Sunday, November 23, 2008

THE PARK RAPIDS HOCKEY PLAYERS' COOKBOOK

I mentioned the Park Rapids hockey players' cookbook in my previous post. It was printed sometime in the early 1980s, thinks my mom ("I'm pretty sure Nate was still a Mighty Mite.") The recipes are all submitted under the hockey players' names, and are presumably their favorites, or at least what their mothers figured would be the most appreciated by the other hockey moms.

From this paean to ketchup, hamburger, cream-of-something soups, and Cool Whip, I pulled out some choice recipes. Most look pretty revolting or perplexing to me, but I'll admit I'm tempted to go for the French Fry Bake.

All right, let's start with some of the main dishes--namely, hotdishes.

FRENCH-FRY BAKE

CHEESEBURGER PIE

CHEESEBURGER

MEAT ON A BUN

MISTER HOTDISH
I'm having a hard time believing this can be cut into squares.

And two of the many macaroni-based recipes, starting of course with...
MACCRONIE AND CHEESE
(Whoever typed the cookbook spells it this way in every recipe.)

WESTERN MAC HOTDISH
"What makes it Western?" my mom and I wondered. Then she figured it out: green peppers.
(Also note the second ingredient.)

On to SALADS,
a term that in Minnesota applies to any dish that is served below room temperature.

ORANGE SALAD
I ate variations on this at every church potluck. I preferred the kind that had cottage cheese in it too.

"MANACOTTI SALAD"
Try to envision this.

PISTACHIO SALAD

Finally, DESSERT.
(That's right, Cool-Whip-based dishes belong in the Salad section.)
For the most part, this is the part of the cookbook that actually sounds delicious. Cupcakes, bars, brownies, cookies, many involving melted bags of chocolate chips...and finally, my classmate Courtney Rutherford's recipe for
POPCORN CAKE.

If anyone will venture to actually make one of these dishes and send me a photo of it, I will personally mail you a photocopy of the whole book.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

thanks chelsey these are awesome! love the western. ps should be in pr over xmas sounds like you are too yay. - tresa

Anonymous said...

Hi Chelsey.......I had to laugh reading this one. We had the pistachio "salad" at Thanksgiving dinner today (in Park Rapids by the way). Not sure who made it but it's always one of my daughter's favorites. I'll gladly send you a picture but I don't need a copy of the hockey recipe book.

Hope you had a nice Turkey Day.
Leah (Higgins) Crist

Erin Ergenbright said...

Chelsey! We have Popcorn Cake (Ralph's Popcorn Cake) in the Ex-Boyfriend Cookbook! My mom used to make it for me, and it was one of the only times we were allowed something with sugar, preservatives, and food coloring. And I had no idea where she found the recipe (but now I know...).

xoxo

Erin

the unreliable narrator said...

I'm not going to prepare any of these (at least, not on purpose...) much less photograph the unappetizing results. Maccronie!

(I think I ate the orange Jell-o salad a lot, though, growing up in Texas. Ah, those exquisite church casserole suppers....)

But I will say that you should probably acquaint yourself with James Lileks' Gallery of Regrettable Food, if you have not already done so. Just don't try to eat or drink while you look at the pictures (which are all annotated with his riotous commentary).

the unreliable narrator said...

Okay, I take it back. I just read this, AGAIN, and laughed so hard, AGAIN, that I might have to make popcorn cake (which at least doesn't have any maccronie or buttered wheaties in it, although—do I own an angle pan?) and take you up on that photocopy offer.

And, if I ever write a poem again, it will totally be called "WESTERN MAC HOTDISH."