Grandma's Treat Drawer

Sour Cream Twists 

2 c. sour cream
4 T. shortening
2 T. sugar
½ t. salt
2 eggs, unbeaten
2 yeast cubes (packets)
6 c. flour
2/3 c. brown sugar
2 t. cinnamon 


Instructions: Bring cream to a boil. Remove from heat and add shortening, sugar, and salt. Cool to lukewarm and add yeast. When yeast is dissolved add 5 or 6 cups flour. Knead for a few minutes. Roll out on floured board. Cover with melted butter. Sprinkle with brown sugar and cinnamon. Fold in half. Cut into strips 4 inches long. Twist and put on cookie sheet. Let raise for 1 ½ hours. Bake a 375 degrees for 15 minutes. Frost. 


Informant: Mary Jensen
Collector: Kristen Sommerville
Background and significance:
This recipe comes from my great-grandmother, Mary Jensen. Born in Emery County, Utah, she grew up in a poor community with a stern mother, and many brothers and sisters. She was closest with her sister Jane; they married a set of brothers, and stayed close throughout their lives. Mary raised a family in Carbon County, Utah, and was very involved in the lives of her grandchildren as they grew up. Mary and her sister, Jane, both enjoyed baking and had many great recipes. My dad, his siblings and his cousins have many fond memories of their favorite baked goods of both Mary and Jane. Their favorite recipe of Jane’s is her homemade brownie recipe, and their favorites of my grandma Mary’s were her cinnamon rolls and sour cream twists. My dad recalls that every time he visited his grandma’s house, she’d fill the bottom drawer of her kitchen with delicious treats, including his favorite: sour cream twists. I also have many fond memories of these treats. My great grandma enjoyed teaching me how to bake when I was
young, and though she was blind, she succeeded in teaching me to make her sour cream twists and cinnamon rolls, from the recipes she had committed to memory. I remember she would always feel the dough as we added the flour to see if it was the right consistency yet, a skill she had developed throughout her life, and tried to teach me to master.

As both my grandma Mary and aunt June aged, and stopped baking, my aunt Kristen decided to write down the recipes they had made so frequently, since there were no written copies and they were only committed to their memories. My aunt recorded the recipes by hand, and gave anyone who wanted a copy one.