Recipes by Doris Day: German Potato Salad; Paprika Steak; Peach Angel Food Cake Dessert; Swinger Burgers; Twice-Baked Potatoes

Doris Day's German Potato Salad

6 medium-sized potatoes
1 large stalk of celery, chopped in small pieces
3-4 scallions (white part only), thinly sliced
4 slices lean bacon, cut in small strips
2/3 cup water
1/2 cup cider (or wine) vinegar
Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

Cook potatoes in their skins until tender. Cool slightly, peel and slice into a large bowl. Add celery and scallions. Fry bacon in saucepan until crisp. Add water and vinegar. Pour over potato-celery-scallion mixture, toss lightly. Cover and marinate thoroughly (several hours or overnight) before serving. Serves 4.

Doris' Thought: For a more sour dressing, add more vinegar to the marinade.

Doris Day's Paprika Steak

2 round steaks, tenderized
Sweet Hungarian paprika
2 medium-sized sweet onions, chopped
2 small jars pimentos
1 pound fresh mushrooms, sliced
Cooking oil
Butter
2 small cans Hollandaise sauce
Green olives stuffed with pimentos
2 cups red wine

Rub sweet paprika (like you would flour) over entire surface of both sides of steak.  Place layer of onions over entire surface of steak. Spread a layer of pimentos over the onions. Then sauté mushrooms in cooking oil and butter. Put layer of cooked mushrooms on steak. Spread the Hollandaise sauce over all other ingredients.

Put a row of green olives stuffed with pimentos over the steak. Roll steak and tie at 6 or 7 places with a strong cord. Sear both sides of the roll of steak in a very hot deep skillet. Put in a deep roaster.  Add a small bottle or 2 cups of red wine. (Doris Day uses salted wine, not used for drinking, which can be purchased in a gourmet shop.)  Place in oven at 300 degrees F. and cook for 2 hours, basting frequently.

Doris Day's Peach Angel Food Cake Dessert

1 angel food cake (already baked)
1 pound peaches (ripe, peeled, cut, and stoned, can use canned)
2 tablespoons lemon juice
2 cups whipping cream

Whip cream until thick.

Cut round angel food cake in thirds horizontally.

Layer the cream and peaches ending with cream on top with peaches.

Doris Day's Swinger Burgers

1 pound ground round steak
1 raw egg
6 pimiento-stuffed olives, cut in half
1 medium yellow onion, peeled and cut in chunks
12 washed, stemmed cherry tomatoes, cut in half
3 slices American cheese, cut in small chunks
Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

Mix together beef and egg in a large mixing bowl. Add olives, onion chunks, cherry tomatoes, chunks of American cheese, salt and freshly ground pepper to taste. Mix beef and other ingredients well. Shape into four oval, not-too-thin patties. Broil to taste. Serves 4.

Doris Day's Twice-Baked Potatoes

4 large baking potatoes
3/4 cup light cream
1/2 cup butter
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
1/4 teaspoon oregano
1 (10-ounce) package frozen mixed vegetables or frozen peas and carrots
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
1 tablespoon chives

Wash, dry, and grease potatoes lightly. Bake in a 400 degrees F. oven until tender (about 1 hour).  Remove from oven and allow to cool for 10 mins. Slice potatoes in half lengthwise. Scoop the flesh into a large bowl, being careful not to break the skins. Save potato skins.

Add cream, butter, salt, pepper, and oregano to potato flesh. Whip until fluffy.

Cook frozen vegetables until tender. Drain well. Add to potatoes. Spoon mixture into potato skins. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and chives. May also sprinkle with crispy bacon bits.

Bake at 375 degrees F. for 20 minutes, or until hot and cheese is lightly browned.