First Lady Jackie Kennedy was a pillar of fashion and class. So, hearing that she had a strict diet to stay thin is not a huge surprise. Her regimen included a boiled egg and tea for breakfast, cottage cheese with fresh fruit at lunch, and a poached chicken breast or fish, with a salad or steamed vegetables for dinner. When she was hungry between meals, she would snack on plain yogurt. She did not start indulging in cocktails until her marriage to Aristotle Onassis.
“They always had a cocktail in the evening and little hors d’oeuvres,” says McKeon. “She’d serve the popcorn you put on the stove and shake. Jiffy Pop.”
The recipe below is all over the internet with the title Jackie Kennedy’s Brownies. However, I cannot find any reliable sources that this recipe is truly her recipe. I couldn’t even find the recipe on the Kennedy Library website. Although on the site there are several letters to the Kennedys asking for favorite recipes to include in cookbooks. I did not see any official documents from the White House with the recipe. So, I am not entirely sure if this is her recipe. To be honest, I can’t imagine Jackie or her family cooking at all.
More about the Kennedy White House diet
Jackie Kennedy’s Family Brownies
- 4 ounces butter
- 2 ounces unsweetened chocolate
- 2 eggs
- 1cup sugar
- ½ cup flour
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- Let cool and then cut into squares.
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
- Butter an 8-inch square pan.
- Melt 4 oz butter on low heat and then stir in 2 oz unsweetened chocolate to melt. Set aside.
- Beat 2 eggs and add 1 cup sugar.
- Beat eggs/sugar for about 2 minutes, until the batter is very light.
- Beat in the melted butter and chocolate.
- Add flour and vanilla and mix just until blended.
- Turn batter into a pan and bake for 25 minutes. It is important not to overbake.
Check out our “Eat Like a President” cooking series:
Jackie Kennedy’s Family Brownies
The Kennedy White House’s Famous Cream Cheese and Strawberry Delight
President John F. Kennedy’s Favorite New England Fish Chowder
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