Saturday, November 19, 2011

With Love

We share with you today a family favorite ~ my father's recipe for Potato Filling ~ a good old fashioned Pennsylvania Dutch recipe.  It has been a family tradition to enjoy this potato filling every Thanksgiving and every Christmas.  We would all awaken to the delicious fragrance of sauteed onions and celery as it was my father who would begin the preparations for our family meal.  He would prepare the turkey, stuff the bird, and begin making the potato filling.  Over the years, the responsibilities for the meal have been transferred to younger hands, but as long as he could, he was willing to help with the preparations and would saute the onions and celery for the potato filling

During one of Dad’s election campaigns this recipe was used on the back of his campaign card and even voters from the opposing party were asking for his card!  My father won the election for Mayor that year, and my mother always referred to this as 'the recipe that won the election'.

Byron's Potato Filling
½ pound butter
½ loaf white bread, cubed
½ bunch celery, diced
3 large onions, sliced
12 large potatoes, boiled
2 C milk
4 eggs
1 T salt
½ c fresh parsley, minced

Melt ¼ pound of butter, each, in two frying pans. In one pan, brown the bread cubes until they are crisped, In the other, stir fry the celery and onions until softened and translucent. Mash the potatoes, gradually adding the milk, eggs, salt and parsley. Fold in the cooked celery, onions and browned bread cubes. Pour into one large ovenware dish or two small ones and bake for ½ hour or until the bird is carved.

The Blog Writers, Susanna and Nancy, with their 89 year old Father.  Forever in our hearts.

9 comments:

La Tea Dah said...

You have been on my mind today. You share precious memories and a forever connection to a wonderful father. Warm, affirming, caring, interesting, and loving --- all traits that I know were his from the things you have said over the years --- and these I know, although I never had the privilege to meet him. My thoughts and prayers are with your family as you say your good-byes. Couch your memories with precious care. And know you were SO loved!

Donna and Miss Spenser said...

Your family is amazing...thinking of you much today.

I DO want to try this recipe out...perhaps it will become a family tradition here...

Thinking of you lots...
Donna

Valerie Zagami said...

The world is a sadder place without your dad. Thinking of you all. Valerie

Steph said...

It's clear how much your love of your father and family permeate your lives. Thank you for sharing this recipe!

Marilyn Miller said...

What a lovely tribute to give of your father's special recipe. I can't wait to try it. Sending hugs! He was a special man for whom I know you are all very proud.

Corinne said...

What a lovely memory and I thank you for sharing it.

I too will use this recipe and bring it to our thanksgiving get together and tell the story you told.

You are in my prayers.

Corinne

Alexander said...

I know he was very happy and blessed because he had such a loving daughters!

GardenOfDaisies said...

Sounds yummy! How fun that he included this on his campaign card! I know one thing for sure... he was a lucky man to have such loving daughters.

Rosemary said...

Thank you so much for all the kind words and special comments about our dad. He is sadly missed, but resting in peace now, happy to be reunited with his beloved wife, Bertha. Together again, they are watching over their four daughters.