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Hi all,
Well I'm going to date myself by asking this question but here goes. Is anyone on this board originally from NY or Philly? I'm trying to recreate the hot apple pie with vanilla sauce from good old Horn and Hardarts Automat. I'm going by childhood memories and would appreciate any input about the sauce.
We've had a couple of really cold days....and that pie and sauce would hit the spot.
Treatmaker
I know that feeling of missing old tastes...how about anyone knowing about the old J.L. Hudson Department Store in Detroit and their infamous Chicken Pot Pie recipe ?
Hi Virginia,
Here is a start for your search for APPLE PIE WITH VANILLA SAUCE. My mom used to take me down to the Automat and I was more into the little doors with food behind them than the actual meal!
Good Luck, Laura
Automat, The History, Recipes, and Allure of Horn & Hardart's Masterpiece" by Lorraine B. Diehl and Marianne Hardart ($18, scheduled release November 2002, Clarkson Potter).
No idea if that recipe is in this book though.
Thanks for the response, but that recipe isn't in the book. For some reason, all these recipes are "lost" except for the mac and cheese and two others.
Virginia
here's the article on Food Timeline. it looks like recipes are "secret"
http://www.foodtimeline.org/foodfaq7.html#automats
Thanks, I'm going to try that one and another recipe I pulled off the web thats a little different. Hopefully one will be what I remember.
Treatmaker
Thanks for the article. Yes, it does seem these recipes were very guarded and now prehaps lost. What a pity. The great granddaugter of Mr. Hardardt doesn't even have them according to her book.
Treatmaker
Found this on Uncle Phaedrus, Finder of Lost Recipes.
----- Original Message -----
From: LSS
To: phaedrus
Sent: Sunday, July 28, 2002 10:08 PM
Subject: recipe for horn & hardart vanilla sauce
> Horn & hardart served warm apple pie with vanilla sauce ...
> I am searching for the vanilla sauce recipe...
> hope you can help
Hello LSS,
The original H & H recipe isn't available, but the first recipe below is a clone that was created by an H & H fan.
Phaed
An Acceptable Clone of Horn & Hardart's Vanilla Sauce
Ingredients
1 TB Sweet Butter
2 TB Flour or Corn Starch
1-1/2 to 2 c. Milk or Half and half
1/3 c. Sugar
1 Tsp. Vanilla Extract
In a heavy 1 or 1-1/2 quart saucepan, add the flour to the butter and cook for 2 minutes over medium low heat, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon. Should it start to get too hot, remove the pan from the heat until it cools
a bit (remember, this is a white sauce, so don't let it brown). On low heat, very gradually add the liquid. You can use anything from low-fat milk to half and half or even cream, depending on how rich a sauce you want. I usually just use 2% milk. Mix in the sugar and the vanilla. Whisk the sauce until it just comes to a boil, then serve. Serve the apple pie slices warm, in flat-bottomed bowls, with a spoon. Pouron about 1/3 to 1/2 cup of the hot sauce and decorate the top with a tiny sprinkle of cinnamon.
Food has a magical way of bringing back cherished memories. One dish that holds a special place in my heart is my grandmother’s apple crumble. The sweet aroma of cinnamon and baked apples instantly transports me to my childhood kitchen, where I watched her bake with love. Years later, I found a UK Blogger who shared a similar recipe, rekindling my nostalgia. Following their steps, I recreated the dessert, reliving those warm, comforting moments. Cooking isn’t just about ingredients, it’s about stories, love, and memories that stay with us forever, one delicious bite at a time.