Matrimony Cake

• 2 1/4 c. oatmeal
• 1 c. flour
• 1 c. brown sugar
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1 tsp. baking soda
• 3/4  to 1 c. shortening (Grandma says 50:50 butter and margarine)

Mix all together and pat 1/2 mixture into an 8 x 8″ pan. Put date filling on top, then remaining mix on top. Bake 30-35 mins in 350C oven.

For filling:

• 1 lb. pitted dates
• 2 Tbsps. brown sugar
• 1 c. water

Steam dates and water in a covered pot until soft. Stir in sugar. Add lemon juice or vanilla to flavour (optional). ( “Vanilla in cake 7-3-08”). Cool slightly.

Date, Nut and Raisin Rice Pudding

• 2 c. cooked short grain rie
• 2 whole eggs
• ¼ c. raisins
• ¼ c. dates, chopped
• ¼ c. pecans, chopped
• 3 tbsp. sugar
• 1 ¼ c. Pacific Milk and 1 ¼ c. water
• ¼ tsp. salt
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• 1 tbsp. melted butter
• 1/8 tsp. nutmeg

Sweeten freshly cooked hot rice to taste using ¼ c. sugar, or more. Place rice in buttered 2-quart casserole. Combine custard ingredients. Beat eggs slightly. Add milk, butter, sugar, vanilla, nutmeg, salt and dates, pecans and raisins. Pour over rice. Blend together lightly. Place baking dish in pan of hot water. Bake in slow oven, 325, for 1 hour or until knife inserted near centre comes out clean Serve hot or cold with or without lemon sauce. Makes 6-8 servings.

Quick Oat Cookies

• ¼ c. butter
• ¼ c. shortening
• ½ c. brown sugar
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• ½ tsp. soda
• 2 tbsp. hot water
• ¾ c. flour
• ½ tsp. salt
• 1 tsp. nutmeg
• 1 c. oats

Cream shortening, butter, brown sugar and vanilla. Mix soda with hot water and add to creamed mixture. Measure flour (without sifting) and combine with salt and nutmeg, stirring well to blend. Stir in oats. Add dry ingredients to creamed mixture. Mix well. Shape dough into 1-inch balls and place on greased baking sheets. Flatten with tines of fork and bake at 400 for 5 to 6 minutes.

quick oat cookies. with reduced sugar, raisins, and a bag of chai tea added, these were delicious

Fresh Strawberry Pie

Hilda Friesen [Omar’s Wife]

Slice fresh berries into large baked pie crust. Make sauce by boiling following ingredients until thick and clear (not too high heat, stir constantly):

• 1/2 – ¾ c. mashed berries
• ¾ c. sugar
• 2 tbsp. corn starch
• 1 c. cold water

Pour sauce over crust. Serve with whipped cream.

Sweetheart Pudding

Mrs. Gordon Rayner, Milton, Ontario. (Newspaper clipping).
Serves 6-8.

• 1 c. sifted flour
• 4 tsp. baking powder
• 1/8 tsp. salt
• ½ c. milk
• 2 ½ c. brown sugar
• 1 c. raisins
• ¼ c. chopped nuts
• 2 c. water
• 2 tbsp. butter

Sift flour, baking powder and salt together into a 1 ½ quart casserole. Stir in milk. Combine and add 1 c. brown sugar, raisins and nuts. Boil water and remaining 1 ½ c. brown sugar for 10 minutes. Add butter, pour over batter, do not stir. Bake in a moderate oven, 350, for 40 minutes. This is a one-dish pudding because you mix and bake in same casserole.

Chocolate Syrup

• 1 c. cocoa
• 2 c. sugar
• 1/8 tsp. salt
• 2 c. hot water

Stir over moderate heat until dissolves. Simmer 3 mins. Add 1 tbsp. vanilla. Beat with beater. Yield – 1 qt. syrup. Store in covered jars in a cool place.

Fudge Chocolate Cake

Karen Waller [nee Neufeld] – “very good”

• ½ c. butter
• 1 ½ c. sugar
• 1 tsp cream of tartar
• ½ c. hot water
• 2 eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1 ¾ c. flour
• 2 tbsp. cocoa
• ½ c. milk
• 1 tsp. soda

Cream butter, add sugar, beaten eggs and vanilla. Add dry ingredients, then milk. Add soda and the hot water and mix with batter. Bake in moderate oven until done.

Date Oatmeal Cookies

• 2 ½ c. oats
• 2 ½ c. flour
• 3 tsp. baking powder
• ¼ tsp. salt
• 1 c. sugar (1/2 white; ½ brown)
• ½ c. shortening
• ½ c. butter
• ½ c. milk

For filling:

• 1 lb. dates
• 2 c. water
• ½ c. sugar
• 1 tsp. vanilla (or lemon juice)

Vi’s note: This filling is enough for 2 times dough recipe.
Oven at 400; bake 7-8 mins.

O’Henry Bars

Hilda Friesen

• 1 c. brown sugar
• ½ c. butter
• ½ c. milk

Bring to boiling point. Remove from heat. Add:

• 1 c. graham wafers (broken)
• 1 c. nuts
• 1 c. cocoanut

Arrange whole wafers in bottom of pan 9×12. Cover with filling. Cover again with whole graham wafers. Cover with icing.

Yo-Yo Cookies

Adina Doerksen (who is this?)

• ¾ c. shortening
• 1 ¾ c. brown sugar
• 1 tsp. soda
• 2 tbsp. warm water
• 2 eggs, beaten
• 2 c. sifted flour
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• ¼ tsp. salt
• 1/3 c. toasted sesame seeds
• raspberry jam

Cream shortening and sugar. Dissolve soda in warm water and add to beaten eggs. Add flour, salt, vanilla, and sesame seeds. Drop by teaspoons onto greased cookie sheet spaced well apart (12 per cookie sheet). Bake at 175 for 8 – 10 mins. Cool slightly and put together with raspberry jam.