12/05/2017
Aunt Bill’s Brown Candy recipe is published every December in the Oklahoman newspaper. Usually under a heading of Aunt Susan revisited.
Edna wrote for the Oklahoman as Aunt Susan during the 1920’s & 30’s. She was a much loved personality conducting cooking schools, giving seminars and hosting a radio show. It was her Aunt Bill who gave her the recipe for Brown Candy.
My husband ‘s grandmother, Mimi, was neighbors with Edna when both were newlyweds. They developed a lifelong friendship.
Edna published a cookbook which features Aunt Bill’s Brown Candy. She also put in Bert’s Egg Nog. Mimi’s husband’s recipe. You might need a designated driver if you indulge in this delight.
Edna taught Mimi to cook all kinds of things, but her favorite holiday recipe was Aunt Bill’s Brown Candy. That recipe became a Christmas tradition for Mimi.
When I was 5 months pregnant with my daughter, Andrea, Mimi asked me to come over to learn how to make this family tradition. It’s a “friendship” recipe as it takes two people to make it.
Me and my swollen feet stirred and stirred to get the recipe just right. I went from eager to exhausted in short order.
Mimi was quite a character who loved her sweets. She was 4’9” and 80 pounds soaking wet.
Let me put her love of sweets in perspective. Bert and I took her to lunch.
Bert: Mimi how’s your fish?
Mimi: Good. Would you like a bite?
Bert: No thanks. How are your green beans?
Mimi: Good. Would you like a bite?
Bert: No thanks. How’s your pie?
Mimi: Good.
Mimi let me lick the spoon but didn’t offer to send me home with even a sliver of the fudge. Lol. So I made my own and haven’t missed a Christmas without our yummy Aunt Bill’s Brown Candy.
