When I was home in Oregon a few years back, my mother gave me her copy of
Cook Book Presented by The Fishwives of Charleston Oregon, published by the Commercial Fishermen's Wives Association of the Port of Coos Bay in 1972. Mom came by her copy in '73, a gift from a friend at St. Monica's. I remember looking through the book and loving the hand-drawn ads, and the drawings of all the fishing boats comprising Charleston's fleet.
What I didn't remember or know was just how much this cookbook guided my meals growing up. So many recipes that I think of as "our" recipes, "family" recipes are all from the fishwives. That being said, there's no way I'll ever limit myself to a mere seven recipes from this book. My love for it seemed a good way to kick this blog back into gear.
Good CakeMcKay's is still open, so if you find yourself in Coos Bay, and you want to bake a cake, by all means, use the specified brand. Otherwise, embrace the fact that McKay's was a big advertiser in the cookbook, and so you can probably substitute your favorite brands in good health.
1/2 c. McKay's margarine
1 c. sugar
1 1/2 c. McKay's flour
2 tsp. baking powder
2 eggs or whites of 4
Flavor to suit yourself
GREAT GRANDMOTHERS
Mix well, bake at 350 till done. This recipe comes from an old old cook book. I double the recipe and then make 3 9-inch layers, very good frosted with 7 minute icing topped with coconut.
--Pat Loomis
I'm not at all sure why "GREAT GRANDMOTHERS" are a part of the recipe, or, at least, why it's in the recipe where it is. "Great Grandmother's Good Cake" would make a good title, and is probably what this receipt is really about.
For the flavor, you could go basic vanilla, or (if you're using coconut) how about some rum?
I know you're shocked; I'm suggesting booze.
I do not think I ever ate "Good Cake." See, there's a little hand-written note at the end of the recipe...
Bake 30 min--It falls if oven door is opened. Not to good. JB"JB" is the woman who gave Momma this cookbook. All spelling is hers.
As we explore Fishwives of Charleston, I'll post some of the (really quite cool) art work. This cookbook was a labor of love, and feels very different from the more formulaic fundraiser cookbooks you find at jumble sales. There's a sense of time, a sense of the authors, and boy golly, a sense of place.
So. Many. Fish. Recipes.
But that can wait until tomorrow.
I absolutely LOVE that you're doing this cookbook!
ReplyDeleteThere are far, far, far too many recipes I want to do from this... I think this week will be all baked goods, and the next time I do this book, it'll be all fish dishes.
ReplyDeleteHooray for you and for your Mom. I was, amny years ago, a Charleston Fishwife. You are absolutely bang on, it was designed with love. In 1976, we did a hard back edition of
ReplyDeletethis book for the USA Bi-Centennial.
Remember to eat lots of fish!
f/v pursuit
Ms. Vanderpool, thank you so much for commenting here! I love this cookbook so much, and it doesn't surprise me at all that you had to come out with more editions.
ReplyDelete