January 13, 2015

ZUCCHINI BREAD FROM MISS MARY BOBO....A VISIT TO THE COOKBOOK CORNER


Do you remember boarding houses? 
You don't have to answer that.
But....I do.
My mother's Aunt Tice owned and operated a boarding house in Detroit, Michigan.
Tice was married to my grandmother's brother, Joe, who was the
 baby of the family and the last of seven children.
 They divorced at some point in life and 
Tice fell in love with a very handsome, younger man named Dash!
Now, I never met Dash, but the name alone made me think of him as some sort of film star.

We would listen to the adults talking on the front porch on summer nights, of Tice and Dash, along with all the stories from the boarding house, which were often a topic of discussion. The whole idea of this big Victorian home hosting all sorts of people
 who lived there and ate there,
 was so foreign to me as a child, 
It was so vastly different from any reality in my own life.
 But, we were always told back in the forty's and after WWII, 
boarding houses were rather common. 



This is one of my all time favorite cookbooks. 
I adore cookbooks and thought it might be fun to share some of
my collection with you!
If you are a fan of reading cookbooks, you are going to love this series.
I love, love, love to read what other home chef's collect and 
try recipes from some of their favorites! 


Miss Mary Bobo! Her boarding house was in Lynchburg, Tennessee, home to the Jack Daniel's Distillery! Now Mr. Jack is a favorite among us southerners! Oh honey.....when we are out frying the Thanksgiving turkey, just about everyone is sippin' on a Jack and Seven-Up highball! 



The boarding house goes all the way back to 1908. Miss Mary and her husband purchased the home and ran the hotel together until her husband passed away in 1948. Miss Mary continued to operate her boarding house and served thousands of mid-day dinners until 1983. She died at the age of 101. 


This cookbook features over 250 of Miss Mary's recipes and details stories of the residents and guests who frequented the home. She employed several cooks from around Lynchburg who were loyal and faithful throughout those many years. They believed in using iron skillets for their chicken, real meringue for the pies and fresh-picked vegetables from the gardens. 



Miss Mary Bobo's is still in operation today serving that infamous mid-day meal. If you are ever in Lynchburg to tour The Jack Daniel's Distillery, you may want to call a few months in advance to make reservations....they are that busy!


A few years prior to her death, Miss Mary stopped taking borders and only served her mid-day meal. Her children were in their retirement years at that point and it looked as if the boarding house would probably close. However, the good people from The Jack Daniels' Distillery, purchased the home from her heirs and saved this historic landmark. 


This is Miss Mary's recipe for her lovely zucchini bread, 
which I serve warm with fresh orange cream cheese! 



Fresh Zucchini Bread
3 eggs
1 cup oil
1 1/2 cups sugar
3 cups flour
1 t. baking powder
1 t. salt
1 t. cinnamon
3/4 t. baking soda
2 cups freshly grated zucchini

Grease a 9- inch by 3 -inch loaf pan. In a large mixing bowl, beat the eggs until light and golden. Add the oil and the sugar and blend well. 

In a separate bowl, combine the dry ingredients and add to the egg mixture. Combine well and blend in the shredded zucchini. Pour into the loaf pan and bake at 350 degrees F. for 50-55 minutes. Allow the bread to cook before slicing. 

To make the orange cream cheese, bring 4 ounces of cream cheese to room temperature. Blend in about 1 T. orange juice and 1 T. grated orange rind. Add about 1 T. powdered sugar to blend. 


14 comments:

  1. Fun post. I remember my aunt taking in borders in the late 50's and I can still see her dining room table all set up for them to come to dinner. I think she had 4 at the most. Very small scale but so unusual to me. I love that tea-bread. Thank you for the recipe.

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    1. Oh how interesting that your aunt had a small bordering house! Wouldn't that be so different? I hope you enjoy the recipe some time Deb! Stay warm!!!

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  2. Well, shut my mouth...!!! I do, indeed, remember boarding houses...(if you will remember, I am a lady of considerable age)
    I never had the pleasure of living in one...a cousin and I did rent an apartment in one of the olden homes in Dallas in 1956....
    Boarding houses were so romantic to me...all the different people, coming together at the table....
    The bread sounds amazing as does the cream cheese.... a must try, for sure. Thanks so much for the recipe.

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    1. Well this is indeed interesting...I never knew others were aquainted with boarding houses....I'll just bet they are stories of life within those walls! I hope you enjoy the recipe sweet BJ! Thank you so much for visiting today!!

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  3. This is a fun post, reading about Miss Bobo and her famous boarding house. I am glad it was purchased by the Jack Daniels Distillery and is continuing to operate as a restaurant.

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    1. Hi Terra! I am ever so happy that you stopped by today for a visit! I so hope you try and enjoy the zucchini bread! Have a wonderful week!

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  4. That zucchini bread so good. Wish you were my neighbor - I would stop over every morning. Don't worry, I would bring my own coffee!

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    1. How I would love that Katie! Perhaps one day a move back to Texas will be in your future! But then you would have to leave that gorgeous New England home behind....I'll leave the light on just in case...hugs!

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  5. Hello,
    Wonderful post. Thanks for visiting My Cozy Corner. I love Zucchini Bread and with cream cheese it is divine. Yes, tea rooms are also special to me. I love visiting and having tea and scones.
    Joyously,
    Bety @ My Cozy Corner

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    1. Hi Bety! So very happy that you stopped by today! So looking forward to having a new blogging friend! Big hugs!

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  6. Very interesting...wonder if Mrs. Bobo ever wrote more than a cookbook. My grandmother did not run a boarding house full of boarders, but she often had a boarder in a spare bedroom. The boarder was usually a teacher as my grandmother's home was between the high school and the elementary school. Not many apartments in that town nor any hotels or motels. The boarders often became like family. The orange cream cheese sounds delicious. Hope that I remember it.

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    1. I do hope you enjoy the recipe Vee! Wouldn't we all love to come across a journal that contained all the stories of the boarders! There are some very interesting stories in her cookbook. She was a good, kind and hard working gal! Hope you are staying warm and toasty on these cold winter days! Sending love!

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  7. Estelle, I so enjoy reading cookbooks, especially those that tell stories. I usually have at least one piled next to my bed to just pick up and be inspired. I just checked my "Northern" public library system, and they don't have Miss Bobo's. Hmm...it is available on Amazon though. When I was growing up, we all lived with my grandparents. Whenever my grandmother heard some complaints or what she deemed as unreasonable comments, she would say that she felt like she was running a boarding house. Mrs. Bobo's Zucchini Bread recipe is the exact same one that my family has passed down through the years. Thanks for all of the inspiration that I get by reading your blog!

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    1. Hi Marge! I am just thrilled that you shared your story with us! I so appreciate your visit! Isn't that amazing that this was the recipe treasured by your family! I love that! I hope you continue to stop by and enjoy some time with me!

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