Basic Cookery

Library of Congress: Setting the table in home economics class,South Carolina, 1939.

 

 

I studied cooking in Home Economics classes when I was a teenager. My mother also gave me freedom in her kitchen. I would look through her cookbook and bake special treats when the pantry ran low.  While Mom did most of the cooking, I was happy cleaning and cooking whenever I got the chance.

In my first home, I enjoyed making meals for my husband.  I still remember our first trip to the local supermarket.  We were so excited to pick out our own groceries, together.  I made his breakfast, packed his lunch, and made his dinner each night.  With a small household, and a decent income from his job, we didn't have much to worry about financially.

As more and more children came into the home, I had to learn to make many things from scratch, with the ingredients I had on hand.  I remember going to the local library and finding all kinds of old cookbooks.  I borrowed them, and found recipes that would work well for my family.   Many of these recipes (like breads and stews) were made so many times that I memorized them.  If I really loved a borrowed cookbook, I would save up and buy my own copy.

Frugal, or thrifty, cooking is a valuable skill for the housewife.  People often share recipes, which is good.  However, many families have different tastes.  Some have allergies.  We also live in different climates and have a different cultural basis for what we eat.   In the Boston area, fresh lobster and clam chowder is common, whereas, they may not be staple menu items in a little town in Idaho.    Restaurants in Florida serve the most delicious fresh orange juice you could ever taste!  They are known for their oranges and have them in abundance.   We have to make use of what is available and low cost, in our area.  It is important to learn how to adjust recipes to work in our own kitchens.

It is a common cliché for mothers to save money by serving "rice and beans."   This might work for many, but not in my house.  One cannot always save money by doing what the masses suggest.  We have to remember to serve foods that our own family will enjoy.  Cooking basic foods from scratch will save money.  Serving carefully portioned- sized- meals and storing leftovers will also save money.  

To learn basic cooking skills my favorite book is The Good Housekeeping Illustrated Cookbook.  It boasts 1,400 recipes!  The pictures are stunning and are set up almost encyclopedia - like.   My children used to love to look at all the pictures and say, "Let's make this one!"   You will learn to make easy breads, muffins, meats, and all kinds of dinners and desserts.  Once you learn the basics of these foundational recipes, you can start adjusting ingredients to meet the needs of your family. 

Basic cooking also means you have freedom from the supermarket sales ads.  Certainly buy hamburger or chicken only when they are priced reasonably.  But you can make so many different things with them. The store will recommend processed foods to go with the meats. Cooking from scratch means we don't need those items. You will no longer be a slave to what is on sale.

 When we buy hamburger in a "family sized" package, I take it home and divide it up into smaller portions.  I then put each meal's serving in a gallon Ziploc bag and freeze it.   Even though we have a lot of people in this house, I only cook with that small amount of meat. It is the ingredients that go with it, that make the meal stretch - the vegetables, the bread, etc.   I love the older cookbooks from the 1960's that have old menus that go along with the recipes. This was from a time when portion sizes were much smaller than those of today.  The fun in the dinners had a lot to do with the beverages, the way the vegetables were prepared, and the lovely way in which it was all presented. 

Nourishment was key, and homemade was the most nourishing of all.

I realize we mothers have days of being exhausted and can't do as much as we would like.  But when you are in the habit of cutting and washing vegetables for stew, or whipping up a quick batch of muffins, making food from scratch can be a valuable part of the daily routine.  When all my children were little, I had lots of helpers.  We set to work at the big kitchen table.  I had children rolling out dough, or peeling vegetables.   The bigger children were at the counter or stove stirring sauces, or handling the hot foods, while the safe work was done at the table. Meal preparation was a happy, pleasant way to pass the time with small children.   To them, it was playing!  It got the work done, and the children enjoyed it.  They also loved taking turns serving the food and giggling and visiting at the table.

These days,  I have a barstool in my kitchen. I often sit near the counter to wash dishes, or to make biscuits.  I also have my kitchen radio nearby to hear CDs of gospel music or sermons.  Often my grandbaby is in the highchair watching me work. He plays with bowls and lids and has a wonderful time.  The kitchen can be a happy place to be, making frugal cooking a pleasant part of life.


Blessings
Mrs. White

From the Archives:

Remembering my Childhood - When Television was Special.

The beauty of a formal morning table - Breakfast at Home.

Mother's work - The Pleasant Task of Cleaning.

  - To find out more about this blog, or Mrs. White, please visit our About page. -

Find Home-keeping Inspiration, in Mrs.White's book

 - For The Love of Christian Homemaking.  

Paperback, 274 pages.

Writing Out the Old Home Recipes

Some of my grown children are asking me for our family recipes, so they can cook and bake in their own kitchens.  It would be very easy for me to write them out on index cards and ship them off in the mail.  But how much more fun would it be to make a little handmade booklet of family recipes, cooking hints, and little family remembrances to go with it?

I have some pretty green heavy stock paper. I can use this as a cover.  I will fold it in half, to make it resemble a little booklet. Inside will be plain white paper, folded as well.  I can staple this in the center to "bind" the book.

To have a little fun, I can title it something like, "Recipes from The White House,"  or "The Little Book of Cookery from The White House."  [One must find ways of enjoying one's name when the situation arises.]

I have 12 common dinner recipes, several lunches, and a few breakfasts.   To this, I will add some baking recipes, and economical snack ideas.  I will also write an estimate of how much each recipe will cost.

Yesterday, I had full charge of my kitchen. (In other words, I did all the work alone.)  I made my boys a nice lunch of homemade pizza.  I cleaned the kitchen throughout the day.  As the sun began to set, I asked one of them, "Will you be needing a baked good this evening?"  He didn't know what I meant by that (smiles).  So I translated, "Do you want me to bake something for you?" Well, of course He did!  I made peanut butter, chocolate chip muffins.  Then I told the boys I was off duty for the night and they were to have sandwiches or leftovers if they got hungry later.  I walked out of that very clean kitchen, with the dim lamplight shining on those delicious muffins.  . . These are the kinds of memories of home that my grown children miss.

I think it is more precious to take one's time creating things of lasting value that will be cherished.  My book of family cookery will be humbly made with humble recipes.   But it will take me a few weeks, as I sit by the window, in great-grandmother's rocking chair, and write out the history of our kitchen for the next generation.

Blessings
Mrs. White


From the Archives -

Good advice from Colonial Days - To Earn and Not to Spend.

The Way it is for Many - Retirement Planning for the Poor.

How Nice it is to Be - Just a Housewife.

- To find out more about this blog, or Mrs. White, please visit our About page. -

 

For happiness and cheer in the kitchen:

Mrs. White's old fashioned cookbook (published in 2023) focuses on serving meals and setting the table in a humble home.

"Serving in the Kitchen: Cookbook with Recipes, Advice, and Encouragement for the Christian Home"

152 pages, paperback

Mother's Home Cooking

Library of Congress: Sunday dinner on the McLelland homestead, 1942.

 

In my shopping bag were familiar name brands of groceries. I had Campbells soup, Tony's Pizza, Keebler cookies, and Kraft Macaroni and Cheese.  I was waiting for someone, and just thinking.  Then I realized that I had just bought convenience foods that took little effort to make.  While this is common in this modern day, it takes away the joy of enjoying Mother's home cooking.  If I had just bought some flour, sauce, cheese, chocolate chips, pasta and vegetables, I could have most of the ingredients I needed to make these foods myself.  

Something is missing in my home, when my husband and children are more excited to see a grocery bag full of name brand foods, rather than being excited when I serve them a delicious homemade supper.

Have I really paid the convenience food industry to take away one of the most precious jobs of motherhood and wifehood? That of being the one to bring joy to the home by my home cooking?

Have you ever heard of travellers who eat in restaurants and diners, yet dream about sitting in the kitchen of a traditional home and just having a good home cooked meal? Can that even be found anymore in this day?

In my old cookbooks from the 1960's, there are sections with wonderful advice for the home cook.  There are tips and tricks and detailed instructions which teach any aspiring cook how to make a good meal herself.    With practice and time and a lot of patience, most homemakers can get back to the old arts of cooking.  These homemakers can Take Back the Kitchen! 

This will bring better health to our families, joy to their hearts, and a better quality of life.  This will also create a bond and tighten the love and happiness at home.  Much money will be saved when mother cooks her own foods.  Children and husband will also have appreciation and gratefulness for the sweet lady in the kitchen who  (gladly and willingly) takes time and effort to prepare their food. 

Many years ago, when frozen dinners and convenience foods were introduced to the general public, skilled housewives thought it was an insult and refused to buy such things!  How lovely it would be to have that same pride and capableness of taking on the joyous task of doing our own home cooking!

Blessings
Mrs. White


 

From the Archives -

Simple and Frugal Living with a Waltons' Budget - Old Time Homemaking.

Homemaking Help - Pacing Oneself to Keep House. 

Lovely Days at Home - A Home to Keep.

Mrs. White's special book for homemakers:"Introduction to Home Economics:  Gentle Instruction to Find Joy in Christian Homemaking." Paperback, 200 pages. 

 

 

 

  - To find out more about this blog, or Mrs. White, please visit our About page. -

 

 

The Thrifty Kitchen

Baking Bread 1950, Potomac Electric Power Co. (LOC)

Must the cookie jar always be full?  Do Mothers have to keep a steady supply of cake, brownies and other treats in the kitchen?  Must she provide her family with gourmet dinners each night, or special meals that taste delightful?

Or is it okay to have a thrifty kitchen? This kind of kitchen produces things like oatmeal in the morning, or whole grain apple muffins. Lunches might be sandwiches or leftovers.  Supper might be the main meal of the day, served around 5 or 6 in the evening.  This could be pasta, meatloaf, or one of our frugal favorites, southern cornbread, home fried potatoes and baked beans.

It is not required that Mother buy soda, candy or chips. It is completely unnecessary for her to serve dessert every single day.  It is also extremely expensive.

Simple, homemade foods from the kitchen help keep household expenses low.

It has been said that we must not be fashionably dressed above our means. It is also true that we must not grocery shop and cook beyond what we can afford.

One of the biggest leaks in the family budget is an abundance of food.

Here are some ideas for keeping costs down:

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1. Have meals at specific times, whenever possible. This way everyone knows what to expect.  It also helps Mother plan her day. (For example - Breakfast at 8 a.m.  Lunch at noon. Dinner at 5 p.m.)

2. Have basic foods in the pantry - like potatoes, vegetables, fruit, flour, sugar, cornmeal, and meat. This way you can quickly come up with something to make, without worrying about rushing off to the store.

3.  I know many people write up weekly menus and meal plans, but it is not always necessary if you have basic ingredients available.  You should also have some basic family recipes handy that are easy, quick and frugal.

4. Make special foods, like cookies, once a week. This is something the family will look forward to and appreciate. It could be a Friday night treat. Or, plan on making a cake or nice dessert for Sunday afternoons.   The less often treats are offered, the less likely money will be wasted.

5. Offer children basic beverages like juice, tea, water or milk.  If the older ones want soda, or some name brand drink, have them use their own money. (Mother is not obligated to provide the children with commercially prepared, designer beverages.)  This goes the same for candy bars and other processed snacks.

6. Serve whole grains and fresh foods. This is nutritious and helps keep everyone feeling full.

7. In restaurants, patrons are served ice water before their meal. This helps fill them up. Try this at home! Why? Because in this current day, people tend to eat much larger portions than they really need. If they have some water first, they will eat a more appropriate amount of food.

8. Some nutritious snacks include: crackers with peanut butter; celery with cream cheese; sliced apples; carrot sticks; or wheat crackers with cheese.  (Not donuts, danishes, or cupcakes.)
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I realize it takes a tremendous amount of work to have a thrifty kitchen. It is much easier to buy convenience foods. However, there is more at stake than just saving time or money. We need to save our health.

Blessings
Mrs. White

From the Archives -

From the Archives -

Always Remember - The House Comes First.

Wisdom from Colonial Days  - To Earn and Not to Spend.

The Greatest Use of Mother's Time - A Humble Parlour as a School of Theology.

- To find out more about this blog, or Mrs. White, please visit our About page. -

  For Encouragement in Christian Homemaking, order Mrs. White's book, "Homemaking For Happiness: Wonderful Days at Home."

In this book, you will find essays, articles, and diary entries about life in a Christian home.

Entries are arranged by season, and include:  "Keeping a Frugal Kitchen;" "Missing the Lilacs;" "An Evening Walk in the Garden;" "At Grandmother's House;" and "Chores for Grandchildren."

You will also find a few photographs showing a little of the local landscape.

Paperback, 307 pages.

Why The High Cost of Food?

Library of Congress: Buying groceries in store at Blankenship Indiana, 1938.

 

 

We have become a nation who eats recreationally. It is part of our "entertainment" expense. We have snacks and processed food and junk, because we like the taste of it. We are kidding ourselves if we think snacks are good nutrition.

In my childhood home, grandmother* would have a fit if we kids were offered ice cream before dinner.  That wasn't allowed. Grandma made simple homemade meals, with little meat, all week long.  Sunday dinner included meat as the main dish. This was common in those days.

When Grandma passed on, my mother continued with the common tradition of making sure we ate nutritionally.  We had a home- cooked dinner every night at the same time.  There were no snacks to  hold us over until the meal was ready.  We greatly appreciated the food when it was served because we had time to become genuinely hungry.

The only time we had snacks was on Friday nights. We children all looked forward to the homemade popcorn and a little soda. We would watch a program with Mother and Dad on that night and enjoy a special time together.  If there was soda in the house, on the weekends, we were allowed only one glass. After that we had to drink water.

Mother always had orange juice and milk in the house. We drank the milk with meals and the juice in the morning. These were not all-day-long beverages to enjoy. They provided a certain amount of nourishment that we needed. But overdoing the nutrients was a waste, because the body could not use it.

We had plenty of tea and water available throughout the day. If we children wanted soda (other than on Friday night) we bought our own, from the local corner store, with money we had earned ourselves.

If we wanted extra snacks, candy, or junky convenience foods, we bought it on our own. I still remember my pink, homemade bookcase that My Father made me. It was in my bedroom and that is where I kept pop tarts and the occasional treats I would buy from the store myself.  This kind of junk was never in our kitchen cabinets. Mother knew it did not satisfy hunger. She knew it did not provide basic nutrition, so she didn't buy it.

I remember babysitting, as a young teenager, and finding cabinets full of hostess snacks, chips and cupcakes! I couldn't believe it! It was exciting! (smiles) One family, in particular, was a mother and father who had a baby. I was the babysitter. When the parents left, I checked the kitchen for snacks and couldn't believe how much junk food they had! It was only two adults and not even any children, and they were eating all those treats themselves!  This was obviously for entertainment. It was for enjoyment. I knew it did not provide any nutrition.

In other countries, throughout the world, people eat basic foods like whole grains, potatoes and locally grown produce. If we gave them a box of highly processed American snacks, what do you think that would do? How do you think they would feel?

In the old days, Mother would serve oatmeal, or porridge in the  morning. She would serve homemade cornbread, biscuits or bread. She would cook with homegrown potatoes, carrots and onions. Her seasonings came from the garden.  I don't think her fruit trees produced bbq potato chips or candy bars.

We have become a nation who expects junk on a daily basis as if it were a necessity.  This kind of eating makes us unhealthy, broke and unsatisfied.   It reminds me of birthdays. When we give our children presents all year long, buying them some of the things they want, rather than waiting for their birthday, they become selfish, and think people "owe" them things. They don't learn to wait. They don't learn to delay gratification. They don't learn to work for things. Every single one of us will appreciate things more if we have to wait for them.. . To earn them. .  Like ice cream (smiles). . . I remember watching my father make homemade ice cream outside. He had a large bucket and had to crank the handle for a long time. He worked to make the ice cream that we got to enjoy. We appreciated it very much! But I don't think I appreciate buying a carton of ice cream from the supermarket.

Now I must say, if you looked into my shopping cart today, you would find junk. . . (sigh). . We are all going to struggle with this because it is such a normal, expected part of our diet! But this is something we all have to fight. This is something we will all struggle with.  Because if we keep giving-in to buying and eating the garbage, we will be broke and diseased.

Blessings
Mrs. White

* Grandmother - Our family lived in the same house with  my grandparents, just like my parents now live here in my home with my family.

From the Archives -

What Many of us Crave - An Ordinary Life at Home.

Playpens are essential! - Keeping House with Small Children.

Please keep passing it on -  Homemaking Links the Generations.

- To find out more about this blog, or Mrs. White, please visit our About page. -

 

  For Encouragement in Christian Homemaking, order Mrs. White's book, "Homemaking For Happiness: Wonderful Days at Home."

In this book, you will find essays, articles, and diary entries about life in a Christian home.

Entries are arranged by season, and include:  "Keeping a Frugal Kitchen;" "Missing the Lilacs;" "An Evening Walk in the Garden;" "At Grandmother's House;" and "Chores for Grandchildren."

You will also find a few photographs showing a little of the local landscape.

Paperback, 307 pages. 

Importance of Home Economics Training

Library of Congress: Setting the table in home economics class, South Carolina, 1939

 
 

When Homemakers Learn The Science of Keeping a Home, Society Benefits.


Keeping the home is a challenging career in itself. We are not unemployed, living in leisure. We have daily work that keeps us busy. It is important that we are trained in the scientific arts of home economics.  Here are just some of the things we need to do:

1. Operate and maintain appliances. We also need to understand how new models work and see if they will make our homes more efficient - both in saving labor and money.

2. We need to learn nutrition. This is for the health of our families.  This includes our choices in the grocery store, our meal planning, our baking and cooking.  We must have basic cooking and shopping skills.

3. Basic Medical Care. We are lay-nurses. We must know how to handle colds, fevers, and minor injuries.

4. Child Care and Development. We need to know the basics of caring for a baby, toddler, child, teenager and young adult.

5. Basic Sewing.  We need to be able to, at the very least, repair clothes and sew on buttons. Making clothes for the family, or sewing drapes, and doing embroidery work, etc. are nice, but not essential in today's homes.

6. Laundry and Cleaning. To run a sanitary, efficient home, we must learn the basics of laundry and how to clean a house.

What if you don't know any of this stuff and are struggling at home?

 In the early part of the 1900's, homemakers clubs were available in many towns throughout the United States. This was where the women would get together to learn from one another. In my local town's Historical Society, there is a photograph of a group of mothers in a homemaker's club in the 1930's. Their support of one another was wonderful!

Today, we can join quilting clubs, cooking clubs and the like. We can also read books, watch videos and learn in many different ways. The important thing to remember is that we must always continue to sharpen our skills and learn because changes in modern culture and technology affect our work at home.

Some Quotes from the Experts:

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"Home economics should find its way into the curriculum of every school because the scientific study of a problem pertaining to food, shelter or clothing… raises manual labor that might be drudgery to the plane of intelligent effort that is always self-respecting…Home economics is not one department, in the sense in which dairying or entomology or soils is a department. It is not a single specialty… Many technical and educational departments will grow out of it as time goes on."

Martha Van Rensselaer (1913)
Professor of Home Economics and Co-Director of the New York State College of Home Economics


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"From the broad view of intelligent statecraft, the state will find an education in home economics a tool of the utmost importance in building up forces which increase physical well-being of the population and which make for a reduction in the number of persons thrown back to the state for support by reason of physical, mental, or moral failure."

Albert R, Mann (1930)
Dean, New York State College of Agriculture


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"Home-making today should have a background of scientific training because only in this way can real efficiency be achieved. The average girl wants to be able to keep her house with the least possible strain, and in order to do this she must have good training. This can best be achieved by taking a good course in home economics."

Eleanor Roosevelt (1933)
First Lady
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Blessings
Mrs. White

 - To find out more about this blog, or Mrs. White, please visit our About page. -

Every home can be a homeschool!

Find confidence and courage in teaching your own children at home with Mrs. White's book,

Seeking a Thrifty and Simple Life.

112 pages, paperback.

Blue Collar - Working Class - Housewife

Library of Congress: Provincetown, Massachusetts Family, 1942

 

Sometimes I feel like a pampered housewife, who has it made.  I don't have to earn money. I don't have to financially support my family. But I do have to work very hard at home.

In the old days, homemaking was more time consuming. Wash day was an enormous undertaking. Baking and Cooking, before processed foods were available, took the majority of mother's time.

Wealthier women could hire a cook, a maid and even a nanny to help with the children. These women were the pampered ones - they were the wealthy class.  They did not have to work at all.

There is a middle ground - the white collar working class. I cannot speak for them, but I know they are well educated, work in specialized jobs - law, medicine, etc, and often hire help for some of the work at home.

As for the old fashioned, blue collar housewives, we are still here.  There may not be as much heavy labor for us, but there is still so much to do! We must constantly economize, run errands, cook, clean, bake and care for our children. It is a struggle to come up with extra money for treats or presents. We have this healthy glow in our cheeks which comes from heavy labor.

Yesterday, I was reading  "Mama's Bank Account,"  by Kathryn Forbes. I love reading about life in the 1920's for the working class! This Immigrant Mama had such wisdom:

- Whenever she was relieved after a trial, or worry, she would say, "Is Good." This comforted her family and herself.

- "A mop is never good. Floors should be scrubbed with a brush." [I loved this one!]

- I also loved how she would take the weekly income, sit at the table surrounded by her family, and carefully put coins in stacks for things like "The landlord," and "For the Grocer."

She was such a hardworking mother. She was a working class mother. These mothers have helped build this country with their own hands.

We mothers are still the foundation of society. Even though money is scarce, and we are often tempted to leave home to earn an income, our work at home . . . our influence at home,  is essential.



blessings
Mrs. White

From the Archives -

What many of us crave - An Ordinary Life at Home.  

Financial reality - Retirement Planning for the Poor.  

 - To find out more about this blog, or Mrs. White, please visit our About page. -

 

 

For old time encouragement in living simply on a limited income, order Mrs. White's book:

"An Old Fashioned Budget: Humble Financial Management for the Christian Housewife"

 77 pages, paperback.

 

Preparing for Thanksgiving in Hard Times

Currier and Ives - Home to Thanksgiving, 1867.

We had another financial crisis hit us this month. It seems to always happen at this time of year. But I have faith that the Lord will provide for us. We lost another few hundred dollars of income. When the news came, I was stunned. I prayed and left it with God and then moved on. We will be okay.

Over the last few months, I have been following our supermarket's thanksgiving plan. If I spent $500 over the course of a month, I would get a $20 coupon to buy a turkey and other food. I didn't think I would be able to do it, but somehow I got up to $495. Then one night, my 17 year old son needed to buy himself something. I handed him my store card and waited in the car. When he came back, I realized what I'd done. I asked, "Did the store give you a coupon for $20?" He shook his head no. He wasn't sure. I told him, " When we get home, will you give me your receipt?" Sure, he'd do that.

But we both forgot! The next morning, he searched but realized he had thrown it in the trash. It was ruined. I ended up calling the supermarket and explaining the problem. I am grateful that they were able to give me a special coupon and all was going to be okay. But why all the trouble to get food? It is hard to seek and find ways to pay bills and feed the family. It takes so much extra work!

I've noticed that food prices have dropped drastically since last year. This is wonderful! I am going to stock up on canned goods this week, while they are still on sale. This will help us get through the rest of the month. I've been buying apple pies for us to eat now, because they are hearty and filling and only $1.99 at our local store's bakery.  It has been a special treat.

I plan to bake some cookies for Thanksgiving. I will also bake some pies. Do you remember the thanksgiving story? They spent most of that first year starving! That first thanksgiving was a feast and a time of joyful gathering together to THANK God for his blessings and provisions. This is what we will do this week.

There will be plenty of leftovers so we will have food for a few days. It will be a precious time. Food is so important. When we have decent things to eat, and event treats, we feel less desperate - less depressed. I would rather spend money on food and warmth than anything else.

What are some of the ways you come up with food and money for thanksgiving dinner? I'd love to hear your ideas.

Blessings
Mrs. White

From the Archives -

Despite difficulties, it is the Mother's Touch, that makes home a precious place



- To find out more about this blog, or Mrs. White, please visit our About page. -

A Place They Want to Come Home To

The kitchen is the center of the home. When guests come by, a Homemaker always offers a refreshment - food or drink. Sometimes a guest will decline. This is when the Homemaker begins to coax:

"I just baked an apple pie and we have vanilla ice cream to go with it. Wouldn't you like some?

There is a sparkle in the eyes of the guest. They enjoy the delightful treat and have a pleasant visit.

This is the same with our husband and children. They love to hear Mother say, "Can I make you something special to eat?"

This is what I was thinking about last night. It was 4:30 in the afternoon and I didn't know what I was going to make for supper. I wanted everyone to have a lovely evening. I wanted supper to be a family event. I wanted to make sure they always wanted to come home.

So I began working on the environment. I put on my apron and turned on soothing Classical music to inspire me. Here is what I did:

1. I cleared off and washed the kitchen table. (The children had been playing cards earlier.)
2. I placed a vanilla scented candle in the center and then lit it.

I still didn't know what was for supper.

3. I pulled some burger out of the freezer to begin to defrost.
4. I set the table. I used Styrofoam (paper) plates. I put out napkins and forks. I put a glass at every plate.
5. I went in the kitchen and prepared carrot sticks. Then I sliced up some Cracker Barrel Cheddar Cheese and placed these on a small serving plate. Both items were carefully and artfully placed on the table.
6. I found the salt and pepper shakers and put them on the table.

I still didn't know what was for supper.

7. I made a large batch of iced tea and put this in the fridge to chill.
8. I saw one of the children walk through, take some cheese, smile, and then run off.
9. I started to fry up the burger. I added a bit of water to the pan to slow down the cooking, giving it more time to defrost and to prevent burning.

I knew what was for supper.

10. I started to boil water to make egg noodles.
11. I pulled out bread crumbs, garlic powder, vegetable oil, cheddar and mozzarella cheese. Everything would be mixed up together to make a sort of homemade hamburger helper.
12. I warmed English muffins in the toaster oven and then buttered and sliced them in half. These were laid out artfully on a serving plate.

When the food was all finished, I placed it on the table with serving spoons. I called the children for supper. As they sat down, I said:

"Use your best table manners."

I listened as the children talked and laughed while helping themselves to food. When someone began to talk about something I didn't like, I would say, "Not of general interest!" (This lovely phrase is from the 1940's book, "Cheaper by the Dozen" by the Gilbreth family.) This helps keep the conversation appropriate and interesting for everyone.

After A.- (15) finished eating, she lingered at the table. She was smiling and enjoying our company. She did not run off. I was delighted and I noticed. It was a pleasant meal.

This is the kind of place they will want to come home to. It takes effort to create a pleasant environment for the family. But in the process, I am rewarded beyond measure.

Blessings,
Mrs. White

To find out more about this blog, or Mrs. White, please visit our About page. -

 

For happiness and cheer in the kitchen:

Mrs. White's old fashioned cookbook focuses on serving meals and setting the table in a humble home.

"Serving in the Kitchen: Cookbook with Recipes, Advice, and Encouragement for the Christian Home"

152 pages, paperback

Suppertime in a Rural Home

"Home For the Holidays" by Todd Williams

 

It is getting dark. The day is almost over. Mama is wearing her apron and cooking in the kitchen. She's smiling and happy and humming a tune, while she leans over the stove.

The children come in from their play. They are cold and excited and talking about all the snowmen they created. Such sweet smiles on their faces! Their eyes light up when they enter the warm house. They put away their coats and settle down to wait for supper.

Daddy walks in after a hard day at work. He is tired. But all his troubles seem to melt away when he enters the inviting rural home.

Some of the children help Mama set the table. They lay out plates and silverware, cups and napkins. Another child comes over to pour drinks. The table looks inviting.

Mama brings out platters of food. She serves fresh warm bread, butter, stew and salad. The children are hungry and excited to enjoy a nice meal with the family.

They sit around the table. Dad says the prayer. Everyone is thankful and smiling. If you are walking by, on that cold winter night, and you happen to see them through the window, you will see laughter and smiles. You will see a happy family eating their supper and full of love and gratefulness.

Mama cleans up while the children run off to play. They are getting their baths and will soon hear a bedtime story. Mama is humming while she washes dishes and polishes the table. Life inside that home is peaceful and joyous. The outside cares and troubles fade away, when it's suppertime in the old rural house.

Blessings,
Mrs. White

From the Archives -

An Encouraging look at - "Poverty in the 1800's" about the Mother of D.L. Moody.

For the love of taking care of grandchildren - "I Hear Angels Crying."

Sweet Faith for Mothers - "All of God's Children Have Shoes."

- To find out more about this blog, or Mrs. White, please visit our About page. -

Mrs. White's special book for Homemakers - 

"Mother's Book of Home Economics."

312 pages, paperback.

Happy Homemaking

Today, I put on my favorite skirt, my Edwardian Apron and my pearl necklace. I put my hair up and got to work on making a home. Our construction crew finished their work yesterday and now I am ready to put everything back in order.

I delighted in vacuuming and sweeping. My wood stove is now polished and tidy. Our living room looks inviting and lovely.

Mr. White went to the kitchen to get some coffee. He saw me Windex-ing and scrubbing my dustpan. He smiled and thought I was bizarre. (smiles). Doesn't everyone clean their dustpan after use?

I pulled out some beef to defrost for tonight's supper. I will make beef stew and biscuits.

In a little bit, I am going to make Ghiradelli chocolate chip cookies.

I am listening to my favorite gospel music and enjoying a precious day doing my housework.

Blessings,
Mrs. White

How the Old Time Mothers Survived Poverty

Library of Congress:  Family cans their own food, Osage Farms, Missouri, 1939.

There are so many families struggling right now. There is never enough food for even the basics of life. Housewives need encouragement, inspiration and ideas in order to survive on very little.

During the War in the 1940's, Britain's government provided citizens with books to help them obtain skills to manage on very little. These were called: "Wartime cookery" and "Make do and Mend." I understand some of these have been recently re-published.

The other day, I cut out material to make two aprons. While I was ironing all the material I was thinking about the depression-era mothers. They would take scraps of fabric and piece them together for quilts. Or they would make rag-rugs. These women were productive, hardworking and creative. They could take the smallest amount of leftovers, from supper, and come up with something amazing the next day.

With knowledge, ideas and inspiration, these women survived poverty. Currently, in America, we are told, by the government, that a family of 5, earning less than $25,790 is living in poverty (in 2009). It does not take much to be poor in this current age. Housing costs are high, utility bills are outrageous and food costs are rising. Here are some things the Old time mothers did:

1. Water down the milk.

2. If children were allowed to have a soda, they had to share it.

3. If, during a holiday, the family had soda, they would fill the cups with ice and add a little water before pouring the soda. The children never knew what "real" or "straight" soda tasted like until they were grown.

4. Cut up one apple or orange and divide between everyone in the family. Serve on their lunch or supper plate.

5. Sew and mend rips in the clothes. (Are we doing this today?)

6. Make a big pot of soup, then do the housework and laundry. The soup cooks all day - it is an inexpensive meal and goes far. Just serve it with muffins or biscuits.

7. Bake something every other day - muffins, bread, biscuits. Leave this out, wrapped up, on the table or counter. It will help fill everyone up and keep them from snacking on junk or feeling hungry (deprived).

8. When there is nothing to drink, Mother would make tea. Those tea bags were re-used all day long to fill cup after cup. Mother served tea on tea plates and kept the tea bags on those little plates for re-use later in the day.

9. Mother saved jars (we can save spaghetti-sauce jars today) and kept them clean, storing them in the cabinet. When the family would go out, she would fill that jar with cold water so everyone would have something to drink.

As I was doing some hand-sewing yesterday, I thought how important it was to keep busy. I prayed as I sewed. I was keeping busy with the home arts and this soothed my soul. If we mothers of today, could just work hard around our homes, and pray for courage, we could make it on very little. We would also start believing more in miracles and trust God so much more than we do now. So many blessings come to the diligent, brave housewives. May we all be found worthy.

Blessings,
Mrs. White

From the Archives -

The beautiful testimony of the Mother of D.L. Moody - Poverty in the 1800's.

Making the best of what is available to cheer the family along - Homemade Birthday Dinner. 

Thrifty Wisdom from the Old Days - To Earn and Not to Spend.

 

- To find out more about this blog, or Mrs. White, please visit our About page. -

 

Find cleaning inspiration and encouragement in Mrs. White's book, "Gracious House Keeping."

"Gracious House Keeping: Advice, Encouragement, and Cleaning Help for the Christian Housewife."

Complete with Encouragement and Work Charts to cheer you along in your homemaking!

115 pages, paperback.

The Home Arts

I have a darling, old singer sewing machine. It sits in an antique cabinet. It is so pretty, and reminds me of something one would see in a museum. I remember sewing little dresses for my girls when they were 4 and 5 years old. I wanted to have those dresses finished quickly so I stayed up late into the night and worked on them. The fabric was black with pink roses all over it. I also made them matching hair ribbons, and everything was trimmed with white eyelet lace. I enjoyed sewing for my babies. It gave me such a warm feeling.

I have baked lots of bread over the years. My favorite is Italian. I used to make it with a big pot of homemade tortellini. Everyone loved this old fashioned, homemade supper. I enjoy mixing up dough and working with my hands to make food for my family. I love to serve it for them and see them smile. I love to hear how much they enjoy my cooking.

I have taught my children how to mend their clothes. Whenever they have a rip, I see them with my sewing box, fixing their own clothes and it makes me so proud.

My Mother taught me how to iron and do laundry. When I was a young girl, I was responsible for my own clothes. We had an enclosed porch on the side of our house, on the second floor. I could stand out there, near the dryer, and iron my skirts. We had lots of windows with a view of Boston Harbor. I loved watching the boats go by while I did my work.

These are just some of the many home arts. When we are working around the home, for our families, we are truly living a life that nourishes the soul. It is such a blessing to care for our loved ones.

May we all do it with a cheerful smile and a grateful heart.

Blessings
Mrs. White

 - To find out more about this blog, or Mrs. White, please visit our About page. -

 

For happiness and cheer in the kitchen:

Mrs. White's old fashioned cookbook focuses on serving meals and setting the table in a humble home.

"Serving in the Kitchen: Cookbook with Recipes, Advice, and Encouragement for the Christian Home"

152 pages, paperback

A Catered Thanksgiving

Since the children have been sick with the flu for the past several days, we had to cancel our usual Thanksgiving dinner with my parents (who live with us). Mom and Dad finally decided they would go ahead and make the dinner anyway and just send it upstairs to us.

I spent the entire morning cleaning and tidying and doing dishes. Then I set our dining room table. I used pink napkins for place mats (that was all I had). Each person got a place setting of blue willow china, silverware (fork, spoon, knife - even if they didn't need it), and a blue willow china cup. The table looked lovely. Our 12-year-old son said it looked like a restaurant.

Later, our dinner was sent upstairs. Our daughter, A., was still too sick to come to the table, so I brought her dinner on a tray. (She had hives all over her face and hands, which came after her fever broke.) The rest of us sat together. Mr. White said the prayer. It was precious, but also sad because my Dad is the one who always says the Thanksgiving prayer and I missed that. But for my sweet husband to say the prayer was so special!

We talked about the Pilgrims and the Indians, while we enjoyed our meal. We are from Massachusetts and have been to Plymouth (Plimouth) Plantation several times. It is such a charming museum which features costumed actors who re-enact a typical day of the Pilgrims.

We reminisced about Thanksgivings past. Mr. White and I have had 21 Thanksgivings together and have enjoyed our family very much.


After we ate, Mr. White wrapped up all the food and saved it. Everything still looked very neat and I was happy. We rested and watched a movie.

It is now dark and quiet here in Vermont and I am very grateful for my home and family.

Hope you all had a wonderful day too!

Blessings
Mrs. White