654008 Mon Sep 21 18:39:30 -0700 2009 45 31 Home Cooking 0 5047680 My husband grew up in Nova Scotia, and his grandmother used to make these squares (he claims they're delicious; I am summoning up as much tolerance as I can). It would be oh-so-nice to be able to surprise him with a batch. (Well, nice for him...) Please, please, has anybody heard of this abomination? Any recipe(s) to share? Mon Sep 21 18:39:30 -0700 2009 19782 Full tummy 1 5048047 Awww....cute! Did you check the Kraft(?) website? I threw my 1960's and 1970's Betty Crocker cookbooks away. It met the same fate as my "seal o' meal" and stuffed "kitchen witch"- remember that pantyhosed stuffed "witch" sitting on spoon handle? Anyway, sometimes it is hard to get those retro recipes. I think the internet is your best source. Try googling "retro appetizers" or something to that effect. Good luck! Mon Sep 21 21:42:35 -0700 2009 5047680 1110504 sedimental 2 5050463 Thanks. I will continue my searches. I think this was supposed to be a dessert, though (hahaha-who knew??). Tue Sep 22 16:33:45 -0700 2009 5048047 19782 Full tummy 1 5050505 Your post intrigued me enough to do some searching (and I agree, it sounds awful but my family is from the Maritimes so I know sometimes they ate odd things like that back in the 60's!). Anyway, I couldn't find anything with raspberries and Velveeta and was wondering if maybe he meant 'cream cheese'. However, then I found a bunch of recipes for Velveeta Fudge - if you google it, you'll see all the links. Could it be something like that? Tue Sep 22 16:50:19 -0700 2009 5047680 101907 ms. clicquot 2 5050737 Thanks so much for your enthusiasm!!! No, it was definitely not cream cheese. My husband's mother told him her mother got the recipe from the Velveeta box (she could be wrong, however). As Hubby recalls: "Imagine a thin layer of shortbread-type stuff, then a layer of raspberry jam on top of it, then a crumble on top, sort of like what is on top of apple crumble, but with cheese mixed into it. Something like that." (This is his memory from 30+ years ago, so he concedes it may not be 100% accurate.) Tue Sep 22 18:16:12 -0700 2009 5050505 19782 Full tummy 3 5050750 You can register for free on the Cooks Country website, which has a recipe board where you can post a request for these old lost recipes. Tue Sep 22 18:21:59 -0700 2009 5050737 159317 greygarious 4 5050757 Hey, thanks. And I just sent the question to Kraft Canada. Tue Sep 22 18:23:46 -0700 2009 5050750 19782 Full tummy 5 5053136 Hopefully they'll be able to help you out. I did find a couple of recipes which sound similar to what you're looking for but no mention of raspberries: http://www.familyoven.com/offsite?r_id=194423&u=http://www.recipezaar.com/138582 http://www.recipelink.com/mf/0/76713 The apple and cheese combo sort of makes sense - my mom loves a slice of cheddar on her apple pie. I have to admit that I don't quite get it but each to their own. Good luck with your quest! Wed Sep 23 14:14:39 -0700 2009 5050757 101907 ms. clicquot 6 5053221 Here's an apple velveta cheese crumble recipe. It calls for Ritz crackers as the base... http://www.easy-applepie.com/apple-desserts/apple-velveeta.htm Closer, perhaps? ~TDQ Wed Sep 23 14:45:15 -0700 2009 5053136 12005 The Dairy Queen 7 5053274 Oh, wow. That looks promising. I will ask Hubby when he gets home. Wed Sep 23 15:04:50 -0700 2009 5053221 19782 Full tummy 5 5105459 By the way, I never heard back from Kraft. Thu Oct 15 10:24:41 -0700 2009 5050757 19782 Full tummy 1 5053178 Emailing Kraft was a great idea! And I agree, lots of people combine a slice of melted cheddar cheese with apple pie, so, maybe there's something to this. Please do let us know if you end up finding the recipe and how it turns out! EDIT: Does the local Nova Scotia newspaper have a lost recipe person you can contact? Our newspaper has a columnist whose job it is to answer lost recipe questions. She has access to all kinds of old cookbooks and newspaper archives and such that we ordinary mere mortals do not have access to. ~TDQ Wed Sep 23 14:29:02 -0700 2009 5047680 12005 The Dairy Queen 2 5053198 Also a possibility, Uncle Phaedrus: http://hungrybrowser.com/ I don't know if this is the same person as the Chowhounder whose handle is Phaedrus. Wed Sep 23 14:36:53 -0700 2009 5053178 159317 greygarious 1 5053276 Thanks so much, Everyone, for your enthusiasm!!! Will let you know if I hear anything from Kraft (nothing yet), or if anything else pans out. Lots of great ideas here. Wed Sep 23 15:05:40 -0700 2009 5047680 19782 Full tummy 1 5105280 I have been searching for this recipe for over 20 years! I was very excited to see your post when I, yet once again, attempted to look for this recipe. I too am from NS and as a young girl my mother used to make these for me. Your husband is absolutely bang on in his description. They were absolutely delicious and such a warm memory for me. I will continue onward with my search and let you know if I ever find the recipe. Thu Oct 15 09:31:20 -0700 2009 5047680 1116531 NovaScotia1962 2 5105451 Well, check out the recipe below and we can compare results!!!! Thu Oct 15 10:23:31 -0700 2009 5105280 19782 Full tummy 1 5105372 I collect cookbooks, including local ones put out by church groups, etc. around North America. I remembered that I have an old Maritime one that has tons of recipes for squares (we do love our squares!). I don't know if this is at all similar to what you're looking for but I found this: Cheese Dreams 2 cups flour 1/2 tsp salt 1 Tbsp brown sugar 1/4 lb. grated cheese (it does not specify what type of cheese) 1/4 tsp baking powder Jam (again, it doesn't say what kind or how much) 1/4 lb. chilled butter In a bowl, sift together flour, baking powder and salt. Stir in sugar and cheese. Cut butter into mixture. Spread half of the mixture into a baking pan (no size indicated) and cover with a layer of jam. Top with remaining mixture. Bake for 30 minutes at 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Cool and cut into squares to serve. Thu Oct 15 10:02:05 -0700 2009 5047680 101907 ms. clicquot 2 5105450 Oh my goodness!!!! I wonder if I should tell my husband first, or just make them. Thank you so much!!! I am leaning towards "just make them". It is very possible they could have taken the Velveeta recipe and made it generic. Will let you know!!!!! (Personally, I am skeptical as to how such a square could really be as delicious as he describes and not so looking forward to the result, but I have a thing against Velveeta and may have to get over this!!!) Thu Oct 15 10:23:13 -0700 2009 5105372 19782 Full tummy 3 5105502 Before you start, check this thread: http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/643234 Today's Velveeta is not the same as would have been around when your husband ate these bars. You may want to kick up the flavor by adding a little orange cheese powder (sometimes available in markets; otherwise get some boxed mac&cheese mix and use that powder), or substitute Cheez Whiz. Please report back on what you and he think - this is an intriguing recipe! Thu Oct 15 10:40:36 -0700 2009 5105450 159317 greygarious 4 5105598 Will definitely consider that if the first go yields unsatisfactory results. Btw, ms. clicquot, I caved and told hubby. He thinks the recipe may be what he's been looking for, and his errand on the way home from work is to purchase Velveeta. We'll be baking tonight and will let everyone know how it turns out!!! Thu Oct 15 11:11:04 -0700 2009 5105502 19782 Full tummy 5 5105617 WOOHOO! I can't wait to read if they turn out to be what you are looking for and if they are any good. Please report back! Good luck! ~TDQ Thu Oct 15 11:16:23 -0700 2009 5105598 12005 The Dairy Queen 6 5105621 This will be the first thread I check out in the am! I am anxious to hear how they come out. Thu Oct 15 11:17:30 -0700 2009 5105617 11990 Janet from Richmond 5 5105716 I'm so pleased that it looks like what you're looking for! I hope it turns out ok - I would assume that the original recipe used block cheddar cheese because that was pretty much the only kind of cheese we knew in that part of the world in the 60's and 70's. I've never used Velveeta - can you grate it like regular cheese? Good luck! I can't wait to hear how it turns out. Thu Oct 15 11:43:33 -0700 2009 5105598 101907 ms. clicquot 6 5105748 Velveeta is way too soft to grate but probably would work if you froze it first. Looking at the recipe, I think it would be appropriate to use block American cheese (NOT cheese "product"), colby, or mild cheddar. The concept reminds me of apple pie with a cheddar crust. Apple butter would be a good alternate filling. Thu Oct 15 11:53:28 -0700 2009 5105716 159317 greygarious 6 5106997 So, we made them tonight... Hubby is thrilled!!!! It needs a little tweaking, as the recipe didn't have enough cheese flavour. No surprise there. Eating Velveeta is like chewing on a diluted processed cheese slice. It also was too floury. We will work on the recipe for the next few days, and I will post the version that meets his grandmother's standards. Alas, I am trying not to comment about her (or his) standards--these squares aren't so dreamy. Sorry to say, but growing up on linzertorte, well, these are a whole different thing. (Hubby is reading this and says these squares blow linzertorte out of the water, hehehehe.) Might have to pull out the linzertorte recipe this weekend, so I can have something to enjoy, too. So, thank you so, so, so, so much!!! Will post again. By the way, instead of grating the Velveeta, we just cut it in with the butter. Worked very well. Thu Oct 15 20:04:34 -0700 2009 5105716 19782 Full tummy 7 5107314 This is a wonderful success story. I'm so glad that Ms. Clicquot was able to help you out. Too bad the Cheese Dreams are less than dreamy, but, I suppose we all have those things we crave from our childhood. ~TDQ Fri Oct 16 04:15:21 -0700 2009 5106997 12005 The Dairy Queen 7 5107365 Good job Full tummy. :-) And as TDQ pointed out my guess is many of the things we fondly remember from childhood aren't quite as good as we remember. Fri Oct 16 05:06:50 -0700 2009 5106997 11990 Janet from Richmond 8 5107399 How true!!! In this case, I also feel that they are something he enjoys because he ate them as a child (I can't see myself getting into them). They are not tempting to me at all, which is good: I don't need a sweet calling my name. He really is tremendously happy and grateful and says the squares are pretty much as he remembers them!!! Fri Oct 16 05:34:35 -0700 2009 5107365 19782 Full tummy 7 5107420 I'm so happy that the recipe was at least in the right direction of what you were looking for. I'm sure you'll be able to tweak it to get it just right for him. It's funny, I was thinking that maybe they should be called 'Cheese Nightmares' instead of Dreams but as I learned on another thread, Don't Yuck Someone's Yum! http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/657889 Fri Oct 16 05:50:01 -0700 2009 5106997 101907 ms. clicquot 8 5107487 That is hilarious!!! I need to tease him some, though!!! Fri Oct 16 06:24:01 -0700 2009 5107420 19782 Full tummy 2 5105463 By the way, can you share the name of the cookbook, and date of publication, publisher, etc.? Thu Oct 15 10:25:28 -0700 2009 5105372 19782 Full tummy 3 5105733 The cookbook is an obscure one, to say the least. It's called 'The Grand Manan Cook Book' and was compiled by the Grand Manan Hospital Auxiliary and re-printed by the Grand Manan Historical Society in 2000. Grand Manan is a small island off the coast of N.B./Maine and my parents vacation there. I picked it up when we were visiting them a couple of years ago. The instructions and ingredient lists are very vague and casual, as would be expected from home cooks trying to recall their recipes from memory. Thu Oct 15 11:48:13 -0700 2009 5105463 101907 ms. clicquot 4 5105831 Oh, thanks. Hubby and I went camping in Grand Manan five or so years ago. It is a wonderful place where I ended up nose to nose with a humpback whale on a whalewatching adventure and visited the island where puffins breed. We loved it and would go back in a second, except that it's quite a trip from our home here in Toronto. Thu Oct 15 12:13:03 -0700 2009 5105733 19782 Full tummy 5 5106352 What a small world - I was last there about 5 years ago as well! I agree that it's too far from Toronto to visit regularly. It's a bit off the usual tourist path. It's neat to see some of the history of the cookbook (below). It's an interesting book, full of classic old recipes like ones my grandmother used to make. I might try putting a modern twist on a few of them. Thu Oct 15 15:02:37 -0700 2009 5105831 101907 ms. clicquot 6 5106453 I recall the excellent lobster dinners we had at the place just off the road with plastic checked tablecloths and a videostore, all in one. Plus, there was a pretty good bakery, with half-decent croissants. We camped at "Hole in the Wall", and I enjoyed learning about dulsing from one of the dulsers who camped there every summer. Great times!!! Thu Oct 15 15:39:09 -0700 2009 5106352 19782 Full tummy 4 5105837 According to this site, the first Grand Manan Cook Book was published to raise money for the island's first hospital back in the 1940s. http://rodneymackay.com/writing/The%20Past/Year1947/newyear44.html Thu Oct 15 12:15:39 -0700 2009 5105733 19782 Full tummy 1 5105399 Actually, this recipe reminds me of the very popular trend of grilled cheese & jams sandwiches I see all over the Net without the bread component in the prep. I happen to love the grilled sandwich version so perhaps this one is yummy chow! Thu Oct 15 10:11:40 -0700 2009 5047680 36312 HillJ 1 5110586 Thanks so much for all the help!!! Hubby has made the recipe three times and has arrived at a version that is pretty much like what his grandmother used to make. I even think it is better than expected (though not as good as linzertorte, heheheh). Here's the new recipe: Modified Cheese Dreams 2 cups flour 1/2 tsp salt 1/4 tsp baking powder 3 Tbsp brown sugar 7 ounces Velveeta, cubed 3/8 lb. chilled butter, cubed 1/2 cup Raspberry jam, thinned with a little water, if necessary In a bowl, sift together flour, baking powder and salt. Stir in sugar. Cut butter and Velveeta into mixture, till it resembles coarse crumbs. Spread half of the mixture into a 9" square baking pan; press it into the pan. Spread the jam on top (use an offset spatula dipped in warm water). Top with remaining mixture. Bake for 30 minutes at 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Cool and cut into squares to serve. Sat Oct 17 12:39:32 -0700 2009 5047680 19782 Full tummy 1 5123648 well....... I'm glad your husband remebers some of his NS roots and Gramma's goodness. I have made this recipe two ways.. with cheese whiz and with Velveeta cheese. Velveeta cheese makes the nicer square but they don't last long so cheese whiz works fine too. 1/2 C hard margarine or cold butter 3 Tablespoons cheese whiz or velveeta cheese 1 Tablespoons brown sugar 1 1/2 cups flour 1/2 teaspoon baking powder Combine all ingrediants in a bowl and cut in with a pastry blender until the texture of dry oatmeal. Press half of crumbs into 8 X 8 inch pan. Warm some raspberry jam in microwave ( makes it spread easier) and spread a layer on crust. Toss remaining crumbs on top and pat down gently. Bake in 350 oven for 30 minutes and you will be hooked! they taste great........ but even better by day 2. If they last that long! Thu Oct 22 15:26:51 -0700 2009 5047680 1118407 pepsi2u 2 5125717 Wow! Will have to give that one a try, too. Where did you get it from? Fri Oct 23 11:58:54 -0700 2009 5123648 19782 Full tummy 3 5151684 i live in Nova scotia and these a re a common treat. Cheap and easy to make. I live in the Pictou county region........ your husband will know where that is. Did you try them?? Tue Nov 03 07:20:26 -0800 2009 5125717 1118407 pepsi2u 4 5153325 Yes, we made it today. He was very happy with it! My husband tells me to tell you that his grandmother was from New Glasgow. Thanks for the recipe. We now have a number of options, all of which are quite good, even for me!!! Tue Nov 03 15:28:33 -0800 2009 5151684 19782 Full tummy 1 5124528 Did you ever hear back from Kraft? If you can do a little digging, ask to contact the historian on staff or the reference librarian. It's good if you have a name first. I did that with a question for Hershey -- none of the regular customer service reps had the answer, but the librarian put her finger on it quickly. Just a thought. Fri Oct 23 00:05:18 -0700 2009 5047680 18222 maria lorraine 2 5125722 I sent an e-mail to Kraft and never heard back from them. But, that's a good suggestion. As things stand, though, my husband is pretty happy with the recipe we came up with. Thanks!!!! Fri Oct 23 11:59:41 -0700 2009 5124528 19782 Full tummy 1 5134888 have you checked out a raspberry cheese bar that uses cheddar cheese? I think this may be the missing recipe it's like a raspberry cookie bar with cheddar cheese in the base and topping. Give this a try I learned it as a girl scout in 1958. punker Tue Oct 27 11:22:31 -0700 2009 5047680 1119618 punker 2 5135409 It may be the same recipe, but with cheddar cheese, instead of Velveeta. Do you have the actual recipe? Tue Oct 27 14:14:44 -0700 2009 5134888 19782 Full tummy