After my dear dad passed away last year, I received some of his things. Among them was this blast from the past...
Cooking on Extended Benefits:
The book was put together by volunteers in the Western Pennsylvania area during the deep recession of the 1970s.
Old joke:
What's the difference between
a Recession and a Depression?
A Recession is when
some other guy loses his job.
A Depression is when I lose mine!
So anyway, while national stats ran to 9% or so unemployment in the mid-1970s, regional stats were appalling. Some towns in our Mon Valley area were registering up to 50% unemployment. Families used to working hard and paying bills on time were now accepting blocks of government cheese and using food banks.
Worst of all, men and women who had decent-paying jobs not only lost them, they fell off the grid. After their unemployment ran out, nobody counted them anymore. Some would never be employed again. Some would find work, but the new jobs would pay them far less that the old ones.
Recovery? Not a good recovery for them. But that's a song this country has heard before: Eddie Cantor performed the brilliantly ironic lyrics during The Great Depression.
Feeding the Community
As for this cookbook, it was created to raise money for the Mon Valley Food Bank. It was also distributed to families to help them with ideas for cooking at home and eating economical meals. It was done with good humor and good grace, and I'll always cherish it.
Below is a recipe from the book,
so let's get cooking!
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Shockingly tasty... |
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crime-writing—her husband.
Learn about their books
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Bourbon Hot Dog Bites
Marc and I have seen versions of this dish around the inter-web, but the recipe predates the digital domain. Given that it was in my late father's Unemployed Cookbook, it's at least 40 years old.
It's also shockingly tasty. Seriously. We could not stop popping these babies into our mouths.
We did tweak the original recipe, adding dry mustard for better complexity of flavor. We used dark brown sugar instead of light brown for the same reason. And if you're serving these at a party, we suggest using a little slow cooker to keep the bourbon bites warm throughout the evening.
Finally, we're sharing our bright idea of using pretzel sticks instead of the usual toothpicks or cocktail forks to spear them. That little bit of salty crunch with the sweet bourbon bite certainly had us eating with joy.
We hope you enjoy it, too...
~ Cleo
For a free, illustrated PDF
of this recipe that you can
print, save, or share, click here.
Adapted by Cleo Coyle
from The Unemployed Cookbook
Ingredients:
1 pound of your favorite hot dogs*
1 cup ketchup (we use Heinz Natural)
1 cup bourbon** (we use Jim Beam)
1 teaspoon dry mustard (our addition)
1 cup brown sugar (we suggest dark brown)
*Note 1: This recipe is delicious with beef or pork hot dogs, as well as Brats and cocktail meatballs.
**Note 2: The original recipe suggested that if 1 cup bourbon is too rich for your household, use 1/2 cup bourbon and 1/2 cup fruity red wine.
Directions:
Step 1 - Cut both ends off each hot dog, slice cut each
wiener into five, 1/2-inch pieces. Set aside.
Step 2 - In a large skillet or saute pan, combine ketchup and bourbon
and bring to a boil. As the mixture cooks, add dry mustard and dark brown sugar. Simmer
for about 5 minutes and then...
Step 3 - Add your sliced hot dogs (or Brats or cocktail meatballs). When the mixture boils, lower the
heat and simmer for 12 to 15 minutes. Serve warm...
SERVING NOTE: Instead of the usual toothpicks or cocktail forks, Marc and I like to serve these with pretzel sticks. That salty crunchy flavor with the sweet bourbon bite is outstanding.
☕
Eat (and read) with joy!
~ Cleo Coyle
New York Times bestselling author of
The Coffeehouse Mysteries
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Yes, this is me, Cleo (aka Alice). Friend or follow me on facebook here. Follow me on twitter here. Visit my online coffeehouse here. |
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"A gripping and entertaining mystery"--Library Journal (Starred Review)
"Penetrating insights" --Kirkus Reviews
"Sure to delight" --Publishers Weekly
Our culinary mystery includes
25 delicious recipes! To get the
Free Recipe Guide, click here.
A "Best Book of 2018!"
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~ Suspense Magazine
"A magnificent cold case
mystery." ~ Fresh Fiction
"He is hardboiled in the tradition
of Philip Marlowe, and she is a genteel
Miss Marple; yet the two opposites
make an explosive combination..."
—Midwest Book Review
LUCY BURDETTE: Supposing you're having a Halloween party, or maybe even better you're
going to one, but you're supposed to bring something spooky. And maybe
it's not supposed to be a sweet. 
