Honoring the Memories

  This past Sunday was the anniversary of the day that my Mom was called home to Heaven. This year was 14 years since that day, and I was 14 years old when it happened, so this year was a little harder. September 29th has always been an emotional day, but for the past two years I've tried to celebrate my Mom, rather than grieve.

  Last year, for the first time, I thought I'd cook a special meal completely out of my Mom's cookbook, as a way to celebrate her life and one of her favorite hobbies.

  This year, I decided to do the same thing. I prepared Chicken Divan for dinner and Lemon Chess Pie for dessert. Chicken Divan (Turkey Divan in my Mom's cookbook) was actually a recipe belonging to my Grandmother, but I remember eating it all the time when I was little, so I wanted to make it. 

  It was probably only the second time I've ever cooked it, but it turned out fabulously and tasting it took me back to the kitchen table of my childhood. 

   Here's the recipe. I did use chicken instead of turkey and I substituted non-fat Greek yogurt for the mayo, and I promise you couldn't taste the difference. Greek yogurt is a wonderful and much healthier option to use in place of mayo and sour cream. 

  Mary Faust's Turkey Divan

• 1 bunch fresh broccoli, cooked and drained
• 3 cups cooked, sliced turkey
• 1 (10 oz.) can cream of chicken soup
• 1/2 cup mayonnaise
• 1 tsp. lemon juice
• 1/2 tsp. curry powder
• 1 cup grated cheese
• 1/2 cup soft bread crumbs

1. Place the broccoli in a layer in a buttered, ovenproof casserole. Add the sliced turkey. Blend together the soup, mayo, lemon juice and curry powder and spread it over the turkey. Sprinkle grated cheese over all, then top with the bread crumbs. Bake in a 350 degree oven for thirty minutes. 

  For dessert we had Lemon Chess Pie. I don't remember eating this too often when I was little, but I remember that it was a very popular dessert in my Mom's restaurant. I turned out very well and T and I both savored it!

Lemon Chess Pie

• 4 eggs, well beaten
• 2 cups sugar
• 1 Tbsp. flour
• 1 Tbsp. corn meal
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 1/4 cup milk
• 1/4 cup lemon juice
• 2 Tbsp. grated lemon peel
• 4 Tbsp. butter or margarine, melted
• 1 8-in. pie shell, unbaked

1. Combine all the ingredients and mix well. Pour into the pie shell. Bake for 1 hour at 350 degrees. 

  Our special dinner turned out wonderfully and was a perfect celebration of my Mom! And just a little reminder, I had my Mom's cookbooks reprinted last year and still have several copies available. If you'd like to get one please contact me under the "Contact Me" tab.