Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Cottage Cheese Pancakes.

I've made a family recipe for a bunch of my genealogy friends lately and thought I would share it with you. This recipe is from my Mother's Mother's Mother's Mother-- my great-great grandmother Ethel Amelia Williams. The fact that she was born in Salt Lake City, Utah 15 Feb 1880, and died there in 23 Mar 1973 is deceptive. She lived most of her life in Idaho--specifically Idaho Falls. Her husband Fred Schwendiman was born 28 Jul 1872 in Niederstocken, Bern, Switzerland. I've always thought this was a Swiss recipe since it was from "Grandma Schwendiman" but Mom informs me today that while it could have come from her Swiss mother-in-law, Ethel was also very creative herself, or she could have just found it in a newspaper. Mom doesn't really know. But I do know that she often made them.

I have this one picture of me with Grandma Schwendiman. She is on the left. Me and Mom are in the middle, and my Grandmother Dana (Grandma Schwendiman's granddaughter) is on the right. Unfortunately, Grandmother Dana's mother Nama (Viola) wasn't here for this picture even though she was alive. I would have had a five generation picture. Can't complain though. Happy to have this one.

Here is the recipe:

1 pint Cottage Cheese,
1 cup Sour Cream
1 teaspoon Salt
1 cup Flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
4 beaten eggs.

Mix together and cook like pancakes on a hot griddle.

My kids love these for dinner. They are great just with butter and maple syrup. But they are especially good with strawberries, raspberries or bananas on them. Or you can cook the raspberries right into them by putting a few on each pancake when you first put them on the griddle (before you flip them.)

Mom says I can't share Grandma Schwendiman's recipe for egg cake, chili sauce or honey candy because they are family secrets. Grandma Schwendiman and Nama left strict instructions that they were not to be shared outside the family. Mom says that in those days a woman's identity was wrapped up in how good of cook they were and these women wanted to secure a great identity for their daughters I guess. Being the daughter of two home economics teachers (Mom and my Dad's mother) I've never worried about being a good cook. But I have a couple of recipies to fall back on just in case. You won't see them on this blog. You'll have to come visit. Let me know when you are coming and I'll have some ready for you.

3 comments:

Taylorstales-Genealogy said...

I'll admit that the combination of ingredients leaves me a bit weasy, but what the heck...I'll give it a try this weekend with my sons. I'll let you know what they think...thanks for sharing the photo and the terrific story of family recipes!

Janet Hovorka said...

Weasy? I wouldn't recommend it to anyone alergic to dairy. Other than that they are really good. Good luck.

Greta Koehl said...

Mmmm -- cottage cheese AND sour cream. Sounds divine! And how neat that your great-great grandmother was still alive when you were a little girl.