My sister sent me with the directive to get all of Grandma’s good recipes, especially the fruit cake which is actually pretty amazing. (I found out because it has brandy in it. Can’t believe my grandma would go to a liquor store! She said she would go in and pray no one from church would see her!)

There were years that my grandma’s baking paid the bills – she is especially famous for her whole wheat bread. It’s quite delicious hot out of the oven with lots of butter. There would always be fresh bread waiting at Grandma’s house whenever anyone went to visit. The bread is a recipe I grew up on, and when I have time, I still make it. (I foresee a day of baking in the future to stock up on bread for the busier fall/winter season.)

This is a recipe that I don’t ever remember Grandma making, but I ate it for breakfast every day I was there – topped with whipped cream (for the calcium, you know.)

Grandma’s Healthy Jello
4 packages gelatin (I would use kosher)
4 cups fruit juice
1 can fruit cocktail (the kind in juice not heavy syrup)
3 bananas sliced
1/2 cup chopped pecans

Sprinkle the gelatin over 1 cup of juice and set aside. Meanwhile, bring the remaining 3 cups if juice to a boil. Add boiling juice to the gelatin mixture and stir until the gelatin is dissolved. Pour into an 8×8 baking dish and stir in drained fruit cocktail. Leave setting out until cooled and add nuts and bananas. Refrigerate until set.

More recipes to come.