tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4279311869237231755.post2185354656719253049..comments2024-02-13T20:28:52.794-05:00Comments on A Cake Bakes in Brooklyn: Why Are These Cookies Called Chinaman Chews?Susanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11692999404326628908noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4279311869237231755.post-90166933739848772822022-07-29T08:57:50.539-04:002022-07-29T08:57:50.539-04:00I have my mom’s recipe called Chinese Chew and it’...I have my mom’s recipe called Chinese Chew and it’s made with a boxed yellow cake mix with the addition of extra eggs, sugar, baking powder, salt , coconut and pecans. I add chocolate chips. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4279311869237231755.post-62456145611698946372021-12-16T20:31:03.940-05:002021-12-16T20:31:03.940-05:00My family made these every Christmas beginning in ...My family made these every Christmas beginning in the 50's. We used pecans instead of walnuts and plain flour (no baking powder). Carol in New OrleansCarolnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4279311869237231755.post-24912480381838407192020-12-16T08:23:53.235-05:002020-12-16T08:23:53.235-05:00Found this article in the Washington Post, "W...Found this article in the Washington Post, "Walnuts hold a special place in Chinese culture, as they are believed to nourish the lungs, relieve coughs and improve circulation, and during the new year, they are eaten for happiness. Chinese walnut cookies, or Hup Toh Soh, are my idea of simple happiness." https://www.washingtonpost.com/food/2020/12/02/walnut-cookie-recipe-five-spice/Alisonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14780032094149182395noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4279311869237231755.post-67318706102782507092020-12-05T18:47:33.156-05:002020-12-05T18:47:33.156-05:00Ginger, y'all! Many of the recipes have ginge...Ginger, y'all! Many of the recipes have ginger and that is the Chinese connection!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4279311869237231755.post-49755332368631454842018-09-09T00:24:48.074-04:002018-09-09T00:24:48.074-04:00My guess is the 1917 version of Chinese Chews had ...My guess is the 1917 version of Chinese Chews had little to do with China and more to do with a fascination with Oriental culture and imagery that was extremely popular in the first few decades of the the 20th century.<br /><br />I came across a 1917 First World War recipe from a Toronto, Ontario, Canada patriotic cookbook called, "Aunt Hanna's War-time and Peace-Time Recipe". The recipe titled, 'Hard Tack Good For Overseas' by Mrs. James Gairdner, calls for 1 cup walnuts, 1 cup dates, cup flour, 1 cup sugar, 1/2 teaspoon baking powder, two eggs. They are baked, then cut in strips and rolled in icing sugar while still warm. <br /><br />Another 1920 cookbook called, "Choice Recipes", by Order of the Eastern Star, in Sacramento, California, USA, has a similar recipe called 'Japanese Hard Tack''. Same ingredients and rolled in powdered sugar and cut in strips the size of ladyfingers.<br /><br />I think the early versions of Chinese Chews were formed into balls and rolled in granulated sugar, and Hard Tack and Japanese Hard Tack were bars coated in powdered sugar.<br /><br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00096283710860892961noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4279311869237231755.post-45678975437708934872017-10-06T03:16:59.797-04:002017-10-06T03:16:59.797-04:00Yeah, and it's amazing how 'squares' a...Yeah, and it's amazing how 'squares' and 'dust' weren't obscured by the crumpled edge. In fact, none of the words are faded and they haven't been disrupted by the crumpled paper. It's almost like text was superimposed on an existing document. Amazing!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4279311869237231755.post-66178230562781802742014-12-23T11:33:21.450-05:002014-12-23T11:33:21.450-05:00I have a similar recipe from my mother. From Indi...I have a similar recipe from my mother. From Indiana, near Ohio border, south of Fort Wayne. 3 eggs--beat well. Add 1 cup sugar, beat 1 min or so. Blend in 3/4 cup sifted flour, 2 tsp salt. Stir in 1 cup chopped nuts or 1 cup raisins and nuts or 1 cup dates and nuts. Bake on jelly roll pan (shallow), on wax paper---no grease, oil, butter, etc. Bake 400 degree oven for 10-12 minutes. Cut into squares while warm and roll in powdered sugar. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4279311869237231755.post-86359968346284901102013-12-20T13:11:11.298-05:002013-12-20T13:11:11.298-05:00Im no expert but judging by the typeset on that pa...Im no expert but judging by the typeset on that paper i would think this recipe to have been written in the 70s or 80s with myself leaning towards 80sAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4279311869237231755.post-13242074269621313312012-09-26T08:18:57.537-04:002012-09-26T08:18:57.537-04:00This is a stretch but is CHEW a last namein China?...This is a stretch but is CHEW a last namein China?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4279311869237231755.post-52121925695132995062010-10-08T22:26:27.945-04:002010-10-08T22:26:27.945-04:00Anonymous: Thanks so much! You're right -- fou...Anonymous: Thanks so much! You're right -- found many hits for Chinese Chews, including the following on Barry Popik's website:<br /><br />"Chinese Chews” appeared in the June 1917 issue of Good Housekeeping, and the recipe was widely reprinted in newspapers. The main ingredients were dates and English walnuts, along with flour, sugar, baking powder, eggs, and salt. The popularity of “Chinese Chews” has dropped, but modern versions contain coconut and chocolate chips. <br /><br />The origin of the name “Chinese Chews” for a snack with dates and English walnuts is a mystery that has not been explained.Susanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11692999404326628908noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4279311869237231755.post-5017421060250006052010-10-08T11:38:50.101-04:002010-10-08T11:38:50.101-04:00Try "Chinese Chews" for your search and ...Try "Chinese Chews" for your search and you'll find lots of hits. My theory: "Chinamen" is a<br />retro term that no one uses anymore in the pc era. I'd guesstimate that<br />recipe was written in the 1930s or 40s (note the boast of the CNB being a<br />member of the FDIC at the bottom opf the stationery).Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com