The Forum: Diplomat shares her raisin squares

Published 11:01 am Thursday, July 15, 2010

In a wonderful masterpiece of tact, diplomacy, caring and sharing, Everett helper-outer Saundra Cope writes, “I was happy to see my grandmother’s recipe published in your column. There was a glitch, however, in the print setup. It deleted the eggs, and the 1 cup portion of the Crisco appeared over your picture.

“Not sure if anyone else has advised you of this, so I am sending it again to hopefully prevent the disaster that would occur if the recipe was made without the eggs and correct amount of shortening.”

Actually, the glitch was a computer evidently gone totally berserk, but all’s well that ends well, and Saundra puts us right back on the right track, with the recipe as she originally shared it:

Iowa grandmother Flossie May’s raisin squares

11/2 cups sugar

1cup Crisco

2eggs

31/2 cups flour

1teaspoon baking soda

1teaspoon cinnamon

2cups raisins cooked in 1 /2 cups water (reserve 1 cup liquid)

Icing (recipe follows)

Cream the sugar and Crisco. Mix in the eggs. Alternately mix in flour (with the soda and cinnamon added) and the reserved raisin water. Mix in the raisins.

Spread in a greased cookie sheet with sides. Bake at 375 degrees for 15 minutes, approximately.

Make the icing. While the raisin squares are still warm, spread the frosting over. Cut in squares when completely cooled.

Icing

2cups powdered sugar

1/2cup butter, at room temperature

Cream powdered sugar and room temperature butter together.

Bits and pieces: Happily, two Forum readers suggest another source for the elusive frozen blintzes we need to make a blintz casserole.

Fran Womack of Edmonds writes, “Regarding the frozen cheese blintzes, I found them at the Central Market in Mill Creek Town Center. They are the Golden brand and cost $4.59 a package.”

And Faye Cody confirms this source, mentioning she’d already searched Safeway, Albertson’s and other supermarkets with no success.

Remember, the Forum is always happy to receive your contributions and requests, so don’t hesitate to send them to Judyrae Kruse at the Forum, c/o The Herald, P.O. Box 930, Everett, WA 98206. Please don’t forget that all letters and e-mail must include a name, complete address and telephone number with area code. No exceptions and sorry, but no response to e-mail by return e-mail; send to kruse@heraldnet.com.

The next Forum will appear in Monday’s Good Life section.