As I said these are recipes that my mother and grandmother used and I thought it would be fun to present them to you exactly as I have used the recipes for the past forty years that I've been making them. I think that they are quite clear in the photos. The Nanaimo Bars are from an old church cookbook (c 1954) that came to me after my mother passed away. You can see that this recipe has been made - a lot. For some reason, back then, this treat was called a London Smog Bar. Given that it uses Bird's custard powder, I would think that the bar has its origins in England.
However, the world knows it as a Nanaimo Bar. Not sure why since the city of Nanaimo is way across the world from London . Strange how that happened, isn't it? A Google search shows many recipes for Nanaimo Bars. There are even boxes of mix that you can buy but these are way too sweet for me. The photo isn't mine but this is almost exactly what my mom's would have looked like.
The next recipe is for Honey Cookies. This is what we call the cookies that my Grammy made. I'm told that she called them Jam-jams and always sandwiched them with jam. My preference is to leave them plain. Oh, and if they last until New Year's, they just get better and better. I think it's the honey that helps them mellow. My mother wrote this recipe out for me more than thirty years ago on a piece of yellow foolscap. Her writing is so clear that I doubt anyone would have trouble reading it. And, yes, it's had a lot of use, too.
If you make them...enjoy!
I love how the Nanaimo bar recipe has the quantity for double written in too! i sometimes do that!
ReplyDeleteAnd didn't your mother have beautiful handwriting?
I may very well make some of these, and will let you know how i get on. I love a recipe with a bit of history!
Some of my most treasured recipes come from my mother's old Betty Crocker cookbook and the others are in my grandmother's handwriting. I LOVE those! I can't wait to try these! Thank you so much for digging them out for us!
ReplyDeleteThey must be delicious, because you can see the use and love in them!!!
ReplyDeleteThey look delicious! Thanks for sharing them:)
ReplyDeleteI have handwritten receipts that my Grandmother gave me and I cherish them. Thanks for these...I'll have to try them soon!
ReplyDeleteWhat I love about a hand written recipe is the reminder of my loved one. I have recipes written by my mom, my mother in law, my aunts and friends and, yes, even patients and their families. Even though they're a all a bit tattered, I keep them in their original form to help preserve the memories that come unbidden when I bake from them.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Ginny that they must be good by the wear and tear on that page. Thanks for sharing. JB
ReplyDeleteThank you Stephanie, it was only 2 days ago that I got a little spirit and perhaps there is still time to bake. I can see the recipe clear as day, right looks like it did get used a lot. You are lucky to have your mother's hand writing I wish I had a little. Thank you ~ cindy
ReplyDeleteOh Yummm. I saved this.
ReplyDelete