Aunt Helens Potato Filling Recipes

JULIA CHILD'S AUNT HELEN'S FLUFFY PUMPKIN PIE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 450 degrees and place rack in center of oven. Separate eggs and set aside.
• Using a mixer, blender or large bowl, blend pumpkin, the 2 cups of the sugars, 1 teaspoon salt, molasses, bourbon or rum (if using), cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cloves, egg yolks, cream and milk until smooth. Add more milk, a tablespoon at a time, if the mixture is stiff: it should be a soft purée.
• In a clean bowl, whip egg whites until foaming. Whip in a pinch of salt, then gradually whip in remaining 2 tablespoons sugar until shiny white peaks form. Beat 1/4 of the whites thoroughly into pumpkin mixture; gently fold in the rest.
• Immediately ladle filling into the shells, filling to just below the rim of the pan. Place in oven and bake just until rim of crust begins to turn gold, 10 to 15 minutes. Reduce heat to 375 and bake another 25 to 30 minutes, until a tester inserted into the filling 2 inches from the rim comes out clean. (The center should still be a bit wet; it will cook more as it cools.) If the rim of the crust starts to get too brown, cover it with aluminum foil.
• Immediately turn oven off, leave door ajar (stick in a wooden spoon to hold it open if necessary) and let sit 20 to 30 minutes more as the oven cools; this will prevent the filling from turning watery. Serve warm, or let cool, wrap tightly and refrigerate for up to 2 days. Let pie come to room temperature before serving.

AUNT HELEN'S OLD FASHIONED CHOCOLATE FUDGE WITH PEANUT BUTTER

Steps:

• Butter 1 8x8 inch square glass pan and set aside.
• melt chocolate in milk using sturdy, heavy bottomed pan.
• Stir in salt and sugar with wooden spoon until just mixed.
• Cook the chocolate, milk, salt and sugar mixture on medium or a little less than medium heat until it reaches softball stage. DO NOT STIR and DO NOT SCRAPE THE SIDES OF THE PAN.
• Softball stage: You can use a candy thermometer. I find the thermometers unreliable, so I check the progress of the fudge by dropping a small amount in cold water. If I can easily make a soft ball of it with my fingers, it is ready. With one batch of fudge, this generally takes about 8 minutes or a little longer. Obviously if you double the batch it takes more time. However, don't just assume 8 minutes will work. Either use the softball test or a candy thermometer to make sure. What works on my stove may be different for yours.
• When fudge has reached softball stage, place in a sink partially filled with ice and water. Make sure there's not so much that it could seep into the pan. This is just to cool the pan.
• Stir in peanut butter and vanilla with a wooden spoon. Do not scrape the sides of the pan. Stir until the peanut butter is melted and the fudge begins to thicken and lose some of its gloss. Pour into prepared pan. Cool, slice, and enjoy.
• Don't skip the peanut butter. It gives it an amazing layer of flavor and also helps it set faster. I have only tried this with Jif so I can't guarantee any other peanut butter will be as good.

AUNT HELEN'S PECAN BALLS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
• Mix flour, baking soda, and salt together and set aside.
• In another mixing bowl cream together the shortening, sugar, brown sugar, and vanilla.
• Add the eggs and beat until creamy.
• Add flour mixture a little at a time, making sure it's well incorporated.
• Add nuts, and mix well.
• Using your hands, scoop well rounded tablespoons of the mixture and form smallish balls.
• Place balls on ungreased cookie sheet and bake for about 10 minutes.
• Let cool and remove from cookie sheet.

AUNT HELENS PECAN PIE

Steps:

• Combine all ingredients except pie crust in a large bowl.
• Pour into pie crust.
• Bake at 400 degrees for 10 minute.
• Lower heat to 350 and bake for 40-45 minute more.

AUNT HELEN'S SLOPPY JOES

Steps:

• Brown meat; drain.
• Add and blend all other ingredients.
• Reduce heat to low after bringing to boil. Simmer 1 ½ hours on low heat.
• Serve on buttered and grilled buns with pickles and mustard.

AUNT HELEN'S OPERA FUDGE

Steps:

• Put cream and sugar in a large saucepan. Heat on medium to medium-high. Stir until it comes to a boil, then add cream of tartar. Using a candy thermometer, cook and stir constantly till it reaches 238 degrees F. Immediately pour onto a large, cooled marble candy-making slab (or something similar that will stay cold) until the mixture is cooled.
• Then mix well until it turns white and mounds. Cover with a damp cloth for 1/2 hour or so.
• Then knead it like bread until it's smooth. You can have it plain or add small bits of candied fruit and nuts, if you like, and knead into it.
• Roll it into a log on some waxed paper or plastic wrap, and keep refrigerated. Serve by slicing 1/4 inch slices off and serving on a pretty little plate.

AUNT HELEN'S POTATO FILLING

Steps:

• Peel, cut, boil and mash potatoes. Saute celery, onion and bread crumbs in butter. Add to potatoes. Lightly beat eggs and add to potatoes with half of parsley. Add milk - make moist!! Season with plenty of salt and pepper. Sprinkle rest of parsley on top. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes.