Looking for recipes from your childhood

I'm working on a website where children teach other children to cook using step by step videos. It's www.Spatulatta.com. It's hosted by two bright, energetic girls Belle (9) and Livvy (7) who, along with other guest "cooks" from the 6-10 set, present basic kid-friendly recipes.

We present a different set of five mini-recipes each week so we go through a lot of material. We could use your help. We are looking for family recipes that people enjoyed as children or that they make with their children.

You can check out the website and see the kind of things we've already done. It's been interesting to see the kinds of things the children are capable of making. They were totally fearless of phyllo dough and made great spanikopita!

Thanks for your help.

Gaylon

One of my most prized possessions is a cookbook I was given in 7th grade (when I first studied French, or any other language other than rote Church Latin for that matter) called "La Cuisine est un jeu d'enfants." (par Michel Oliver, editions PLON, 1963). The first page included a cut-out so that you could calibrate la tasse to the oz. cup system (in my handwriting there, 20 centilitres = 1 scant cup).

As an eldest daughter, I had some good basic skills, and really appreciated how the book didn't talk down, but instead suggested well thought out and interesting recipes that built on my basic knowledge.

A sampling of recipes, from each chapter, some of which have become staples of mine:

Pan bagnat (soupe et hors-d'oeuvre)
Crepe aus croutons (oeufs et poissons)
Poulet au sel (viandes et poulets)
Mayonnaise (sauces et legumes)
Tot-fait (missing the chapeau over the o, dessert)

Thanks for making me pull this book down off my shelf, and seeing my mother's familiar handwriting and inimitable inscription style.

I remember when I was a kid, helping my folks make Bourbon balls (my mother grew up in Kentucky). Probably politically incorrect these days, but there really wasn't that much bourbon in there. Let me know if you want the recipe.

At Gaylon's insistance, I’m posting my mother’s recipe for Bourbon Balls (for the record, my Mom was the foods editor for the Louisville Courier-Journal in the late 1940’s, but I’m pretty sure she never published this recipe, and it’s certainly not covered by any copyrights). I made it as a kid, I’ve made it subsequently, and the results are addictive. And an entire batch won’t get a kid drunk. Still, I recognize it’s not exactly politically correct for a site that’s directed at recipes kids can make.

Bourbon Balls
1 cup vanilla wafer crumbs (i.e. put ‘em in the food processor)
1 cup chopped pecans
1 cup powdered sugar
2 tablespoons cocoa
1/4 cup bourbon whiskey (must be from Kentucky)
1 1/2 tablespoons white corn syrup
more powdered sugar or cocoa

Mix crumbs, pecans, sugar and cocoa thoroughly. Add whiskey and corn syrup. Blend and form into small balls (walnut size). Roll in cocoa or powdered sugar. Store in tightly sealed container in the refrigerator – they’ll last at least a couple of weeks.

Note that I made these once using Canadian Whiskey, because I didn’t have any bourbon on hand. I have yet to hear the end of criticism for that