Friday, January 24, 2014

Guest Sherida Stewart with Date Pudding

Missy, here. When Sherida was talking on the Seekerville blog about her grandmother's Date Pudding, I asked her to share it here. I'll probably share it again near the holidays but was anxious to find out how she made it! Here's Sherida…


Family Treasures

by Sherida Stewart


In a 1950’s Kansas kitchen filled with the scent of frying doughnuts, I learned to love cooking and to treasure the handed-down recipes which are my family’s heritage. Grandmother would stand at the stove frying the puffy dough while I stood on a chair helping Granddad dip the treats in sweet glaze. I waited with anticipation until we finished so I could finally bite into one while it was still warm. Yum! In their small town, Grandmother was known as the Doughnut Lady because of the thousands of doughnuts she made for church fundraising projects and for selling at the local mercantile. That recipe is in a church cookbook in memory of her contributions.

My mother, grandmothers, and aunts cooked wonderful meals for family celebrations. Through their efforts, I learned about family love and family traditions expressed by preparing food for others. Those memories of family festivities are recalled when I use their recipes. A special memory is our Christmas Eve dinners at my grandparents’ home. Thirty-five family members would sit at a very long make-shift table stretching from the dining room through the small living room. We looked forward to Grandmother’s special Date Pudding dessert, a recipe handed down with love. We knew it was a treasured tradition.

My mother and her four siblings grew up during the hardships of the Depression. My grandmother stretched the food budget with her garden and creative cooking. During the Depression, the ingredients for this Date Pudding recipe were very expensive. Grandmother would scrimp to be able to make this special dessert for Christmas dinner. My uncle told me the family would sometimes save money by collecting hickory nuts in the nearby pastures. These were hard to crack, but tasted fine in the Date Pudding. Generations have passed this recipe down, continuing to make it as part of our Christmas celebrations.

This is very rich, but also very easy….a treat to treasure.



DATE PUDDING

1 T. flour
1 T. soda cracker crumbs
1 cup sugar
1 t. baking powder
1 cup dates (cut in thirds)
1 cup walnuts (broken)
2 t. vanilla
2 eggs

Mix dry ingredients. Beat in eggs. Add dates, nuts, and vanilla.
Pour into a greased and floured 8- or 9-inch pan.
Bake 25 minutes at 350 degrees.
Serve with a dollop of whipped cream.
Makes nine servings.



Mix the dry ingredients (flour, crushed crackers, sugar, and baking powder) in a bowl.



Beat in the eggs.



Cut the dates into pieces. Cutting them into thirds works well for me.



Mix in the dates, walnuts, and vanilla until combined.



Pour mixture into a greased and floured 8- or 9-inch baking pan.



Bake for 25 minutes in a preheated 350 degree oven. Be careful not to bake too long.



Serve with a dollop of whipped cream.



I treasure the recipe card in my mother’s handwriting, reminding me of her love of family, cooking, and traditions.

This year we enjoyed Date Pudding on New Year’s Day when our younger son and his fiancĂ©e were able to join us for a late Christmas celebration. Endearingly, she asked if I would give her the recipe. Yes, absolutely I’ll pass it on….along with the cookbook of family treasures I’m collecting for her wedding gift. Welcome to our family heritage of food mixed together with love and sprinkled with memories!

Thanks to Missy for asking about this treasured recipe and for having me visit with you here in the Yankee-Belle Cafe. Do you have treasured recipes which have been passed down with special memories?

******
Sherida Stewart is hiking along the trail God has mapped for her and learning to trust in His directions. Married to her high school sweetheart for 42 years, they have two sons, two grandchildren, a daughter-in-law, and one future daughter-in-law. A former teacher, Sherida now enjoys blogging about inspirational romance and writing at www.SheridaStewart.com and about traveling and food at http://QuietTravels.com.






45 comments:

  1. Sherida, I can just taste those homemade doughnuts. I enjoy making recipe books for newlyweds. I do that for family & close friends.
    Those memories & recipes are definitely treasures!

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    1. Donna, one of my favorite wedding shower gifts was a recipe book with recipes from the women who attended the shower (my mother's friends). They also gave me a cookie sheet that I still use!

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    2. Hi, CP Donna! Fun to learn you do recipes books for wedding gifts....such a special present from the heart! I've been thinking of special recipes to include in my DIL-to-be's book, and they're mostly DESSERTS! Maybe I need to add some "healthy" recipe favorites. :) Hmmm.....

      Missy, what a perfect shower gift filled with love!

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  2. I have many treasured recipes from my mother. I thank God that she wrote a cookbook for her garden club as a fundraiser a few years ago, because most of them are in there. A lot of it I learned in cooking with her, special times I will always treasure. However my question is : will you make a return visit and share that doughnut recipe? Yum!!! :)

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    1. Piper, I was going to ask the same about the doughnuts! :)

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    2. Piper! That you have a whole cookbook of your mother's recipes is an absolute treasure! I have a scattering of my mom's recipes on cards, scraps of paper, and on mimeographed sheets (where she shared many cookie recipes.) I need to collect these memories in a special place rather than my random recipe file. Wondering if a KDP book would work to share with other relatives.... Class has been SO informative with all the different possibilities.

      Grandmother's doughnuts! I'll be glad to send you the recipe....but I have to confess....I've only made them myself a couple of times. They take time and patience....and I'm a lazy cook.

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  3. Sigh...I'm feeling all Waltonish now. What beautiful words and memories.

    The crushed crackers in the recipe threw me. That's an unusual ingredient Wonder who thought of adding that to a sweet recipe? I've never heard of date pudding, but I think I just might have to give it a try. Sounds delish.

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    1. Kav, I was thrown by that as well. But I guess it adds a touch of salt and maybe thickens it a bit.

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    2. Hi, Kav! Yes....just like the Waltons! My grandparents' kitchen was probably more a 1930's kitchen, now that I think about it. I remember when they still had to pump their water with one of those hand pumps. What a lot of work cooking would have been.

      I don't know about the crackers. I just never experimented with anything else, but I wondered about just some baking soda...soda crackers?

      In talking with my aunt and uncle about this post, they sent me a contest entry my grandmother had entered in the Pillsbury Bake-Off. To have enough flour to qualify for the contest, she did a pie crust, then put the Date Pudding ingredients into the pie...like a pecan or raisin pie. My uncle said he didn't remember a big celebration.....so she must not have won. Now it's fun to have another recipe.....and the entry is in Grandmother's handwriting. <3

      Kav, I've been thinking of the idea you mentioned in Seekerville about putting inspirational quotes on a piece of furniture. A lovely idea! Thanks!

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  4. Sherida, you had me drooling over the doughnuts. I bet they were amazing, just like your memories. The date pudding sounds pretty good too. Just might have to give that a whirl. Thanks! :)

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    1. Mindy, I thought the same thing. My mom used to make homemade doughnuts when I had slumber parties. I remember her tossing them in a paper bag to absorb the grease! Then tossing with powdered sugar.

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    2. Thanks a lot, Missy. I just got my chin wiped off and now you've got me drooling again. Sheesh. Some people. :P

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    3. Yum, ladies! Now, I'm starving as well! A run to the donut shop might be in order......and I probably should RUN.... to burn off the calories!

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    4. But they wouldn't be the same as Grandmothers! :(

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  5. wow talking about donuts then we dont' even get the recipe?! that's mean!

    I might have to try this but will wait until I have help eating it! my aunt makes these yummy date nut balls and this last Christmas my cousin came in for a couple of days and made them with her so we'd have the recipe - which reminds me I need to pm her and get the recipe before she forgets! seems like most ingredients are 2 cup but there are certain steps to mixing the stuff or you end up in a pickle!

    special recipes are awesome - my mom died with hers still pretty much in her head though the only one I could say is a 'family' recipe (for more than a generation) is my grandmother's dressing (my dad's mom) but she shared that with my brother and I'm not a huge holiday food fan so doubt I'd ever wanna make it but can call my brother if I do.

    a special family cookbook would be so neat!

    Susanna

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    1. Susanna, if you get those recipes, I'd love for you to share them with us! Let me know if you'd like to do that.

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    2. Susanna.....Yes, that was mean, wasn't it? Sorry!!! I was going down memory lane, thinking of Grandmother....donuts......I got distracted rom the Date Pudding I was to be writing about. Since the recipe is so rich, I made a half recipe which works fine. It seems like most of the family recipes I remember best are desserts.....and then add my husband's side of the family holiday recipes (including birthday cake for Jesus).....we have dessert overload at Christmas.

      And those date nut balls sound so good! Yes, please share!!!

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    3. trying to get my cousin to give me the recipe..pm'd her today but no answer yet. those balls are really good - dates, coconut, BUTTER(pretty sure there was a lotta butter), rice krispies...sugar..there are 2 or 3 steps- you melt something or caramelize then add something then you have to do another step pretty quick and have to make the balls pretty quick too seems like. I wish I'd known when she came in- I could've gone over there and 'helped' LOL!
      Susanna

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    4. Ooooo! Coconut and butter, too. You can't miss with those ingredients. PLEASE post this when you can get in touch with her. This might be an EMERGENCY!

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  6. SHERIDA!!!! WE'RE SO GLAD YOU'RE HERE, SCHNOOKIE-UKUMS!!!!! :)

    Date pudding, oh my stars, trip me back to yesteryear!!!! What a fun walk down memory lane! Love it!!!! And this is so much like a bread pudding, just with crackers instead of bread. I wonder at the difference so now must try both!!!

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    1. Hi, Ruthy! So fun to be here.....a place of delicious FOOD and good conversations....about FOOD! I think I've mentioned before...I'm all about the FOOD! :)

      Loved your cute pictures yesterday....such sweeties!

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  7. Hi Sherida!

    I hope Missy is treating you right on your visit to the kitchen side of the cafe. Did she show you where the secret stash of chocolate is hidden?

    I love family recipes. They bring back so many memories, don't they?

    My mother-in-law gave me the gift of recipes from her collection for Christmas one year, and she added some from her sisters, too. They are such a treasure now!

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    1. Hi Jan! Yes, Missy has been great about showing me around the café....coffee and tea and hot chocolate! Such a welcome. Yes, secret chocolate!!! Wonder where the jellybeans are hidden.....maybe Tina will tell me.

      Your mother-in-law's gift is a special treasure. Heritage through recipes.

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  8. HUGE FAN OF DATES!!! Thanks for the pictures to go with the delightful recipe!

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    1. Hi Tina! Yes, DATES! They add a healthy essence to the DESSERT, so we should have an extra serving!

      Now, do you know where the jellybeans are hidden here in the café?

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    2. If we have jelly beans, you're more than welcome to them! Lol of course, Jelly Bellies is a different story. I hide the butter popcorn ones. :)

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    3. I can understand hiding the popcorn Jelly Bellies! :)
      Thanks for letting me share some of my family memories here today at the cafe. Fun to be here!

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  9. Looks wonderful, Sherida! And isn't it a treasure to have a family recipe in our loved one's own handwriting? I have a few from my mother-in-law that I'm sure will be passed down to my daughters or granddaughters someday.

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    1. Yes, Myra....there is something about having the recipe in Mom's handwriting. When my aunt and uncle sent the Pillsbury contest entry in Grandmother's handwriting, I felt such a connection with her.

      Handwriting the recipes for family would be lovely!

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  10. That looks so delicious I could cry. My beloved MIL who is no longer living, made these outstanding date cookies and my mom had a different recipe with dates. We only got them at Christmas time. This post makes me very nostalgic and now I'm going to go cry and miss my MIL then phone my mom.

    I HOPE YOU'RE HAPPY, SHERIDA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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  11. Hi Mary! Calling your mother would always make me happy! :)

    My sons' favorite recipe is our "DATE COOKIE" recipe....but it doesn't have dates in it. When I wanted an excuse to visit my high school boyfriend, I would make up a batch of those "no cook chocolate and oatmeal cookies" to take to him. "Oh, could I stop by your house? I have some cookies for you." Then we'd go on a "date".... yep, I got him.....and we've been married for almost 43 years....our sons are happy I had that recipe!

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    1. What a sweet story, Sherida! Of course now Mary is probably weeping about that. ;)

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  12. WOW, Sherida ... this looks (and sounds) DEE-LISH!! I haven't had lunch, and I am SALIVATING!!

    Hugs,
    Julie

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  13. Hi, Julie! Hmmmm....I think this would work for lunch! .......

    Notice my.....hmmm.......what do you call those dots?.....Ellipes.....Can you tell I'm reading your Romance-ology 101?

    YOU have set me FREE ......I LOVE to use those dots......and I thought it was incorrect to use them. THANKS for giving me permission......just to add tension, of course! AMAZING BOOK! (Will do review soon.....).......

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  14. I know that I'd love this date pudding! Thanks for sharing the recipe, Sherida! What wonderful memories center around great food. My mother made persimmon pudding. The small persimmons from southern Indiana are hard to come by. I miss it! I have several recipes written in my mother's hand and one of my mother-in-law's. Miss them both. Thanks for your touching post!

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    1. Persimmon pudding! Sounds interesting, Janet. I don't think I've ever had persimmons.

      Good to know you have some of those treasured recipes, too.

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  15. So Sherida is the new date queen and Julie is the ....ellipsis and !!!! queen.

    They don't have jelly beans in the cafe. So sad.

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    1. Thank you, Tina! ELLIPSIS! That's the word! :)

      But there is a hint of jellybean scent here....just can't identify exactly where it's coming from. Hmmmm......I do need to restock the secret chocolate supply before I leave (wearing my Date Queen tiara).


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  16. Sherida, love your 'date cookies' story!

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  17. Thanks, Donna! That is now a favorite family story .....to be passed down to the grandkids.

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  18. Sherida, you had my undivided attention the moment I saw the word 'date.' I identify with how special it is to have the old recipe card. I have several of my mother's ... complete with some of the ingredients on them ;-)

    Adding this to my recipe binder. Thanks so much for sharing.

    Nancy c

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    1. Hi Nancy! Yes, I have some of those recipe cards...showing they are well-used and well-loved....and that I'm a messy cook. :)

      Glad you enjoyed walking down a memory lane of food with me.

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  19. Sherida, what a wonderful memory to pass down and share. I love favorite recipes that include a slice of family : ) Thanks for sharing...and really, this looks easy enough for me to try!

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    1. Thanks, Audra! Yes, easy is always good in my cookbook!

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  20. Hi, Sherida! Thanks for sharing this link! So heart-warming to think about all those special memories. And I must admit, I was thinking about your "DATE cookie" recipe as well! By the way, I even have Grandma's high-altitude-adjusted doughnut recipe, from when she came to visit us in Wyoming and made a batch. And I saved Mom's doughnut rack - the one Dad made tolet the glaze drip off so there was just a perfect thin layer. I also must confess I have yet to even try to make a batch of Grandma's doughnuts. I don't know what's stopping me: the fear of disappointment when they don't taste like Grandma's and Mom's - or the fact that I don't want to get up in the middle of the night to make them like Grandma did for the corner diner. I, too, treasure Mom's handwritten recipes - especially the little notes she wrote in the margins. And the comments about which guests particularly like certain dishes or had allergies to consider. Mom was definitely an amazing and thoughtful hostess.... And she raised her oldest daughter very well! (I don't have your cooking or computer skills, so I don't know how to post this without a google account, etc. I'll try for anonymous - though I'm pretty sure you can guess my identity. : ) Let me know if you want that high-altitude recipe! Love you! )

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