When my grandma Mildred (Mimi) Griffith was moving out of her house into an assisted living facility a few years ago, she gave a lot of things away. My mom, Lynn Bortel, ended up with Mimi's shoe box full of recipes. When my mom died in August of 2003, I ended up with the box.
Mimi passed away this Summer, at age 95. Other than the various aches and pains and parts that wouldn't move anymore, she was pretty robust right up until the end. One thing that no one would dispute about Mildred is that she was stubborn (a trait inherited down the family line -- just ask the long-suffering husbands of the offspring). When she was ready to die, that was it: no one was going to stop her. And so she did.
Since it came into my possession, the box has moldered, unviewed, on a bookshelf in our living room.
Just yesterday, I started poring through the box, thinking that I could find some neat stuff to make for Thanksgiving this year. I found some recipes that sounded delicious, and others that were horrifying (something with lime jello and curry powder). I also ran across some old favorites in the Bortel household, like Johnny Marzetti.
I started this blog thinking this would be the best way to share the recipes with my family, as well as with anyone else who might be interested in knowing Mimi's recipe for "mock champagne." Enjoy.
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