Last-minute gifts wrapped up with cakey treats
Swap shop
With Christmas just around the corner, two urgent requests are being answered by the spice experts at McCormick.
When P.C. of Melrose Park asked her grandfather, who resides in an assisted living facility, what he would like for Christmas, he responded he would like her to bake him a red velvet cake -- and she was eager to please, but preferred a from-scratch recipe. And M.A. of Gary wants to bake easy bars to surprise her mother-in-law, who loves gingerbread.
And, for M.H. of Hinsdale, who requested the recipe for a lime gelatin salad made with cottage cheese that was popular in the 1950s and 60s, Marilee H. Mersereau of Manteno, Jeannine Konopacki of Chicago, Nadine Gamboa of Arlington Heights, Renee Kurowski of Oak Brook, Mary Kingston of Chicago, Joan Weeks of Downers Grove, Carolynne Reina of Chicago, Donna Katzenbach of Chicago, Mary A. Lehman of Northlake and Nancy Thomas of Winthrop Harbor came to the rescue.
For Marilee Mersereau's deluxe version of Lime Cheese Mold, which serves 12: Dissolve 2 (3-ounce) packages of lime gelatin in 2 cups boiling water. Blend in 2 cups (1 pint) lime sherbet. Chill until very thick. Stir in 2 cups small curd cottage cheese and 1 (15-ounce) can drained crushed pineapple (with juice, not syrup). Pour into a 7- or 8-cup sprayed mold or a 9-by-13-inch glass pan. Refrigerate until firm. If desired, "frost" with a thin layer of sour cream.
For Nadine Gamboa's favorite Lime Walnut Salad: Make 1 (3-ounce) package of lime gelatin with 1 cup boiling water. When it has thickened slightly, add 1 (16-ounce) can crushed pineapple (undrained), 1/2 cup finely chopped celery, 4 tablespoons chopped maraschino cherries, 1 cup cottage cheese, and 1/2 cup chopped walnuts. Pour into a metal or glass loaf pan. Chill until set. Slice and serve on a leaf of lettuce.
Buddy's, a restaurant/bar off 22nd Street on Oakley Avenue , served breaded steak sandwiches on Italian bread. I'm looking for that recipe.
P.P., Chicago
Please, please, could readers share family favorites for economical casseroles. I have a family of six to feed, and I'm out of ideas to stretch my food budget.
M.A., Chicago
A recent request for a gelatin recipe prompts my request for gelatin recipes that would be popular with kids -- recipes that call for canned fruit, marshmallows, etc., that I can substitute for expensive desserts.
F.S., Crystal Lake
Send recipes and requests to: Swap Shop, Chicago Sun-Times, 350 N. Orleans, 9th Floor, Chicago 60654 or by e-mail, swapshop@suntimes.com.
All mail must include a daytime telephone number. Sorry, requests can't be answered personally.