Family Recipe Friday: Stuffed Franks

My grandmother, Bonnie (Lambertson) Wright was always using leftovers in creative ways, according to my mother.  Perhaps this came from being raised during the Depression where you never wasted anything.  This recipe was a cheap meal to fix and easy, too.


This recipe is a great use for left over mashed potatoes.  It's a generational favorite, now being served to Bonnie's great-grandchildren.  Bonnie always served baked beans and wilted lettuce with stuffed franks.

• 1 package of "hot dogs"
• mashed potatoes cold
• mustard
• Velveeta cheese
• paprika

Split each hot dog lengthwise.  Squirt mustard down the middle of each hot dog.  Fill with cold mashed potatoes.  Put 2 slices of Velveeta cheese lengthwise in the mashed potatoes.  Sprinkle with paprika.  Bake at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes or until the cheese is melted and potatoes are hot.

There's also an interesting story to go with this recipe.  When my uncle, Terry Wright, had to give a demonstration speech in college he decided to demonstrate how to make stuffed franks.  When he made up the entire package of hot dogs, the professor asked him if that wasn't a lot of stuffed franks.  Terry replied, "I eat the entire package by myself."


Family Recipe Friday – is an opportunity to share your family recipes with fellow bloggers and foodies alike. Whether it’s an old-fashioned recipe passed down through generations, a recipe uncovered through your family history research, or a discovered recipe that embraces your ancestral heritage share them on Family Recipe Friday. This series was suggested by Lynn Palermo of  The Armchair Genealogist.

Funeral Record: Cora Belle (Metzner) Haley (1868-1955)

Source: Cora Belle Haley Funeral Record, Baird Funeral Home, Jay Co., Indiana 1954-1956, Saxman & Schindler, compiler, n.d.

At the Jay County Public Library I was able to locate the funeral record for my paternal great-grandmother, Cora Belle (METZNER) HALEY, who died April 28, 1955.

Cora died in Madison Township, at the Stuber residence.  Vera (Mrs. Clarence) STUBER was her eldest daughter, and was taking care of her.  It is my understanding that Cora had been blind in her later years.

Cora died April 28th at 6:40 p.m. in the evening, aged 86 years.  She was born August 21, 1868 in Jay County.

The name of her father was given on this record as Adam Haley, an obvious error, as Haley was her married name.  Her father's name was John Adam METZNER, known more often in records as Adam.  Her mother is listed as Clara Metzner, which was her married name - her mother's maiden name was Clara MOULTON.

Cora was buried in an oak casket manufactured by Hutton.  I'm wondering if this was the J.M. Hutton Company of nearby Richmond, Indiana.

There were miscellaneous charges for wires to Chicago and Marine City (Michigan), and a phone call to what looks like Evast, Michigan.  These were probably to notify relatives.  More than likely, these were relatives on the Haley side, as I haven't discovered any surviving out-of-town Metzner relatives.

The bill for the funeral was to be charged to Mrs. Clarence Stuber, Route 3 Ft. Recovery, Ohio; Mrs. Galen Miller, Muncie; Mrs. E.C. Kunce, Lawrenceville, Illinois; Mrs. Waymon Thornburg; and Mrs. Ord LeMaster.  These were the surviving children (all daughters) of Cora and Eli Haley.

Frank Haley called to Portland, Ind.

From: Sandusky Daily Register, Sandusky, Ohio, December 7, 1892, page 2

This snippet in the personal column of the Sandusky Daily Register is referring to the death of my paternal 2nd-great grandfather, George Washington HALEY, who died December 4, 1892 in Jay County, Indiana.


George and Frank were brothers of George J. and Rachel (GARY) HALEY.  My George was 21 years older than Frank, who was the youngest in the family.


George Washington HALEY was born May 16, 1840 in Hardin County, Ohio; was married October 14, 1862 in Ashland County, Ohio to Mary Jane SHERRICK and is buried in the Mt. Zion Cemetery, Noble Township, Jay County, Indiana.