Family Recipe Friday: Mrs Troyer's Tamali Pie

"Mrs. Troyer" was my maternal grandfather's mother...Elizabeth Schrock Troyer.  She was also the third child (first daughter) of Yost and Martha (Plank) Schrock.  My sister and I found this recipe, and others, among my mother's old recipes (no I have not misspelled 'tamale' in the title - it is spelled with an 'i' on the recipe card).  Whether this is an error on the part of the person who typed the recipe, the actual way my great-grandmother spelled it, or an alternative way of spelling 'tamale' I do not know.

I've not used the recipe, although I may use it soon.  I love Mexican food.  I'm not sure what "Grandma's Spanish Pepper"....I assume it's a homemade spice that could be replaced with a similar McCormick or Schilling spice, or make your own with chili powder and other spices.

Mrs. Troyer's Tamali Pie

1 cup cornmeal (cooked thick)
Brown pork in skillet - take out and make plenty of gravy. Put meat back in gravy-add onions, garlic and seasoning.  Cook for approximately 1hour or until pork is very tender.
Line greased baking dish with mush-pour in pork mixture-add 1teas<poon> (heaping) of Grandma's Spanish Pepper which has been mixed with a little hot water.  Add ripe olives and bake for 1/2 hour at 400.

Mary Post Warren

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