McClanahan Marinade

Emily July 19, 2010
[22] comments
 

“Your husband might want to share in the joy of cooking at times.”

The Joy of Cooking, 1949

Do men ever REALLY cook? Growing up, my Dad always made the typical man food:

- Omelettes on Saturday
- Beans and Franks when Mom was out of town
- Grilled Cheese
- Anything on a grill (and now, the Big Green Egg)

So, when Dad told me he was going to teach me how to make the famous McClanahan Marinade, I expected to do the majority of the work.

I remember Mom always making the marinade, cutting the meat, and preparing everything. Then, she would tell Dad exactly when to fire up the grill. She would bring him the chicken and salmon, in a pan with foil.

Then, Dad grilled.

Finally, Mom made the sauce and all the side items and did the rest of the work. But Dad always felt proud that he “cooked.” It was like a little kid whose Mommy let him stir the cake batter and then she said, “Mmmmm… Johnny made this cake all by himself.” Everyone at the table knew that Johnny couldn’t possibly make a cake, but he sat up a little straighter when she said it.

But, guess what? Dad really made the marinade all by himself. What a big boy.

And if that wasn’t enough, he and Clay actually prepared the entire meal from start to finish. They bought the ingredients, made the sauce, set the table, and even remembered the salt. They marinated chicken and Boston Butt, grilled corn and potatoes, and set the table on the deck.

Men have come a long way.

In the 1950′s, cookbooks were written only for women. Then, in my parent’s generation, men started with simple recipes and grilling. Now, men are proud to know their way around a kitchen. The Food Network and Cooking Channel design shows especially for men. Clay can make gourmet meals… often much better than I can. My brother makes homemade pizza on his Big Green Egg (and calls me let me know how good it is). And even Dad has joined in the cooking revolution.

Last night, while we ate the man meal, Dad revealed the origin of our family marinade. As it turns out, his parents started making it shortly after the 1950′s, when they visited friends in Mississippi. I don’t know if this is a common marinade in other states, but I have NEVER heard of anyone using this exact recipe. After making it for over forty years, we have claimed it as our own.

Feel free to try it on chicken, salmon, or Boston Butt. The key is to allow the marinade to cool before adding meat. It can be used on small pieces of meat or large roasts. Enjoy!  

 

 

 

Ingredients:
1 quart of white vinegar
1/3 cup salt
1 lemon, juiced
1/2 stick butter
3 TBS worcestershire sauce
1/2 tsp nutmeg
6 TBS flour in a 8 oz glass of water
12 bay leaves (crumbled)Directions:

Mix ingredients and bring to a boil
Allow mixture to cool before adding meat
Marinate meat for at least 1 hour; longer is better.

Does your husband / boyfriend / dad REALLY cook?

Posted in 1950's Food Preparation, 1950's Wife Project, Recipes | Tagged , , , | 22 Comments

1950′s Barbershop is Back

Emily July 3, 2010
[27] comments

Day #22 – June 29, 2010

“Not too short, Floyd.”

- Andy Griffith (See the video here)

After twenty-one days of being a 1950’s husband, Clay has started to really embrace the project… he even planned his own little retro excursion by scheduling time at the barbershop to have his face and head shaved with a straight razor. I secretly thought, “Where are we going to find a place to do that?” I imagined a rundown shack with sign reading, “arbor hop” because the B and S were missing. I pictured an old geezer sitting alone as his business crumbles around him because men can buy the Fusion razor with five blades for $14.99 and be done with it.

Boy was I wrong!

Chad Phillips introduced Clay to a local thriving business called Floyd’s Barbershop of Orlando. If you are thinking that Floyd’s Barbershop sounds familiar, then you have probably seen an episode of The Andy Griffith Show. Floyd was the lovable barber who somehow spread town gossip from one patron to the next. The men in Floyd’s were not just there for a trim head of hair; they came to the barbershop for the same reasons we go to Starbucks today. They go for the company, for the experience, and most of all, for the warm towel on their face and warm feeling in their hearts.

Floyd’s Barbershop of Orlando has a lot in common with the Mayberry model. First, it is not a place to go when you are in a hurry. It took forty-five minutes for Clay to be shaven. He had hot or cold towels wrapped around his head at least three times during the afternoon. Second, it’s friendly and full of conversation. Although the woman shaving Clay’s head did not look anything like Floyd on Andy Griffith, she was well-versed in the art of soothing and relaxing conversation. And of course, the new Floyds was for men, created with their needs in mind. This was no Supercuts for men, women, and children. From the choices on the menu to the posters to the music, the message was clear… “This is a man’s place to relax.”

I can’t say that everything here was like Mayberry. For one, the posters on the wall highlight everyone from Elvis to Usher. You might hear a melody from the Beatles one minute and a Bon Jovi remix the next. And don’t expect to see broken signs or an old cash register. Instead, you will find a computer kiosk with a high speed Internet connection to entertain you while you wait. And let’s not forget about the price. Clay paid $50.00 for an all-over shave, so most of the sheriffs and deputies in town will not be able to afford a once-a-week trip to old Floyd’s.

But this franchise has opened my eyes to the fact that men and women are looking back these days. I wonder what they are hoping to find.  Are they looking to slow down and enjoy the simple things in life, the way their parents and grandparents did? Are they searching for connection in a world that seems overwhelmingly disconnected? Or do they recall that blessed time in American history when people were not only prosperous, they were also full of something we have been lacking lately: HOPE?

 

Do you see any other 1950′s behavior coming back in style?

Posted in 1950's Wife Project | Tagged , , | 27 Comments