This is not going to be my standard “healthy living” post. I am, however, going to let you peek into my past. 
I have always loved History. When I was little, I wanted to be an archaeologist. I love antiques. Not just the beauty of the pieces, but the story behind them. Where did they come from? Who owned them? What family stories could that piece tell us if it could speak?
I think this is partly why I enjoy the “old ways” of doing things and resist “progress”. I feel like we need to “ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein.” (Jeremiah 6:16)
Somehow I ended up with my Great Grandmother Sarah’s Brown Bobby Greaseless Donut Machine. Not sure how that happened but I have it plus we purchased another one from Ebay last spring. They each make 6 donuts to a time. They work like a waffle machine, as you can tell from the photo. Paraffin wax used to be used as the “grease” for the molds. Hallalujah, we now have PAM!
“Sarah” is on the left, “Bob” is on the right.
The machines were made in the 1920′s by a company called Food Display Machine Corporation. It was like a “business in a box”. You got the machine, recipes, plus tips on how to sell them. My great grandmother “tweaked” the recipes and made them her own. She sold them during the Depression. She also gave many away during that time to people that didn’t have the money to pay for them. She was a blessing to many during this difficult time, sharing her resources, skills, food, a listening ear.
“Sarah” my great-grandmother’s Brown Bobby Greaseless Donut Maker
My grandmother, Margaret Rogers Conary, used to make these treats and sell them in local stores here on Deer Isle. I have a few older customers that remember enjoying them as kids and young adults. They tell me “they taste JUST LIKE Margaret’s used to!” Makes me smile.
I make donuts every week for a local coffee shop, 44 North Coffee, in Deer Isle. I also sell them at a small Farmer’s Market at our daughters’ school. I offer Spice, Chocolate, and Gluten Free Spice. The Spice and Chocolate are both Sarah’s recipes, the Gluten Free version is simply the same recipes, just using Pamela’s Gluten Free Baking Mix plus some Tapioca Flour added (makes for a softer product). I also have Sarah’s Molasses recipe, but sadly, it has faded with the passage of time. It was folded and along the fold of the yellowed paper, it has deteriorated to the point of being unreadable.
“Bob”, our machine purchased on Ebay.
Sometimes I cross my fingers when I turn the machines on. They are old (heading toward 100!) and get cranky sometimes and don’t want to start. Or, they’ll overheat. Or, just the top or bottom part will heat up, leaving a MESS of raw batter oozing. 
I used to feel a bit guilty for making these and selling them, after all, we’re pretty much a Paleo family! Donuts don’t exactly enter in to that equation! However, one treat every week or two isn’t going to do any harm…it’s what you do on a daily basis that adds up. Secondly, I feel that by making these and selling them, I am sharing a bit of my family’s history with my customers.
I hope you have enjoyed this little departure from the usual. Do you have any interesting “family food” stories to share? Comment below or head on over to my FB page at http://facebook.com/realsolutionsformoms. I’d love to hear your stories too!
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