Pfister White House Sandwich

I found this recipe, from Chef Maurice at the Pfister. My mother wrote down, and added it to her recipe file box, that she eventually gave to me.

It's very similar to the old Gimbels recipe except for one ingredient and a few other techniques. The sauce, in my mother's recipe, in addition to cream, calls for chicken stock. The Gimbels recipe calls for heavy cream.

Pfister White House Sandwich

4 slices bread
16 oz sliced turkey
8 oz sliced fresh mushrooms, sautéed but not browned
Mornay Sauce:
1/4 c chopped onions
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup flour
2 cups cold milk
2 cups chicken stock
salt and white pepper to taste
3 egg yolks
1/2 cup whipping cream
1/2 cup grated Swiss or Parmesan cheese

Directions for making the sauce:
In a large saucepan, sauce onions in butter but do not brown.
Add flour and sit well over low heat. Do not let it brown.
Add cold milk and mix till smoother. Add brother and bring to a boil, stirring constantly, then simmer 10 minutes. Add salt and white pepper to taste.
To make the sandwich:
Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Place 1 slice of toast in each of 4 buttered individual casseroles and cover with about 1/4 cup of sauce. Divide turkey and mushrooms among the four sandwiches. Top with more sauce and sprinkle with cheese and bake 8-10 minutes or till light brown. Serves 4.

Lost Decades with Dad

Nearly 5 decades have gone by. I still miss my Dad so much. Last night I was with three very special friends: Fether,and Marty and Beth in Milwaukee. Fether recounted that night I received the devastating news about my Dad. It was 1963, two weeks before JFK's assassination. That night, Fether was there along with Marty.... Hearing Fether remember, recount that awful night, was so special and so endearing to hear that today- nearly 50 years later. I now know I was in shock. No therapy for us back then. But I had friends. Thanks Fether! You don't now what it's like till you have gone through it but none of you had to go through it, yet, you were there. I love you all.



I smiled when he picked me up.













I smiled when he filmed me.




















I was the first born. . One of Dad's sayings: 'No more nonsense' as seen here with my sister Linda demonstrating 'no more nonsense'.







I danced with him while standing on top of his shoes.





My most recent years have led me to discover how very special he was to his family. A hotel man, Pfister Hotel, and how he managed it with a wife who defied many cruelties. The contemporary words would be: texted to her.

He thought I'd be a great entreprenaur. And I wanted to be that, very much. But then, Dad left us. Not his choice.
Mom always said her life changed at that moment. She was right. Again. So sad. She was a one woman man. She never wanted to marry again. Her love was gone. And so was my Dad. I was 15 years old. And Mom was 44.
Miss you Daddy!
Jeanne and Linda (and dog Taffy xxx)with neighbors Karen and Carol Rueping