POSTUM Drink

I have many memories of my father heating up a quart or two of hot water after ice fishing on Deer Creek Reservoir.  He added to that water a drink unlike anything else I have tasted.  It is not hot chocolate, nor is it coffee like some people incorrectly assume.  It is Postum.  It is a caffeine-free drink that would warm us to the very core.  It is made from whole wheat, wheat bran, and molasses.

We of course did not drink it straight.  My father would add a healthy amount of evaporated milk, and a few spoonfuls of sugar.  This turned it to a light caramel color that I have always associated with Postum.  My Aunt is also a big Postum consumer, and drinks it several times a week at night.

Not everyone likes it, but it is a safe drink, and 100% Kosher.  And it tastes great!  At least the way my father made it. :-)

Here is an approximation of my Dad's formulae:

1. Procure a container of Postum.  
2. Boil 16 oz. of water; remove water from heat
3. Add two rounded teaspoons of Postum
4. Mix until fully dissolved.
5. Add 1/3 cup Evaporated Milk
6. Add 1½ tablespoons Sugar (more or less to taste)
7. Stir until mixed.  Serve hot!

Serving Size: 2

NOTE:  Kraft ceased manufacturing of Postum back in 2007, but "Eliza's Quest Foods" purchased the recipe and Postum Trademark from Kraft and manufacture it once more, albeit on a more limited scale.

Banana Shake

Here is an approximate recipe for the Banana Shake that I remember Dad making for us whilst living in Orem.  Perhaps Mom made it as well, but my memories were of Dad blending it up on many a hot summer day.

It is a fast, easy recipe, and I realized this evening that it had been a long time since I last made it for my children... possibly since before Sariah was born.  To many a happy smile, I blended it up as an appetizer for my kids while the casserole cooked...  Sariah was my official taste-tester, and after a sip (that turned into a long gulp), she immediately responded, "I want my own, Daddy!"

Ingredients:

• 3 ripe bananas
• 2 cups milk
• 3 Tbsp sugar
• 2 tsp vanilla
• 6 ice cubes

Directions:

• Cut each banana into 2 or 3 pieces.
• Drop banana segments into your trustee Oysterizer blender.
• Add sugar and milk, altering milk quantity as needed for banana size variance, and desired concentration.
• Start blending, and add ice cubes a couple at a time.
• Serve to smiling faces.  Or, watch as a happy smile appears. :-)

NOTE:  While many Banana Shake/Smoothie recipes do not call for vanilla, I have always considered it an essential ingredient.  First, I love vanilla in deserts and drinks.  Second, while the banana flavour does over-power even a healthy dose of vanilla, the richness that results from using it is unmistakable.  Yum!