Family Food for Feast and Feria

Here's an entry for The Virtual Kitchen's Blueberry Bash.

This is an easy recipe from my mother-in-law, and I do believe this was her mother's recipe, also. The pie shell is a meringue crust. For my husband this recipe is a must (and comfort food) for Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Labor Day. It means summer is here, and evokes all sorts of cozy family summer memories.

The shell isn't pure meringue, as the crackers and nuts add some texture. The contrast of the crunchy shell and sweet smooth whipped cream and blueberries makes a delicious summer treat.

Shell:
3 egg whites, beaten stiffly
1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar
pinch salt
1 cup sugar
2/3 cup rolled soda crackers
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon baking powder
3/4 cup nuts, chopped

Filling
1/2 pint whipping cream
2 teaspoons powdered sugar, to taste
flavoring vanilla, cognac, other liqueur (optional), to taste
1 quart fresh blueberries (or other berries)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Beat egg whites and cream of tartar and pinch of salt until stiff peaks form. Gradually beat in sugar, a little at a time, continue beating until stiff peaks form again.

Fold in vanilla, soda crackers and nuts.

Pour into buttered pie pan. Bake 30 minutes at 350 degrees. Cool

While baking, whip heavy cream (with sugar and flavorings). Add blueberries, mix through the cream. Chill.

After pie crust has cooled, pour filling into pie crust.

Chill until ready to serve.

I've mentioned several times that Cooking for Christ is my favorite cookbook, especially in my liturgical year cookbooks.

I do believe that cookbook was the first of its kind in America. I have searched and searched and haven't found an American cookbook on Liturgical Year cooking that predates 1949.

I have run across mention and quotes from Florence Berger in other Catholic materials, such as the National Liturgical Week of 1952, discussing the implementation of the Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday evening, instead of the morning.

I often wonder what has happened to this author. Where are her children? Did everyone remain Catholics and faithful, especially during the turbulent 60s? I haven't come across any answers on the Internet. I search for her name, Florence Berger, Florence S. Berger, Florence Elizabeth (Sudhoff) Berger, Mrs. Alfred Berger who lived from 1909 to 1983....not much. I did find an ancestry page. But I'm not sure if these really apply. I do know her husband's name was Alfred, she had 5 children, and some were mentioned in the book.

Today I found a delightful online reprint of an article from Time dated September 19, 1949, entitled: Christ in the Kitchen. This was a kind of press release for the book before it hit the bookstores. It's enjoyable to read, as it brings the author more to life of her more happier times.

And it intensified my enjoyment of this invaluable treasure even more.