Avocado Ring and Apple Crunch - More Recipes from 1946

I have heard of Apple Crisps.  In fact, I have made a few in my day.  But Avocado Jello molds?   They seem to have gone the way of the dodo.  And I know why!   On the left is a photo of a slice of Avocado Ring from my 1946 cookbook.  It was the recipe that sounded the best of the no less than five Avocado Molds in the book.  I served it with pear slices (as suggested) and a slice of homemade toast.  With a bite of pear on each bite, the Avocado Ring was palatable.  Without it, it was rather flat and boring and a complete waste of 2 perfectly beautiful avocados.  The lemon jello flavor was subtle, as was the avocado.  Other ingredients included sour cream (I used low fat) and a touch of mayonnaise (also low-fat as I use in all recipes I make).  Note that there was not a single Guacamole recipe in this cookbook compiled by Southern Californian women.   It appears that, once Guacamole hit the scene, avocado jello molds bit the dust.  No surprise here...

 

The Apple Crisp (called "Apple Crunch"), which I made last night, was much better.  A quarter cup of Sherry added complexity.  And the texture was perfect - soft, juicy apples covered with a somewhat crunchy topping.  My husband added a scoop of  Butter Pecan ice cream on his, and said it was excellent.  The recipe is below:

 

I still plan to make the Tuna Casserole I told you about.  Something about chopped eggs, green stuffed olives and no cheese being the "gold standard" for that time period (and region) has completely piqued my curiosity.  After that, I only plan to make the breads, cakes, and pies.  1946 was a year of Pumpkin Chiffon Pies, Chess Pies, and a bevy of fruit-based muffins.  And, of course, I will lighten them up as I do with all full-fat recipes that cross my path.  

 

I am realizing that 1946 was indeed a pivotal year for American cooking.  But not necessarily in a positive way.  People were experiencing a sense of prosperity after years of scarcity with two unfortunate consequences.  Most of the main-dish recipes use inexpensive cuts of meat which, consequently, are often processed, high in fat, and, well, tough.  Also, too many of the recipes use canned and processed foods.  These years of plenty - beginning in the late 40's, and moving into the 50's and 60's, ushered in the Junk Food Mania that remains such a problem in our nation today.  Sigh...  My 1946 cookbook has been a very eye-opening experiment, especially in light of the reading I am currently doing on the "China Study".   More on that in another post.   Until next time, happy and healthy eating!

 

Clam and Bacon Appetizers - 1946

 Tonight I initiated my circa 1946 cookbook with, appropriately, some very easy-to-prepare appetizers.  They were so easy to make, in fact,  that my husband finished one while I worked on the other.   Above is the best - by far - of the two.  "Clam Hors D'oeuvres" is a delightful blast from the past.  I spread the mixture of drained, minced clams, an 8-oz. package of cream cheese, and 1 T. mayonnaise on slices of Melba toast and put them under the broiler for about 2 minutes (even though the recipe said to do so for just "a few seconds").   We all agreed that this would make a nice hors d'oeuvre to serve this coming Thanksgiving.  My husband wished he could taste the clams a bit more, so I may add another half can the next time I make them.  But my son and I were pleased with the warm cheesy texture and the subtlety of the clams.  See photo below for a close-up of this yummy, extremely simple-to-make appetizer:

As for the "Broiled Bacon and Olives", I made them because they reminded me of an old favorite of mine - Rumaki.  Rumaki is chicken liver and a slice of water chestnut wrapped in half a slice of bacon and broiled until done.  I don't know what made me think that stuffed green olives wrapped in bacon would taste anything like Rumaki.  We were able to finish them all, but they were SALTY, with the olive taste dominating the bacon.  Too bad.  They were so easy to make!  See photo below in case you think you may want to try them for yourself or if you suffer from a salt-deficiency:

 

 I broiled them for a total of six minutes, turning them after four.   What I really like about this cookbook is that none of the recipes call for expensive ingredients and most of them are pretty easy to make, as well.  They are truly a reflection of their time and may contain some gems - I hope - for ours.   Stay tuned for the next installment from this delightful and whimsical addition to my culinary repertoire. 



1946 - A Pivotal Year for American Cooking

Until I started researching the year 1946, I did not realize what a "find" the cookbook I bought last weekend was!   Check out the happy housewife on the left.  The year before this cover was made, she was more than likely working because her husband was fighting in WWII.  The war did not end until late 1945.   And women across the country were employed, primarily in the "war effort".   Technically, the Great Depression ended in 1940.   But the effects of it lasted until the end of the war.   This cookbook, then, came out at a time of tremendous flux in our nation - a time, not only of the birth of economic recovery, but also  when our men were returning home from the front and women were returning to the kitchen.    

Before I start preparing and sharing with you recipes from this pivotal year in our country's history, I want to share some facts about 1946 America.  The average household salary was $2,500/year.  Average home prices were less than $10,000.  A gallon of gasoline cost 15 cents a gallon, and you could buy 3 cans of Campbell soup for 25 cents.   Spam, which was invented largely to feed our men overseas, was heavily promoted in late 1945 to 1946 as an inexpensive and versatile meat.  In fact, the back cover of the May 14, 1946 issue of Time magazine featured a Spam Upside Down Pie.  With the introduction of Tupperware in the 1940's jello molds became all the rage.  (The Jell-O Company was established in 1923 but was tremendously expanded in the 1940's through 60's).   Frugality was essential in one's life choices.  Many women were constantly mindful that, just a few years earlier, food was scarce and money, hard to come by.  "The Kitchen Collaborator" - the cookbook I will be introducing you to - is a peek into what middle-class American women were cooking in 1946.

With average gas prices at $4.00 a gallon and 43 million Americans out of work, I see us at a time when a peek back at 1946 cooking could be an eye-opening experience.  I hope you will tune in and enjoy the journey with me!

A Peek at 1940's American Cooking

This past weekend, while visiting my son at the College of William & Mary, I paid a visit to his favorite used book store - Mermaid Books - and found some cookbooks I just had to have.  The Kitchen Collaborator (pictured at left)  was published in 1946, when foods were often cooked in a "moderate" or "slow" oven for an unspecified amount of time, and tuna casseroles became all the rage.   The book was compiled by the American Association of University Women in Long Beach, California (my old haunting grounds!).   Over the next few weeks, I plan to make several of the dishes in it (mainly the appetizers, casseroles,  desserts, and breads since beef and liver, which are no-no's in my diet, figure rather prominently in the "main dish" section) and will share them with you (complete with photos).  I hope you will join me as I take this step back in time to the days of our mothers, grandmothers, or - sigh - even great-grandmothers.  Until the first installment, happy and healthy eating! 

 

Lessons Learned

So, why does it take getting to my wits end before I wake up and realize some of life's simplest lessons?  Like the fact that worrying gets you nowhere.  I seem to have made an art out of it.  I used to actually pride myself in the fact that I tend to expect the worst and hope for the best.  Which almost sounds logical - in a sad sort of way.  I hoped my son's arm was simply  strained and that he was still on the road to complete recovery.  But I feared he had re-torn it and would need another operation - with 6 weeks of total immobilization of his right arm, and 6 more months of therapy before he could throw a ball or comfortably write an essay.  The thought of it was making me crazy.  The reality of the situation ended up landing where it usually does - somewhere in between. 

We went to the doctor today and he said that, short of re-operating, there is no way to be sure if my son's stitches have come apart.  We have to base what we do on how he feels as time goes by.  The good news is that he actually did feel better today.  The better news is that, at his age, enough healing should have already taken place to prevent a re-tearing.  We will see the doctor again in 2 weeks to make sure he is still improving.   Which leaves us, well...much better off than we were last week.  Tonight I am optimistic.  And happy.  A weekend of fasting was very good medicine.  Coupled with prayer and reading, it left me feeling wonderfully optimistic.   The "good" news was just the icing on the cake.  I highly recommend it and will provide specifics if you wish.  That's what I'm here for! 

 

Finding Strength in Times of Pain

2012 has been a sucky year.  Starting in January when my younger son first injured his shoulder, and moving on to April when I  realized I had been bitten by a tick and was reacting to the bite, it has been one thing after another.  My son ended up needing shoulder surgery (something we could not figure out until June!), and I was diagnosed with Lyme disease, something that has come back with a vengeance.    In between and since then, there has been what seems like a non-stop barrage of disappointments, bad news, and pain.  But that is not the reason for this post - to whine and complain about how unfair life can be.  Because we all know: Life. Isn't. Fair.  What I want to share with you is how awesome God is - especially when it seems like you have been pushed to your limit and can not take any more.

A few days ago, I got pretty close to hitting rock bottom.  I was ready to throw in the towel and give up.  No, I wasn't suicidal, but I didn't care if I lived or died.  And, worst of all, I was angry at God.  Didn't He promise us that He would never allow us to go through more than we could bear?   My son was hurting - badly - may need another operation on his shoulder, and, to me, that was it.  You can mess with me all you'd like, but mess with one of my kids?... I am convinced that a mother has a connection with her children that is stronger than super-gluing your fingers together, stronger than a paper clip on a 5-pound magnet, stronger than - well - you get the picture.  Since January, I watched my son slowly spiral downward on the injury trail.  And, finally, he was on the mend.  Then this?!  Since stress exacerbates most other ailments, my health took a dive as well.  Pain increased in all my joints and my heart felt like it would burst.   And each day, it has gotten worse and worse.  Until, that is, today.

Today I did what I should have done weeks or months ago.  I cried my heart out to God and then waited...and waited...and listened.   Not only did God soothe and calm me, filling me with that peace that passes understanding that you hear so much about, but He gave me specific instructions.  First of all, He directed me to His Word - I and II Samuel.  I am to read those books this weekend, along with fasting and praying.  And what is even cooler than that is that He directed me to call a friend who often fasts and prays when her son or any loved one is ill to ask her how she fasts and to follow her advice.  I was going to go on an all-liquid diet, but that isn't what she does, nor is it what I will do.  God is so good.  With the way I am feeling, an all-liquid diet would have weakened my immune system further.  I am to give up meat, including fish and eggs, and not eat any pasta or bread until dinner.  During the day, I can eat cottage cheese with fruit and all the veggies I want, including potatoes.  Sounds almost the way we Orthodox Christians eat during Lent and Advent (minus the cottage cheese).   I am really excited about doing this!  

Do I believe the result will be that my son will miraculously be healed and will, therefore, not need another operation?   Not necessarily, although I certainly "hope" that will be the case.  But I do believe that, no matter what happens, my son will be fine.  Better than fine, he will be great.  After all, his faith is often exemplary and he has been an encouragement to me on many occasions.  I even wrote about it in a post entitled "Reflections on a Recent Chat With My Son" (September 9th, 2011).   Also, I need to make it clear that I do not believe that God caused my son's injuries.  I don't believe He causes anything like that to happen to anyone.  Things happen in life, and activities my son engaged in resulted in his shoulder getting bursitis and his labrum tearing. 

I don't know who reads my Blog anymore.  For reasons beyond my understanding, it seems that many of you who do read it, can not comment on anything I say.  The Blog post, "How to Post a Comment on This Blog" has gotten the most hits out of anything else I have written!  So, when I write to you all,  I feel like I am talking to the wind.  I know that not everyone believes in God and that some people who read this post may be offended or think I am nuts for attributing my feelings of peace, and subsequent instructions on maintaining it, to an omniscient being.  So be it.   My hope is that, whatever you believe,  you can find encouragement in the strength I found today.  Although I am a Christian, my friend whose dietary advice I was instructed to take is a wonderful, God-fearing Hindu.   Our God is bigger than "religion", bigger than any one "church", and I love Him for that with all my heart. 






Cucumber Water - Easy, Healthy, and Delicious!

Since my husband and I visited Woodward House in Front Royal for my birthday weekend, 3 items have become staples in my diet: a poached egg over a slice of homemade bread, grated orange-peel infused sugar (that I have with Oolong tea), and cucumber water.   I am ashamed to say that I used to be one of those people who just did not like water.  I tried it filtered and could taste metallic and even chlorine-tinted undertones.  I concluded that Nestle's Pure Life was the best bottled water, but I still had to almost force it down to get the up to 8 glasses I needed each day.  It was, for lack of a better word, boring.  And then, I discovered cucumber water. 

 

So simple and yet so refreshing, cucumber water is a delicious and healthy alternative to just about any other "water" out there.  The pitcher in the photo above holds about a quart of water.  I do use bottled water - usually Nestle Pure Life - and add to it 1/2 peeled and sliced cucumber.  I cover it with plastic wrap and place it in the refrigerator where the flavors become infused.  The finished product, served with or without a slice of cucumber in the glass, has elevated water to a whole new level for me.  The cucumber taste is subtle and very pleasant, making the water taste fresh, crisp, and light.  I believe the cucumber undertones mask any possible unpleasantness inherent in plain water.  But it also elevates it to the level of a "beverage of choice".   I have never really been a huge fan of eating cucumber slices, but in my water, I love them!   And the best part - the "bonus", you could say - is that it is a healthy addition to your diet. 

 

As soon as the cucumber slices hit the water, they begin to impart, not only their crisp clean taste, but their nutrients into the resulting beverage.  Each glass provides Vitamins C, A, and K, as well as Potassium and trace amounts of Iron and Calcium.  And whether you choose to add a small slice of actual cucumber to your glass or not, the water contains fiber and is a natural diuretic.  Ever since I have been drinking this delightful water, I have had no problem with irregularity or with accumulating water weight.  And let's just say that both used to be issues in my life... How much do I drink?  To be honest, about a pitcher to 2 pitchers a day.  Whenever I want water (as opposed to green or herbal tea), I drink cucumber water. 

 

As the water level goes down in the pitcher, I just pour another bottle over the cucumber slices and I'm ready to enjoy another glass (or 2 or 3...).   Make sure to use new cucumber slices every 3 days to keep your water fresh.  I hope that, like me, you too will become a fan of cucumber water and that it will help you to drink those 6 to 8 glasses of water a day, giving you some healthy benefits as well.

 

Until next time, happy and healthy eating (and drinking!)