One of my spouse's childhood memories of growing up in a suburb of New York City resolves around a pudding/pie made with Nesselrode sauce. His mother served it around "the holidays" (in our country, the period between late November - Thanksgiving - and Christmas Day, December 25).
It didn't come out to be like a pie in a crust. It came out more like a pudding. He remembered it being made from a nesselrode sauce that came in a jar. He doesn't remember much more about how his Mom made it.
He remembers a "Delmonico pudding" with layers of ingredients in a tube pan, and nesselrode sauce was one of the layers.
The nesselrode sauce was chestnut based with cream. What he remembers didn't have raisins or dried fruit in it but we are finding online recipes do have those ingredients, plus rum.
Several years ago, my sister in law came up from New York City to visit, and we went online to try to find nesselrode sauce. Apparently, they stopped making the sauce commercially some 25 or more years ago. I tried again this past weekend and could not find a commercial sauce version.
But nesselrode pie itself is apparently making a comeback.
Here is another version.
And if you are really ready for a workout, how about this heirloom recipe from 1874?
It would seem this wonderful desert (originally served frozen) dates from around 1814. In other words, it is over 200 years old.
I also found a recipe for nesselrode sauce. Apparently this was a New York City area favorite between the 40s and the 60s. My spouse grew up in the 1950's and 1960's, so the timeline fits.
Day 2 of the Ultimate Blog Challenge #blogboost.
Join Shilpa and Bellybytes on the first Tuesday of every month for #FlavoursomeTuesday. Their theme this month is Breakfast but, as some like to say "Eat Dessert First!"
I grew up in the NYC area and never heard of such a thing
ReplyDeleteI hadn't either - but my husband has talked about it for years.
DeleteOh my, the recipes sound interesting, delicious, and labor intensive. Will you be making this for your husband this holiday season?
ReplyDeleteDoubtful, as I am on Weight Watchers and he is somewhat following along. Plus, he says he doesn't think the online recipes quite capture what he remembers. More research is needed!
DeleteI never had Nesselrode Pudding , but I would be willing to try it out.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, what suburb of New York City did your spouse grow up in? I am a native New Yorker (born and raised) and then moved out to Rockland County, NY.
Yonkers until around age 10, and then southern Putnam County. I am also a native of New York City (born in Queens, grew up in the Bronx.)
DeleteIt's interesting how foods go in and out of fashion. I have never heard of nesslerode sauce. It doesn't sound appetizing, but that's probably because the word is completely foreign to me.
ReplyDeleteThere are some old recipes still used in modern times - they fascinate me, too. I blogged about a childhood favorite, which was an heirloom dish, but you can't even buy it now - perhaps I should dust that post off.
DeleteI am fascinated by vintage recipes (though I'd probably attempt the easier one using the chestnut puree).
ReplyDeleteThey are fascinating, but I have never tried to make a really intricate vintage recipe.
DeleteHow cool to be making something your husband has good memories of... It took me years to realize that my hubby loves pudding. I just made him a vanilla custard pie he remembers from childhood. Now I'm off to see what this nesstlerode pie is all about!
ReplyDeletePerhaps when I retire I can tinker with these recipes until I find exactly what he remembers. He tells me now "no cocoa, no dried fruit in what I remember" so I don't know what was in it!
DeleteWell I certainly learned something new today. Never heard of nesselrode sauce, pie or pudding. Now I'm intrigued.
ReplyDeleteI looked up nesselrode to see if we have anything similar in Sweden. There is no translation of the world but by looking at the ingredients I would say no. Nothing of the sort on this side of the pond.
ReplyDeleteI've never heard of it but found it very interesting. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteLoved the name of it! Definitely sounds like something my brother would like to try. But I am trying to cut down on sweets so ... I think I might pass. But really looks good! And I liked your explanation of how you came to know of it.
ReplyDeleteThanks,
Amy
Loved your post. Never heard of this but would love to try.
ReplyDeleteOH BOY. I moved to NYC after nesselrode pie had gone away, this is the first time I've heard of it - but hey, I think I need to go do a little research soon!
ReplyDeleteDessert for breakfast is a great idea. Thanks so much for joining up with this post ! I do miss old desserts like the trifle pudding or a lemon soufflé
ReplyDeleteAlana,
ReplyDeleteI'd not had or heard of this dessert before now. I'm not sure if it's something I'd like to make but if someone served it then I'd be eager to sample it.