Grandma Mildred’s Dutch Babies
Do you have any cherished family recipes that make you feel like grandma is right there in the kitchen with you when you make them? Well, this recipe is definitely one of those. Each time I make these I can hear Grandma Mildred talking over the noise of the blender, filling me in on the happenings of her past week events: finding the most perfect flannel fabrics at Joanne’s for her upcoming baby quilt to her neighbors recent botched knee surgery. The kitchen was our special place. And dutch babies, the special recipe.
So what exactly are dutch babies? Well, they’re a simple baked dish made from eggs, flour and milk. Their most notable trait however is what they look like when removed from the oven: they bake up fluffy and high with lightly browned edges and a soft, soufflé like center. Then they’re topped off with lemon juice, powdered sugar and often fresh berries!! They’re the perfect way to impress guests without going to a lot of trouble!
A little background on Grandma Mildred: she actually wasn’t even a blood relative at all. Back in the day she and my maternal Grandma, Gladys, were two peas in a pod, the absolute best of friends. When my Grandma Gladys passed away at the young age of 54, Mildred stepped up and took over the role of Mom and Grandma. I unfortunately never knew my maternal Grandma, but Grandma Mildred always made me feel like I did. She was such a special lady and had more friends than would fit in a football stadium. She was a beautiful, genuine soul that treated us like family and that I will always cherish. She was truly one-of-a-kind.
Grandma Mildred lived in Beaverton, Oregon, a suburb of Portland. Throughout my childhood my family made a point to visit her at least once a year, often times two or three. Each time we visited we knew at some point we’d wake up to the sound of her blender, whipping up a fabulous batch of her signature dutch babies.
I have since carried on the tradition with my own family and they too love hearing the blender early in the morning. It’s funny how just a simple sound can conjure up so many great memories! I hope one day they will carry on the ‘happy blender sound’ with their own families!
Unfortunately Grandma Mildred passed away a few years ago at the age of 99. Thankfully I have a lifetime of memories with her that I will forever cherish, as well as a few of her fabulous recipes!
If she were here today to tell you about this recipe herself, the first thing she would say is “You have to use a seasoned cast iron skillet. Nothing else will work.” And, “Always make more than you think you’ll eat, ‘cause once people taste them, they won’t be able to quit!”
