Nanny's Page

It's only fitting that I start with my grandmother's "Poor Man's Cake."  Louise Rau Konschak was from Jebenhausen, Germany.  She arrived in the United States in 1911with her uncle who sold Schoenhut toy pianos.  My most vivid memories of her are in the kitchen - just like you see in this photo - always in a dress - always with an apron - and always with a smile.

Nanny Konschak

Poor Man's Cake -  Nanny Konschak
2 c sugar
2 c water
1 c crisco
1 15oz box raisins
2 tsp cinnamon
Bring to a boil and simmer 5 minutes.  Remove from fire and add 2 tsp baking soda and 1 cup of coffee.  Let mixture cool completely before adding 3 cups of flour.  Pour into greased and floured 9x13 pan. Bake at 350 for 40min. 

Baked Salt Mackerel    Nanny Konschak
We would have this every Sunday morning when Nanny babysat me - which was pretty frequently. Before we would go to bed - and after we had played a lot of Old Maids - I would watch her get the fish ready for the next morning. Definately an acquired taste. 

Nanny Konschak

Soak mackerel over night in water - this is the whole fish - gutted and the head cut off but the skin still on. The next day, discard the water, and put mackerel in a 9 x 13 baking dish. Cover fish with boiling water and let it stand for a couple of minutes. Drain off the water and put a few lumps of butter and some pepper on fish. Bake in a moderate oven until browned. Skin should peel back easily and fish can be lifted easily off the bones.   

Black Walnut Cake     Nanny Konschak
1 1/2 c sugar
1/4 lb butter
4 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1 1/2 c milk
3 c flour
3 tsp baking powder
1/4 lb of ground walnuts (1 cup)
 Blend all ingredients and turn into a greased and floured turk's head pan. Bake at 375 for a half hour.

Homemade Salad Dressing   Nanny Konschak
I'm including this for what it's worth. I'm not sure what she used it for. My best guess is that this was cooked on top of the stove and then cooled and used as a dressing for potato salad or cole slaw. 
3 eggs well beaten
1/2 c water
1/2 c vinegar
salt and pepper to taste
1 tsp sugar
2 TB mayonnaise
1/2 tsp butter

German Spaetzle      Nanny Konschak

2 or 3 c flour
2 eggs
water
Mix flour and eggs adding water until you have a thick batter. "Sloffel" off of a cutting board with a sharp knife into boiling salted water. Time depends on size of noodles, but start with 5-8 minutes. Drain well. Nanny usually served with sauerkraut.

Crumb Cake        Nanny Konschak
2 c flour
1 c sugar
2 tsp baking powder5
4 TB lard (butter or crisco)
Mix all together and take out 1 cup of mixture. Add 2 TB cinnamon to the cup and set aside. Break an egg in a measuring cup and beat it and then add enough milk to measure 1 cup total. Mix well with remaining dry mixture. Put into a greased and floured round cake pan or square brownie pan. Top with reserved crumb/cinnamon mixture. Bake at 350 for 25-30 minutes.

Pineapple Cheese Pie     Nanny Konschak
I think this makes 2 pies.
2 c cottage cheese
3/4 c sugar
2 TB flour
1/4 tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla
4 eggs
1 can cream (or evaporated milk) with enough milk to make 1 cup
Beat cottage cheese until smooth. Add sugar, flour, salt, vanilla and 4 beaten egg yolks. Blend in 1 can cream with enough milk added to make 1 cup. Beat egg whites separately and blend in last. Heat pineapple and thicken with enough corn starch so it's not runny. Allow to cool. Add cottage cheese mixture. Scoop into pie plates. Sprinkle cinnamon on top or sliced almonds or both. Bake at 425 for 10 to 15 minutes then reduce heat to 325 for another 1/2 hour.

Dutch Peach Cake   Nanny Konschak
1 c flour
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
3 TB sugar
1/4 c shortening
1 egg
1/4 c milk
About 8 fresh peaches. (according to size)
Sift dry ingredients together. Blend in shortening with a fork. Combine egg and milk and stir in. Spread dough in 9x13 baking dish. Arrange peach slices slightly overlapping in rows.
Custard: Beat 3 eggs. To a small can of milk (evaporated) add fresh milk to make 1 cup. Add a little sugar to milk and blend with eggs. Pour carefully over peaches. Sprinkle with cinnamon. Bake at 400 for 15 minutes. Then reduce the oven to 350 for 30 more minutes. Apples and raisins may be used instead of peaches. (If using apples, don't add sugar to the custard.)

Cry Babies    Nanny Konschak
1 c sugar
1 c crisco
1 c dark molasses
1 egg
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp nutmeg (optional)
1/2 tsp ginger (optional)
1 TB baking soda dissolved in 1/2 c boiling water
4-5 c flour
Mix all together thoroughly. Start with 4 cups of flour and gradfually add last cup if needed to get batter that isn't runny. Drop by tablespoons onto lightly greased cookie sheet. Bake at 400 until a warm brown color. (maybe 8 - 10 minutes) Can be baked in greased and floured 9x13 pan at 350 for about 40 minutes.