Category Archives: Cocktails

Red-Eyed Russian (Shrimp Duchesses)

Shrimp Duchesses

Duchesses are first cousins to Carolines, the tiny choux puff pastries that appear several times in this Collection (see Index). The difference is that the Duchesses are served cold and glazed with aspic rather than served with a cream sauce, and are usually sprinkled with chopped nuts. The Shrimp Duchesses below are typical.

To make the puffs: Melt 1/4 cup butter in 1/2 cup boiling water; add 1/2 cup all-purpose flour, all at once, and stir vigorously; cook, stirring constantly, until mixture forms a shiny ball; remove from heat. Beat in 1/4 teaspoon salt and 2 eggs; beat thoroughly until smooth; beat in 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese.

Heat oven to 400 F. Grease baking sheet; drop dough onto sheet in heaping teaspoonfuls and shape into ovals; bake 20 minutes. Remove from oven and cool. Carefully cut off top. Fill with puréed shrimp and glaze with Tarragon Aspic (below). Sprinkle with finely chopped walnuts and serve, cold, on decorative doilies, if desired.
Yield: About 24.

Puréed Shrimp: Purée 1 cup cooked shrimp in blender or food processor or pass through food mill; moisten with mayonnaise.

Tarragon Aspic: Pour 1 cup clam juice, 1/2 cup white wine, and 2 tablespoons tarragon in saucepan; bring to boil and cook 10 minutes over low heat. Sprinkle 1 envelope unflavored gelatin over 1/4 cup wine to soften; stir mixture into clam juice. Strain to eliminate tarragon leaves. Cool and chill. Spoon partially jelled aspic onto Duchesses; chill until aspic is thoroughly set. Garnish with chopped walnuts and fresh tarragon sprigs, if available.

Note: Using the basic recipe above, but eliminating the puréed shrimp, you can concoct a variety of imaginative Duchesses. For example: Fill chilled pastry puffs with canned chunky chicken sandwich spread or deviled ham, or with a red caviar and sour cream spread.

Old Fashioned Indoor Weenie Roast

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What better to go with an Old Fashioned than an old-fashioned weenie roast? This creation, which reached its apex in the mid ‘fifties, fell into low repute as fondue cookery caught on and upstaged it; but recently, as more and more apartment dwellers yearn for the pleasures of outdoor living, the humble indoor weenie roast is coming back into its own.

1 large head cabbage
Frankfurters (or Vienna sausages or smoked frankfurters)
Canned liquid heat
Cabbage-Mustard Sauce (see below)

Trim soiled outer leaves from cabbage head; slice off bottom of cabbage so cabbage sits upright steadily; hollow out top of cabbage to make well for canned liquid heat; place can in well.

Cut frankfurters crosswise into thirds and skewer on 8-inch bamboo cocktail skewers. Spear into sides of cabbage. TO serve, ignite canned heat; invite guests to roast their weenies over flame. Serve with Cabbage-Mustard sauce as dip.

Cabbage-Mustard Sauce

Finely grate cabbage pieces left over from making well in cabbage head; place in saucepan; add 1 cup water and 1/2 cup vinegar; bring to low boil and cook over medium heat 15 minutes. Remove from saucepan and drain; blend in 1/2 cup mayonnaise and 1/2 cup prepared mustard. Serve at room temperature.

Grandmother’s Egg Nog

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Preparation time: 30 min.

This delectable concoction has been served in Southern families for over 100 years to toast in the New Year. It is delicious served plain or with toasted pecans and cheese straws.

For 18 to 24 punch cups of eggnog you will need:
13 large eggs, room temperature
3/4 cup sugar
1 1/2 cups (12 oz) brandy, rum or bourbon
2 cups whipping cream, whipped
Freshly ground nutmeg

Preparation:
1. Separate eggs. Place in 2 mixing bowls. Add 6 Tbsp sugar to each bowl.

2. Beat egg yolks and sugar until thick and deep yellow in color. Add brandy, stirring well.

3. Beat egg whites and sugar until stiff but not dry. Fold beaten whites into yolk mixture. Fold in whipped cream.

4. Spoon eggnog into punch cups. Lightly sprinkle top of each with nutmeg.

Irish Shillelagh & Maggie’s and Jiggs’

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Maggie’s and Jiggs’

Those favorite American-Irish cartoon characters, Maggie and Jiggs, would both be happy with the Irish Shillelagh; Maggie, because it is sufficiently garnished with fruits to make it look genteel and innocuous; Jiggs, because it is sufficiently loaded with whiskey to make it worth the effort of lifting to the lips. Maggie’s and Jiggs’ canapés have something for everyone too.

Maggie’s

White sandwich bread
Cream cheese
Red caviar
Black caviar
Finely chopped parsley

Cut sandwich bread into ovals, crescents, or rounds; spread generously with cream cheese and top half of sandwich with red caviar, half with black; form thin parsley border around edges of bread.

Jiggs’

Pumpernickel bread
Prepared mustard
Cooked red cabbage (see below)
Corned beef, thinly sliced or cut into 2-inch squares if using canned

Cut pumpernickel bread into 2-inch slices and spread with mustard. Spoon on cooked cabbage and top with corned beef; top with additional dollop of mustard.

Cooked red cabbage: Finely grated 1 quarter head red cabbage, as if for cole slaw; place in saucepan with lightly salted water and bring to boil; cook slowly 10 minutes; drain and chill.

Pink Pussycat and Assorted Fillings for Eggs Mignon

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Assorted Fillings for Eggs Mignon

“Eggs Mignon,” one of the most perplexing and rewarding and tricky hors d’oeuvre in the history of food, lend themselves, once mastered, to a variety of “fillings”. Illustrated on the reverse of this card and described below are assorted fillings for Eggs Mignon, egg white shells (as pictured), and a variety of other good things to eat.

Pâté

Stuff eggs with canned pâté de foie gras, or with any of the creamy pâtés included in this set (See Index), such as the Curried Tuna Pâté on card 207.

Chicken Tarragon

Purée breast of chicken (cooked) and moisten with mayonnaise; flavor with minced fresh tarragon or dried tarragon leaves.

Purée of Peas

Use early or baby peas; cooke and purée with small amount of dairy sour cream to moisten.

Assorted Butters

Stuff eggs with any of the assorted flavored butters included in this set such as Anchovy Butter (card 280) or Salmon Butter (card 128).

Curried Vegetable Filling

Flavor puréed vegetables with curry powder to taste; canned “baby food” vegetables are appropriate for this purpose.

Tapenade Filling

Purée mixture of black olives, tuna, garlic, and anchovies (see recipe for Provençal Caviar card 40.)

Eggplant Caviar

See cards 111 and 158 for recipes for Eggplant Caviar suitable for stuffing tin Eggs Mignon.

Canned Sandwich Spread
Use deviled ham, beef, corned beef, chicken, etc.

Caviar and Sour Cream
Gently fold red or black caviar into dairy sour cream and stuff into eggs.

I will, at some point, add the recipes for the referenced cards. First I have to get past the suggestion that I cook with baby food.

Old-Fashioned Tea Punch and Turkey Sandwich Loaf

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Turkey Sandwich Loaf

This party sandwich loaf is an excellent device for using up holiday turkey, or for that matter, any leftover meat (chicken, ham, roast beef, etc.).

3 cups chopped cooked turkey or other cooked meat
1 cup chopped celery
1/2 teaspoon grated onion
1 cup mayonnaise
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1 loaf (1 pound) thin sliced soft white sandwich loaf bread
1/2 cup (1 stick) soft butter
3/4 cup crumbled blue cheese
1 package (4-oz) cream cheese
1 tablespoon light cream
1/2 cup finely chopped parsley

Make turkey filling: Mix together chopped turkey, celery, onion, and mayonnaise and season to taste with salt and pepper.

Trim crusts from bread; place 3 slices bread in row on sheet of wax paper; butter slices on one side and spread with turkey filling. Continue adding slices, buttering and spreading with filling until each stack contains 6 slices.

Press loaf together firmly. Beat blue cheese, cream cheese, and cream together; spread on top and sides of loaf; sprinkle with parsley and refrigerate at least 2 hours.

Serve on platter garnished with watercress and sliced cucumber; slice loaf thinly; serve with sandwich plates and forks.

Yield: 6-8 slices.

Note: when planning a large party, make several sandwich loafs, varying fillings if desired, and estimating 1 loaf for 6 guests; at important or “high tea” parties arrange loafs around punch bowl on buffet table and add a platter of cold cuts and a ripe Brie cheese surrounded with crackers or French bread slices; a bowl of finger fruits in season (grapes, cherries, plums, apricots, nectarines) adds a touch of razzle-dazzle.

Halloween Pumpkin Punch & Goo-Ga-Loo

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Goo-Ga-Loo

This is an early American recipe calling for catfish, the pride of the Mississippi River; sole or flounder may be substituted when catfish is not available.^*

Whether children will be present at the Halloween Party or not, be sure to have trick-or-treat goodies on hand; the assorted goblins and gremlins and witches and ghosts who call on you during the evening ensure the success of the party.

3 pounds catfish^*
4 tablespoons lemon juice
1/4 cup cooking oil
1 1/2 cups chopped onion
1 cup celery
6 cloves garlic, minced
1 can (24-oz size) whole, canned tomatoes
2 cups mashed potatoes
4 bay leaves
1 teaspoon thyme
1 teaspoon cayenne
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce

Skin and fillet fish, taking care to remove all bones. Sprinkle with lemon juice and set aside. Heat oil in heavy skillet or Dutch oven; sauté onions, celery, and garlic until tender.

Add tomatoes, mashed potatoes, bay leaves, thyme, salt, butter, and Worcestershire sauce. Bring to boil. Add fish and stir gently; cook over low heat 25-45 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove bay leaves. Serve in soup bowls with garlic bread and tossed green salad.

Yield 4-5 servings.
^* In some areas in the U.S. catfish may be purchased canned (like tuna or salmon), and represents a considerable saving. Use 3 cans (12-oz size) canned catfish instead of 3 pounds fresh fillet.

Irish Coffee & Irish Potato Pancakes with Rum Applesauce

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2 cups peeled and coarsely grated potatoes^*
3 eggs
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoon salt
4 tablespoons minced onion
1 tablespoon Irish whiskey
Oil for frying

Place potatoes in strainer and press to remove excess liquid. Transfer to mixing bowl. Beat eggs lightly and stir into potatoes. Mix flour and salt together and add to potato-egg mixture; mix well and stir in minced onion and Irish whisky. Shape into 3-inch disks or patties.

Heat skillet, grease, and sauté patties until bubbles appear on surface; turn over and brown flip side. Serve with Rum Applesauce and dairy sour cream.

Yield: 8-10 pancakes

^* Best made with “old” potatoes, held in refrigerator vegetable compartment 6-8 weeks. When in a hurry, use instant or frozen potato pancake mix, but add 1 tablespoon Irish whiskey to batter for perky, spirited flavor.

Rum Applesauce

6 Golden Delicious apples, peeled, cored, and quartered
1 cup water
2/3 cup dark brown sugar, packed
1 teaspoon allspice
1 teaspoon ginger
1/4 cup dark rum

Place apples and water in saucepan and bring to boil; reduce heat and simmer 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add sugar, all spice, ginger, and rum. Bring to boil and simmer additional 20 minutes, stirring frequently.

Note: For quick Rum Applesauce, just flavor canned applesauce with dark rum, to taste, and 1 teaspoon ginger per 2 cups applesauce.

Shamrock & Shamrock Sandwiches

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Shamrock Sandwiches

St. Patrick’s Day is a bully time to give a party, whether you’re Irish or not. And whether or not you’re Irish you’ll appreciate the robust taste of Irish whisky any time of the year. It seems curious to add a liqueur such as crème de menthe to Irish whiskey; but try it, along with the smashing cocktail sandwiches, and you’ll be in fro two agreeable surprises.

Thin sliced white sandwich bread
2 medium cucumbers, peeled, seeded, and finely chopped
1/4 cup finely chopped onion
1 cup mayonnaise
2 cups finely chopped parsley
Shamrocks, if available, for garnish or fresh watercress or parsley sprigs

Cut desired number of 3-inch bread rounds from sandwich bread. Spread bread rounds lightly with mayonnaise on both sides and on edges of rounds. Place on wax paper on tray and refrigerate 1 hour.

Press chopped cucumber in cheese cloth or food strainer to drain excess fluid; place in mixing bowl with chopped onion. Add mayonnaise by tablespoonfuls to make lightly sticky.

Spoon cucumber-onion mixture onto bread rounds and top with bread rounds; roll top, bottom, and sides of sandwiches in chopped parsley to coat; secure with cocktail skewer. Place on serving tray.

Refrigerate, lightly covered with plastic wrap until serving time. Serve garnished with sprays of shamrocks or parsley or watercress sprigs.

Everybody’s Irish & Haggerty

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Haggerty

This cheese and potato pie may be a little tricky for beginning cooks, but once you have mastered it you’ll want to try it again and again; it goes well with Irish whiskey and, with a chop or an omelet, fills out a dinner menu nicely, too.

3 medium potatoes
1 large white onion
3 tablespoons cooking oil
1 teaspoon ground celery seed
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1 cup grated Cheddar cheese
1 tablespoon butter

Peel potatoes and cut into paper-thin slices, using slicing attachment to food processor if available. peel onion and slice thinly.

Heat cooking oil in heavy skillet and place 1/2 of potatoes in pan; sprinkle a little of the celery seed, salt, pepper, and 1/2 cup cheese over potatoes.

Place onions on top of cheese; sprinkle a little of the seasonings. Place remaining potatoes slices on top and sprinkle with remaining cheese and seasonings. Dot with butter.

Cook over medium heat, covered, until top layer of potatoes is tender, about 20 minutes. Slip Haggerty carefully onto place; slip from plate, to side down, back into skillet. Cook additional 15 minutes uncovered.

To serve, cut into wedges.
Yield 4-6 servings.

Vintage Recipe Cards

Where Food Photography Comes To Die

Category Archives: Cocktails

Red-Eyed Russian (Shrimp Duchesses)

Old Fashioned Indoor Weenie Roast

Grandmother’s Egg Nog

Irish Shillelagh & Maggie’s and Jiggs’

Pink Pussycat and Assorted Fillings for Eggs Mignon

Old-Fashioned Tea Punch and Turkey Sandwich Loaf

Halloween Pumpkin Punch & Goo-Ga-Loo

Irish Coffee & Irish Potato Pancakes with Rum Applesauce

Shamrock & Shamrock Sandwiches

Everybody’s Irish & Haggerty

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