Elisabet Delbrück's Apfelküchen

(from Mary Knox)

My parents' friendship with 'Aunt Lisbet' is one of my earliest memories. She was a most remarkable person: intellectual, artistic, a little intimidating to strangers but a loving friend.

From a well-off family in Germany, she was happily married until her husband was involved in a ballooning accident and drowned in the Baltic sea. She turned to the study of painting and did extremely well; by the time post-World-War 1 inflation in Germany destroyed her financial security, she was beginning to earn a living from the sales of her paintings. 

In 1923 she made the courageous decision to travel the world, supporting herself by holding exhibitions and selling paintings and prints, and giving talks about Germany and about her travels. After spending time in the Dutch East Indies, South and Central America, Africa and finally Australia, she came to New Zealand - and World War 2 broke out.

As an 'enemy alien' she came under considerable suspicion. I remember my mother telling me that in one official interview Lisbet had pointed out that some of the prints in her travelling exhibition were of paintings by modern artists who had been banned by Hitler. She was asked to bring some to the office next time. She arranged them around the room, and the official walked round and looked at each. Finally he said, 'Well, for the first time in my life I find myself in agreement with Mr Hitler.'

She never returned to Germany, but lived the rest of her life in Mahina Bay near Eastbourne among her wide circle of friends. She was a notoriously bad cook, but we are fond of her Apfelküchen.

Elisabet Delbrück's Apfelküchen
Line a shallow pan with short pastry, bought or homemade.

Arrange slices of apple in overlapping rows, and sprinkle with a mixture of sugar and cinnamon. Bake in a medium oven till cooked.

Margaret Sutherland has written a book about Lisbet, One Artist on Five Continents.

Auntie Jean's Apple Macaroon

(From Mary Knox)

My dear Auntie Jean was a good cook. She had to be - Uncle George was a judge, and his fellow judges and other bigwigs had to be entertained at dinner parties. On one memorable occasion she served up a lovely dinner: and when they had all gone home she discovered the serving dish of peas still sitting in the warming drawer!

But for more normal family occasions she had some unassuming recipes. This one has become a great favourite in our family. It's the easiest apple dessert I know. You can tell how much we love it from the state of the recipe card.


Method:

Peel and slice 5-6 apples (apples were smaller in those days in Canada, so you may only need 3 or 4). Put them in a buttered pie dish.

Sprinkle over them a scant half cup of sugar, with a little cinnamon mixed into it.

Cream 4 tablespoons of butter (that's about a quarter of a cup or 2 ounces). Beat in a small half cup of sugar then 1 egg, then half a cup of flour sifted with a pinch of salt. Spread it over the apples.

Bake for 30 minutes in a moderate oven.

Variations:
This has a slightly crunchy top. If you prefer a more cakey top, add a quarter of a teaspoon of baking powder to the flour. I sometimes put in a few blackberries. Or you can use plums instead of apples - in that case increase the sugar on the fruit to 3/4 of a cup, use slightly more flour in the mixture, and omit the cinnamon. I plan to try it with apricots some time.

Pickled Vegetables and Caramel Pudding (not TOGETHER!!)

(from Paulette Robinson)


These recipes are another two from Paulette.  Her mother, Carole Charles, was also my Auntie Carole.  Though not an actual aunt, she was a part of my life and my family from the day I was born.  She and my father had grown up together in Wellington; they were like cousins, and Paulette and I are the same way.  When my mum died in 2004, Auntie Carole was one of the rocks in my life.  When she too was diagnosed with terminal cancer, only two years after mum, the sadness was indescribable.  The loss of Carole was the loss of another of the mums of the group of families I grew up with.  It was the end of an era of the friendship of that group of mothers, who supported each other, cooked together, and argued together too!  These recipes are part of the book that Paulette made when she decided to start collecting recipes from family and friends.  Carole wrote them out for her, and my favourite part is right at the bottom where she has written a note to Paulette.

Not necessarily to be eaten together, enjoy Carole's pickled vegetables and caramel pudding!

(I have deciphered Carole's handwriting - and that was not easy! - PLEASE check her copy and if anyone sees a mistake, let me know straight away!!).

Emma



Pickled Vegetables
Boil 2 pints white vinegar, 2 cups water, 2 cups sugar, 1tsp salt.
Cool
Chop peppers, carrots, celery, cucumber, cauliflower, zucchini, beans.
Fill jars loosely with the vegetables.
Add bay leaf, crushed garlic clove, a little more salt.
Pour over liquid.
Keep in fridge.
Leave four days, at least.

Caramel Pudding
Vitamise:
1 cup brown sugar
2 Tbsp flour
2 egg yolks
2 cups milk
A spot of vanilla

Bring to the boil stirring.
Add 1 Tbsp butter.
Boil for 2 hours.
When cold, add beaten egg whites.