Dinner's Served

One constant in all of John's books was Sunday dinner.  Every book has a Sunday dinner guest or event.  The scenario was the same.  After church Papa would go out to the ice house and chip the block for putting ice cream maker.  All afternoon the boys took turns turning the crank.  In time it was ready.  By that point Papa's unannounced guest had arrived for dinner and everyone would eat.

John always described the dinners well.  I especially love his description of the first meal Mamma cooked Papa.

Their first meal tasted better to Papa than any of the fancy meals they'd eaten in Denver.  It was the first time he'd ever tasted Mormon gravy.  Mamma had made it by adding flour to the grease left from frying the home-cured ham, allowed it to brown, then added milk, and salt and pepper.  She poured it over hot biscuits.  Mamma had made coffee for Papa, but being a Mormon, she herself drank milk.

Though this dinner wasn't Sunday dinner.  I imagine many of them were much like this.  If you ever want to have a Fitzgerald style dinner, I've added some recipes to help you along.  Have fun.  Enjoy Sunday Dinner.

Recipe for Mormon Biscuits With Cream Gravy

Ingredients

2 cup sifted all purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon sugar
1/4 cup vegetable shortening
1 sour milk or buttermilk
----CREAM GRAVY----
3 tablespoon clear bacon drippings
3 teaspoon all-purpose flour
3 cup milk 

1 salt and pepper

Instructions

Sift dry ingredients. Work in shortening to consistency of fine meal. Add milk to make soft dough. Roll on floured board to 1/2 inch thickness. Cut with 2 inch biscuit cutter. Bake on greased cookie sheet in preheated very hot oven (450F) for 10-15 minutes. Split biscuits; pour Cream Gravy over them. Makes 4 servings.

CREAM GRAVY:

Combine drippings and flour in skillet. Heat and stir for a minute or two. Add milk, cook until slightly thickened, stirring constantly. Season well with salt and pepper.

And for dessert - Mamma's best -

HOMEMADE PINEAPPLE ICE CREAM
1 can crushed pineapple in heavy syrup 1 (3 oz.) instant vanilla pudding 4 eggs 2 c. sugar 1 tsp. vanilla 2 cans condensed milk Enough milk to fill not quite 1 gal. Mix all ingredients and pour into freezer. Freeze according to freezer instructions.