glazed Ham Loaf (Iowa is # 1 in hog production, so we eat a lot of pork, this is great served with sweet potatoes)
1 lb.ground beef
1 lb. ground smoked ham
1/2 lb. ground pork
1 cup milk
2cups dry bread crumbs
Mix well with hands and put into roasting pan.
Topping:
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup vinegar
1/2 cup water
1 tsp.dry mustard
Mix well and glaze over ham loaf, reserving some. Bake 350* 90 minutes,baste with sauce often.