Happy Holidays

The holidays are here and I have been absent from my blog! Beside all the shopping and decorating the holidays bring I have actually taken the time do to some research on my family tree. 

While I still am not sure if I have the correct John Outcalt that married Catharine (Dollie) Schultz in either Pennsylvania or New Jersy in 1889 I may have more clues. My biggest regret is that I did not start doing my research at a younger age or that families in general do not always pass on their family history and stories. Why didn't I ask my grandmother about how she celebrated Christmas when she was a child? And while my dad always talked about his grandmother's buckwheat pancakes I never asked  him his favorite holiday memory.

During this holiday season start up a conversation with an older relative about their memories of the holidays. It doesn't have to be an interview. You do not have to find out dates and places and write down your sources. Just talk to each other. Maybe you have heard the stories before but others may not have heard them.

Next week I will have some New Year's Resolutions for Genealogists.

Take Care,
Pattie

Perry, Cathy, Butch, Eddie, Pattie

Pahlke Cousins

1955

Holidays, 7 Up and Where Did I Put My eReader?

The holidays always remind me how the world has changes since I was young. Holiday meals at Grandma Pahlke's demanded your best dress, ties and polished shoes. Aprons were worn while setting the tables (adult & children's) and cocktails were served to the adults. It was a special occasion from the time you woke up until everyone left with an extra piece of pie or leftover meat.

Mary and I in our Easter bonnets

For better or worse the holidays now are less formal, but just as filled with family traditions and meals. This Easter, Grandma Mary's method of cooking the Easter ham is a hot topic. Mary Steigerwald Schultz was Chuck's grandmother and a fantastic cook.


Grandma Mary's Ham Recipe

Decades ago Grandma Mary was at our house when I was preparing a ham for dinner. I was fussing with basting and covering it when she pulled me aside and told me her secret - 7Up. Forget covering it and basting, just open a bottle or can of 7Up and pour it over the ham.

Over the years I have made slight modifications to the recipe. I have found that using a roster, instead of the oven, steams it more and keeps it extra juicy. Also I have used Mountain Dew and Sprite not just 7Up but never diet pop.

Charles Jr, Mary, Charles Sr. and Carol Schultz

I have been fielding emails from friends and relatives this month to find out the 'secret' of the hams I serve at family gatherings. I have happily shared Grandma Mary's recipe and hope it is passed down through the generations.


Chicago and the 7Up Connection

The other day while picking out my ham I started up a conversation with a woman was also looking over the hams. She mentioned she was from Chicago and I laughed and said so was I. She casually asked how I prepared my ham and I chuckled and said 'with 7Up'. The look on her face was of pure shock - she said she also used 7UP and had never met anyone else who did!

Another Chicago 7(Up) Conspiracy? It truly is a small world!

eReader Update

A week or so ago I read an article about eBooks being more popular than paperbacks. eBooks? Ooops, I couldn't remember where my eReader even was! I brought it to Las Vegas, but had not seen it since I unpacked. I did track it down and remembered I had never finished "Decision Points" even though I truly was enjoying it.

I found that there was an firmware update for my eReader so I installed. I also updated my email options and some internet favorites but just could not get myself to start reading.

For some reason there is still something very foreign about reading a book on the eReader. Maybe I am just overloaded on technolgy in other areas of my life. Or maybe I am too old to 'learn a new trick'.

I have left it on the coffee table, so we'll see.

Take Care,
Pattie

From Amazon:

Kindle 3G Wireless Reading Device, Free 3G + Wi-Fi, 3G Works Globally, Graphite, 6" Display with New E Ink Pearl Technology

Barnes & Noble NOOK Color eBook Tablet

Pandigital Novel 7" Color Multimedia eReader with WiFi - Black PRD07T20W

Enjoy the Holidays and Create a Family Cookbook

Family Gatherings
There are a few times a year when the entire family gathers around the dining room table and shares a meal. Everyone has a favorite main course, side dish or desert from their childhood. Mine was Grandma Pahlke's beef gravy, it was the best. My mother would try and try to make beef gravy like grandma's but there was always something missing. One day grandma told her to 'just add a little catsup' and WHAM! gravy as good as grandma's.

I also loved Grandma's German Potato Salad, Navy Bean and Ham Soup and the list could go on and on. Unfortunately I never had a chance to get the recipes. My mom learned how to make the Navy Bean soup but where would I find her German Potato Salad recipe?

The photo above is of three of my aunts. From left to right they are my Aunt Mabel (grandma's daughter), Aunt Ruth (grandma's daughter in law) and Aunt Sharon (my mother's sister - no relation to grandma).

A couple of years ago I was visiting Aunt Sharon and we were talking about Grandma Pahlke. Aunt Sharon had lived with Grandma when she first moved to Barrington and guess what - she had Grandma's German Potato Salad recipe! Why - because she asked for it!

Family Heritage Cookbooks

How do you start putting together a Family Heritage Cookbook? Just start asking for the recipes served at your family meals. But, more important asked about their history. Here are a few tips and suggestions to help you on your adventure.

* Start by finding a recipe template
* Personalize each recipe, consider adding a biography of the creator
* Review the recipes' instructions and ingredients to bring them current
* Request a picture of the submission
* Decide how to organize the recipes (by family, geography, or type)

If you cannot locate a favorite recipe of an ancestor check out ebay for church cookbooks; your ancestors or their neighbors my have contributed recipes.

What should you do after you have collected all the recipes? That is another article about self publishing!

Take Care
Pattie

A Genealogists Christmas List

During this busy holiday season we have lists of presents to buy, cards to send and things to be done around the house.

What list is missing? A list of questions to ask during those holiday visits. During the holiday season you have the chance to talk to relatives you see infrequently. This is also the chance to brainstorm with multiple relatives about parts of family stories that do not add up or that you do not remember. This could be your chance to break down brick-walls over cookies and hot chocolate with members of your family instead of researching alone on the Internet!

Make that list questions and check it twice.

Visit http://www.everydaygenealogy.com for more hints and suggestions to help in your genealogy research. Use the promo code BLOG for free shipping!