Category: Heritage

John Wayne Casserole

Published on by byjoellaLeave a comment

We have a guest room that faces movie star legend, John Wayne’s historic 26 Bar (Herefords) Ranch. We live in a community that values its John Wayne connection. His picture is hanging in several local businesses. When I saw an article about John Wayne’s Casserole, I thought, “Really? Did he inspire a casserole?”

Searching for John Wayne’s Casserole Recipe

After doing several internet searches, I initially found out via various recipe websites that the history of John Wayne’s Casserole popularity dates back to 1979 (the same year he died from cancer) when he supposedly contributed a recipe to a cancer fundraising cookbook titled “Cooking with Love from Cara and Her Friends.”

Did the recipe’s popularity start with a 10 year old girl?

Back in the late 70’s a cookbook was created by a 10 year-old girl named Cara and her mother, that was aimed to raise funds for the American Cancer Society after losing relatives to cancer. Their goal was to create a cookbook that featured different celebrities favorite recipes. Cara and her mother wrote letters to over 1,400 famous people asking them if they would contribute their favorite dish recipe for her cookbook.

Cara’s celebrity-inspired cookbook featured contributions from Alan Alda (whole wheat bread), Captain Kangaroo (pork chops with sauerkraut and apple), Ed Asner (noodle pudding), Golda Meir (chicken soup), Senator Hubert H. Humphrey (beef soup), President Jimmy Carter (5 recipes including strawberry cake and peanut brittle), John Wayne (egg and cheese casserole), Robert Redford (whole wheat bread), President Ronald Reagan (sweet-and-sour salad dressing, and veal scaloppine), and Walter Cronkite (meat loaf). Some of those who responded didn’t have a recipe to give her, but replied with greetings instead. George Burns sent in a tip “if there’s ketchup on the table, then I know the food is good”, and Pope John Paul II sent in a prayer. The book also included notes from David Bowie, the singer, and Mario Andretti, the sports car racer.

John Wayne’s Recipe?

Without having a copy of the original cookbook, I concluded that John Wayne’s original recipe contribution to Cara’s book was an egg and cheese casserole. I also determined the original cookbook is a rare find today (out of print), and I could not find a copy via eBook.

I did find several (unverified) versions of the “original” John Wayne Casserole recipe. I even searched my 80+ year old mother’s and my grandmother’s old cookbooks and recipes. My family did not have a copy of the recipe, despite the fact that we watched most of John Wayne’s movies.

1973 or 1979?

I happened to find a blog post with a picture of “John Wayne’s Cheese Casserole” recipe on a vintage McCall’s Great American Recipe Card with a 1973 copyright printed on the card. (I actually remember seeing some of these recipe cards back in the early 70’s!) Honestly, the picture of the casserole did NOT appeal to me at all. In other words, I would not have cooked this recipe back then. I found it interesting that the copyright date on the McCall’s recipe card preceded Cara’s cookbook date, making me wonder if it was Cara or McCall’s (or both) that contributed to the popularity of John Wayne’s Casserole.

The Original Recipe?

Below are three John Wayne Casserole recipe variations that are relatively similar to what I believe was the original recipe.

# One:

John Wayne Casserole
1 can (4 ½ ounces) chopped green chilies
1 pound Monterey Jack cheese, grated
1 pound sharp Cheddar cheese, grated
4 eggs, separated
⅔ cup evaporated milk or heavy cream
1 tablespoon flour
½ teaspoon salt
Cayenne pepper to taste
2 ripe tomatoes, sliced thick

Butter a 2-quart, oven-proof casserole dish. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Toss the chilies with the cheeses and place into dish. Combine the egg yolks, evaporated milk, flour and salt and cayenne, and beat thoroughly. Whip the egg whites until stiff and fold into the yolk mixture. Pour over cheese mixture in dish and pierce with fork to allow liquid to absorb into cheese. Bake 40 minutes. Place tomato slices in a layer on top and bake an additional 10 minutes. Serves 8 to 10.

Reference: https://www.cooksinfo.com/john-wayne-casserole

# Two:

This recipe is closest to the McCalls’s 1973 recipe card.

John Wayne Casserole
2 (4-ounce) cans green chilies, drained
1 pound Monterey Jack cheese, coarsely grated
1 pound Cheddar cheese, coarsely grated
4 eggs, separated (whites & yolks)
⅔ cup canned evaporated milk, undiluted
1 tablespoon flour
½ teaspoon salt
⅛ teaspoon pepper
2 medium tomatoes sliced

Heat oven to 325 degrees.

Remove seeds from chilies and dice (the) peppers. In a large bowl combine grated cheeses and green chilies. Turn into a well-buttered, shallow 2-quart, 12-by-8-by-2- inch, casserole (dish). In a large bowl with electric mixer at high speed, beat egg whites until stiff peaks form when beater is slowly raised. In a small bowl combine egg yolks, milk, flour, salt and pepper. Mix until well-blended.

Using a rubber spatula, gently fold beaten whites into egg yolk mixture. Pour this mixture over cheese in casserole and, using a fork, help it “ooze” through the cheese. Bake 30 minutes and remove from oven and arrange sliced tomatoes, overlapping around the edge of casserole.

Bake 30 minutes longer or until a silver knife inserted in center comes out clean. Garnish with a sprinkling of chopped green chilies if desired. Makes six to eight servings.

Reference: https://www.cooksinfo.com/john-wayne-casserole

# Three:

The shortest and simplest version of the recipe, probably written for an experienced cook.

JOHN WAYNE, Actor
CHEESE CASSEROLE
2 cans diced green chilies
1 lb. Jack cheese, coarsely grated
1 Ib. cheddar cheese, coarsely grated
4 eggs, separated
1 small can evaporated milk
1 TBSP flour

Beat evaporated milk and flour with egg yolks. Season with salt and pepper. Add stiffly beaten egg whites, folding them in gently. In a deep dish casserole, well buttered, mix shredded cheese with chiles; pour egg mixture over cheese and ”ooze” it through with a fork. Bake casserole 30 mins in a preheated 325º oven. Remove and top with slices of fresh tomato. Return to oven and bake 30 mins more.

Is it still John Wayne’s Casserole recipe today?

It is obvious the recipe has morphed over the years. If you do a Pinterest search today for John Wayne Casserole recipes you will often find a different version of a casserole supposedly made popular by the University of Mississippi Medical Center Cafeteria.

The Mississippi version is more of a Southwest Tex-Mex version (IMO) based on the ingredients. They added a biscuit based crust, ground beef and taco seasoning; they left out the eggs and use less cheese. The changes lead to my question, “Is it still John Wayne’s Casserole recipe just because of they use his name?” The university recipe version was nicknamed “The Duke.” I was unable to verify if this version is still served at the medical center, though several recipe websites report it is.

One thing is for sure, the history connected to the movie icon, John Wayne, lives on today despite time.

We aren’t just a market, we are Rustic Country Market Living.

Inspiring Home Life ♥️,

THE RELENTLESS REDECORATOR

Family Keepsakes…

Published on by byjoellaLeave a comment

Our house is filled with things that have stories connected to them, all near and dear to our family. My decor style is eclectic. I love to highlight imperfect things.

If it’s tattered, that’s because there’s a story connected to it…

Board Games…

Our family loves to play games. When my 80+ year old mom moved into our home with us, she came with several family keepsakes. One was an old “Uncle Wiggily” (TM) Game board.

The game board is now displayed on a shelf in our game room. (I love shelves.) My mom told me this game belonged to my father’s mother. Grandma kept this game to play with her grandchildren. She had a lot of grandchildren. The game’s cards and tokens are long gone. It’s not in perfect condition, but I enjoy having it for nostalgia.

When I look at the game, it brings back memories of playing games on grandma’s big table, the smell of her coffee brewing (and over brewing) on her stove and the fact that she always kept cookies on hand for her grandchildren. Especially those strawberry, chocolate and vanilla cream filled wafer cookies (which I stopped liking in my teen years).

According to https://boardgamegeek.com: This game is based on the character “Uncle Wiggily Longears” which was in a children’s book created in 1910. The game was first introduced by the Milton Bradley Company in 1916. It was modified in 1923, 1949, and 1955.

“Uncle Wiggily” Game: Grandma’s version pictured above was made circa 1923 to 1946, based on the two-eyed bright red squid on the bottom right corner. (The original game had a one-eyed beige squid.)

Playing Catch…

Another family keepsake on our game room shelf is my dad’s baseball glove. It’s an All Star 727 Ralph Kiner. My dad and brother use to play catch with a softball in our big front yard and this was the glove my dad used. Seeing it brings back memories of the smell of fresh cut grass, pine trees, damp dirt and the sound of a softball hitting the glove.

According to https://www.baseball-almanac.com : Ralph Kiner was the National League home run champion in every one of his first seven seasons in the Major Leagues, 1946 through 1952. I don’t know when my dad got this glove, but I do know he had it before I was old enough to know what a baseball glove was for. I also know that my dad enjoyed watching baseball, so owning this Ralph Kiner glove would fit with his era. My mom guessed that my dad played catch with his older brothers and nephews prior to having his own children.

The little girl in the photo is my mom. She was 2 years old. The photo was taken in Chicago. She was first generation born in the U.S.A. The photo of the teenage boy is my father’s graduation picture. He was 17 years old. He joined the Navy during WWII.

Let’s inspire together…

What do you have in your house that has a family story connected to it? Share it on https://www.facebook.com/RusticCountryMarket

Until next time…

Inspiring Home Life,

The Relentless Redecorator

What does Boho (Bohemian) mean to me?

Published on by byjoella1 Comment

Some people refer to Boho-Chic and Bohemian and as a fashionable clothing look. Other’s identify Bohemian and Boho as a decor theme. For many years the term Bohemian has been connected with bands of gypsies from Bohemia, that lived artful, hippie lifestyles. I’ve heard people say, “That’s so Bohemian.” And let’s not forget the popular rock song, “Bohemian Rhapsody.”

I personally love the “Boho” clothing style. I’ve even considered starting an online store that includes the “Boho” look.

But what does Bohemian really mean?

For me, Bohemian refers to my heritage, and part of my family’s culture and history. As a child, I never saw a connection between Bohemians and gypsies. The only mention I ever heard regarding gypsies was when my grandmother would tease me that she was going to sell me to the gypsies. I’m guessing my grandmother had heard the reference between gypsies and Bohemians when she was growing up.

I grew up influenced by the Bohemian culture…

You see, I’m 2nd generation, born in the U.S.A. on my mother’s, mother’s side. My grandmother was born in Prague in 1906, which was the capital of old Bohemia at the time, located in what was formally Czechoslovakia. Bohemia dissolved into Czechoslovakia around 1918. My great grandmother and great grandfather moved from Czechoslovakia to the U.S.A. via Ellis Island with my (infant) grandmother in 1907. They settled in a Czech community outside the Chicago area.

Dressed in Their National Costumes

The above photos are my Great Grandmother and Great Grandfather wearing their traditional, national costume. National costumes varied based on the region you came from. Variations were seen in the style of clothes, accessories, embroidery patterns, colors, beads, lace, etc. Note the detailed embroidery on my great grandfather’s shirt.

Sokol Club, Chicago, IL Photo CIRCA 1930’s

The American Sokol Club: A Czech athletic club that hosted Czech Day in Chicago. The Sokols housed Czech social, cultural, and athletic clubs in the Chicago area. My great grandparents participated in Sokol Club events.

My Bohemian Heritage

Not all my family (on my mother’s mother’s side) spoke English. My great grandmother spoke Czech, my grandmother was bilingual and my mother partially spoke Czech. I only used a few words to identify things or address people. I called my great grandmother “Babi” which translates to Granny, from Czech to English. My grandmother was a Naturalize Citizen.

My great grandfather passed away in 1934. My great grandmother eventually remarried a Russian-Czech widower.

The Food We Ate

I grew up eating homemade food most of my peers never ate, unless they were at my house. We ate schnitzel, cooked potato dumplings, raw potato dumplings, yeast dumplings, plum dumplings, yeast pancakes, potato pancakes, braided bread, dill gravy, tomato gravy, Hungarian goulash, sauerkraut and sweet-kraut. We enjoyed kolache and strudel, along with many other homemade Bavarian style pastries.

Bohemian History

The above picture is my great grandmother with her 2nd husband, dressed in their National Costumes, attending a Czech celebration. Note that my great grandmother was wearing the brightly colored kerchief like the one pictured on the right, tucked in at her waist. This gives you an idea of the colors they was wearing. Yes, I have this kerchief today. It was passed down thru generations from my great grandmother, to my grandmother, to my mom to me.

My great grandmother was holding a 1942 Lidice flag. I wondered why she was holding it, so I did an internet search on the name Lidice. I found the following info: “Lidice was a small town in the former Czechoslovakia located about 12 miles from Prague. German forces destroyed the town and murdered or deported its inhabitants in retaliation for the assassination in 1942 of Reinhard Heydrich, a prominent Nazi official.” You can read more about this tragic story on the Holocaust Encyclopedia: https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/lidice

Back in Czechoslovakia

I imagine it was very hard for my great grandparents to hear the threat of war near their homeland. After W.W.I (1916-1919) Czechoslovakia remained a stable democratic country; however, they faced heavy opposition from Germany. The Communist Party (founded in 1920) took over Czechoslovakia in 1938. My great grandmother had 3 sisters, 2 moved to America in the early 1900’s.  

My great grandmother’s one sister that stayed in Czechoslovakia owned a family vineyard with her husband. When the Communist government took over, they confiscated the vineyard and forced them to have other family members move in with them in order to keep their large home.

My great grandmother returned to her homeland two times, once in the 1930’s and a second time in the 1940’s.

One of my favorite childhood memories:
Visiting Babi (my Great Grandmother) in her mobile home.
CIRCA 1960’s.

My grandmother visited Czechoslovakia with one of her Bohemian cousins in 1978. While there, they connected with family and visited family landmarks. I have my grandmother’s photos and journals from that trip. I would love to take a trip over there one day, maybe even follow in my grandmother’s itinerary. I wish I was in touch with our Czech relatives today.

So the next time you hear or see “Bohemian” or “Boho” describing a fashionable look; remember, for many, Bohemian means culture and family heritage.

Inspiring Home Life,

THE RELENTLESS REDECORATOR