The Menu

The disappointing letter from the New York music publisher spoiled Jim's Christmas in 1961. He had been without a steady job for nearly six months while dedicating every spare moment to selling his musical compositions. The family was dependent on Irene's wages of fifty dollars a week from the candy factory where she worked packing mints.
Jim was sitting at home alone in a blinding snowstorm when the phone rang. The woman on the line identified herself as Pat Robinson, the wife of a captain stationed at the nearby Lincoln Air Force Base. She said she remembered him from a barbecue party at which he had performed on the piano and accordion. It was held at the Officer's Club at the base. How could he ever forget that party. It had been his only performance for pay the entire summer.
"Jim, I'm calling to say goodbye," Mrs. Robinson announced on the phone. She sensed something from Jim. "Is there anything wrong?". "Where are you working?". "I don't work at the moment," Jim replied. She wanted to know how long Jim had been without a job and asked whether she and a group of her friends could visit the Fras home.
They arrived shortly and inquired "Are you sure you have enough food?". Jim was embarrassed when he opened the refrigerator which was empty except for a half quart of milk.
The two officer's wives and the officer returned about six o'clock that evening. They brought a collection of food which had been donated by a number of Air Force wives. There was a half bushel of apples, two bushels of canned food, some fresh meat, several sacks of flour, and other grocery items purchased from the Post Exchange. They also brought some Christmas toys for the kids and they handed Jim a ticket to pick up a turkey for Christmas dinner at a local store.
Jim and Irene were both ashamed and thankful. They managed to utter a few words of gratitude in broken English. The officer and the two wives understood...

Disclaimer : some of the recipes herein are actual hand me downs from Jim and Irene as well as a number taken from memory which may add a slight variation. All still good eatin'.....

Borscht - a kind of beef stew with potatoes and cabbage
Vareniki - stuffed dough molded into various shapes and boiled stuffed with either sauerkraut, potatoes, meat or combinations
Potato Pancakes
Pierogi
Piroshki
Deep Fried Donuts - round cut outs of flat sheets of dough sprinkled with sugar