Thursday, July 11, 2019

A Stroll Into the Past

The other day I was going through another closet and cleaning out.  I came across a bag that had what looked like a lot of paper items in it.  I set it aside and went back later to see what I had hidden away!
It was items I had saved from my folks home when we cleaned it out in 2001!!!  Oh my.
I had forgotten all about these items.  I thought you might enjoy a little look back in time as well.

The Lustre  Craft stainless steel cookware was something that my Dad sold part time in the evenings and weekends when I was 5.  His kit included an entire set of SS cookware.  When he quit selling it, my Mom got the entire set.  It was willed to me after her passing.  I am still using that stainless cookware today and it looks just like brand new.  I have cake pans, pie pans, muffins tins, stove top cookware, a double boiler, and egg pans.  

The Admiral refrigerator was purchased by my folks in 1955.  They used it and passed it on to me in 1975 when I purchased my first home.  I used it for several years and then when I moved, my renters used it as well.  It even still had the old metal ice cube trays.  I loved that refrigerator!  They sure don't make things like they used to.

Years ago our newspaper used to put out 'cookbooks' from local citizens a few times a year - mainly at different holidays.  My Mom kept many of them.  This is old, brittle and yellow - but still intact.  There are a lot of yummy recipes in it.
                               Click on the picture to enlarge - look at that date!!!!!!  1958!!!!!
Came across these old cookbooks as well.  Can you see the price of that Ball book?  35 cents!!!!!!!  I just love the old books - there are so many things that just aren't in books today.

My goodness they kept everything (I guess I do too)!  This is the book to their first chest freezer.  I remember that thing was huge!  Mom always had it full of all the summer goodness that Daddy grew in the garden.   We had that chest freezer from the time I was a kid until I was grown.  Then they eventually went with an upright - so that it would be easier for Mom.

I also ran across this church cookbook.  This was our church while I was growing up and the church that my ex and I married in.  It was one block down the street from my childhood  home.  How many times I walked to church as a kid.  Church cookbooks always have some pretty neat recipes in them.  This one was like walking down memory lane.  Each recipe had a name with it of the person who submitted it.  It was basically the entire neighborhood that I grew up in and most all of those people are no longer alive.  Their recipes live on!


I also found the yellowed copy of my Mom's persimmon pudding recipe.  It was not one of my favorites - but many of the family have wanted it for years.  I found it!!!!

I also found Mom's recipe for a cookie called Hermits which I absolutely loved as a kid.  They were made with raisins and nuts and cake like.  I will definitely be making them this year.
I had found recipes before - but they weren't the same as Mom's.  Now I have them.  Better late than never!!!

It sure was fun sitting here one afternoon and going through items of the past.  I will continue to treasure these items and use them.
If you are ever looking for an old recipe from back in the day - ask - you never know I may have it in my stash of oldies but goodies.

I hope you enjoyed looking at these little treasures.
Our past is our history and part of who we are today.  I just love looking back once in a while!  



30 comments:

  1. What a blessing to have found these, and to have some great memories to re-live. In your pic of the three books, the one on the left (blue and white titled the Home Meal Planner), I recognize as my mother had that same book. I remember taking it out and reading it many times after I got old enough to help in the kitchen.

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    1. Yeah, I am really nostalgic about things. especially those items that evoke fond memories.
      How cool! I am glad to be able to have provided you with a sweet memory as well today.

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  2. That was exciting! I have some old recipe brochures from my mother in law. I love looking through them.

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    1. They are fun. So many recipes that are just different from today.
      I love old cookbooks. Glad you have some neat memories as well!

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  3. I have a memory box for my parents of items that I found when we cleaned out their house and sheds (Dad was notorious for hoarding items...a lot of his stuff was in the sheds). I have his income tax return copies from the 1940's, a ledger mom kept the first few years of their marriage, and other items. I do have mom's recipe box as well and keep meaning to try to put together something for my family. But mom wrote down recipes the way she cooked..there are a list of ingredients but no instructions!

    It's fun finding these things and your post sure brought back memories for me too.

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    1. I love the idea of a memory box. I have a lot of my Dad's Organic Gardening magazines from waaaayyyy before organic gardening was a big thing! Mom's old cookbook with notes written in it.
      They are just so neat to have.

      How cool you have so many neat things. Oh my goodness, please, please try to put something together for the family. I just think that would be the coolest gift.

      I am glad it brought some memories back for you as well.

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  4. What a nice walk down merry lane. My favorite cookbooks are church cookbooks. They are just the best. I was the only one who wanted mom's recipe box and I treasure it. I also treasured my grandmothers button box.

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    1. Church books are really neat.
      WOW, glad you got your Mom's recipes and Grandma's buttons. How cool is that. It is a shame that others don't see the value. ENJOY them.

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  5. Okay, I'll take you up on your offer! ;0) I'm looking for a cherry pie filling that uses tapioca. I've asked the family but they can't find it. I received one jar as a young homemaker and it was delicious. My cherry trees gave us bounty this year and I'd love to make that cherry pie again. Thanks!

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    1. Are you wanting a pie filling to can that contains tapioca? Or just a recipe for making a pie?
      I make fruit pies with tapioca all the time. I use 2 - 3 Tbsp. per pie to have a more solid (not runny) center.

      Let me know which - if for canning I will have to look.
      Not sure if that is a "safe" canning recipe. **Although I have done many a canning that others may not deem safe today - just old school.

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  6. I love those old metal ice cube trays as well. And those old refrigerators. Nothing kept milk as cold as those. What a treasure trove of memories you have there. I found similar things when we cleaned out my grandmother's home a few years back. She kept everything including all her owner's manuals for everything she ever bought. I sure do miss her and like you love looking back on these older items. :)

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    1. I sure wish I could have a frig like that again - and old one. You are right they worked so well.
      It just gives another moment of connection with those we loved so much and who had such an impact on our lives.
      I am glad you have some of those old items as well.

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  7. Had to laugh about the chest freezer being big. We've had one since 1972. I'm seriously thinking about getting an upright. Ours still has to be defrosted. It's a PAIN because I have to find a place to put all that stuff when I defrost it. I collect every ice chest and styrofoam chest we own, plus boxes. I have to be careful defrosting it though. I'm short and can't reach the bottom easily to collect ice that falls down there and defrosts into water. A chair doesn't help so I have to balance on my stomach and rock back & forth to get the stuff from the bottom.If i can't "balance" then I have to use BBQ tongs and a mop to clean it up. At pushing 71, I think I'm getting a little too old to do these gymnastics!! I've almost literally fallen in there more than once!!! P.S. I love those old cookbooks and manuals also.

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    1. Oh my goodness. Sorry I laughed out loud - I can just picture this!!!! Yeah, Mom's would have held a body or two without it being a problem! LOL

      I think you deserve to get yourself a new upright freezer.

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  8. What a treasure trove of nostalgia, all found in one bag. My children wont have that pleasure as I am the queen of toss it out. Mind you most appliances these days don't last past ten years. Before I left home, many many years ago, I raided Mum's old cookbooks and scrap books. I wrote or typed these up and glued them into a book. The recipes have where they came from on them. I love 'Grandma's Boiled Fruit Cake', 'Auntie's Christmas Pudding'. It is wonderful having these old recipes to hand on.

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    1. I am a 'keeper' just like my parents were. However, most young folks won't care about those things.
      I love that you saved the recipes and at least you have a book of those that can be passed on to the children.
      I bet they will enjoy those and 'where' they came from.

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  9. What a treasure! I love all the old things, too. I have a large tin of my grandma's recipes, newspaper clippings, and a cookbook. I like going through it every once in awhile.

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    1. It is like reaching back in time with them. I know they touched those things and cared about them. That is all I need.

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  10. My dad worked for Admiral in the 50's-60's. I am still using the aluminum ice cube trays that came with their last Admiral refrigerator. I have 4 Admiral recipe booklets: 2 different electric range ones, & 1 for Admiral freezer & another for Admiral Dual-Temp fridge.

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    1. Oh how fun. Sounds like you are a memory keeper as well.
      I loved how fast those cube trays froze things - but they were always a pain to get them out!
      Hopefully you have someone that you can pass those things on to that will appreciate them.

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  11. I love using recipes in my grandmother's handwriting.

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    1. It is like they are right there with you helping you prepare.
      A hug in a recipe.

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  12. I love those old things from the past. Such treasures!

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  13. You sure found some wonderful oldies, Cheryl. That church cookbook with names and recipes you remember would be a great trip back in time. Those times seem so much sweeter, now. You know, I think my parents had a set of that stainless steel cookware. It was bought before I was born, but they were still using one or two saucepans when I was growing up. My dad made his "hobo coffee" in it. My older brother told me our dad had bought it from a passing salesman at their house in the 1950s. When my mom passed away 23 yrs ago, I was cleaning their kitchen and they were still using the one (now handleless) saucepan. That's my dad all right ;). I know you cherish the goodies you found.

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    1. How cool is that. The 50's was when my Dad sold it. It was part time and he did go into people's homes to show it.
      I am glad that brought back a memory for you!
      I am still using this cookware set every day. Mom took such good care of it - they didn't often have many things that were costly - so I think she took extra care.

      Love hearing other's memories!

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  14. Hi Cheryl, I just want to make a pie. I froze my cherries instead of canning them this year. Do you add tapioca to the flour?

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    1. Pam, my favorite way to make a pie is to get a box of quick cooking tapioca and look on the back. You add 1-2 tablespoons to the pie filling and mix it in before pouring into the crust. It comes out yummy and no taste extra. Just firms up the inside of the pie and keeps the crust from becoming soggy. We call it restaurant pie because the slices cut so nice. No one ever realizes the tapioca is in there.

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  15. My mother in law was downsizing and was going to throw out a pile of old recipes. Some from her grandma! (mother in law is 84) I rescued them. One if for the cookies you mentioned. My mother in law usually makes them every year at Christmas. I treasure these recipes and will be trying some of them in the future. I also have some of my Grandma's recipes. She was 92 when she passed about 18 years ago. I make these regularly. She also patented her potato salad recipe. Mom just brought me down a copy of the patent. lol. Only my grandma. And yes the whole family still makes it! Take care. Memory lane can be a fun diversion for an afternoon.

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