[ [ [ bloggin space w i k i ] ] ]Difference between revisions of "Collected Recipes Of The Alcatraz Women's Club"
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The prison had many legends. Not the least of these legends was the food quality that the inmates enjoyed. It was well known within the prison system at the time, that the best food found in all the federal prisons could be found at Alcatraz.<ref>[https://www.aclu.org/news/prisoners-rights/the-reality-of-mealtime-in-prisons-and-jails These days good food isn't the case.]</ref><ref>[https://sites.brown.edu/publichealthjournal/2023/05/02/beyond-the-food-how-prison-nutrition-policy-contributes-to-lasting-chronic-disease/ Beyond the Food: How Prison Nutrition Policy Contributes to Lasting Chronic Disease]</ref> | The prison had many legends. Not the least of these legends was the food quality that the inmates enjoyed. It was well known within the prison system at the time, that the best food found in all the federal prisons could be found at Alcatraz.<ref>[https://www.aclu.org/news/prisoners-rights/the-reality-of-mealtime-in-prisons-and-jails These days good food isn't the case.]</ref><ref>[https://sites.brown.edu/publichealthjournal/2023/05/02/beyond-the-food-how-prison-nutrition-policy-contributes-to-lasting-chronic-disease/ Beyond the Food: How Prison Nutrition Policy Contributes to Lasting Chronic Disease]</ref> | ||
This was because a very select group of inmates were chosen to cook the food, but that food was not only for the inmates, it was also for the guards, staff, and members of administration. | This was because a very select group of inmates were chosen to cook the food, but that food was not only for the inmates, it was also for the guards, staff, and members of administration.<ref>[https://www.nps.gov/museum/exhibits/alca/food.html#:~:text=The%20food%20was%20prepared%20by,all%20the%20food%20they%20took. The food was prepared by inmate workers, under the supervision of correctional officers trained in food service management.]</ref> | ||
It was a pretty simple scenario: if you wanted better treatment from the guards, make them better food. Additionally, this select group of cooks were allowed quite a bit of leeway with their ingredients and recipes. Despite the fact that every morsel of food had to be imported from the mainland near San Francisco, it was all the best quality that could be procured. In the hands of the trustee inmates, these ingredients were made into wonderful meals for very bad people. | It was a pretty simple scenario: if you wanted better treatment from the guards, make them better food and follow the rules. Additionally, this select group of cooks were allowed quite a bit of leeway with their ingredients and recipes. Despite the fact that every morsel of food had to be imported from the mainland near San Francisco, it was all the best quality that could be procured. In the hands of the trustee inmates, these ingredients were made into wonderful meals for very bad people. | ||
==The Collected Recipes== | ==The Collected Recipes== | ||
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While researching this topic, I came to realize that there were a WHOLE lot of desserts for prison inmates. It stands to reason and makes good sense actually: Keep the sweets coming and the prisoners will refrain from rioting. If you think that sort of thing didn't happen, the inmates actually rioted over a shitty spaghetti dish.<ref>[https://www.noevalleyvoice.com/2002/December/Yet.html In the dining hall, we learn about the big spaghetti riot, which was sparked by the deteriorating quality of the prison kitchen's tomato sauce.]</ref> | While researching this topic, I came to realize that there were a WHOLE lot of desserts for prison inmates. It stands to reason and makes good sense actually: Keep the sweets coming and the prisoners will refrain from rioting. If you think that sort of thing didn't happen, the inmates actually rioted over a shitty spaghetti dish.<ref>[https://www.noevalleyvoice.com/2002/December/Yet.html In the dining hall, we learn about the big spaghetti riot, which was sparked by the deteriorating quality of the prison kitchen's tomato sauce.]</ref> | ||
The menu also features foods high in starch. Back in those days, foods that "stick to your ribs" were considered more healthy than thin gruels and grains. This also explains why there are quite a large number of breads available as well. | |||
Meats were not shied away from either, but the menu tends to feature chicken and pork more than beef. Also, when beef is used, it is boiled to stretch out its use. Interestingly, there is absolutely no fish or other proteins from the sea. This is rather odd because the prison is on an ''island'' surrounded by the ''San Francisco Bay.'' | |||
==Comments== | |||
Over the coming months, as I work through these recipes, I shall be adding comments to the pages. These comments will mostly deal with how gross or how delicious a particular recipe sounds. | |||
==References== | ==References== | ||
Latest revision as of 00:14, 5 April 2024
Alcatraz was known as the "inescapable prison." In the prison's 30 year history, 36 inmates attempted to escape, but only 3 men were said to have made it out successfully. But even their story has passed into speculation, as only spare evidence was ever found that they made it to the shores near San Francisco.
The prison had many legends. Not the least of these legends was the food quality that the inmates enjoyed. It was well known within the prison system at the time, that the best food found in all the federal prisons could be found at Alcatraz.[1][2]
This was because a very select group of inmates were chosen to cook the food, but that food was not only for the inmates, it was also for the guards, staff, and members of administration.[3]
It was a pretty simple scenario: if you wanted better treatment from the guards, make them better food and follow the rules. Additionally, this select group of cooks were allowed quite a bit of leeway with their ingredients and recipes. Despite the fact that every morsel of food had to be imported from the mainland near San Francisco, it was all the best quality that could be procured. In the hands of the trustee inmates, these ingredients were made into wonderful meals for very bad people.
The Collected Recipes
The Alcatraz Women's Club was a group of wives, sisters, mothers, and other females who had family that worked within the prison. They realized just what harsh conditions their loved ones worked under and strived to make their lives better. Part of this process was making sure that their people were well fed. Every year, they collected their favorite recipes and gathered them into a booklet to be used by the inmates. Eventually, this booklet became known to the general public and was published so that everybody could enjoy the delicious recipes.
This Portal?
While this page does not follow mediawiki's normal portal coding, I am calling it a portal as it will be a jumping off point for several other pages that contain the recipes. Originally, these pages were digitally scanned by google,[4] but they are in the public domain for all to view and use. Below you will find links to all of the pages that I have assembled for this collection.
Main Entrees and Sides
Roast Beef and Yorkshire Pudding | Sweet & Sour Spareribs And Stuffed Pork Chops | Antipasto | Pizza And Sloppy Joes | Lamb Shanks And Tuna Casserole | Swedish Meatballs And Springtime Skillet | Macaroni Ring And Southern Ham Pie | Sweet & Sour Ribs And Pigeons | Hamburger Pie And Tamale Pie | Stuffed Peppers And Porcupines | Beef And Rice Casserole, Noodle Ring, Veal | Tuna Surprise And Stuffed Zucchini | Pork Chops & Scalloped Potatoes And BBQ Frankfurters | Yum Yum Meatballs | Chow Mein And Meatball Onion Soup | Chicken Spaghetti And Hamburger Pie | Chicken Fried Rice And Papagayo Steak | Barbecued Spareribs And Sauerkraut | Sauted Cucumbers And Pecan Dressing | Stewed Chicken And Dumplings | Scalloped Potatoes And Pork Chops | Enchiladas | Swedish Pancake
Salads and Salad Dressings
Wilted Leaf Lettuce, Raw Spinach Salad, Garlic Dressing | California Slaw And Tomato Ring Salad | Pineapple & Carrot, Bean, And German Potato Salads | Cucumber Salad, Salad Dressing, Carmel Highlands French Dressing
Breads, Doughs and Biscuits
Butter Scotch And Boston Brown Breads | Home Made Bread | Butterhorns And Banana Bread | Biscuit Mix | Ice Box Rolls | Ravioli | Well "Bread" Children
Desserts and Other Goodies
Lemon Pie Filling And Apple Meringue Pie | Quickie Apple Pie And Rum Chiffon Pie | Pecan Pie And Meringue Lemon Pie | Sunny Silver Pie And English Banbury Tarts | Creamy Peach Pie | Apple Cake Desert And Banana Bread | Surprise Berry And Peach Cobblers | Apple Souffle And Rice Pudding | Apple Sauce Cake And Apple Nut Torte | Grandma's Fruit Cake | Chocolate Mayonaise Cake And Crazy Chocolate Cake | Cherry Cordial Chiffon Cake | Hollywood Cheese Cake | Tutti Fruitti Cake | Wine Cakes | Plain Sponge And Prune Cakes | Fruit Cake And Pineapple Upside Down Cake | Sour Cream And Cinnamon Sugar Cookies | Raisin Nut Cookies And Soft Tumbles | Lemon Sours And Walnut Cookies | Shortbread And Gum Drop Cookies | Favorite Cookie Jar Mix And Cookie Jar Mix Cookies | Crunches And Norwegian Crowns | Mexican Wedding Cake, Chocolate Crunch Cookies, Pecan Dreams | Dream Cupcakes And Snow Peaks | Mincemeat Cookies And Potato Doughnuts | Five Pound Fudge And Orange Sugared Nut Meats | Miracle Icing And Miracle Frosting
Notes
The internet did not want you to see this book despite the fact that it is in public domain. But that's okay, we managed to find it and upload it here.
While researching this topic, I came to realize that there were a WHOLE lot of desserts for prison inmates. It stands to reason and makes good sense actually: Keep the sweets coming and the prisoners will refrain from rioting. If you think that sort of thing didn't happen, the inmates actually rioted over a shitty spaghetti dish.[5]
The menu also features foods high in starch. Back in those days, foods that "stick to your ribs" were considered more healthy than thin gruels and grains. This also explains why there are quite a large number of breads available as well.
Meats were not shied away from either, but the menu tends to feature chicken and pork more than beef. Also, when beef is used, it is boiled to stretch out its use. Interestingly, there is absolutely no fish or other proteins from the sea. This is rather odd because the prison is on an island surrounded by the San Francisco Bay.
Comments
Over the coming months, as I work through these recipes, I shall be adding comments to the pages. These comments will mostly deal with how gross or how delicious a particular recipe sounds.
References
- ↑ These days good food isn't the case.
- ↑ Beyond the Food: How Prison Nutrition Policy Contributes to Lasting Chronic Disease
- ↑ The food was prepared by inmate workers, under the supervision of correctional officers trained in food service management.
- ↑ Cook book 1952.
- ↑ In the dining hall, we learn about the big spaghetti riot, which was sparked by the deteriorating quality of the prison kitchen's tomato sauce.