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A Particular Chicken Wiggle Recipe

Re: Chicken Wiggle
From: Holly
Date: 4/20/2022, 7:11 PM
To: phaedrus@hungrybrowser.com

On 4/20/2022 6:18 PM, Holly wrote:

Good evening,

I am looking for a recipe for Chicken Wiggle that was in a cookbook called 
“Favorite Recipes of Alabama Vocational Home Economics Teachers”. I am not 
sure of the edition, and have been sent many copycat recipes but would love 
the original as my Mom made it from that book. Any advice? Thank you!

Holly

Hello Holly,

This may be extremely difficult. I cannot find a "chicken wiggle" recipe that says that it came from that cookbook. It may be that the only way to get that recipe is to locate a copy of the cookbook or to make contact with someone who has the cookbook.

Are you certain that the recipe was only in one edition of that cookbook? There are several different editions for sale on various used book sites.

Can you identify the correct recipe by the ingredients or method if no one has the correct cookbook?  People often post recipes on the web without any mention of the source of the recipe. If the recipe you want is on the web, but does not say that it is from that cookbook, how can I tell? How can I verify that it is the correct recipe?

I can and will post this. There is always a chance that one of my readers can help. However, that's a rather small possibility. Your best bet might be to contact the publishers of that cookbook or you can use the Alabama library system to locate whatever editions of the book that they can find and for you to check them for the recipe.

Please answer the questions I've asked. That will give me a clearer idea of possible ways to proceed.

Phaed

Re: Chicken Wiggle
From: Holly
Date: 4/21/2022, 10:29 AM
To: phaedrus@hungrybrowser.com

Good morning,

I never expected you to respond so quickly, thank you. What I know is it was 
in one of those books on page 150. I have the copy where the recipe was torn 
out and given to a friend. My copy no longer has the cover but in my research 
it seems to be the 3rd edition based on total page numbers. You are correct, 
unless I find someone with the book and true recipe it will be hard to know 
if it is the exact one. There is much heated debate amongst the three sisters 
which cream of soup is used down to whether it has peas or not. I am including 
the book I have with the page partially missing. Thank you.

Holly

Hello Holly,

If you know what the cover looked like, you might be able to identify the edition by looking at photos on these sites:

EBay

AbeBooks

Ecrater

Biblio

You can, of course, purchase copies of those books from those sites, if they are still available

If you want to try the library system, this might help: WorldCat

I have no other ideas. I'll post this in a few weeks, but it's a long shot that one of my readers might have any of these cookbooks and be willing to check them for this recipe.

Phaed

Phaed,

I know this isn’t your usual goose chase, but I appreciate all the help. 
My copy is missing the cover and the first few pages. My Mom remembers 
the cover being beige with red letters which based on images on-line 
would be the Second Edition.

Thanks!
Holly 

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Ann
Date: Thu, May 26, 2022 at 3:19 PM
Subject: Original Chicken Wiggle Recipe / page 150
To: phaedrus@hungrybrowser.com


Hello Sir, 
In response to your posted request 4/20/22 - 4/21/22, I’m enclosing a photo I 
took of the original requested recipe for “Chicken Wiggle (Skillet)” recipe 
which is on page 150 of the cookbook “Favorite Recipes of Alabama Vocational 
Home Economic Teacher / 3 rd Edition (1960)”. I just happen to find it in my 
Grandmothers worn and loved old cookbook which had passed to my mother after 
she died. It has since passed to me. 

It does call for 1 can of cream of mushroom soup and a can of small English peas. 

I do have a question myself for the lady that requested the recipe. It calls 
for a “1/2 bottle of Worcestershire” To make the casserole. How much is a 
half bottle of Worcestershire? The size of the bottles today I am sure must 
be much larger than they were in 1950’s-1960’s. That would be almost a cup of 
Worcestershire from the bottle I have which would be way too much. The smaller 
bottle I believe is 12 oz. I would love it if the the quantity to use for the 
Worcestershire could be clarified.

Thanks sincerely, 

AnnM


image_123927839.JPG :

Chicken Wiggle (Skillet) from:
“Favorite Recipes of Alabama Vocational Home Economic Teacher / 3rd Edition (1960)”

Number of Servings - 12

1 large hen
1 stick oleo or butter
2 medium size onions
2 bell peppers
1 small can mushrooms 
1 small can pimiento
1/2 bottle Worcestershire
1 T. Tabasco sauce
1 lb egg noodles
1 can(small) English peas

Cook hen and cut in small pieces. Chop onions, peppers, mushrooms, 
pimentos, and put in a skillet with oleo or butter and cook until 
tender.  Then add the Worcestershire and Tabasco sauces. Then cook 
egg noodles in broth 10 minutes and salt and pepper to taste. Combine 
the noodles, chopped chicken, pepper mixture, English peas, enough 
broth for the right consistency and bring to a boil.

------------------------------------------------------------------

Fwd: Original Chicken Wiggle Recipe / page 150
From: phaedrus@hungrybrowser.com
Date: 5/26/2022, 5:05 PM
To: Holly

Hi Holly,

One of my readers has  “Favorite Recipes of Alabama Vocational Home Economic Teacher / 3rd Edition (1960)”. She sent the attached photo of page 150.

However, although she says "can of mushroom soup", the recipe does not call for soup at all; it calls for "1 small can of mushrooms" and "1 can (small) English peas.

Also, can you answer her question about the size of the Worcestershire Sauce bottle?

Phaed

Re: Fwd: Original Chicken Wiggle Recipe / page 150
Date: 	Fri, 27 May 2022 14:30:25 -0400 (EDT)
From: 	Holly
To: 	phaedrus@hungrybrowser.com

Phaed,

Thank you! You have settled an on-going debate in our family. Each sister has
modified the recipe over the years so we no longer had a copy of the original! 
All 4 sisters agree we never used 1/2 a bottle of Worcestershire. Just a splash 
or so. Yes, if you do follow it exactly it would be one of the small paper 
covered bottles that were sold back then, not the large plastic container ones 
you can buy now.

Thank you for finding the original recipe for us! We are all very excited.

Holly


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