When my grandmother, Mimi as she was known to all who knew and loved her, passed away I was fortunate enough to inherit her recipe box. Actually, it was two very large boxes filled with hundreds of recipes. As I began looking through the recipes I realized that some dated back as far as the 1920’s and were handwritten on crumbling pieces of paper that were succumbing to the effects of time. I first set off to preserve these recipes in a more modern format on my computer. After typing 350 plus recipes and reliving many wonderful memories of being in Mimi's kitchen and gathered around her table, I realized that those were memories that I wanted to reinvent with my children and, hopefully, one day, my grandchildren. I made the decision to cook my way through each and every one of them with being as true to the original recipe as possible.

I have been off to a pretty good start, but I also asked myself question - What good is great food if you do not also share it with friends? So here I am, asking you to take part in this journey through Mimi’s recipe box with me.



Tuesday, August 25, 2009

Hogs Head Cheese

5-6 lb pork shoulder
2 lbs pork knuckles
2 lbs pigs feet
4 quarts water
½ cup salt
1 tbsp vinegar
4 tbsp lemon juice
2 tbsp butter
1 cup finely chopped onion
1 bay leaf
¼ tsp mace
1 tsp cayenne
2 ribs celery
1 tsp black pepper
1 chopped bell pepper
1 cup parsley
1 cup green onions
2 tsp minced garlic

In large pot, boil pork with water, salt, vinegar, lemon juice. Reduce heat and simmer about 4 hours or meat is tender. Remove pork from broth, reserving broth. Discard skin, bones and fat.

Grind meat in a meat grinder or foot processor.

Sauté onions, celery, bell pepper in butter about 5 minutes. Add 1 cup broth and seasonings, 2 tsp salt, 1 tbsp lemon juice, green onions and parsley. Add meat and 3 cups broth mixing well.

Adjust seasoning as needed.

Pour in pans, let cool several hours.

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