I'm so excited...

... I could wet myself! That is how I started a phone call to Rebekah earlier this week! Our ward is putting together a ward cookbook. I've been part of this sort of thing before, but never on such a wonderful scale. This is going to be on a par with the Betty Crocker loose-leaf binder cookbook. So when I was asked if I would design the front cover of this book I was SO EXCITED!

I haven't done much scrapbooking (try any) since I finished my Digi: In Deep class in April. I've been totally wrapped up in the Family Search Indexing - Freedman Letters Project. (hmm, fodder for another post). I went to the web page giving the requirements for a custom cover for the cookbook and all I could see was LAYERED TEMPLATE! I was really excited then! I took a little time off from my computer work (entering recipes and FSI) and, well, did more computer work (computers are our friends!). I put together a layered template that was the basis for my final design.

But I was so excited about the possibilities I wondered if I could incorporate a photo of the actual Hobble Creek for the Hobble Creek Eighth Ward cookbook. I only live about a mile from it. So camera in hand I went on a little explore. I can never be around a creek that it doesn't take me back to may days in Greenville and all the happy times I spent down at Wolf Creek (Woff Crik) (hmm, more fodder). I got some lovely photos of the creek in its spring run-off state. The water was quite muddy and moving very fast. I didn't even want to put my tootsies in that icy cold water, so I didn't. I stayed happily on the bank and clicked away.

When I got back I went to work on a cover using a photo I taken and Ortonized for the cover, but it wasn't exactly what I wanted. Nice, but no cigar...

The next day as I was letting the idea percolate in my little brain while I was messing around with some design possibilities I was struck with THE IDEA! I wanted to incorporate that thing that typified recipes to me... my much loved and protected copy of my Mommy's favorite recipe: Tamale Loaf. The funny part about all of this is,as a child, I didn't even like this stuff! But it represents everything about how recipes effect me. I love to look at those recipes that are in my Mom's familiar handwriting and know how much love and time and effort went into preparing those special dishes. I can still see my Mom at our old white enamel gas stove cooking the cornmeal in a double boiler so it would burn (she used that same technique when she made her wonderful pumpkin chiffon pie).



I have included the recipe for said Tamale Loaf (aka Tamale Pie) in our upcoming HC8th ward cookbook, but I will also include it here for those who don't want to wait for the book.

TAMALE LOAF
Joanie's mom- Elsie Munce

1 lb. hamburger
1 lg. onion, diced

Fry until done. Drain.

1 c. salad oil
1 clove garlic, minced
1 can tomatoes
2 T. butter
2 c. cornmeal

Cook 15 minutes. Stir so it won't burn. Take from fire and add:

2 eggs, beaten
1 c. milk
1 can corn
1 can olives
2 T. Grandma's Pepper **
salt to taste

**(Grandma's Pepper is no longer available, but it is similar to a blend of chili powder and cumin with some black pepper mixed in. Experiment to get the taste you like) Bake 1/2 hour at 350°. Serves 11.

Elsie's notes on back of recipe card: Served on Dec 29, 1936. for 22 people-Double recipe for Tamale Loaf- serve with lime jello salad (4 pkgs. jello, pineapple, apple, carrot, celery) on lettuce leaf and hot rolls.

Note: My mom always used to make this dish when we were going to a potluck supper and there were never any leftovers! It is fun to share this with all of you. The original recipe card is used as part of the cover design.