Vintage Menus

I put my MIL on a task today of looking through my 1940s/50s Woman's Day magazines to choose five recipes for dinner. I did this because she was so thrilled when I brought out the magazines for her to peruse the other night and her first comments were about the meals!

Her recipe choices were:

  • Jellied Chicken Salad
  • Meatless Corn Fritter Sandwiches
  • Baked Stuffed Vegetables
  • Macaroni Salad and Chili Deviled Eggs
  • 2-Layer Flaked Fish Casserole

and

  • Liver Loaf Durkee

I'm game to try the others, but I'm not touching the Liver Loaf Durkee with a 10-foot pole! She did comment that she might be the only one eating that one. (Which is why there are actually SIX choices. She knew there would be an issue.)

She really enjoyed making the choices and I know we'll enjoy preparing the meals together next week. Having been born in 1938, these types of recipes were certainly familiar.

I decided to post the 2-Layer Flaked Fish Casserole. If you really, really want me to, I'll post the Liver Loaf Durkee, too. All you have to do is ask.

2-Layer Flaked Fish Casserole (Woman's Day, April 1943, p. 47--serves 4)

  • 2 cups cooked fish, flaked
  • 1 cup mashed potatoes
  • 2 eggs, grade B
  • 3 cups milk
  • 2 T butter, melted
  • Salt and pepper
  • 1/4 cup toasted fine bread crumbs
  • 1/4 cup grated cheese
  • Paprika

Combine fish, potatoes, 1 egg, 2 1/2 cups milk and butter. Add salt and pepper to taste and pour into a greased 1 1/2 quart casserole. Beat other egg until light, add remaining half cup milk and crumbs. Pour over fish mixture; sprinkle with grated cheese. Bake in moderate oven, 350 degrees, for about 1/2 hour or until set. Sprinkle with paprika before servings.

The Final NaBloPoMo Post and Evaluation

This is the last post for my month-long commitment. I'm glad I challenged myself with it. As it turned out, having my life change dramatically right in the middle of the month (and a week before my birthday, too!), actually made the challenge an anchoring thing for me.

Having the "responsibility" of posting daily pushed me to stay in touch with my hobby. It gave me a continuity from my "old" life to my "new" life. It also gave more opportunities for y'all to comment which I have appreciated SO much. I know I don't know most of you IRL, but it has been nice to see the familiar names and the new names with fun comments. Each one made me smile! Thank you!

I am going to take a couple of days off, but I want to continue being "regular" (that doesn't sound right!) with my posting as I HAVE come to realize that this is my favorite hobby.

So, thank you for reading ALL THESE posts. I made 29 out of 30 and that ain't too bad!

Gotta Have Bing, Baby

To me, Bing Crosby is "The Voice" of Christmas. I don't feel that the season is truly started until I hear White Christmas in his wonderful baritone.

When I was growing up (before VCRs, DVDs, and other various acronyms existed), my family checked the TV guide to find out when Bing's Family Christmas Special was on so we wouldn't miss it. The other requisite show was White Christmas. If we missed it, it was just tough patooties. There was no such thing as recording it until later--or reruns, for that matter!

I have the movie on video (I know, I need to update to a DVD), but I haven't seen the Christmas shows in a while. Enter, the internet. The internet is fabulous is so many ways. I found some on YouTube that I will probably listen to at some point. Very cool.

Anyone else a Bing Crosby fan?

My dad collected 78s. (For those too young to know what those were, that was before the "vinyl" records, aka 33s. Also available were singles on 45s. Hmm. We didn't use acronyms in the past--we used numbers!) In his collection he had a lot of Bing Crosby as well as recordings of his brother, Bob Crosby. (I wonder. . .do you suppose???)

Yep! There's an audio that I can embed in this post! Technology can be a wonderful thing. I tried to embed the player, but it argued with me. If you'd like to hear Bing's brother, click on THIS LINK.

Gravy poll results

The votes are in:

  • 60% preferred Milk Gravy.
  • 40% preferred Brown Gravy.
Ham Gravy? It didn't even make a bleep on the radar.

One reader said that she would have split her vote if I had made it multiple choice. I'm a purist. I see things in black and white. I gave no multiple choice. I'm harsh like that.

I did want to point out that MY favorite won. Just in case you missed that.

The Famous Fifty: The House of Your Dreams

Yes, this is it: The house of your dreams. You can have 1360sf of beauty for only $2926. If you'd like oak throughout, add an additional $116.55. (The snow is free.)

I think I'll go and order one right now. I might be able to get the cash discount if I cut down in other areas.

Shameless use of a blog

You see what this NaBloPoMo commitment has done? It's requirements of daily posting have caused me to reveal that today is my birthday--something I wouldn't have done otherwise!

But, since I'm announcing this occasion, I just want to say that I'm turning 29.

I'm fully aware that being 29 today means that I was only five when I married my husband. I have to admit that finding a wedding dress in the girls department was a bit difficult. For the wedding pictures they had me stand on a box. Instead of going on a honeymoon, I was sent back home to wait until I was really old enough, which was about nine years ago.

We celebrate our anniversary by saying that we've been married 24 years since it's the official date and all.

All presents of jewels and money can be sent to my home. Email for the address.

To You