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49 Comments
Susan H.
December 30, 2016
What a heartwarming story. Almost shocking too, but we don't have the same Aunt Jane! I went to So. San Francisco High school, and lived with my Uncle Cook and Aunt Jane in So. City. She too was larger than life. She had a beautiful voice (met my Uncle during a wrong number phone call, he wouldn't let her hang up). She was the receptionist at City Hall on Grand Avenue, they called her the Voice of City Hall! She also taught me how to make Bourbon Balls. Uncle Cook (my dad's brother) was from Kentucky and it was a point of pride to her that she mastered those. But her stuffed zucchini, well, that was something to write home about! Thanks for the reminder. My Aunt Jane passed away 17 years ago this January, and I think about her often.
Susan H.
January 2, 2017
Here is her recipe exactly as it's printed in her personal cookbook, typos, misspellings and all. Food52'ers will know to adapt cooking times, etc.
Jane's Stuffed Zuccinni
8 medium Zucchini - Boil until fork goes through easily.
1 cup parmesan cheese
1/2 lb Italian sausage, browned and crumbled
3 eggs
Bread crumbs (contadina Italian)
Garlic Powder, salt and pepper
When zucchini are finished boiling, cut off ends and slice lengthwise. With a teaspoon, gently scoop out centers into a flat bowl and place shells on a breadboard.
When finished drain off excess liquid from squash in flat bowl as possible then mash squash with fork.
Add eggs, beat well into squash.
Add cheese, sprinkle heavily over mixture, add garlic sprinkle sparingly.
Drain grease from sausage and add to mixture. Mix well.
Then add bread crumbs until a soft mixture forms.
Fill each shell generously and place on large shall baking pan which has been oiled. Pr-heat oven 325 deg. Bake until lightly browned (about 1/2 hour).
These are my own recipe. Auntie May taught me how to fix these. They are delicious hot or cold. May be frozen 2 weeks. JH
Jane's Stuffed Zuccinni
8 medium Zucchini - Boil until fork goes through easily.
1 cup parmesan cheese
1/2 lb Italian sausage, browned and crumbled
3 eggs
Bread crumbs (contadina Italian)
Garlic Powder, salt and pepper
When zucchini are finished boiling, cut off ends and slice lengthwise. With a teaspoon, gently scoop out centers into a flat bowl and place shells on a breadboard.
When finished drain off excess liquid from squash in flat bowl as possible then mash squash with fork.
Add eggs, beat well into squash.
Add cheese, sprinkle heavily over mixture, add garlic sprinkle sparingly.
Drain grease from sausage and add to mixture. Mix well.
Then add bread crumbs until a soft mixture forms.
Fill each shell generously and place on large shall baking pan which has been oiled. Pr-heat oven 325 deg. Bake until lightly browned (about 1/2 hour).
These are my own recipe. Auntie May taught me how to fix these. They are delicious hot or cold. May be frozen 2 weeks. JH
Mm
December 23, 2016
Thank you John for a touching story. We're all in this together, please lets be respectful of each other!
Ruth
December 23, 2016
I love the recipe but I want more of Aunt Jane's story. She sounds like a beautiful lady!
tamater S.
December 23, 2016
I don't know which was better, the story, or the recipe! Except for the odd visit, I've been out of country for years now. I'm going to call these Jane & John's KY Bourbon Balls. I should print out the story by the recipe, so both the cookies and their story will live on in my book!
Nelda M.
December 23, 2016
I cannot tell you how happy this recipe make me. I live in Bardstown (KY) where most of the country's bourbon is made and we know that a real bourbon ball is made like this. Now, those round candies that are dipped in chocolate and have a pecan half stuck on top are good too, but they are sadly called bourbon balls when they are really bourbon creams.
Jenny A.
December 23, 2016
What a wonderful, heartwarming story. I'm thinking I need to make these cookies in honor of this special relationship. Thanks for sharing the personal side of this recipe.
MelindaB
December 8, 2016
I want to make these, it I'm wondering why some of the ingredient measurements are different. Recipe refinement?
Steven W.
December 7, 2016
gee, I didn't see this recipe call for onions, yet my eyes are tearing up....
Reading G.
December 7, 2016
Being a Kentucky native, it was a beautiful story. Thank you for sharing
Caro M.
December 7, 2016
Aww, such a lovely story, thank you - and so many great comments.. I do love Food 52!
Ani
December 5, 2016
I've never commented on a recipe on Food53, but wow, John...that was such a beautiful story and I cannot wait to make these. Perhaps when I eat them, I'll feel a little larger than life like Aunt Jane.
Kit D.
December 5, 2016
This story needs to be made into a movie! Your Aunt Jane reminds me of Auntie Mame. Fabulous! Thank you for sharing a great story and recipe.
Michele F.
December 4, 2016
Thanks for sharing the story & the recipe, John. I'm going to make these this week for our girl's get-together. We always made a similar 'booze-infused' cookie; using Crown Royal Canadian whiskey and rolling them in powdered confectioner's sugar. Loved them!
richard P.
December 4, 2016
Wonderful memories! Great recipe. Very similiar to my mom's which I make every year! Enjoy.
Caukie
December 4, 2016
This is very much like my Mother's recipe. We used to do "Marathon" baking for 3 or 4 days, baking hundreds of dozens of cookies during the holidays. One year we started making the Bourbon balls and had no Bourbon. (Mom isn't a drinker) We searched the seldom opened cupboards for a substitute hoping for, perhaps, a drop of rum left. We found some Drambuie that must have been 15 years old, at least, and used that. OMG!! The balls were phenomenal! We hadn't tasted anything like it before or since. It must have been the age of the booze because I did not get the same result when I tried it again.
Jana
December 4, 2016
These are just as my Mom made them. This made me cry so much. I miss my Mom everyday and she's been gone 11 yrs next March. I used to sneak one or more of these into my mouth when she wasn't looking (but she knew) because I loved the taste of them. She made them every single year for decades. I don't even know where her recipe is so thank you for this one!! I will make some this year in honor of Aunt Jane and my Wild Mom, Sara....
Linda
December 4, 2016
What a lovely story, John. It made me smile and also very nostalgic. We should all have memories of someone who was special to us when we were growing up. Thank you so much for sharing it and I will certainly make these bourbon balls when I start my cookie baking next week-end. Happy holidays!
Rick
December 4, 2016
Wonderful story! Reminded me of being a kid in mid sixties Chicago growing up in my grandfathers bar on Sheridan Ave.(the Sheridan Lounge) and being doted on by the lipstick laden ladies (and men without the lipstick) from the neighborhood. Flossie, Vivian,....Fran..I didn't know what an alcoholic was then but it didn't matter, they were full of love and that's all I felt. Curly, the old guy that had half of his foot blown off in the war and would pull his shoe and sock off to show me the damage. Buzzy, the gay guy (sshhh) that my mom would let take me to the museums. I'm sure some of them made cookies too! Thanks Food 52 foe making me tear up remembering things that I haven't thought about for a long time :)
Lisa
December 4, 2016
Think you so much for sharing Jane's story. Now she and her bourbon balls will live on. I can't wait to try these!
chefrockyrd
December 3, 2016
Wonderful story, wonderful recipe. There are never any bourbon balls left on the cookie tray.
We had an adoped "grandma" in our neighborhood who was special to me. She gave us gifts of baked goods she made with the windfall from our fruit trees. I have great memories of them and some recipes to go with it.
Thank you for reminding me of her.
We had an adoped "grandma" in our neighborhood who was special to me. She gave us gifts of baked goods she made with the windfall from our fruit trees. I have great memories of them and some recipes to go with it.
Thank you for reminding me of her.
kim
December 3, 2016
What a great story! And this is the exact recipe I grew up with in the 60s and 70s. I remember making them every Christmas and even giving them to a special teacher. as a gift. I'm from Tennessee, so we made them with bourbon before we were 13!
Xena F.
December 2, 2016
As I was read the story of Aunt Jane I tried to invision her. Sorry to hear she had passed. Her recipe will live on. I am planning to try this recipe. Sounds delicious!
Lisa
December 2, 2016
Such a wonderful story, I read it beginning to end!! Thanks for the recipe too.
Barb
December 2, 2016
When I was about 16 I got a co-op job at a major corporation, and every last day before Xmas they would work until about 11am then break out the cocktails and cookies. One lady brought bourbon balls like these, two of them had me sitting in a chair.
pattyposy
December 2, 2016
Great story. I have been thinking about making bourbon balls this season as we received some delicious ones as a holiday gift last year. Thanks for a tried and true Recipe!
Pat
Pat
ROSE
December 2, 2016
I loved the story of Aunt Jane. I had no children, therefore no grandchildren. This has inspired me to find a family in need of an Auntie. Merry Christmas!
Heather G.
December 1, 2016
Thank you for sharing such a great story! I hope I'm as good of an Aunt Jane to the one year old daughter of a friend of mine who I send presents to as often as I can as yours was to you.
Lori M.
December 1, 2016
My goodness! Aunt Jane stayed on my mind all day after reading the essay this morning, and the update took my breath away. The cookies look delicious and I'll think of you (and Jane) as I make them. I have a beloved similar recipe using choc wafer crumbs and adding dried cherries...another southern favorite.
Kristen M.
December 1, 2016
John, what happened to Aunt Jane after this? Did you, and your family, stay in touch with her? Edge of my seat! Thank you for sharing this beautiful story with us—we had a "Mommy Marilyn" who made life fabulous for my brother and me.
JohnBirdsall
December 1, 2016
Once I started high school I saw her only once or twice a year, though she and my mom kept up. At some point she got a boyfriend who was a lot younger. They came over for dinner a couple of times but I didn't like him, and Aunt Jane acted different with him. They held hands. I saw her a few times in college; she'd moved to San Francisco. I brought my first boyfriend over to meet her, actually (she told him he reminded her of Sal Mineo, in other words she approved). When I got married to my husband in Chicago I invited her, but she said it was too far to travel. She sent me an an old English sixpence coin she'd worn for luck in her shoe when she got married. I cried so hard. She passed away about 15 years ago.
Kristen M.
December 1, 2016
Thank you so much for the rest of the story, John. Feeling very lucky—how often do we get to ask our favorite writers and story-tellers for an epilogue, and get it? You remember her so beautifully, and now we all will, too. Thank you, again.
Karin B.
December 23, 2016
Illinois has only allowed same sex marriage about for about 3 years and even in fairy tales a beaten wife would not pass on the coin she had in her shoe for good luck, she would pass it on as a curse.
JScott
December 23, 2016
@KarinByars - Skip the recipe and drink directly from the bottle until your attitude changes. No one needs to read your trolls, specifically on a light hearted story, during the holidays. Spread your negativity elsewhere please.
Susan H.
January 2, 2017
John, When I was looking through my Aunt Jane's cookbook for her zucchini recipe, I saw a note she wrote about a recipe from a White House cookbook that was given to her by "Mary Birdsall, a very dear friend who shared the same birthday with me, February 19". Any relation?
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