Cooking with Arse: Bananas, ham and holland days

I recently discovered this neat website about the recipe catalogs from our not so far past. LINK

How did men put up with the shite that women used to cook several decades ago? The food looks and sounds atrocious. "Let's turn everything into a mold!!!"

I recall seeing the catalogs at my mom's and grandmother's homes. But I don't recall them ever using the recipes. They both can cook well. I assume it was something that just held the kitchen together.


I decided I would try to make one of the meals. I went with Bananas, ham and holland days.

LINK

It was a simple recipe, and the ingredients didn't sound too bad.

quote:

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6 medium bananas
1/4 cup lemon juice
6 thin slices boiled ham (about 1/2 lb)
3 tablespoons prepared mustard
2 envelopes (1 1/4-oz size) hollandaise sauce mix
1/4 cup light cream

1. Preheat oven to 400F. Lightly butter 2-quart, shallow baking dish.

2. Peel bananas; sprinkle each with 1/2 tablespoon lemon juice, to prevent darkening.

3. Spread ham slices with mustard. Wrap each banana in slice of ham. Arrange in single layer in casserole. Bake 10 minutes.

4. Meanwhile, make sauce: In small saucepan, combine sauce mix with 1 cup water, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, and cream. Heat, stirring, to boiling; pour over bananas. Bake 5 minutes longer, or until slightly golden. Nice with a green salad for brunch or lunch. Makes 6 servings.

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I gathered all of the ingredients at the local Rouses. I had never heard of packaged holland days, but it was worth giving it a shot.



I decided to go with the cheap Rouse's boiled ham. I think this actually helped the final outcome. Chisesi's would have been to nice.

I lathered the bananas in lemon oil. They claimed it helps in stopping browning. It did work nicely.



I then put some mustard on the ham and rolled the bananas individually.



They were then placed neatly into a baking dish. The oven was preheated to 400.



After placing the bananas in the oven, I began to make the holland days. I just threw some cream, lemon juice, water and the mix into a pot. I stirred it until it was the perfect consistency. I couldn't get all of the lumps out.




After ten minutes, I retrieved the bananas from the oven. They didn't brown much.



I then glazed them with the holland days and returned them to the oven.



After five minutes, they were done. I pulled them and allowed them to rest for a few minutes.



I made me a Beam and diet and dove in.





I expected the worst, but was not disgusted. The ham gave it a decent texture, and the sweet of the banana paired well with the saltiness. The only thing that threw me for a loop was the mustard. I'd eat it again. 2.8/10

Stay fat, my friends.

-Arse