Hold on, man. We don't go anywhere with "scary," "spooky," "haunted,"
or "forbidden" in the title.~From Scooby-Doo

Dec 7, 2007

Holiday Recipes

I've been in such a sewing and creating mood lately that I've almost neglected my cooking and baking. I love the smells of the holiday season - especially those tried and true recipes that can catapult me back to time spent with my brothers and sister growing up. Chocolate gravy is one of those, eaten every Christmas morning and often again on New Year's morning. Another is cheese balls that my grandma and mom would make to give away on a tray surrounded by crackers. We always looked forward to the extra (odd ball, cheese ball) that would be left for us to snack on as we waited for Santa.

Cheese boats are another 'family recipe' that not many people have heard of. I come from a small town in Arizona, Globe. I grew up with everyone making them and knowing what they were - we made them for fundraisers and sold them! My mom tended to make them only at the holidays and for the last several years The Big Easy and I have made lots of them and given them away to our friends and neighbors. The kids would help with scooping out the bread and enjoy either eating it, throwing it or saving it for the ducks and birds. We would put 6-8 in a freezer bag and attach instructions for how to heat and eat. We've gotten lots of compliments, requests for recipes and "You're making cheese boats again this year, aren't you?" Sadly, since moving to Utah we haven't made them but maybe next year we'll get back in the 'boat' making mode. Thought you may like to try them this holiday season or any time during the year you need to try something new!

Chocolate Gravy

1 Can Evaporated Milk
1/2 Square Semi-Sweet Chocolate (Baker's Chocolate)
1/2 Cup Sugar
2 Heaping Tbsp Corn Starch
1/2 Can Water (Use the Milk Can)

In a double boiler or a pan that will not burn easily - mix milk, water and square of chocolate. Stir often until chocolate is thoroughly melted. (To prevent burning, be sure to stir continually if not in a double boiler) In a separate bowl mix sugar and corn starch together. Add just enough water to make a thick mixture. Bring chocolate mixture to a boil and when it is boiling add in the sugar mixture. Continue lightly boiling and stirring until it thickens. (Hint: if it is not thick enough, to a pudding like consistency, you can mix a little more corn starch with water and add to the chocolate). Serve over baking powder biscuits. (We always just follow the recipe on the Bisquick box!). Split the biscuit in half, top with a pat of butter and pour on the gravy, enjoy!! Yum, Yum! Makes a small recipe enough for about 2-4 people.



Cheese Ball

2 - 8 oz. packages cream cheese, softened
2 Cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
1 Tbsp pimento
1 Tbsp finely chopped green pepper
1 Tbsp grated onion
2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
1 tsp lemon juice
dash of salt
few drops of Tabasco
1 1/2 - 2 cups of finely chopped pecans



Mix all ingredients together. Divide into two and form into balls. Roll each ball into the pecans until coated. Wrap in plastic wrap and chill. Serve with crackers and enjoy!



Cheese Boats

1 lb. Longhorn/Cheddar Cheese, grated
1 small can tomato sauce
1 small can El Pato tomato sauce (hot tomato sauce) if you can't find- use 2 cans regular
1 small jar diced pimentos
4 hard-boiled eggs, chopped fine
1 large can diced green chilies
1/2 Cup olives, chopped fine
1 bunch green onion, chopped
4 tsp. vinegar
1/2 Cup vegetable oil
Salt and pepper to taste
1 and 1/2 dozen french rolls (you want a nice crispy crust so they'll hold their shape)



Combine all ingredients, except rolls, in a large bowl. Take the rolls and slice off their tops so you have a nice 'lid'. Use a spoon or fork to scoop out the insides leaving a thin shell all the way around, leaving the sides intact. (Save the bread you take out for bread pudding, croutons or bread crumbs). Carefully fill each roll with the cheese mixture. Place the 'lids' back on each roll and wrap in a square of aluminum foil. Bake at 350 degrees until heated through and cheese is melted (approx 20 minutes). *NOTE* These can be frozen before heating and then heated for a longer period of time when ready to eat.

* I often remove them from the foil and place on a cookie sheet before cooking to crisp up the bread. If you like crispy outer shells this is just the thing for you!

16 comments:

Unknown said...

Hi Teddi, can you email me you addy you won my copy of Marie Claire Idees....;)

Anonymous said...

wow I was just googling the recipie for cheese boats and came across this. my fiancee was born in globe, az and that is where him and his family grew fond of them! My fiancee and I now live in Indiana and I am trying to make them for him.... he is wanting to know your family name. His is Bacon. His grandpa owned Bacons boots and saddles

Anonymous said...

Annie - my maiden name is Covey. My dad is Clay Covey - he was the chiropractor of Covey Chiropractic 'fame' - ha ha! I remember Bacons boots and saddles. Small world! You are the second "Globe"ite find the site through a google search for the cheese boat recipe. Terrific! Happy cheese boat making! If you want to keep in touch my email addy is tlvonpingel (at) gmail (dot) com. Thanks!

Greg Morris, Principal @ LandFX Design Group said...

Teddi, this is Greg Morris. Will you send me your parent's address in Utah? Are you still in Arizona or have you joined your folks in Utah? Hope all is well with you and your family. We love the Covey's

Thanks,
Greg Morris

Anonymous said...

Well said.

JLS said...

Hi,

Thanks for sharing the different holiday recipes. In that i like chocolate gravy and i planned to prepare for this holiday.

Anonymous said...

Hi, I lived in Globe and Miami when I was little and my grandparents have always lived there and I love cheeseboats. Thanks for posting the recipe, ours is a little bit different (we use velveeta instead of the grated cheese) but I am definitely going to give yours a try!

Val Makarsky said...

What a small world. I was googling the cheese boat recipe and found yours. I was even more surprised to find yours is the original recipe!
We used to live in Miami and my Dad had Frank's barber shop and my Mom had Esther's beauty shop in country manor. They have moved to Phx. and I live in Washington D. C.
Thank you for posting the recipe. I am going to try the recipe and do it for our Church as a fundraiser.

Greg Horlacher said...

I'm also from Globe, but live in Baltimore now. Did a search for "cheeseboat recipe" and your site is the only one that has what I'm looking for! I'm gonna make them tonight. Do you know the recipe for pasties as well?

Meg said...

Same deal, I was googling for a cheese boat recipe because I remembered them from fundraisers at Holy Angels School. I too was born and raised in Globe-Miami and had no idea the cheese boat was a native treat exclusive to the Globe area.

Dora said...

I went to high school in globe miami in the 1960s..we loved the cheese boats at the drivein. we made them at home..I googled it to see if you baked them wrapped in foil or not and found your blog..I worked the movie theatres in globe all thru high school. fun!!!

Unknown said...

Talk about a small world I too am from Globe and never realized that a cheese boat recipe would be so limited My family are the Reynoso's and own most of the Mexican Food Restaurants in Globe, Chalo's, La Casita, Guayo's, Irene's, and the El Rey. I am so excited to find this recipe thank you so much
Tiffany

Whit said...

Wow. How bizarre. I was googling for "cheese boats" and found your site!! Great to see you and hear more about you and your life. What a small world!!

Whit (Kuykendall) Larson

Unknown said...

I was born in (1961) and still live in Globe. I have been asking around for this recipe for a while now and nobody I asked had it. I'm glad i found this site. You've brought back a little piece of my younger days for me. Thanks bunches.

Billie Jo said...

Hi Teddi~ I'm from Globe, AZ too! I've been looking for a cheese boat recipe, I remember a friends mom used to make them when I was in high school and I loved them. Thought it was funny that I was looking for a cheese boat recipe and the one I found first was yours, a fellow former Globite! Thanks for sharing!

Anonymous said...

Wow! This is interesting. Did cheese boats originate in Globe/Miami? I grew up in Globe and now live in Tucson and had forgotten all about cheese boats and Pasties. Never heard of them since I moved here in '88. Another Globeite brought me a cheese boat that he made from a recipe off this site and told me to check it out. This is awesome. Puts Globe on the Map huh? Theresa