Favorite Things: From Mom’s Recipes
Years ago my Mom presented me with a red spiral bound notebook. On the front, she had written From Mom’s Recipes – Family Favorites Plus Some: Book 1. The notebook was nothing special, just one of my old high-school notebooks that only had a few pages out of it, but the contents were priceless: page after page of favorite recipes written in Mom’s own hand: Broccoli Casserole, 7 Layer Salad, Carolyn Canon’s Easter Salad, Taze Fasulye (Turkish Green Beans), Williamsburg Sweet Potatoes, Wheat Germ Muffins, Wacky Cake, Poppy Seed Cake…. In the years since, the notebook has seen much use as evidenced by the separated cover; the loose, stained pages; the hand-written comments; and the “new family favorites” I’ve added to much of the available white space on the original page, but it is in every way just as valuable as it was the day she handed it to me!
While I look to this little red recipe book many times throughout the year, the holidays remind me of just how special it is, for among the recipes for everyday meals and delectable desserts, are recipes my Mom traditionally made for our family gatherings at the holidays. It has been fun to make these special dishes for my family and to watch as my childhood favorites become their new favorites.
Carolyn Canon’s Easter Salad quickly became one of Ryan’s favorite. So much so that he renamed the salad Holiday Salad in hopes of having it EVERY holiday.
Carolyn Canon’s Easter Holiday Salad
2 cans pineapple tidbits, drained (can use chunks or slices cut into smaller pieces)
2 cans mandarin oranges, drained
2 cups miniature marshmallows (can use colored marshmallows for a Spring-looking salad)
1 can Comstock cherry pie filling
1 can Eagle Brand condensed milk
1 pkg. Dream Whip, prepared as directed on package
Stir first five ingredients together. Fold Dream Whip into other ingredients. Cover and refrigerate overnight.