What do you mean you can’t read that! This is the recipe my mother wrote into my recipe book years ago, before she died. Well, obviously Before she died, I mean, if she had written it After she had died this would be a very different story!! Anyway, this was before cell phones and computers in homes and milk in cartons and granola bars in crinkly packages.
She devised this recipe to encourage us kids to eat raw foods. Hence the cornflakes (very tricky cover). And I am willing to bet that she never made it the same way twice. This is a stand out favourite for my kids. And you can stuff it full of good dried food!
Mum obviously used the first pen that came to hand. Faded green (sigh) So I shall interpret. She always wrote important stuff in capitals. So I shall too. Please excuse me if it sounds like I am shouting the recipe at you.
MUMMA MUNCH
- CORNFLAKES 3 cups
- ROLLED OATS 1 cup
- SULTANAS handful
- COCONUT 1/2 cup
- WHEATGERM dsp spoon
- BRAN 1/2 cup
- KIBBLED WHEAT dsp spoon
- SUNFLOWER SEEDS 1/2 cup
- SESAME SEEDS 1/4 cup
- PEANUTS?
(In a pot)
BOIL HARD TOGETHER FOR 4 – 5 MINUTES
- BUTTER 1/2 LB
- SUGAR 1/2 cup
- HONEY dsp spoon
Mix all the dry ingredients in a big bowl, I took out the sesame seeds and added walnut and flax seeds. Then boil the butter and sugar mixture until it begins to pull away from the sides. Be careful or you really will have toffee. We boiled and stirred for 4 minutes. The Matriarch made the mistake of stepping through the door at this very moment and very kindly took over the stirring as it needs to be continuously stirred, and I still had the floor covered in grocery bags.
Then quickly pour the hot mixture into the dry ingredients and mix well. Work fast as it is setting. While it is still hot pour into a pie dish (Mum used to make this in a roasting dish, as she did with most things, after all there were quite a few of us) and pat firmly into place, keep patting and pushing firmly as it hardens, flattening with a spoon and then pop into the fridge.
Cut into small slices when co;d. This lives in the fridge until it is all gone. Which will be very soon!
Now the rule is: (this is not a silly rule!) When the children are doing the cutting and dividing – one cuts and the others choose. So the cutter makes sure that all portions are exactly the same. Getting to have the last slice does that to a person!!
A shot of The Farmy last night as we walked away from the sunset. This weather is a gift. Lovely walks. We are getting so far ahead on our winter jobs. Stalker’s Garden has new raised beds. The calves have a new fence (they are not impressed). A new guttering spout has been installed for another rainwater barrel (every garden needs one). There has been Thinking done about the pig sty, maintenance on the barn (doors that open and shut, with new Daisy safe latches)and Our John has even begun to sow a few seeds for the vege garden. I know, I know, far too early, but there is no stopping the man, he does this every year!
Good morning!
c
Good morning. Mum’s recipes are best – this one looks a bit like a flapjack + +. I’ve also been baking this morning – Christmas goodies having been consumed, Jock was asking plaintively what he could eat!
The smell of baking in a winter kitchen is so comforting.. c
Looks like granola to me…which means it’s something chocked fulla stuff I’m allergic to. The sunset picture is smashing! Those old handwritten faded with time and use recipes are the best! t
Except you can make this yourself and not add any of the life threatening foods! It really is a recipe you can make up as you go along! c
Which is what I’ll be doing, too–I don’t have bad allergies, just increasing problems with wheat and some other kinds of flour in my old age. SO glad there are so many alternatives available nowadays!! ‘Specially because this looks and sounds *tasty*.
It is tasty, maybe just a little too tasty when i am meant to be cutting down Post Christmas! c
Bookmarking and baking. Thanks!
great, let me know how it goes. the great thing is the speed.. it comes together very fast! and once it is cooled it is ready to cut!
Too special for words Celi – I LOVE that you still have the handwritten recipe your mom wrote for you! Awesome stuff! I am super sentimental so I find this extra special! Grand recipe too!
Mandy
It is great to have, you can see that the book has fallen apart and all the pages with mums and grandmas recipes, in with many others hand written by their givers, are all now stored in a biscuit tin. c
Mandy’s right–the handwritten things are so precious. That’s why I’ve started scanning some of the fading ones I have, so that I can keep the “original” in mind even when the ink and paper finally give out.
That is good thinking!.. c
I can read it – it sounds great!
Funny that she wrote in green so often! many things we do not think to ask about at the time. c
How lovely that you have this written down by your mum – I have a few recipes my mum wrote down for me (and I very luckily still have her around) and they are extra special to me and tucked into recipe books. This sounds so good (what´s kibble by the way?) I think I´m going to give this one a go soon for some tasty nibbles (or Mumma Munches)! Thanks for sharing this one Celi.
Kibbled wheat is just the wheat kernel. But actually other than the cornflakes and oatmeal you can pretty much add anything in that range, as long as you keep the volume! I would love you to try it.. it is fast and good.. c
That worn stained paper! I have some of those, too. Would be so easy to scan and put in computer – but it wouldn’t be the same? Stuff looks yummy – and I like you can leave in or take out what you want for variation. (Good luck with the calves and the fence…they can be quite the creative escape artists.)
Yes they certainly can, we had one that took the gates OFF! But they have to be fenced off the big field so there is some grass for the spring! c
A really interesting recipe, Celi. But you know what – it’s that beautiful blue and white plate that has my mouth watering. Lovely!
It is a very sweet little plate. Old, old Japanese china. c
These are truly the recipes to treasure, the handwritten, stained ones, that hold so much love.
And that rule: One cuts, one chooses, good rule to enforce.
Finally, the overall shot of the farm at sunset is truly gorgeous. I always pictured your farm as having more trees. Why so few?
This was a farm cottage and by its very nature was utilitarian, I do not know why but in the twenties and thirties the trees were torn out and the creeks were dug into drains and the swamps were drained, the barns ripped open to house the harvesters. It really is all about the corn. Trees and small farms were in the way of the fields! The few trees that were planted here were Dutch Elms. And one by one they have succumbed to the disease that hollows them out and kills them. Sadly that is what they planted here and those two tall ones in the shot are all that is left. As you can imagine there are piles of young trees now so in ten years time that shot will be very different. But it does show you how truly in the middle of a corn field we really are! c
The blue plate fascinated me too… And really seems so delicious… Thank you dear Cecilia… Have a nice and enjoyable day, with my love, nia
Have a lovely evening nia, take care.. c
Oh how wonderful. And such a great thing to remember her by – can’t wait to try it.
It is so easy, let me know how it goes ! have a great day! c
In my book Kibble is a type of dog food! yikes, she’s making me eat dog food! Phew! I’ve just read your response to what kibble is
ha ha ha .. just eat up and be grateful! Quote from my Mumma. just miss it out and replace it with some other unbearably healthy grain!! c
That handwritten recipe reminds me of my mothers, the pages all yellow and tattered. A recipe to cherish and certainly to make…but what is kibble???
Kibbled wheat is the kernel but it is ok, you can put whatever you like in instead! c
Lovely to see that you’ve kept your mum’s recipe. I have several of my own mum’s, also hand written. I don’t know about you but seeing her handwriting, more than anything else of hers, is still capable of bringing a lump to my throat, particularly when I’m following her recipes for Christmas cake/pudding.
Christine
I know what you mean, my sister will feel the same when she sees Mums writing. I am kind of used to it as i was never without it in the books.. But it is very nostalgic.. c
What great photos and I love that recipe too. I especially love the photo of it on the page.
yes a list atop other lists!! c
I have a couple notebooks Mom used, I think, to make her cookbooks. Unfortunately, they are pretty much indecipherable. I’m bound and determined to figure them out. Ask Your John to keep an eye out for the Bartolini Stone when he’s plowing the fields. It could offer me the key to deciphering her coded recipes. This Mumma Munch does sound delicious, Celi, and you’ve captured a great photo of your farm. I defy any of your readers to look at it and not smile. Very nicely doe!
Oh the dreaded Mama shorthand, my grandmothers notebooks are like that. She would just write a letter. Pound of R! grnd. R!? What is the R?..grnd?.. ground? I know what you mean. c
I love your mum’s recipe page on top of what looks like your garden plan…working that in, eh? I laughed out loud at ‘please excuse me if it sounds like I’m shouting the recipe,’ and just love that she wrote important stuff in caps…so charming. And the recipe sounds great, too, and one to try! Beautiful sunset farmy.
Yes, well it was sat on top and looked cute. The garden page is still active, when it is done I shall show you!! I love the planning stage! c
old recipes are the best. my mother died when i was a little girl and the only thing i have of hers are her recipes!
So sad that your mum died when you were little but goodness how fantastic to have her recipes! .. c
This, I would like to ‘like’ twice. It looks incredibly delicious and my tummy is rumbling appreciatively. I shall make some tomorrow!
Oh brilliant. Don’t forget to work fast in the closing stages.. Mine is almost all gone and I only made it yesterday!! c
Unlike me, you seem to come by your cooking talents honestly
My mom loved cans – anything that came out of them was great with her – including vegetables, which I grew up hating and later discovered as manna from heaven in the garden!
I’ve also shared your blog in my latest post – I can’t say it often enough: lovelovelove coming here!
Thank you so much for sharing me bela. i love a good share! I look forward to seeing what you do in your garden! c
I have photocopies of some of my Granny’s recipes, I cherish them dearly
One of my shorter-term projects is to gather up my family history with family recipes and make a book, that way our grandchildren will have this to hold on to. The hardest part is getting everyone (aunts, cousins) to write down their creations to be preserved.
maybe you will have to take your notebook and work with them when they make it. I found it so hard to write recipes when I started. I longed for someone to watch me cook and just write it down!! The book is a great idea, i would almost say an essential idea. A blog is one thing but I also need to make sure that i preserve the written words too!
Liz and I both concur that your Mom’s crunch looks delish! And seeing the original recipe makes me think back to looking through my grandparents recipe box.
Oh yeah, don’t let your Grams recipes get cold! c
That does look appealing! Your mum was very clever, Celi!
She was clever and VERY original! c
This sounds (and looks) so tasty! Forgive my ignorance, but what is a “dsp”?
NZ short hand for dessert spoon and a good question Ted!
c
I love things like this – though I admit I had to look up Kibbled wheat and Sultanas! (I’d heard of them before…but low and behold: a lowly raisin!…not what I expected they’d be!) I definitely want to try this! Oh, and just to let you know – I have been getting Katie in the kitchen more as per your instructions! She is loving it!
Good for katie, tell her she will love making this one it is SO EASY! c
The kibbled wheat is new to me – knew what sultanas were. Love this and will attempt it. I must say, I travelled to NZ a few years ago, and fell in love with the cuisine. Beautiful, tasty, fresh, healthy – can’t say enough about it. If this recipe came from NZ, it is one to keep. Thanks for sharing.
PS – love the picture of your farm in silhouette. Gorgeous!
Thank you Renee. For once a shot did what i had expected of it!! c
Oh yes this one came from the NZ beach where I grew up! My Mother bless her was one of the original health food fanatics! c
Like! Also like the green capital letters.
I know thanks mel!! c
Oh that does look good. But “dsp” means “digital signal processing” to me, as that is my trade. I assume it must mean something else when coupled with spoon.
And I see that you have already answered that question (dessert spoon). Unfortunately, the answer was insufficient to convey understanding to this practitioner of digital signal processing. How big is a dessert spoon? Or perhaps I should experiment!
Hmm. about two heaped real teaspoons! maybe.. tho with this recipe the actual amounts don’t matter much as long as you get the total in the end! c
What a great sounding recipe! Can’t wait to try it.
Oh I hope you do Yummy! c
Sound advice re cutting. It would have given my mother (5 children) doses of peace!
I certainly sorted out my five!! c
That does sound yummy!
It is a goodie.. c
YOUR MOM’S RECIPE IS A WINNER! Love the farm shot
Thanks Cindy, hope you have a great day winding them all up at the Salon! c
Old recipes are great, love the Boil Hard bit! I have a recipe form my Great Gran for a war time recipe for Christmas cake, adapted to their rations.
Oh I can imagine that recipe Allison, have you posted it? Out of interest, does it have semolina in it? That would be a find indeed.. c
This mumma munch is the type of recipe I would love because I know it would make me full. Okay, maybe I should make this very soon.. it will help with losing 10 pounds
I am loosing to lose the ten christmas pounds too Kay. All that roughage should help! c
I can hear your voice (OK, what I think your voice sounds like) in my head when I read your posts! Love the mumma munch
That is a pretty wonderful thing to hear Tandy. I actually read my work out loud when I do my final edit! So it is often written as I speak aloud!! wow.. c
What a totally delicious post – and blog – Cecilia! This is such a treat to discover, thank you…I shall be back for more
Morning Naomi and welcome. Hope you are having a great day! c
A lovely heirloom.
Yes, i am lucky the old recipes survived! c
Wonderful recipe!
Your Mum and mine had the same rule about cutting and choosing, though there were only two of us! I kept the same rule for my three, with varying success. The Big Girls always seemed to find a way to give Little Brother the small piece if I wasn’t standing by…
Poor little brother i am sure he gets around them nowadays, Boys always do! c
I’m reminded of flapjacks, something I had in England or Scotland (not the American kind). I’ve been looking for a good recipe for something of that nature, and this sounds yummy.
Your evening shot of The Farmy is gorgeous.
It is super easy and very good. Flapjacks are kind of rubbery really, I always thought of them as soggy but these are crunchy. thanks robin! c
That looks delicious, Cecelia! I’ll have to do some thinking to make it gluten free. Your mother was very clever about the cutting and choosing!
Hope you can make it GF. It is a very malleable recipe! c
Wow, I wonder if my mom or even my grandmother keeps recipes like those. Amazing!
Find out. The ones they made up themselves are often excellent! and authentic to the period too.. c
My Mum used this cut and choose rule except she said divide and choose. Cut and choose sounds better. (Ah alliteration again!)
Love it! Those rolley words! c
I love the name Mumma Munch! That looks like a complete meal in itself. Great way to kickstart the day!
Good morning and welcome.. I don’t know if it was Mum or us kids who named it mumma munch but it is indeed a perfect munch.. c
This sounds and looks delicious, C *saved* thank you for sharing it!
Oh, I love that photo. So tranquil with the trees fuzzing against the gentle sky.
Looks delish!