First Ladies' Recipes from The All-American Cook Book (c. 1959)

 

The All-American Cook Book, compiled by The Employees of Rough Rider, United Garment Workers Local 197 A.F.L, in the late 1950s is filled with delightful recipes. I am intrigued by the Grapefruit Pie recipe, from a friend of a friend of Lou Hoover, and so want to try it out! I also love the recipes from Eleanor Roosevelt and Bess Truman.

Old-Fashioned Pumpkin Pie
Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt

1-1/2 cups pumpkin

1 cup brown sugar

1/2 teaspoon ground cloves

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon allspice

1/4 teaspoon ginger

1-1/2 cups scalded top milk

3 eggs

1/2 teaspoon salt

Partially bake a 9-inch pastry shell in hot (450 degrees F.) oven until it has just started to brown. Meanwhile, mix the pumpkin, either freshly stewed or canned, with sugar and spices. Add eggs, slightly beaten, and hot, scalded milk. Beat until smooth. Turn into partially baked pastry shell. Bake in hot (450 degrees F.) oven 8 to 10 minutes; reduce heat to 325 degrees F. and bake 40 minutes or until center of custard is firm to touch.

Grapefruit Pie

(This was a favorite of Mrs. Herbert Hoover, wife of former President Hoover of the United States. Given to Local 197 by a close friend of Mrs. Hoover.)

1 cup sugar

1 cup grapefruit juice

1 tablespoon butter

1/4 cup water

1/8 teaspoon salt

4 tablespoons cornstarch

2 egg yolks, beaten

Meringue:

2 egg white

6 tablespoons powdered sugar

2 teaspoons grapefruit juice

Mix thoroughly sugar, salt, and cornstarch. Add water and grapefruit juice and cook slowly, stirring constantly until thick. Let mixture boil gently about 5 minutes, stirring to keep from burning. Add butter and the beaten egg yolks and remove from fire. Beat mixture well; let stand until cold. Turn into baked pie shell and cover with meringue made by beating the egg whites stiff and beating in the powdered sugar slowly, and lastly add 2 teaspoons grapefruit juice. Put into slow oven (300 degrees F.) for 15 minutes to bake meringue.

Tuna and Noodle Casserole

Mrs. Harry Truman

Wife of President Truman

1 can tuna

1/3 pkg. noodles

2 hardboiled eggs

1/8 pound butter

1 cup halved mushrooms

1 pint milk

1/4 pound sharp cheese

Salt and pepper to taste

Boil noodles in salt water, remove and drain. Make white sauce, add cheese and butter. Drain tuna, add all ingredients, pour into buttered casserole. Bake in moderate oven 30 minutes. Serves 4.