Comments on: Midwestern Cusine: A Photodocumentary from an Iowan Family Reunion http://www.vanesscipes.com/2007/07/22/midwestern-cusine-a-photodocumentary-from-an-iowan-family-reunion/ Vegetarian Recipes by Vanessa Sun, 06 Jul 2008 04:07:27 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.5 by: Tapati http://www.vanesscipes.com/2007/07/22/midwestern-cusine-a-photodocumentary-from-an-iowan-family-reunion/#comment-34013 Wed, 28 May 2008 03:41:14 +0000 http://www.vanesscipes.com/2007/07/22/midwestern-cusine-a-photodocumentary-from-an-iowan-family-reunion/#comment-34013 I was born and raised in Keokuk and this brought back so many memories. I found this entry from a google image search. :) I'm also a vegetarian, became one as a teen in Iowa (this wasn't a popular decision with my family) and spent a few years back there with my kids in the 80s. I couldn't really eat out and had to rely on cooking simple foods for myself since there were no health food stores for any exotic ingredients. But I miss the country side so thanks for sharing your pictures. I remember the maid rites from my childhood, also "scalloped corn" which was a sort of corn pudding made with creamed corn, eggs, and saltine crackers and baked, velveeta mac n cheese, jello salads, barbecue baked beans, german potato salads, and plates of fresh tomatoes from the garden. My grandparents had a wonderful garden--we also had fresh strawberries. Their farm was in Montrose, 12 miles out of town from Keokuk near Argyle. Of course Sterzings are the best potato chips. My grandma also made sauerkraut from scratch and we had biscuits and white gravy like any southerner would enjoy. Home made bread and pies were also staples of the family kitchens. I make whole wheat bread and I do have my Aunt Gin's pie crust recipe too. I recreated my mom's potato pancake recipe, made with mashed potatoes and eggs with just a little flour. I'm working on a family cookbook to preserve some of the old recipes. Thanks for sharing! I was born and raised in Keokuk and this brought back so many memories. I found this entry from a google image search. :)

I’m also a vegetarian, became one as a teen in Iowa (this wasn’t a popular decision with my family) and spent a few years back there with my kids in the 80s. I couldn’t really eat out and had to rely on cooking simple foods for myself since there were no health food stores for any exotic ingredients. But I miss the country side so thanks for sharing your pictures. I remember the maid rites from my childhood, also “scalloped corn” which was a sort of corn pudding made with creamed corn, eggs, and saltine crackers and baked, velveeta mac n cheese, jello salads, barbecue baked beans, german potato salads, and plates of fresh tomatoes from the garden. My grandparents had a wonderful garden–we also had fresh strawberries. Their farm was in Montrose, 12 miles out of town from Keokuk near Argyle.

Of course Sterzings are the best potato chips. My grandma also made sauerkraut from scratch and we had biscuits and white gravy like any southerner would enjoy. Home made bread and pies were also staples of the family kitchens. I make whole wheat bread and I do have my Aunt Gin’s pie crust recipe too. I recreated my mom’s potato pancake recipe, made with mashed potatoes and eggs with just a little flour. I’m working on a family cookbook to preserve some of the old recipes.

Thanks for sharing!

]]> by: Lillian Ray http://www.vanesscipes.com/2007/07/22/midwestern-cusine-a-photodocumentary-from-an-iowan-family-reunion/#comment-23749 Mon, 03 Mar 2008 20:55:44 +0000 http://www.vanesscipes.com/2007/07/22/midwestern-cusine-a-photodocumentary-from-an-iowan-family-reunion/#comment-23749 Vanessa, A whole weekend in the midwest and not a single Jell-o salad? I've been to dinners where there are two different types served. In case you're wondering who I am, I'm one of Molly's (from Pennypack Farm)roommates. We met up in Brooklyn once. Anyway, she showed me your website and I love it. Lillian Vanessa,
A whole weekend in the midwest and not a single Jell-o salad? I’ve been to dinners where there are two different types served.

In case you’re wondering who I am, I’m one of Molly’s (from Pennypack Farm)roommates. We met up in Brooklyn once. Anyway, she showed me your website and I love it.

Lillian

]]> by: melody http://www.vanesscipes.com/2007/07/22/midwestern-cusine-a-photodocumentary-from-an-iowan-family-reunion/#comment-13986 Sat, 28 Jul 2007 15:57:14 +0000 http://www.vanesscipes.com/2007/07/22/midwestern-cusine-a-photodocumentary-from-an-iowan-family-reunion/#comment-13986 Wow... that almost makes me a little homesick.. I don't know if you knew this, but I grew up in Fairfield... so this is all very familiar to me. hehe.. and wow, do I miss the skies in Iowa.. they are just spectacular! ... and sterzings chips.. omg.. I am actually feeling a little sick to my stomach just thinking about them. They are truly the grease and salt king of chips! ahhh.. Ann up there, Ottumwa... all of these places are so close to home.. My poor son was always traumatized seeing the huge semi's full of pigs going off the the slaughterhouse in Ottumwa.. he'd look at them and say, "Poor pigs, going to Ottumwa, gonna get killed." Wow… that almost makes me a little homesick.. I don’t know if you knew this, but I grew up in Fairfield… so this is all very familiar to me. hehe.. and wow, do I miss the skies in Iowa.. they are just spectacular!

… and sterzings chips.. omg.. I am actually feeling a little sick to my stomach just thinking about them. They are truly the grease and salt king of chips!

ahhh.. Ann up there, Ottumwa… all of these places are so close to home.. My poor son was always traumatized seeing the huge semi’s full of pigs going off the the slaughterhouse in Ottumwa.. he’d look at them and say, “Poor pigs, going to Ottumwa, gonna get killed.”

]]> by: ann http://www.vanesscipes.com/2007/07/22/midwestern-cusine-a-photodocumentary-from-an-iowan-family-reunion/#comment-13929 Fri, 27 Jul 2007 12:49:36 +0000 http://www.vanesscipes.com/2007/07/22/midwestern-cusine-a-photodocumentary-from-an-iowan-family-reunion/#comment-13929 oh man I miss the mid-West. part of my family lives in Ottumwa and one glorious summer my cousin and I went there for the entire break and just rode horses and went to rodeos and watched the sun set. it was GLORIOUS. I often make fun of Iowa, but I think that's just because I'm jealous. Thanks for the memories :-) oh man I miss the mid-West. part of my family lives in Ottumwa and one glorious summer my cousin and I went there for the entire break and just rode horses and went to rodeos and watched the sun set. it was GLORIOUS. I often make fun of Iowa, but I think that’s just because I’m jealous. Thanks for the memories :-)

]]> by: vanessa http://www.vanesscipes.com/2007/07/22/midwestern-cusine-a-photodocumentary-from-an-iowan-family-reunion/#comment-13839 Wed, 25 Jul 2007 21:14:27 +0000 http://www.vanesscipes.com/2007/07/22/midwestern-cusine-a-photodocumentary-from-an-iowan-family-reunion/#comment-13839 April- Well, we missed YOU! Wish you and B could have made it. We missed your sibs too - but at least we got to see your mom and dad. It had been way too long! Bazu- To be perfectly honest, I needed a detox from the picnic goodies, but a visit to the Midwest was a cleanse for my system - beautiful, and back to life's basics... nice to feel free from the pomp and importantness of NYC! Lisa- So right! I could eat a whole BAG of those things! Pat- I'll do what I can! Maybe we can get some of the other photos together and made a "real" album. April- Well, we missed YOU! Wish you and B could have made it. We missed your sibs too - but at least we got to see your mom and dad. It had been way too long!

Bazu- To be perfectly honest, I needed a detox from the picnic goodies, but a visit to the Midwest was a cleanse for my system - beautiful, and back to life’s basics… nice to feel free from the pomp and importantness of NYC!

Lisa- So right! I could eat a whole BAG of those things!

Pat- I’ll do what I can! Maybe we can get some of the other photos together and made a “real” album.

]]>