Grandma's Recipes: Unfinished

I recently borrowed - or stole as my Mother would say - my Grandmother's recipe box. My Grandmother lived with us and was a really good cook, when she cooked, but usually my Mother handled the cooking in the house. Mom really was/is the better cook of the two. Grandma was old school Irish/New England Yankee type of personality and she cooked that way. Mom likes to experiment.

It's really interesting looking over Grandma's recipe collection. Most of the recipes are hand written; some in pencil, most in fountain pen ink and a few newer recipes in ball point. I plan on cooking some of them and I'll be posting the results.

Reading these cards is like having a conversation with my Grandmother. Many are unfinished, just simple notes to herself on what to cook. Many times there's only a title and a list of ingredients. I guess she felt that she knew how to make whatever the recipe was pointing to.

Here's a couple of the unfinished and untitled recipes.

3lb Leg Mutton
8 Potatoes
3 Onions
8 Carrots
1/2 cup

I think that was a base for lamb stew. Grandma made that on rare occasions, but there's got to be more than that.

4 cups Sugar (Brown)
1 cup Milk
1 tsp Vanilla
1/2 lb English Walnuts

If I had to guess, I'd say that is a fudge recipe. I don't recall Grandma ever making fudge. Maybe it's something she wanted to try, but never got around to it. If anyone out there knows what Grandma was trying to make in either recipe, I'd appreciate hearing your thoughts.