Some recipes come and go... but other recipes stay around for a long time. These are called family favorites. They remind us of special events or family gatherings. When talking about food with family members, you may have found yourself reminiscing, saying something like, "Do you remember when grandma would make that chocolate cake with the real fudge frosting?" Of course, you don't remember grandma's chocolate cake with fudge frosting; the family has gone nuts trying in vain to duplicate it. Chances are you do have special remembrances of a recipe from your family that you can't find or don't know how to copy.

I was recently reading a book about a woman, who after going to" Fanny Mae's Cooking School" back East, broke off her engagement and went to cook for a rancher and his hired men in Wyoming. She took her measuring cups, spoons and lots of spices with her. Her fancy recipes were not appreciated by the rancher or the hired men. But as she began preparing the foods that they were accustomed to, she became loved and appreciated. There is much more to the story, but I just wanted to share that tiny bit. I was always told that "a way to a man's heart is through his stomach."

Old cookbooks would often say; a pinch of this; a half a hand full of that, and so on. A couple generations back, women made the same recipes over and over again and knew by look, feel and taste when the food was done correctly. I have to have my measuring cups and spoons when I bake. My mother, on the other hand, never owned measuring cups or spoons and had no desire to have them. She was an excellent cook but I couldn't get a recipe from her to save my life because she didn't have specific measurements. I did learn a lot by watching her.

I wish I had been paying more attention when my husband's mom made a cake. She made a chocolate cake with real fudge frosting at the request of everyone in the family for their birthdays. The frosting recipe was in her head and she knew when it was just the right consistency. Now grandma is in heaven and none of us know how to duplicate that cake. I guess what I am trying to tell you is that you really need to keep track of special recipes. I can't think of a better way to keep track of "Family Favorite Recipes" than exporting then into your own cookbook on DVO Cookin'. That's what I'm doing! When I asked my family what their favorite foods were growing up, this is what they came up with.

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Mom's Cinnamon Rolls

This is one of my daughter's favorites

1/2 cup warm water
1 Tablespoon sugar
3 c buttermilk
1 Tablespoon yeast
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
4 cups flour

Mix all the above ingredients together and let sit for one hour.

1 cup melted butter
1/2 teaspoon soda
4 cups flour
2 eggs
1/2 c sugar

Mix all these ingredients into the first set of ingredients. Let sit for 1 hour.

This is very soft dough. Make sure your board is covered heavily with flour. Roll out in rectangles. Cover inside of rectangle with melted butter and cinnamon sugar. Roll and slice with a sharp knife, a string or dental floss. Cook at 350 degrees in preheated oven for 35-40 minutes. While the rolls are still warm frost as desired.

This dough can also be refrigerated covered for up to 3 weeks. You can also make cinnamon roll dough and freeze. Take out and let rise (this will take several hours if frozen).

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Homemade Pancakes

My other daughter and her family can't get enough of her pancakes. Actually, if I want to please any grandchild this will do the trick!

1 cup flour (white or wheat)
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 Tablespoon baking powder
2 Tablespoon sugar
2 Tablespoons cooking oil
1 egg
1 cup buttermilk

Add dry ingredients together and then add the wet. The baking powder and buttermilk make them so light and fluffy. If you want them even fluffier, separate the egg and whip the egg white. Fold in carefully just before cooking. Cook on your electric skillet according to its recommendations. If the pancake mixture is too thick; thin with water. This recipe can be multiplied as much as need.

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Corn Bread Tacos

When the girls were making cornbread tacos, I wasn't sure I was going to like them much. They were terrific! Just make your favorite cornbread recipe. Slice the cornbread in the middle onto a plate and add any ingredients you would use on Navajo tacos. One of the nice features of this recipe is that you can have the cornbread prepared ahead of time, as well as the other ingredients. This makes this dish super easy to put together.

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Hong Kong Sweet and Sour Pork

It's been so long since I have made sweet and sour pork that I can't find the recipe. This just goes to show you how important it is to keep track of those well loved "Family Favorites."

2 teaspoons light soy sauce
1/8 teaspoon white sugar
2 teaspoons corn starch
1 teaspoon sesame oil
Ground black pepper to taste
1 lb pork loin, cut into 1-inch cubes

Whisk together the soy sauce, sugar, 2 teaspoons corn starch, sesame oil, and black pepper in a large bowl. Mix the pork into the marinade and turn until all the pork is covered. Allow to rest for 15 minutes.

1 cup water
2 tablespoons white vinegar
1/4 cup ketchup
1/4 cup white sugar
1 pinch salt
2 teaspoons corn starch
1 dash red food coloring

To make the sauce, whisk together the water, vinegar, ketchup, sugar, salt, corn starch, and red food coloring in a separate bowl. Set aside.

1 egg, beaten
1 cup corn starch
2 cups peanut oil for frying

Dip the pork pieces in the beaten egg, and then dredge in the 1 cup corn starch. Use your hand to press the starch onto the pork, assuring a consistent coating.

1 green bell pepper, cut into large chunks
2 cayenne peppers, sliced
4 slices canned pineapple, chopped
2 cloves garlic, sliced
2 green onions, sliced

Heat the peanut oil in a wok over medium-high heat to a temperature of 375 degrees F.

Fry the pork pieces in the hot oil until crisp and light brown, 4 to 5 minutes. Remove the pork from the oil and drain, keeping the oil hot. Return the drained pork pieces to the hot oil for 30 seconds more. Remove and drain again. Pour off all but 1 tablespoon of oil from the wok.

Heat 1 tablespoon of reserved oil in the wok over medium heat. Cook the green bell pepper, cayenne pepper, pineapple, garlic, and green onion in the heated oil for about 5 minutes. Add the sauce and stir until it thickens. Stir in the pork and toss until the pork is coated with sauce. Remove from heat and serve.

Source: https://allrecipes.com/Recipe/hong-kong-sweet-and-sour-pork/detail.aspx

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Well, there were more than this, but this is what some of them came up with. It's a wonderful reminder to me why we should create our own cookbook. I've' also learned not be afraid to try something new once in awhile. My brain might be saying "Oh no!" But, my mouth might just say "Oh yes!" And, it might even become a "Family Favorite."