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FULL LUNCHEON MENU BELOW
Mama got the coffee ready in her electric percolator which she would plug it in when they sat down to eat lunch. It was used only when she had company. I loved to watch the coffee perk and hear it beating out a tune. Back in those days the coffee makers as we now know them had not been invented. When Mama and Papa were alone they made instant coffee. I remember them putting a little pot of water on the stove to boil, because microwaves were not yet invented, putting the instant coffee in their cups and pouring the water on it. They drank it black; I think it was called Sanka.
For her Luncheons she served the coffee and dessert on pretty little plates that had the place circled on them for the coffee cup that matched the plates. I believe they were called luncheon plates. Mamas, had delicate flowers decorating them.
Mama made Cheesy English Muffins with Bacon and tomato for some of her lunch guests. I forgot all about them until my friend Rose Ann Santorelli asked if I still made them. She remembered my mother’s luncheons and said she said she really liked them and still makes them. Rose Ann is also from NJ but now lives in one of the most beautiful spots in our great country, Sedona Arizona. Her mom, Sally Pepe and my Mom where good friends, Sally and her husband owned the Pepes’ Shoe Repair Shop in Morristown on Washington Street not far from our house. I have more about Sally and Sal Pepe to come. Sally was also a Foodie and a very good cook.
Mama also made Monte Christo Sandwiches to serve her guest. These sandwiches are popular today but my sister and I think she made up her own recipe, They were one of her guests favorites.
I really enjoyed the Fruit in Sour Cream, I liked things sweet and the dark sweet cherries and other fruit made the sour cream nice and sweet. Something to make me a little plumper because it was not Low Fat Sour Cream, it was fully loaded. I made sure I tasted eveything sometimes I even ate with them. That insured that Mama could not stop me from eating, she would never do that in front of her friends. I thought I was pretty smart but after her guests left I got hell. Did I care, not in the least. because I got to eat everything and was still licking my fingers as she yelled. As a matter of fact I probable went back and ate more after everyone was in bed.
Appetizer
Fruit in Sour Cream
I 8oz. container of sour cream, if you are feeding more than 4 double this recipe
1 can of dark sweet cherries
1 small can mandarin oranges
1 small can pineapple chunks ( if you want to use the kind packed in it’s own juice that is your choice but they didn’t sell it that way back then)
Mix it all together and refrigerate for 2 hours or more. Serve in pretty cocktail glasses and sprinkle toasted almonds on top, (optional) or you can sprinkle toasted coconut on top.
Main Course
Cheesy English Muffins with Bacon
Make as many of these as u need 2 should be 1 serving
English Muffins
Bacon or Pancetta
Sliced tomatoes
Cheese slices
Split the English muffins and place a piece of cheese on each half. Top the cheese with a large slice of tomato and put par cooked bacon or pancetta on top. Put under broiler until cheese has melted and edges are golden brown. I can’t give you a time because all ovens are different so just keep watching them. Don’t put them to close to the broiling element. If available use a toaster broiler oven.
or
Monte Christo Sandwiches
Sliced white bread or bread of your choosing, 2 slices per sandwich
Sliced Ham
Sliced Turkey
Sliced Swiss cheese
3 large beaten eggs or as many as needed
3 tablespoons of milk
Mustard
Mayo
Canola Oil
Put sandwiches together using 2 slices on ham and two slices of turkey. Put a slice of cheese on the top and bottom of the meat. Spread one slice of bread with mustard lightly and the other slice with mayo again lightly. Put sandwiches together and dip all sides in to the egg mixture that has been whisked together with the milk. In frying pan pour approx. ¼ cup of oil as needed. Over med low heat fry the sandwiches approx. 3 minutes on each side or until golden brown and cheese has melted. You can serve these sandwiches with a cinnamon applesauce on the side. Mama served them that way.
Rub the potatoes with oil and place on baking sheet then Salt and pepper to them taste. Bake until knife inserted in middle slides in easily. The potatoes should be baked not nuked in microwave as the taste and texture will change. Remove from oven and cool. Wisk together the dressing and set aside. Once the potatoes are cool cut them into cubes. Do not remove skin unless you prefer it that way. Put in bowl with all the other ingredients and mix all together. Pour on dressing and mix well. Salt and pepper to taste.
Chill in frig for several hours or you can make this the day before. When ready to serve mound the potato salad in a pretty serving dish and sprinkle with paprika.
Grease a 9 by 5 loaf pan with butter and flour, do not use cooking spray or cake will stick. In bowl combine flour, baking powder and salt, set aside.
Cream together butter, ricotta and sugar with electric mixer until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time and mix after each. Add vanilla, orange zest and almond extract. Add dry ingredients a little at a time until all incorporated. Do not over mix. Pour mixture into pan and sprinkle nuts on top. Bake for 45 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean. Let cake cool in pan for 15 minutes and then remove from pan. When completely cooled sprinkle with powdered sugar. Serve slices of cake with prepared berries.
I love this cake, I call it Italian Cheesecake, I don’t know what Mama called it. I like it in the morning with my coffee sans the berries. You can taste the ricotta cheese and all the other flavors that are in it and it makes an it outstanding dessert when you serve it with the berries, especially in the summer when the berries are in season and so yummy.
So there you have it a complete Luncheon menu as Mama served it. I miss those little social events. Mama had so many lady friends; many were girls she met during the war. They worked and played together as they waited for the war to end and husbands and boyfriends to come back home. When they did come home it was time to settle down and raise a family. Back in post WWII days most of the women did not work, they stated home with the kids and took care of the home. So they were usually available to come for lunch. Now a days we meet in restaurant when we want to do lunch. Times have sure changed some for the better and some not so much. I have never been sure if I liked the women libbers who gave the men the bright idea that woman should work. It would have been fine if we worked and didn’t have to do all the rest of the work but most working woman today still have to do the cooking, cleaning, shopping , laundry and driving kids, etc. I know most of the men think they help but the true responsibility still is with the women. And whose bright idea was it to make women work right up until the day the give birth. I bet that was not a woman.
Baked Potato Salad
8 medium red potatoes skins on
2 tablespoons canola oil or olive oil
Salt and pepper
Dressing
1 cup mayo
1 cup ranch dressing
1 cup sour cream
Other ingredients
1 bunch of chives chopped
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1 cup bacon fried crisp and crumbled
Rub the potatoes with oil and place on baking sheet then Salt and pepper to them taste. Bake until knife inserted in middle slides in easily. The potatoes should be baked not nuked in microwave as the taste and texture will change. Remove from oven and cool. Wisk together the dressing and set aside. Once the potatoes are cool cut them into cubes. Do not remove skin unless you prefer it that way. Put in bowl with all the other ingredients and mix all together. Pour on dressing and mix well. Salt and pepper to taste.
Chill in frig for several hours or you can make this the day before. When ready to serve mound the potato salad in a pretty serving dish and sprinkle with paprika.
Dessert
Italian Cheese Cake with Berries
1 1/2 cups cake flour
2 ½ teas baking powder
1 teaspoons salt
1 ½ softened butter
1 ½ cups ricotta cheese
1 1/2 cups sugar
3 large eggs
1 teas good vanilla extract
Zest from 1 orange
2 teaspoons Almond extract
2/3 cups roasted chopped almonds
1 pint of berries, strawberries go good with this, quarter and spri6nkle with 2 tables. Sugar and refrigerate for several hours.
Powdered sugar for sprinkling
350 degree oven
Grease a 9 by 5 loaf pan with butter and flour, do not use cooking spray or cake will stick. In bowl combine flour, baking powder and salt, set aside.
Cream together butter, ricotta and sugar with electric mixer until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time and mix after each. Add vanilla, orange zest and almond extract. Add dry ingredients a little at a time until all incorporated. Do not over mix. Pour mixture into pan and sprinkle nuts on top. Bake for 45 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean. Let cake cool in pan for 15 minutes and then remove from pan. When completely cooled sprinkle with powdered sugar. Serve slices of cake with prepared berries.
I love this cake, I call it Italian Cheesecake, I don’t know what Mama called it. I like it in the morning with my coffee sans the berries. You can taste the ricotta cheese and all the other flavors that are in it and it makes an it outstanding dessert when you serve it with the berries, especially in the summer when the berries are in season and so yummy.
So there you have it a complete Luncheon menu as Mama served it. I miss those little social events. Mama had so many lady friends; many were girls she met during the war. They worked and played together as they waited for the war to end and husbands and boyfriends to come back home. When they did come home it was time to settle down and raise a family. Back in post WWII days most of the women did not work, they stated home with the kids and took care of the home. So they were usually available to come for lunch. Now a days we meet in restaurant when we want to do lunch. Times have sure changed some for the better and some not so much. I have never been sure if I liked the women libbers who gave the men the bright idea that woman should work. It would have been fine if we worked and didn’t have to do all the rest of the work but most working woman today still have to do the cooking, cleaning, shopping , laundry and driving kids, etc. I know most of the men think they help but the true responsibility still is with the women. And whose bright idea was it to make women work right up until the day the give birth. I bet that was not a woman.
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