Marjory's delicious Brussel Sprouts

3 pounds Brussel sprouts, trim ends and outer leaves

3 Tsp balsamic vinegar

3 granny smith apples

1 cup sliced almonds

1 tbsp kosher salt

1 tsp ground pepper

1/4 cup canola oil

2 small red onions, thinly sliced

1/3 cup raisins or currants (or cranberries)

1/2 tsp red pepper flakes

4 oz (1 stick) unslted butter, cut into small pieces

1. With one rack at center and one in upper-middle, heat oven to 350 degrees. With a paring knife, cut an X into the base of each sprout. Put them in a large bowl

2. Add the vinegar apples, almonds, salt, pepper, oil, onions, raisins and pepper flakes. Toss together, transfer to a gratin or baking dish and dot top with half of the butter. Bake on the lower rack for 30 minutes. Add remaining pats of butter and bake 30 minutes more. Turn to broil setting.

3. Move baking dish to upper rack or broiler. Brown the top layer, about 2 minutes, taking care not to burn.

Sand Tarts

1 lb sugar (2 cups)

3/4 lb butter

2 eggs

1 tsp. vanilla

flour enough to stiffen 

(about 3/4 of sifter --  sift before, then again)

Roll into small loaves.  Wrap in wax paper overnight.

Slice thin and decorate.

Scotch Cookies

1 lb brown sugar (2 1/4 cups packed)

1 pt molasses

5/8 pound butter

2 cans coconut (14 oz)

1 lb flour (4 cups, sifted)

Cream butter and sugar.  Add molasses and coconut.  

Add flour. 

Drop by small tsp. on aluminum covered cookie sheet.  Only about 6 or 7 on each.

Bake in moderate oven.

Cool on foil.

Remove carefully.

Nan's Forgotten Cookies

Makes 36 merangues

Preheat oven to 370

Beat 2 egg whites until very stiff.  Add 

1/4 tsp. salt

3/4 cup sugar

gradually until very stiff merangue.

Beat in 1 tsp. vanilla

Fold in 1 6 oz pkg of chocolate bits

Drop by tsp on greased cookie sheets

Set sheets in oven -- turn off heat

Leave in the oven overnight.  

Don't Peek!

Roll Call!

OK, before we get started allow us to introduce ourselves.
Here are the Violet Lane ladies eating our way through some of our most favorite places...

"Naan-cy" drinking cholocate caliente at El Balcon Enriquez in Quetzaltenango

"Sitting at home on the sofa, surrounded by daughters, with a newly created family cookbook (hardcopy and online), wearing my new Christmas apron from my sister, is a perfect place for me to sit and think about family recipes."

"Cass-erole" polishing off some mussels outside on the deck at Gilbert's in Portland, Maine

"Plagued with food anxiety, I have always wondered will there be enough?  Will I feel satisfied?  Now with these recipes, I am the master of my appetite, the Queen of my kitchen, and tutor to my tastebuds."

"Lace-agna" eating crispy fried grasshopper in China

"Bugs are OK, but what I really love are the recipes that have been handed down through the generations, especially the Christmas cookies that always seemed to be especially unique to us, kept back in the pantry in enormous plastic tubs.  Now every year I try to make a couple of the half-dozen cookie recipes Nan and Grandmom would always make without any fuss.  This year: sand tarts and forgotten cookies.  I almost forgot the flour but I remembered not to peek!"