Distinctly Montana Magazine

40 D I S T I N C T LY M O N TA N A M A G A Z I N E • FA L L 2 0 2 6 T H E T R E A S U R E S T A T E T A B L E S P U D N U T S , S P U D N U T S , C H I C K E N L I C K I N ' M U F F I N S , C H I C K E N L I C K I N ' M U F F I N S , A N D P I G & W H I S T L E C A K E A N D P I G & W H I S T L E C A K E N OT TOO LONG AGO, THE LAND- SCAPE OF AMERICAN FOOD WAS VERY DIFFERENT. Not yet marked by the ready avail- ability of fresh ingredients, herbs and spices, the national palate had to work much harder than it does now to come up with delicious recipes. Yet come up with them they did. In those decades of yore, brave cooks com- bined what ingredients they had—mostly cans of cream of chicken soup, soft drinks, and oleo—and combined them in nov- el and remarkable ways. Then they gave them a punchily descriptive nickname like "spudnuts." We salute these inventive home cooks by once again sharing a selection of their recipes, taken in this case from 'What's Cookin'? by Maids of All Trades,' published on be half of the Maids of All Trades in Jor- dan, Montana, in the year of our lord 1979. IT'S OUR EARNEST HOPE THAT REDISCOVERY OF THESE RECIPES WILL PROMPT NO LESS THAN A FULL-SCALE REVIVAL OF MIDCENTURY CUISINE RIGHT HERE IN OUR FAIR STATE. SPUDNUTS INGREDIENTS • 2 pkgs. yeast • ½ c. warm water • ¾ c. warm milk • ¼ c. sugar • 2 eggs • 3 ½ c. flour • 1 tsp. salt • ½ tsp. mace • ½ tsp. nutmeg • 1 / 3 c. shortening (oil) AUTHOR: IRENE HIEKEN CHICKEN LICKIN' MUFFINS INGREDIENTS • 3 c. flour • 1 ½ Tbsp. baking powder • 1 tsp. salt • 6 Tbsp. sugar • ¼ tsp. poultry seasoning • 1 Tbsp. parsley flakes • 1 egg, beaten • 1 can cream of chicken soup • ¼ c. water • ¼ c. cooking oil AUTHOR: ELEANOR SWANSON INSTRUCTIONS Combine yeast, water, milk. Add sugar, salt, mace, nutmeg and stir. Beat eggs in oil and add to all of above. Beat in 3 ½ cups flour until smooth, at least 100 strokes. Cover and let rise until double in bulk, about 30 minutes. Stir down, put on floured board, roll ½ inch thick. Cut with a large cutter. Let stand while oil heats to 350 degrees. Fry dough is really sticky. Don't add flour. Makes 18. INSTRUCTIONS Sift together flour, baking powder, salt, sugar, poultry seasoning. Stir in parsley. Combine egg, soup, water, oil. Add liquid ingredients to flour. Stir only until flour is moistened. Fill greased muffin pans 2/ 3 full. Makes 16. Bake 20 to 25 minutes in 425 degree oven.

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