November Foodie Holidays: Week 4

Nov. 22: Cashew Day, Cranberry Relish Day
Nov. 23: Espresso Day
Nov. 24: Sardines Day
Nov. 25: Parfait Day
Nov. 26: Cake Day
Nov. 27: Bavarian Cream Pie Day
Nov. 28: French Toast Day
Nov. 29: Chocolates Day, Lemon Cream Pie
Nov. 30: Mousse Day

I got this recipe from my dad, who made it when Mom was either out of town or under the weather and not cooking, I don't recall which. (She was appalled.) The directions are a bit scanty, but "simmer until done" is about par for the course for chili, really.

Sardine Chili

1 tin sardines (plain)

1 can chili beans w/ seasoning

1 can tomato chunks

1 bottle tomato juice

1 envelope chili seasoning

Directions: Simmer until done.

National Chocolate Cake Day - January 27th

January 27th is also Holocaust Remembrance Day, the anniversary of the day the Russians liberated Auschwitz-Birkenau. Not all family history is lighthearted and fun. There are struggles and wars, and those are part of your history, too. If you're asking about sensitive matters, gauge your interviewee carefully, and don't poke into things they are unwilling to talk about.

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For Chocolate Cake Day, keep in mind that you may receive the same recipe with different names. Depression Cake*, Wacky Cake, Crazy Cake... those may all be different names for the same recipe (though not always). When you note who contributed the recipe, include everyone who gave it to you, and index the cake under every name so everyone can find it under the name they remember.

Available at Amazon.

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* So named because it was a popular Depression-era recipe because it didn't use eggs or butter, and some had no sugar -- ingredients that were scarce or too expensive to buy during the Depression.