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Gina Giallorenzi Marcou's avatar

If you are a fan of movie classics, slumgullion is featured in 'It Happened on 5th Avenue". I watch it every Christmas on TCM. Coming from an authentic Italian-Catholic family, where Easter is a very celebrated holiday, my moms Easter Bread with anise seeds and her Cassata ( Italian cheesecake) are made every year. She is gone 11 yrs now, but I make it every holy week and the smells in my kitchen bring me close to her.

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Martha Hall  Kelly's avatar

I need to watch that, Gina!

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Mickey Murray's avatar

I love reading about your family history..and seeing the great photos. I have pre-ordered your book...can't wait to read it. I want to try your recipes..especially the cookies and slumgullion.

Coincidentally, I have been making homemade apple sauce lately! I related to the photo of apples in the pot :). I put peeled apples, cinnamon, a little lemon juice into a pot with enough water the cover the bottom of the pot..bring everything to a boil..and then stew on a low heat for about 45 minutes..then coarsely mash the apples. you can add a little maple syrup if it's too tart.

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Martha Hall  Kelly's avatar

That sounds so delicious, Mickey! Bet it’s good with pork chops. And P.S. I can’t wait for you to read the new book—make sure you read the acknowledgments!

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DH's avatar

I also make my own applesauce similar to how you make it. I cut the apples but I don’t peel them. When they cook down I put them through what’s called a foley food mill and throw the peels away. Then I flavor it with cinnamon and a little sugar if needed and yes it’s delicious with pork chops!

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Jennifer Hunt's avatar

Such nostalgia brought me back to my mother’s porcupine balls. Simple 1.5 hour baking time. Half pound ground beef and pork, 1c rice, 1 chopped onion, 1/2c cream mixed and formed into balls, baked in canned tomatoes with bay leaf, cayenne pepper and diced celery. Fabulous!

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Martha Hall  Kelly's avatar

Definitely going to try it--sounds delish!

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Donna Toma's avatar

I was trying to remember how to make what you call porcupine balls....I had ground beef, some great left over rice, and an onion. I didn't have the canned tomatoes, but I could have figured out something for the sauce! I am writing it down and putting it in the one cook book I allow still on the counter.

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Three Score and More's avatar

wonderful to "meet" you - I spent 30 years (summers) on MV in my younger adult period and it will remain a treasured memory... I've often thought that one doesn't choose the Vineyard; it chooses you.

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Laurie St.Cyr Niestrath's avatar

Your slumgullion sounds like Yankee Doodle Macaroni !

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Kyle Higgins's avatar

My Polish Nana did wonders in the kitchen, but my most favorite were her pierogi's - stuffed with cheeses or meat or fruit... boiled until they rose to the top, then fried in butter and served with fresh sour cream. Making them was an all day affair as she made them in huge batches and froze some for another day.

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Martha Hall  Kelly's avatar

What a treat, Kyle and such a great memory of your Nana!

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Susie Baldwin's avatar

Oh Martha, I love reading about your family history and seeing all the great photos! Thank you for sharing! I have heard of slumgullion before. I will make your cookie recipes, thanks for sharing those, too. I make my Aunt Dorothy's Pecan Dainty cookies every Christmas, a family favorite! Also, my husband loves to cook- one of the many things he makes is my Aunt Kate's coleslaw, it's the best!

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Martha Hall  Kelly's avatar

OMG those Dainty cookies sound so good, Susie!🍪🩵🍪

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Jolene Handy's avatar

Martha, thank you so much for the mention, what a lovely surprise and way to start the day!

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Martha Hall  Kelly's avatar

My pleasure, Jolene. I LOVE Time Travel Kitchen! 🌸

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Juanita Fowler's avatar

I think the one time we had slumgullion was a visit we made to your dad with Jane and Patty and Bob. Sally was visiting and she and Polly thought it would be fun to have this dish. They were surprised that we'd never heard of it. We did have our own money saving meals like smothered beef and tuna wiggle, both favorites of Larry's now.

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Martha Hall  Kelly's avatar

Tuna Wiggle.😆We had that too…I think every American family had a version of that!

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Michelle Beckwith's avatar

Our version of Slumgullion was labeled goulash! Onions, ground beef, elbow macaroni and ragu sauce - cooked in the electric fry pan and usually adorned with Kraft Parmesan “cheese” out of the green cardboard can. My Swedish grandma’s cardamom rolls are still a family favorite, and a labor of love.

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