Foodie Penpals Reveal Day

Last month I wrote about the 'Foodie Penpals' program and how it works.  Today I get to share with you what I received from my foodie penpal for the month of May!  Her name is Katie and she's from southern California!  The package was fool of wonderful treats from the other side of the continent.  Katie is a true California girl and has a wonderful, refreshing and healthy blog called 'Happy Lini'.  Please take a few minutes to visit her site at http://katiefraga.wordpress.com/ - you'll be able to truly feel the fresh essence of the California lifestyle! 

Here's a picture of all the fun treats that safely arrived at my home just about a week ago.  I've been anxious to describe some of the fun and healthy food items from California she picked out to share with me and my family.  Starting on the right is a jar of mustard made in Chico, CA where Katie went to college.  I have two boys that love making big sandwiches with 'all the fixings' and I'm sure this will make a great addition to our summertime eating!  It's called Sierra Nevada Pale Ale and Honey Spice Mustard.  Here is a link to the Sierra Nevada site.  There's the Randy Jones Baseball BBQ sauce which my boys and husband have already started using.  Of course, they had to educate me about Randy Jones but you can just visit the Wikipedia link!  The men in my life love baseball.  Katie also included an organic and gluten free brownie mix, organic peppermints, raw and air dried pistachios and almonds from Living Intentions, some super healthy breakfast bars and a box of Kashi crackers (again already being eaten)!  Kashi is a company that we all know but may not know that it is based in San Diego, CA.  Here's a link to the Kashi site - check it out! 

Katie sent me a beautiful card describing all the tasty treats she picked out.  I'll end this post the same enchanting way she ended her note to me...'Love and Sun from California'! 

If you would like to learn more about this fun program for food bloggers and readers, visit the site HERE! 

Memorial Day at a Mansion!

We had a crazy busy Memorial Day weekend.  It started off with our 18 year old heading off to his Senior prom, followed by a dinner out with my husband's brother, a trip to a flea market and ended with a long overdue trip to Groton, CT to see part of my family.  I grew up in Southeastern Connecticut in a small town on the shore called Noank.  My mother and her husband live in Groton within walking distance to beaches, historic grounds and the Avery Point branch of The University of Connecticut.  Branford House Mansion is located on the Avery Point property and is maintained and preserved by the state.  This is a mansion that was built in 1903 for 3 million dollars.  Try and do that today.  Read all about the Branford House history here!   At the bottom of that site is a link to photos of the Branford House and it's gardens at it's prime.  It's worth the few minutes to take a look. 

From the Branford House 'front porch' there are beautiful views of the sound.  I never tire of watching the parade of vessels and ferries that make their way to the mouth of the Thames River or venture across the sound to the New York territories of Fishers Island and Long Island and the favorite Rhode Island retreat - Block Island.  I was only out in the sun for less than an hour but with the reflection off the water and the blowing wind I came away with a colorful sunburn!  


It was a beautiful day!  Can't you here the foghorns and ringing bells of the buoys?   

Flea Market Finds!

We didn't plan on this little excursion today but knew that with a few hours to kill before our trip to the Connecticut shore to visit with my family (long overdue), this would be the perfect diversion!  I had planned on perusing the aisles and booths of trinkets and treasures for some old cookbooks, utensils or even retro magazines.  Of course what we plan on and what we end up with are two entirely different things! 

We're lucky to live in western Connecticut where one of the best outdoor flea markets opens every Sunday.  It's called the Elephant's Trunk Country Flea Market and in good weather it's one of the best ways to spend a Sunday morning.  Click on the link to learn more.  I would warn you to get there early...parking can get crowded and the vendors begin packing up around noon!  That being said, that's when the best bargaining can be done.  I was able to find quite a few treasures and didn't pay the asking price on anything.  Take a look at what I was able to walk away with today...

The mold was a sure thing.  I had to have it.  Those of you that read my blog regularly know that jelled salad molds have a special place in American food history.  I think I'm going to start a new collection!  I found two authentic pieces of pink depression glass and 3 glass pieces that are 'just pretty' but not anything truly special.  The depression glass sugar bowl is missing the lid so the dealer sold it to me for only 4.00.  Good thing I knew there was a lid!  I love the candle holder and will look for a mate for it sometime in the future.  The clear glass basket covered bowl will make a nice container for something and the small pink pitcher will actually make a beautiful vase for a small flower arrangement.  The covered bowl will also be a pretty addition to my table ware.  None of it matches - you knew that, right?

As an interesting aside, my husband and I got separated from each other but when we located our lost selves found Lara Spencer and a film crew!  She was talking to customers about how they negotiate at flea markets and what their best strategies are.  Here's a photo I took of her talking to a dealer.  All the people around her with the big black tote bags are part of her crew.  On such a hot and sweaty day she still managed to look very pretty.  She was actually shopping too!

We're off to spend the rest of Memorial Day weekend at the shore in Groton, CT visiting family and cooling off with breezes from the sound.  Check back in a day or two for some refreshing pictures!

College Educated: Cauliflower!

I had some serious doubts that this post was going to happen.  There are times when writers have an idea and then simply can't come up with a good hook.  Well, that's why I have a serious collection of food reference books!  I knew I would find something...anything, to connect this recipe with something unusual and vintage and after much page flipping found this,

"In Mark Twain's words, 'cauliflower is nothing but cabbage with a college education.' The name of this elegant member of the cabbage family comes from the Latin caulis (stalk) and floris (flower).  Cauliflower comes in three basic colors: white (the most popular and readily available), green and purple (a vibrant violet that turns pale green when cooked).  The entire floret portion (called the 'curd') is edible.  Choose a firm cauliflower with compact florets; the leaves should be crisp and green with no sign of yellowing.  The size of the head doesn't affect the quality."

I found the above information and Twain quote in 'The Food Lover's Companion' by Sharon Tyler Herbst and Ron Herbst.  An incredible resource!  As we have a recent college graduate - I thought it was appropriate.  My son is the young man in the middle of the other journalism graduates from Central Connecticut State University.  I think Mark Twain would be proud of their bravery for majoring in journalism at this particular time in history. 

I've had this newspaper clipping for a 'low-cal' vegetable salad mold that uses cauliflowerets and claims that there are only 45 calories per serving - hmmm.  I'm not sure about that but judge for yourself.  As always, these recipes are provided purely for entertainment.  This one actually requires an overnight marinade of vegetables and dealing with 'unmolding'.  These salad molds were very popular in the late 60's and early 70's when bizarre and funky foods were the standard fare and women had plenty of time to fret over the 'setting of the mold'!  Without further ado...

Vegetable Salad Mold Italiano

1 small cucumber, diced
12 cherry tomatoes, halved
1 cup diced green pepper
1 cup small cauliflowerets
1/2 cup bottled low calorie Italian dressing
2 envelopes unflavored gelatine
2 cups cold water

In large bowl, toss vegetables with low calorie Italian dressing; marinate in refrigerator overnight.  In medium saucepan, sprinkle unflavored gelatin over 1/2 cup water; let stand until gelatin is moistened.  Place over low heat; stir constantly until gelatin dissolves, about five minutes.*  Remove from heat, stir in remaining one and one-half cups water.  Stir gelatin into vegetable mixture; turn into six-cup mold and chill until firm.  Makes eight servings.

*I'm sorry.  Just the idea of standing over gelatin and stirring it for five minutes straight is enough to make me run from the kitchen. 

Now.  Read these directions for unmolding this 'salad'.

Gelatin dishes are simple to unmold when you know how.  Dip the mold in warm (not hot) water to the depth of  its contents.  Loosen around the edge with the tip of a paring knife.  Place a serving dish tightly on top of the mold and turn it upside down.  Shake, holding the serving dish to the mold.  If gelatin does not readily slip out, repeat the procedure.


You've got to be kidding me.  No wonder women were so anxious to get back into the workforce.  I'm just imagining how many times gelatin salad molds ended up decorating the kitchen floor instead of a dining room table!  You know it had to happen!!  To read more about gelatine check out this Wikipedia link.  Here's another link from www.foodtimeline.org about all things gelatine.  Now you'll know why any form of vegeterian won't eat jell-o or anything with gelatine!   I left the 'e' on that last spelling of gelatine.  It seems that the word has been spelled with the e and without over the years.  Also, unmold can be found spelled as 'unmould'.  Take your pick - I'm pretty sure the spellings of both words can be found to be historically correct!  

It's Graduation Season!

This past week has been busy...no, beyond busy.  It was hectic.  Our oldest son graduated from college yesterday but it was a nail biter!  He changed his major during his freshman year so he was just under in credit requirements and had a glitch with some high school credits that he had earned which should have transferred long ago.  And then there was the final journalism portfolio project that he was finishing this past week.  Everything worked out but - wow.  Of course, my son's life motto appears to be 'It's all good'!  I guess so but I wished he had a little more of the worry gene in him.  He waited until the Friday morning of the graduation ceremony to pick up his cap and gown and get his portrait done.  Whew!

He graduated from Central Connecticut State University with a B.A. in Journalism.  There were over 1500 graduating during the ceremony and only 10 of those were journalism majors.  We had no idea where he would be placed when the diplomas were handed out and were surprised when his name was read within the first 20 names!  We rushed to snap picks but were so high up in the XL Center that we couldn't see anything.  Unfortunately, none of our cell phones had service so trying to communicate was futile.  It was a long evening.  We arrived at 6:15 on a Friday evening in downtown Hartford, CT after battling Friday evening rush hour traffic, the traffic for the University graduation ceremony and the Lady Antebellum concert also in Hartford!  The processional began at exactly 6:45 and the last name was read at 9:00.  We were in the car at 9:15 and home by 10:15.  By 10:30 both of my sons were off to do things with their friends.  Life changes.  It should.

The next big event is our 18 year old's college orientation in early June.  He'll be attending The Hartford Art School at The University of Hartford starting in the fall.  His high school graduation is June 20th.  We decided not to do any sort of big celebration commemorating these simultaneous graduations - mainly because they weren't interested and have their eyes on some pricey electronics that they would rather see money go towards.  Besides, being 4 years into 8 years of college tuition and dealing with FAFSA, well...those of you that are there understand what life is like right now.  Those of you that don't know yet...just remember what other moms told you about childbirth when you were expecting.  Remember, "It's pain with a purpose".  Yeah - that's it.

Enjoy the pics.  The balloons at the end were awesome! And that last photo? You can't tell who it is but that is Governor Dannel P. Malloy of Connecticut who was the keynote speaker.  I wish I could say he was well received but he wasn't.  He was booed as soon as he was introduced.  It was not good.  Remember, Central is a university that educates lots of future teachers and he just signed an education reform bill into law this week that didn't sit well with many in the education community. 

The Nest this Mother Built

This weekend my 18 year old son noticed something special in one of the shrubs in front of our townhouse.  Not only is it extraordinary because of what it is but where it is located.  We live in a downtown area and this bush is located immediately in front of our living room window and right in front of our parking lot!  Certainly not a quiet or safe place for young baby birds to be nurtured!  A Robin had decided to build her nest and lay her eggs in the shrub that sits nestled between our front window and parking space.  We're loud, the parking lot is loud and we have lots of neighbors.  But Robins are used to their human friends and adaptable to our habits.  Here's a wonderful site to visit if you want to learn more about the Robin from National Geographic.  Here is a link about the Robin and when it became the Connecticut State Bird.

We've been able to take a look at the two baby birds that have hatched and have seen two more blue robin eggs that the mother bird is carefully guarding.  The mother Robin has been busy protecting her charges and venturing out to find food to feed these hungry babes that are still covered in downy feathers.  My son and I were able to carefully take some pictures when the mom was out foraging!  The nest is amazing!  It's a perfect Mother's Day reminder of what we do as mother's.  We build our nests, raise our children until they can venture out on their own and then let them go so they can get on with the business of building their own nests.  It's nature's way.  Happy Mother's Day.

If you would like to view the post I wrote last year on the history of Mother's Day please click here!

Boiled Carrot Pudding...Yum??

I was looking through some of Juddy's very old (heirloom) recipes that I have the privilege of safeguarding when I came across this gem for something called 'Boiled Carrot Pudding'.  Many of her ancestors lived and worked on farmland in Connecticut.  These recipes are designed to feed many people and packed a lot of nutrition.  This recipe would sustain or satisfy anyone who ate it for a long period of time.  Calories were not really an issue simply because if you lived on a farm in rural Connecticut in the late 1800's you were working and moving much more than we are in the habit of today.  Food provided a source of energy.  Our food at the time was cooked with local and available items and it was never wasted.  Ever.  Today we frequently offer many items for our family members to choose from for each meal.  Just over 100 years ago that was not an option.  In just this very short time span we have become a nation of overindulgence and waste.  I can't even imagine what our New England ancestors would have to say about our food habits today!  Actually, I can imagine what they would say and it wouldn't be very complimentary...at all.  Do you have about 4 hours to spare?  Take a look...


Boiled Carrot Pudding

1 cup brown sugar
1 cup suet chopped fine
1 cup carrots grated
1 cup potatoes grated
1 cup raisins
1 cup currants
1 Teaspoon soda dissolved in 1 cup hot water
1 and 1/2 cups flour and a little salt
1 Teaspoon cinnamon
1 Teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 Teaspoon cloves

Boil 3 hours.

Wow.  That's a lot of work.  A lot.  But during the time period that this recipe came from it was all just part of the day.  You weren't leaving the house anyway.  While the carrot pudding was boiling away you would be doing the laundry, writing letters (we know how important they were now from Dell's letters), and tending to all of your babies.  If you were living in the late 1800's you had a lot of babies - and no aspirin. 

If you read the recipe above and saw 'suet' and thought that was what you put in your bird feeder you would be right.  However, it was frequently used in recipes at one time.  If you would like to learn more about suet click on this Wikipedia link.  There is very little difference between raisins and currants.  Currants are slightly more sweet and were more so one hundred years ago.  With all the brown sugar, raisins and currants this was a very sweet dish.  Sweet and filling and packed with nutrition!  I found a great site about carrots that has lots of fun stuff for kids!   This is the link for the 'World Carrot Museum'.  Who knew.  You could spend hours learning all sorts of fun and unusual things about carrots at this link!  If you'd like to explore domestic life in the late 1800's (and other eras) check out this site.

I can guarantee that I won't be making this recipe.  But if I lived on a farm, had carrots and potatoes and lots of hungry people to feed...

Here's a Muppet clip about magnetic carrots that I found on You-Tube!

And this is just a short clip of Michael Pollan explaining why carrots are not eaten much anymore! Read his books, they're amazing!!

 

Dell Writes to Cousin Nell

Last night, after I finished writing about the steamed or 'baked' puddings that Dell most likely made, I watched the evening news and noted that their health story last night was about the recent resurgence we are seeing in Pertussis or 'whooping cough'.  It's so sad that we're now dealing with trying to put out this fire again.  Dell's letters from the late 1880's are littered with references to whooping cough and it's consuming effect on family life.  I'm going to share another letter with you today and even though April has arrived in Bethel, CT; whooping cough is still an ever present danger.  Listen to Dell's worries and remember - she only has two years left.  Dell died in 1891 at the age of 42.

Bethel, April 7th 1889

Dear Coz. Nell,

I am going to answer your letter, but don't know as I can find anything to write about.  First: How are Uncle and Auntie?  I have thought about them so much since receiving your letter.  How did they get along when they were sick and you with your hands so full of work?  I hope this will find them well again.  Isn't Auntie going to be able to come up this spring?  I thought she would be commencing to think about it by this time.  You wrote as if she expected me to come down, but if she isn't sick so it is necessary for me to come, I rather not for I cannot bear to visit with such a little baby, they are never as well as they are at home. 

She is getting as she is real cute isn't near the care, notices things and is growing fat.  I wish I was downstairs with her.  She hasn't been down yet.  I want to clean the bedroom downstairs and move down there with her.  I think I can now pretty quick.  I am real smart as well as ever, do my washing for baby, and work the same as usual only as I am upstairs, I cannot help about the cooking and work as I would like to.

Had a letter from Maggie the other day, will send it for Auntie to read I guess, for it is quite newsy and lengthy and would busy her.  I think Kittie and Frankie have the whooping cough fast enough, but do not think they are going to have it hard, Kittie has had a spasmodic cough for a long time and Will and the rest laughed at me because I called it whooping cough but Mrs. Fillow says she whooped twice in the night last night.  Kittie sleeps over to Mrs. Fillow's with Cora now.  Mr. Fillow (Frank's father) has gone to the hotel to board until after the expected arrival.  Mrs. Fillow expects her confinement next month.  I haven't said anything about it for she was so afraid it would be a false alarm as it was once before that she didn't dare tell her expectations.  I wish you could see her, still she is real smart, has been over here today and upstairs where I am. 

Lewie and Cora have just started out to evening meeting.  Mina has gone down to go with Nealie, Julie and Addie Mansfield together.  Frank Fillow has taken Kittie to Danbury.  Papa, Maggie and the boys are home with me.  Lewie has been to New Haven to attend the funeral of Aunt Flora's sister's husband.  He went on a Tuesday and back Saturday, the daughter sent me a nice bundle of clothes her little girl had outgrown for Kittie.  Lewie stays with Uncle George yet.  They all think lots of him over there and was so afraid he would stay in New Haven.  Did you go to N.Y. and how did you find all?  Write me all the news soon.  I cannot see to write and will close for this time.  Remember me to Mrs. Rundecker and all I know at your house.  I forget names. - Grandfield.

Love to all, Dell

Read this Wikipedia page about Pertussis to see why Dell was so consumed by this child killing disease.  The first vaccine for whooping cough didn't appear until 1926.  Aspirin wasn't even invented until 1897.  Different blood types weren't discovered until 1901.  You can feel Dell's isolation, fear and desire to be downstairs yet at the same time her determination to protect her new baby.  120 years ago but still so close to home.  Dell knew what we still know today.  Keeping children away from germs before they are vaccinated (in Dell's case vaccination didn't exist) is the only way to truly protect against pertussis.  This video aired yesterday - May 4, 2012.  Get your child vaccinated.

Dell and Steamed Pudding Cake Recipes

In the last letter that I posted from Dell, she mentions that she was able to make a 'cake pudding' while recovering from giving birth to her yet unnamed baby and trying to return to normal.  I started thinking about how much work that simple act must have been.  Cake puddings and steamed puddings from the late 1800's involved many hours of steaming and careful attention.  Hardly what we're used to doing today - especially with a newborn, older children and house guests constantly in your company!  I found several that are from the time period that would coincide with Dell's letters.  I'm now certain that the Rumford Complete Cook Book I have must have belonged to a relative of hers.  Some of these baked (or steamed) pudding recipes have convincing food stains decorating the pages! 

Marmalade Pudding

1 cup stale bread crumbs
2/3 cup orange marmalade
2 eggs
1 and 1/2 cups milk

Grease a pudding-mould or bowl, then put in the bread crumbs and marmalade in thin layers, till all are used.  Beat the eggs lightly, yolks, and whites together, and add the milk to form a custard; pour over the ingredients in the bowl and let stand ten minutes.  If the pudding-mould has a cover put it on, otherwise cover with a piece of greased paper twisted under the rim of the bowl to keep it in position.*  Place in a saucepan containing enough boiling water to come two-thirds up the side of the bowl.  Cook one hour, adding more water as that in the pan boils away.  Serve hot with a lemon sauce.

*Obviously, no such thing as waxed paper!

Poor Man's Rice Pudding

1 quart milk
2 level Tablespoons rice
1 level Tablespoon butter
3 level Tablespoons sugar
A pinch of salt

Wash the rice well and put it in a baking-dish with the salt, sugar and butter; pour the milk over and bake very slowly, at least two and one-half hours, stirring twice during the first hour.

Baked Date Pudding

1 cup chopped dates
1/2 cup broken nuts
1/2 cup flour
1 cup sugar
1 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt
2 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
2 Tbsps. cream

Mix ingredients.  Fill buttered custard cups.  Set in pan of hot water and bake 30 minutes in moderate oven.  Unmold and serve with cream or lemon sauce.

Graham Cracker Pudding

1 cup of Graham cracker crumbs
1 quart milk
2 Tbsps. sugar
2 eggs
Flavor to taste

This last recipe has absolutely no instructions and appears to be one of my oldest recipes.  To read about everything pudding click on the food timeline link!  For more information on the graham cracker head to the Wikipedia link.

Tomorrow I'll post another of Dell's letters as she tries to make sense of her world as the mother of a newborn with so many other children to care for during a time period that would make the very strongest of us fall apart.