Vintage Recipes...Modern Twists Review #1- Tamale Pie

Recipes from Mama Jones' recipe box made new!

I made the tamale pie from Mama Jones' recipe box tonight but I changed a few things up.  Why, you ask.  Well, let me tell you.  I never usually follow a recipe as it is written.  Forgive me, it's a habit I picked up from my Mom and Mimi. 

The vintage Hot Tamale Pie Recipe

Drumroll..........The ingredients I used......

 Substitutions:

In Place of Cornmeal- Jiffy Corn Muffin Mix 

In place of a can of tomatoes- Ro Tel (mild version). If I were making this for just myself and the Mister, I would use regular Ro Tel.  Due to our three little Oklahoma Hills, I used the mild version.  Yes, I do love Woody Guthrie.  If you don't get the reference, either you are not from Oklahoma or you need to move out of Oklahoma.  Just joking, I can forgive this one time. 

I was out of onions so I used onion powder.  Before children, I would have ran to the store.  After having three kids in four years, I try to stay away from the store.  ha!

Additions:

Taco Seasoning- 1 packet

Can of corn

Mix the can of milk, two cups of water and the box of Jiffy in a large skillet.  Boil and thicken.  This will make a mush.   

My helper, Mollie

Pour enough of the mush mixture to line an oven safe casserole dish.  This was my Mimi's, isn't it lovely?  I love cooking with her "old" things.  Makes me feel so happy and I think the food tastes better.  Now, set this aside if you want the mushy texture in the dish.  If you prefer more of a "cornbread" type bottom, bake this about 5-10 minutes at 350.  I made it with the mushy texture and it was delicious!

Next, brown 1lb of hamburger.  I use ground chuck from Nobles Meat Market in Skiatook.  Now, if the Nobles read this maybe they will give me a free pound the next time I am in. ha!  Add half of the taco seasoning before the meat browns.  Add the remainder after it has browned.  Smells so delicious!!

Add the rotel on top.

Add a can of corn. Mix and combine. Pour the mixture on top of the corn meal in your casserole dish.
Add a thin layer of the cornbread mush on top.
Bake at 350 for 40 minutes or so...

The finished product.  Right out of the oven!

Here's the plate.. Wait, that's Mollie's plate!

Here's the actual plate.  This one is for the Mister.  Accompaniments are: salad and fresh green beans

The boys snapped the green beans for me.  I had to cage them to do it. ha. No, that is a keep little sister out of art projects, lego projects cage!  Yes, that's how we do it in the Hill household. 

The Reviews are in!!!!!!!

Jack loved it!   He cleaned his plate. Since we are making a vintage recipe, I told him guns were allowed at the table.  They would have been 100 years ago, right??   Please ignore my tacky pepper shaker in the background.  We have been though a few nice ones and I have decided to stick with cardboard ones for now.  

This one tasted, put his cape on and wanted to fly, far, far away.  I take that as a "thumbs down" from The Con Man.  Just a little nickname- hope it doesn't stick! ha

I loved it. Mollie liked it.  The mister loved it too.  I will make it again!  Stay tuned for the next recipe review.....

John Christopher Riffe (JC Riffe)- 52 Ancestors- Week 5

John Christopher Riffe
 My great-great grandmother's (Mama Jones) brother

John C. Riffe (Mama Jones' brother) was born in Hustonville, Kentucky on August 3, 1872 to Dr. JC and Eliza Jane Riffe.  In 1879, he and his family moved to Texas. He and Mama Jones were the only of seven children to survive into adulthood.

He married Lulu Kinnesbrough on April 21, 1899 in Rocky, Oklahoma.  They made their home in Lone Wolf, Oklahoma.  JC and Lulu owned and operated the Lone Wolf Telephone Company. They were highly regarded residents in their community.

JC and Lulu were unable to have children but adored their nephews and nieces.  Trixie spent a lot of time with them.  Her diaries talk of taking the train from Sayre/Mangum to Lone Wolf and working for them in the telephone office from time to time.  In return,  JC and Lulu spent a great deal of time in Sayre with the Jones' family.

In 1907,  JC lost his right eye during a hunting accident.  Four years later, he was involved in a second serious accident.  He was walking along a railroad track with a pocket knife in his hand.  Stumbling across a cattle guard, he fell and the knife cut his hands and penetrated his left eye.  He eventually lost sight in his eye.   Aside from complete blindness, the accident left him suffering from horrific headaches. Unable to ease the pain, JC shot himself in March of 1911.  He was only thirty-nine years old.  This left Mama Jones the only surviving member of the JC Riffe family.  Our family is the only family to carry on a lineage from seven children of JC and Eliza Riffe.  

JC and Lulu Riffe

JC Riffe

Straight from Avant, Oklahoma........Mama Jones' Recipe Box

The always beautiful Annie Jones, aka "Mama Jones".   

The infamous recipe box.  

Side view.  

Her house in Avant, Oklahoma.  My Mom and Grandmother both said she had small storage areas on each side of the porch where she stored her mementos.  My Mom said if you pulled into her drive and she was in the storage, she would come hiking out.  She could be rather private.  I wish the house was  still standing.   Sadly, it was torn down. 

The following are recipes we found in Mama Jones' Recipe Box.  I had a fit when we found it in some old boxes.  I have the box in my kitchen sitting on the counter.  

Okmulgee- has to be Aunt Gerry!

Divinity!  I have tried to make it in the past with only one success.  My Mimi (Mildred) always said the weather had to be just right for it to turn out.  Maybe I will try this recipe...

Marshmallow fudge!  I haven't met a Jones- Gideon family member who didn't like their chocolate (including myself)

More fudge.  Trixie's diaries talk of making fudge quite a bit.

Aunt Lucile.  Mrs. Bracken was Mama Jones' neighbor.  Her daughter was Mildred Patillo from Skiatook, Oklahoma.

I remember my Mimi (Mildred) making divinity when I was a child.  Wonder if this was the recipe she used?  Notice the writing on the side in blue.

Aunt Gerry!  I just love that we have all of these.  

Trixie's recipe- Sounds so good!

Funny how things cycle.  This was a popular recipe for "food day" about ten years ago when I worked in an office.   In the Gideon family, this was Aunt Sis's specialty.

Notice the bottom of the paper. Mrs. Shafer was Trixie's neighbor.  The Gideon and Shafer children were all around the same age and grew up together.

I made these last summer.  They were really good!

I made this last summer too.  Really, really good!  

Another one I tried.  I really liked this one.  All of the Gideon girls were really good cooks. 

Sounds really good!

I loved the few little extra things Mama Jones had in her recipe file.

Mimi's (Mildred's) Freshman class photo.  Can you spot her?  She is second row from top, third girl.
More about Mil's class photos coming up in another entry. 

Aunt Marj's recipe

Aunt Helen's recipe. I guess they had this cake at my Grandma's (Mimi) house.  

Aunt Pat's recipe.  Sounds delicious!  Maybe I will start making one recipe a week (I made a few last summer) and put a photo and review with it.  

A drawing!  My Mimi always did little drawings and doodles.  Must run in the family.......

A post card of Aunt Helen's that was in the recipe file.  A recipe is written on back.
I will have to find out from Aunt Helen who Bernie was.

Aunt Gerry's recipe.  Yum!

One from my much loved Mimi.  

Mama Jones' handwriting.  I love her handwriting.  I know I am weird but her handwriting just fits her photos perfectly.

Another from Aunt Gerry.  I want to try this one!

Aunt Joan's recipe.  I think all of these are so great.  I only got to be with her one time that I remember as she lived in Louisiana. She and Uncle Donnie came to visit the family in Oklahoma and I remember her being so sweet to me.  I was probably only 7 at the time but I remember sitting on her lap.
 I had broken my awesome Cindy Lauper inspired sunglasses (circa 1984).
I was so sad but I bet my mom was really glad they broke as I am sure they looked so nice on a 7 year-old girl.
She consoled me and then she showed me how to dry flowers.
I loved her British accent.  Was I a weird child or is this just a random memory, you can draw your own conclusion.  I would probably go with both. ha.   

Aunt Lucile's recipe.  

I would know this handwriting anywhere!  Do you know? Here's a hint-  I used to call her Millie Lou for fun.
I bet you got it!

Love this!  Uncle Jack- what a great man and what great service to our country.  I bet about 99% of the guys my age couldn't have endured what he did in WWII.  If you don't know a lot about Uncle Jack- find out!
He was quite a wonderful man.  They just don't make them like they used to.  

Trixie's handwriting

Favorite desserts of circus performers- wow!  Peggy's surprise- very interesting!!

I think this one sounds so good.  I will be making it!  Review coming soon....

I have made something like this before- minus the lard! 

The top says " Nov. Women's Day- 1954"

Cough Syrup recipe.  I bet a health food store sells the same syrup for about $50.  Maybe not $50 but close to it. ha,ha

This is my favorite!  Trixie's cough syrup recipe.  

Love this one too.  Someone make this for me!