Mrs. Bailey's Coconut Ice

Coconut ice was a recipe popular in the late 1930's until World War II brought in sugar rationing. Was this recipe named for George Bailey's wife in the popular Christmas film It's a Wonderful Life? I don't know.

• 2 cups sugar
• 1 cup unsweetened flaked coconut
• 3/4 cup milk

1. Stir the sugar into the milk in a pot on low heat.
2. Add coconut and on medium heat, bring to a boil.
3. Boil for 5-7 minutes and then beat with a wooden spoon until the consistency of porridge.
4. Pour into a greased or parchment-lined pan.

Option: Pour half into the pan, let set in fridge. Stir pink food colouring OR a square of melted chocolate into the remaining half in the pot and keep warm over hot water. When first half in the pan is set, pour the second half on top and set till cool, then cut in pieces.

 

Meatballs with Rice & Tomato

Lauren says there's never enough cabbage in cabbage rolls. Dave shoves the cabbage aside on his plate; he likes the meat-and-rice filling. This depression-era recipe for ground beef and rice meatballs is known as either "Porcupines" or "Hedgehogs". The meatballs resemble porcupines or hedgehogs when the rice pokes out of the meatballs as they bake in the oven. The ingredients are similar to cabbage rolls, without the cabbage. 

Porcupines

• 1-3/4 lb. ground beef
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 medium-sized onion, chopped
• 2 Tbsp grated carrot (1 small carrot)
• 1 cup milk
• 2 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp pepper
• 1/2 cup uncooked white rice, rinsed and drained
• 2 tins condensed tomato soup
• 2 cups cold water

Mix together: raw beef, garlic powder, onion, grated carrot, milk, salt, pepper, uncooked rice.

Shape into meatballs.

Place in a casserole dish or roasting pan.

Mix tomato soup and water, pour over meatballs.

Bake uncovered in preheated 350 degree F oven for 35 minutes.

Cover and bake another half hour.

For those who will be disappointed that you didn't make cabbage rolls, serve with a side dish of boiled cabbage.

Serves 6.

Hedgehogs

• 2-1/2 lbs ground beef
• 2 cans condensed tomato soup
• herbs to taste
• 1/2 cup flour
• 1 cup white rice, rinsed
• 1 large beaten egg
• salt and pepper

Mix ground beef, egg, flour, rice, salt, pepper and herbs.

Roll into small balls.

Place in a casserole dish.

Pour soup over meat balls.

Cook in 350 degree F oven 1-1/2 hours or until your hedgehog dinner is done.