Mock Maid-Rites are mighty popular

Curious Cook continues to receive mail about the mock Maid-Rites. Those sandwiches are mighty popular and Quad-City area cooks are sharing a variety of recipes which attempt to duplicate the flavor.

For example, A.J.E. of Rock Island writes:

``When the request for the Maid-Rite recipe was published in your column, I didn't reply because I thought that many people would already know how they're made and my recipe would only be repetitious. But I was apparently wrong.''

A.J.E. says her recipe, which follows, was published in a 1976 church cookbook.

1 pound ground beef

8 ounces of Coke or Pepsi

Salt and pepper

Brown ground beef, separating as it cooks to form crumbles; drain off fat. Add salt and pepper to taste. Add Coke or Pepsi and simmer for 20 minutes or until liquid is absorbed. Serve on buns. Makes about 6.

A.J.E. of Rock Island

Mary's Mock Maid-Rites

M.E.B. of Bettendorf shares this recipe for the pretend Maid-Rite sandwiches.

2 pounds lean ground beef (90 percent)

Minced onions, any amount

2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce

1 can (12 ounces) Coca-Cola or Coke Classic (see note)

Brown lean ground beef. Add minced or fresh onion. (``I prefer adding a slice of onion to the bun before eating.'')

Add Worcestershire sauce and can of Coca-Cola after meat is browned. Simmer until liquid evaporates.

For barbecue way: After meat has browned and simmered, add some ketchup, brown sugar and yellow mustard or Boetje's mustard. Let simmer again until nice and warm. (Use a little or a lot of the condiments to make the barbecue sauce.) Serve on buns.

Note: Diabetics use Diet Coke.

M.E.B. of Bettendorf

Easy Roast Beef

M.E.B. of Bettendorf also shares this beef roast recipe which also calls for Coke.

``It sounds weird but you'll love it!'' she writes. Coke is a ``natural'' meat tenderizer and adds a unique flavor.

``Your family will rave about this wonderful dinner. I use Coke on most of my beef and meat recipes. Diabetics use Diet Coke.''

1 chuck roast (5 pounds)

1 package dry onion soup mix

1 onion, sliced

1 bay leaf

2 cans (10-3/4 ounces each) cream of mushroom soup

1 can (12 ounces) Coke Classic

Raw vegetables, as desired

Put the chuck roast in Dutch oven with lid. Sprinkle dry onion soup mix over the top of roast. Place sliced onion around meat in pot. Add bay leaf.

Whisk together the cream of mushroom soup and Coke. Pour over the top of the roast. Cover and roast at 325 degrees F. for 3-1/2 hours.

Add raw vegetables and roast an additional 1-1/2 hours or until tender. Serve vegetables on the side. (Remove bay leaf before serving.)

M.E.B. of Bettendorf