Outback "Copy Cat Recipe" From Aunt Jo

 This family recipe from our Aunt Jo is well over 100 years old. It is a cherished recipe for many reasons. Our aunt Jo is 85 years old and still continues to make these dinner rolls. Aunt Jo was the youngest of 12 children. Her Papa owned a small farm in the Pecos valley. Sadly aunt Jo's mama passed away when she was only eight years old. Aunt Jo missed the company of her mother but learned how to occupy herself while her papa farmed. Jo was quite a few years younger than her siblings who had grown up and left home. Her brothers enlisted in the service and her sisters were married and had started their own families.

Aunt Jo graduated from college, taught first grade, married and had a baby girl. Missing her mother she tried to remember the dinner roll recipe that her mother taught her. She practiced making it until she got it perfect. Obviously the thought of mama's dinner rolls brought her comfort.


I have been working on a cookbook for my children and wanted to add another version of aunt Jo's original recipe making a  recipe like they serve at steakhouses. I used aunt Jo's recipe and altered the sugar, water, and flour to make what I call a copy cat of the Outback restaurant. I did not use cornmeal, instead I have used oatmeal. I am including her original recipe in this guide and will be sharing how I made the new version.  
 



 

Step 1 Family Traditions

 With both parents usually working I can think of no better time than now  . . . to establish family traditions. Why not start a  tradition involving food. You can cook and plan meals around the special day and have quality time with the children at the same time. Children will be more interested in helping out in the kitchen when it is a  fun activity for them. They would learn how to cook and plan a meal as well as learn how to decorate for the occasion.  The important thing is  . . . the quality time you spend together working on the  menu will give them the attention they need. The children will learn about their heritage as well as give  them a sense of belonging.

Plan a time each month to cook for the event. Let the kids choose the menu. You can add fun and excitement  by lighting candles, folding pretty napkins, creating food art, and making homemade decorations. If the kids are studying a certain country then plan an Italian meal or a Chinese meal etc. If you make it a fun activity they will naturally want to be a part of it.  Wash the dishes with the child. This is a great way to spend time with them and find out about their day and get the chores done at the same time.

I remember as a child having all of our family meals together. I remember the chatter at the table and how everyone talked about the events of their day. It was an enjoyable time and it brought us all together. I suppose that is one reason they call food "comfort food."

It takes a little more time to fix and plan a meal like this,  but I have noticed family members feel very special when I do it. My son went away to college and was gone for a year before I saw him again.  He came home one  summer and had requested that I make him lasagna. I had never made it before, but I honored his request.

I had been working for a woman whose grandmother was Italian and had published an Italian cookbook. I bought the cookbook because  I had been visiting her one day and she told me that I must  try her grandmother's roasted pepper recipe. They tasted so wonderful. I used her lasagna recipe for our special occasion.

I also decorated the table with grape lights and folded leaf napkins. I lit candles. We ate on the patio that evening and my son raved about it being the very best lasagna he had ever eaten. He thanked me and gave me a huge hug.

Every time I see him he raves about that lasagna and how much he appreciated all my efforts. That was 10 years ago and he still talks about it. He bought  my clients  grandmother's cookbook.  My son enjoys cooking.  This has given me much comfort in knowing that after I am gone he will always embrace that special dinner and it will give him comfort in his time of sorrow.

When my children come to visit I always make an extra effort to fix their favorite meals. I also do extra things like light the candles, iron their sheets, place special things out on the bed  like folded towels "in the shapes of animals",  and their favorite fruit, or candy.  I want to create memories for them that will bring them joy when they may need it the most.

If you are interested in learning how to make any of these things, here is the link:  http://www.instructables.com/id/Planning-A-Spa-Brunch-for-a-quiet-relaxing-day/.