Goodbye Aprons and Curls

Emily July 31, 2010
[27] comments

Day #50

“She (the housewife) should greet the day with expectation, a hidden excitement (for some of us who have just fallen asleep at 5 a.m. after a night up with a baby, it may be very hidden).”

Holy Housewifery, 1967

Jeans at last, jeans at last! The 1950′s Project is complete, and it couldn’t have come at a better time. Our adoption is about a month away, and it’s time to shift my focus from meringue to Mommy books, from blueberry pie to baby blue bumpers, and from homemade biscuits to homemade baby food.

I’d like to take a moment to thank everyone for the encouragement you have given me through this project. You have made this summer so memorable for me! Many of YOUR stories about the fifties, about your grandparents, and about your cooking experiences have enriched my life, and I will never be able to explain what they have meant to me. Thank you for checking out the blog and sharing your memories.

Clay and I are making a huge shift in our lives right now, and I would love each one of you to come on this next journey with us. We are adopting a boy from Haiti, and we are coming to the realization that he could be here any day now.

Sometimes we just look at eachother and say, “We are going to be parents soon.”

It’s surreal.

We have always said, “Go see Daddy,” or “Listen to Mommy,” when we are talking to our dog, but somehow, this is a little different. If there is one phrase we have heard more than anything other it’s, “Nothing changes your life like a baby!” Sometimes, people say that with a smile on their face. Other times they say it with a smirk.

So, the next fifty posts will not be about stylish aprons. Instead, I am trying what a reader suggested (thank you, Stephanie). I am going to write what I plan to do as a Mom, and then when the baby comes, we’ll see if I actually follow the plan. This includes but is not limited to my…

- Sleep Plan
- Feeding Plan
- Marriage Plan
- Work Plan
- Housekeeping Plan
- Exercise Plan

I am sure some of the Mommies are laughing at me already! That’s okay. As long as you promise to be honest with me about the struggles and triumphs of mommyhood, I promise to be honest about my ignorance and discoveries.

Yesterday, I made my first decision about transitioning from one project to the next: my hair has GOT to be simpler. My long hair and curls took about 25 minutes to fix. So, my dear friend, Joy, cut it (and more importantly, thinned it a bit).

Goodbye curls.

Hello, sensible Mom hair. Now, I just need a cute diaper bag and I should be set!

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

What I Have Learned

Emily July 30, 2010
[5] comments

Day #49

 “Be an individual, know yourself, and act accordingly.”

Holy Housewifery, 1967

As the Retro Wife Experiment comes to a close, I find myself making a lot of lists. I don’t want to forget any of the unique experiences I’ve had this summer, so I keep writing long entries in my journal about what I have learned and who I’ve met and how thankful I feel for the people who have encouraged me during this project.

The longest lists are about the wonderful lessons that have jumped into my lap lately. I can’t even take credit for the lessons because most of them just found me… either through cooking, connecting with creative people, chatting with Clay, or forgetting an ingredient in a dessert.

Below are a few lessons from the past forty-nine days:

 What I Have Learned about ORGANIZATION…
- Setting the table for dinner immediately after breakfast makes me feel prepared all day.
- An empty dishwasher is a thing of beauty.
- If I want the house to be really clean, I can’t watch TV all night.
- It’s best to chop everything first, then clean, then begin the actual cooking.
- Meal preparation is rarely 100% organized.

What I Have Learned about COOKING…
- Cooking with experts is the best way to learn.
- Cooking with Mom, Mima, Dad, Family, and Friends is unforgettable.
- Homemade biscuits are difficult.
- Homemade pie crust is not much easier.
- But both taste better than the frozen stuff.

What I Have Learned about the 1950′s…
- Women of this era took pride in making their home lovely and livable.
- The men of the fifties had a great life!
- Formal meal time is wonderful tradition that families knew how to embrace.
- The television show Mad Men has hit the nail on the head with a lot of its storylines.
- Growing vegetables, picking pecans, finding fresh berries, and cooking with ripe ingredients improved all food

What I Have Learned about CLAY…
- He loves it when I put effort into cooking just for him.
- He likes to see me cook with his Mom and sisters.
- Clay will lie and say he likes burnt bacon to make me feel better.
- Cave time is as important for our marriage as together time.

What I Have Learned about MYSELF…
- I enjoy cooking when I make enough time to do it right.
- I feel better about myself when I look my best, even while vacuuming.
- I love talking to people who are passionate about something.
- I have NEVER been more nervous than when someone says they are going to try a recipe on this blog.
- I love connecting with people in new ways.

So, here is one last recipe! I am not sure where it originated, but my grandmother makes it: I call it “Greek Italian Pasta Salad,” because it tastes Greek but it’s made with Italian dressing. It’s great as a main course or side item. I usually make it when I need something for a large group at a low cost:

Greek Italian Pasta Salad

Ingredients:
1 box spiral pasta
1 12 oz bottle light Italian dressing
1 cup cut pepperoni
1  cup cut provolone cheese
1 can black olives
1 can green olives
1 container grape tomatoes, cut into fours

Directions:
Cook pasta and allow it to cool. Add all other ingredients and refrigerate for at least two hours. Serve chilled.

Posted in 1950's Attitutude, 1950's Wife Project, Recipes | Tagged , , | 5 Comments

Wearing a Skirt Everyday

Emily July 29, 2010
[6] comments

Day #48

“We should make our own judgments and not run lemming-like
into the sea of fashionable ugliness.”

Holy Housewifery, 1967

Ethel Marbach, in the book Holy Housewifery, encourages women to dress sensibly in moderate heels and sturdy dresses. She warns against new fads that make women look like men, including jeans, loafers, and short hairdos. She explains that husbands do not need another person in the house who looks like an adolescent boy.

When I first read her remarks, I assumed she was either an extremist, or an exaggerator, or possibly a distant cousin of Emily Post. Certainly women wore comfortable clothes from time to time.How could they possibly wear heels and hosiery all day everyday? I did some investigating before this project began, and to my dismay, I learned that Ethel’s words were representative of the thought patterns of the time.

My grandmother swears she didn’t own a pair of jeans until 1980. And even then, she wore them with nylons and dress shoes. When I flipped through newspapers from the fifties, I didn’t see a SINGLE woman in pants. So, I promised myself that during this experiment, I would wear skirts.

I still wore workout clothes when I jogged or taught tennis lessons, but I changed into “1950′s clothing” as soon as possible (which is unusual because I used to wear workout clothes all day, even if I never actually went to the gym).

This was probably the most obvious outward change in my life this summer. I heard the following questions on a regular basis:

- “Where are you going?”

- “Why are you so dressed up?”

- “Did you just get back from church?”

These questions were a welcome change from, “Are you a runner?” or “Did you just go to the gym?” It was always sad when I had to admit that I had done absolutley NO EXERCISE all day, even though my nasty hair and scraggly clothes suggested otherwise.

The new wardrobe put a little spring in my step, as only new clothes can do… for a while. But now, after forty-eight days, I am soooo ready for shorts, pants, flip flops, jeans, ponytails, and jeans. The skirts, pearls, heels, and red lipstick have been a nice change of pace, but I don’t think they are going to stick.

Other parts of this project might stick (like baking) but the skirts are not really an outward expression of what I feel in my heart. Maybe I am a slave to my generation, but give me a great pair of jeans and the right t-shirt and I’m in heaven. Sorry Ethel.

 

What kind of clothing makes you feel most like YOU?

 

Posted in 1950's Clothing, 1950's Wife Project | Tagged , , | 6 Comments

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 Wife with 2010 Convenience

Emily June 20, 2010
[13] comments

Day #13 – June 19, 2010

“The majority of waffle recipes call for cake flour. If that is not available, substitute bread flour, deducting two tablespoons from every cupful given in the recipe.”

The Joy of Cooking, 1951

Last night, Clay’s brother and two of his four sons spent the night with us. I was so excited to play the part of hostess and cook a big breakfast .  In the past, I would have driven the boys to Waffle House or Chick Fil-A, but this morning, I made banana pancakes and sausage balls. I consider that major progress!

But as I looked around the kitchen, I realized that I could never call myself a 1950′s wife. My life is way too convenient.

To start, I don’t just own a regular a coffee pot, I use the single cup coffee maker that takes two seconds to brew. I think my dog, Shelby, could make coffee in that thing.

Second, I use shortcuts like Bisquick and ready-made syrup and mixes.

Third, even though I have rarely cooked until now, my kitchen is stocked with a KitchenAid Mixer, Pampered Chef Products, idiot-proof appliances, and no-burn pizza stones.

And lastly, I NEVER wash a single dish. Even if I have to SQUEEZE the dishwasher door shut because pots, pans, and forks are hanging out, I still don’t wash anything by hand. Sometimes, when I’m really lazy, I even put china and crystal in the dishwasher (Mom, control your rage, and don’t tell Mima).

So, even though this morning was a success – the meal was yummy and kids were smiling… it’s not exactly like the 1950′s. I have so many modern conveniences that it doesn’t really count.

But I was still proud!

As an example of modern-day technology meeting 1950′s standards, here is a recipe from Cooks.com: My laptop was sitting on the counter all morning :)

BANANA PANCAKES

2 c. Bisquick
2 1/4 c. milk
2 eggs
1 c. mashed bananas
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. vanilla
1 tsp. sugar
1/4 c. wheat germ
Beat ingredients with hand beater until well blended; for thinner pancakes add milk as needed.Pour by scant 1/4 cupfuls onto hot griddle (grease if necessary). Cook until edges are dry. Turn and cook until golden. Yields 12-13 pancakes.

What modern conveniences would you hate to live without?

Posted in 1950's Food Preparation, 1950's Wife Project, Recipes | Tagged , , , | 13 Comments

Freebie Friday – Peach Pickin’

Emily June 18, 2010
[32] comments

Day #12

“If strangers move into a neighborhood, it is not only unfriendly, but uncivil
for their neighbors not to call on them.”
Emily Post, Etiquette: The Blue Book of Social Usage, 1937

It seems like this blog has become my housewife confessional. Well, I have another one today. Recently, a sweet, young couple moved into the house beside us… And I never took them a plate of cookies.

No homemade banana bread.

No pineapple upside down cake.

And if that is not enough, she was pregnant when they moved in, and now she has had the baby for about six weeks. I still have not brought them a meal.

No fresh picked flowers.

No balloons.

So, today, I will be a good neighbor and a good 1950′s wife, and bring her some nourishment, whether she wants it or not. My grandmother assures me that she would walk over to her friend’s house without a phone call in advance, but I think I should call first.

The beauty of bringing her a treat today is that I have already made tons of strawberry jelly and peach jelly with the leftover fruit from my other projects. Yesterday, I went to Gardener Farms to pick peaches, and this morning, I made the jelly. So, my project today is to deliver her biscuits and homemade jelly. That way, she can have a good breakfast whenever she wants it.

For those of you who live in the Atlanta Area, we have another freebie! By leaving a comment on today’s blog (about neighbors, homemade goodies, jams, jellies, picking fruit, or anything that makes your heart go pitter pat) your name will be entered to win a free Peach Pickin’ at Gardner Farms. If you post the following status on Facebook or Twitter, your name will be entered again. Please let me know if you post the update:

Win free peaches from Gardener Farms through the 1950′s Wife Blog at: http://everydayexperts.com/2010/06/18/freebie-friday-peach-pickin/

Feel free to comment and post until Monday, June 21st at 4:00 PM. I will draw for the winner then!

Happy Pickin!

Posted in 1950's Food Preparation, 1950's Wife Project, Recipes | Tagged , , , , , , , | 32 Comments

Taste of Summer

Emily June 18, 2010
[6] comments

Day #11 – June 17, 2010

“Always choose a dessert that suits the meal – a light dessert if the meal is has been heavy; a richer dessert if the meal has been light. Be sure the dessert is part of the meal – not an afterthought.”

Chapter 11, page 2 of Better Homes and Gardens Cookbook, 1949

I have been looking forward to my lesson today for a while. I knew I would be learning how to make Jennifer’s Granny’s Peach Ice Cream, and I love the taste of homemade ice cream. As Jennifer said today when she took her first bite, “This tastes like summer.”

I thought back to my childhood summers and reminisced about the flavors that filled those carefree days:

- Bacon, letttuce, and tomato sandwiches, my Mom’s favorite
- Push-Up Pops with my brother
- Hot dogs at a baseball game
- Grape popcicles with the neighborhood kids
- Strawberries in my grandmother’s garden
- Barbeque on the porch with Dad
- Potato Salad (Mima Peggy’s, of course)

One interesting fact…when I asked my grandmothers about their favorite summer foods, they listed the same foods I did! It reminds me that food is a beautiful way to connect one generation to another. As I am learning how to cook for my husband, I am also learning about the way my grandparents lived, and realizing it was not THAT different from the way we live.

Sure, we have cellphones and laptops now, but we still have watermelon, and kids still have contests to see who can spit the seeds farther.

Some things never change.

It is more difficult to find places where you can pick fresh peaches now, but Locust Grove is blessed to have Gardener Farms located on Highway 42, where we can walk down the dirt path and spend thirty minutes like our grandparents did, pickin’ peaches. In fact, tomorrow’s freebie is a free peach pickin’ at Gardener Farms.

Whether you win or not, Judy Gardener assured me that they will have peaches that are ripe and ready to pick for the next two weeks. Pick some peaches and try Jennifer’s Granny’s Recipe:

Ingredients
3 eggs
2 ½ cups of sugar
1 small carton (8 oz) heavy whipping cream
1 gallon whole milk
1 tsp vanilla
8 ripe peaches

Directions

-          Separate eggs and whites

-          Beat egg whites until fluffy

-          Add 1.5 cups of sugar along with the milk, cream, and vanilla to egg whites

-          Mash peaches (don’t you love the word “mash?”)

-          Add 1 cup of sugar to mashed peaches

-          Pour peach mixture into milk mixture

-          Pour everything into ice cream maker

-          Seal the ice cream BEFORE adding ice and rock salt

-          Add ice – rock salt – ice – rock salt layers

-          Ice cream takes about 30 minutes – add salt and more ice as needed

-          When it’s done, cover the container with ice and a towel let it sit for 45 minutes – 2 hours

-          Open and eat (straight from the container, of course)

What tastes remind you of summer?

Posted in 1950's Food Preparation, 1950's Wife Project, Recipes | Tagged , , , | 6 Comments

Holy Housewifery

Emily June 13, 2010
[6] comments

Day #7 – June 13, 2010

A prayer taken from the book, Holy Housewifery, published in 1964:

Lord, keep me from getting talkative,
and particularly from the fatal habit
of thinking I must say something on every subject
and on every occasion.

Release me from the craving to
staighten out everybody’s affairs.

Keep my mind free from the recital of endless details;
give me wings to get to the point.
Seal my lips when inclined to tell
of my aches and pains;
they are increasing with the years
and my love of rehearsing them grows
sweeter as the years go by.

Teach me the glorious lesson
that occasionally it is possible
that I may be mistaken.

Keep me reasonably sweet,
for a sour woman is one of
the crowning works of the devil.

One of my favorite parts about the 1950′s Wife Project is reading literature from this era. I started with a home economics book published in 1956, but then my family members gave me some of their favorite cookbooks. Mima Sara gave me her first cookbook, published by Better Homes and Gardens in 1949. My Aunt Claire is letting me borrow The Joy of Cooking, published in 1943, and a friend was gracious enough to bring me Holy Housewifery.

I generally have mixed feelings when I read these books.

For example, when I read this prayer, my first reaction is SHOCK. “Oh my goodness! Did she really ask God to keep her from getting talkative?”

My next reaction is THANKFULNESS. “Lord, thank you that I live in 2010.”

Of course, I can’t help by LAUGH. I have laughed with more than one friend about the line, ‘Teach me the glorious lesson that occasionally it is possible that I may be mistaken.’”

But eventually, I get to the feeling of APPRECIATION for the wisdom pouring from these words. Sure, they are politically incorrect by today’s standards, but they are also expressing a different kind of understanding about life, one that is not afraid to be honest about shortcomings, tendencies, and struggles of everyday women.

Haven’t we all been talkative? I know I have gotten in the car with Clay after an evening out with friends and thought, “Why did I run my mouth all night?”

I am certainly guilty of the crime mentioned in lines five and six, the crime of trying to straighten out everyone’s affairs.

And I have found myself complaining about little aches and pains, instead of embracing an attitude of grattitude for the abundant blessings in my life.

Certainly, is possible that as the years go by, my sweetness has deteriorated. If I don’t pray about it, like the writer of this prayer, I could easily describe myself as “a sour woman.”

The truth is, although these books use verbiage that seems strange in 2010, it still speaks to my heart as a woman. I have been encouraged by it today. And what better way to understand the ideals of women in the ’50′s than to read their prayers?

Posted in 1950's Attitutude, 1950's Wife Project | Tagged , , , | 6 Comments

Weekend with Mima

Emily June 13, 2010
[8] comments

Day #6 – June 12, 2010

“This book is a result of long practical experience, a lively curiosity, and a real love for cooking.”
The Joy of Cooking, 1949

I can think of three words to describe this weekend…

- Delicious

- Memorable

- Priceless

On Friday afternoon, I drove to Decatur, Alabama to spend two days with my two grandmothers, cooking and learning about life in the 1950′s. Most importantly, I learned their secrets to their SIGNATURE DISHES. In every family, there are signature dishes. My Mom makes famous chicken salad. Mima Peggy makes perfect potato salad. And Mima Sara is always responsible for the devilled eggs. Until now, my specialty has been fruit salad, mainly because we usually get together for brunch, and I always sign up for the easiest item on the menu, which happens to be fruit salad.

 Mima Peggy is the inspiration for this post today. This is a picture of her at age twenty-seven, only a few years younger than I am now.

Born Peggy Stephenson, my grandmother has always been the kind of person who comes through in a crisis. As we all shared this weekend, I noticed that everyone has a story of how Peggy saved their life or how she at least offered to.

I remember the day of my high school graduation, when everyone else was congratulating me, Mima Peggy pulled me aside to say, “Emily, I know you are leaving for college soon, so I need to tell you something important. If ever you are in trouble – if you are at a party and no one is sober, or if you are in a wreck, or if you have a problem that you think no one understands, I am telling you now, you can call me. I won’t ask questions. I won’t give you a speech. I’ll just jump in my car and drive down to Auburn – even if it’s the middle of the night. I’ll always be here.”

She gave me the same speech before my wedding. She said, “Em, I know everything seems perfect now, but if you ever need to talk, just call me. Marriage isn’t easy, and you might not want to talk to your Mom about marital troubles, but you can call me. I won’t give you a speech. I’ll just listen. If I have to, I’ll jump in my car and drive to Atlanta – even if it’s the middle of the night. I’ll always be here.”

Even though I haven’t had to call her at midnight, it’s comforting to know she’ll always be there. In my life, I can think of two things I always knew about my Mima Peggy:

1. She will be there for me.

2. She makes the best potato salad in the world.

It’s hard to remember a family function where Mima’s potato salad did not make an appearance. It was there at family picnics, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and the family reunions. She says it has taken forty years of work, but now, I can officially announce… THIS IS THE PERFECT POTATO SALAD RECIPE.

Let us observe a moment of silence for Mima’s fortitude and perserverance in this matter.

————————————

Thank you.

Mima Peggy’s Perfect Potato Salad

Ingredients

5 lb bag of medium sized white potatoes (chill and cut into small cubes)
4-5 boiled eggs ( chill and grate)
6 stalks celery (fine chopped)
1 green bell pepper (finely chopped)
1 white onion, chopped (Vidalia onions work well, too)
2 Tablespoons chopped pimento
Dill Pickles (finely chopped)

Sauce Mixture
1 cup of Mayonnaise (Kraft)
1 Tablespoon Mustard
1 Tablespoon of Milk
1 Teaspoon of Sugar
Salt and Pepper to taste
Sprinkle of paprika
Dried parsley for color (1 teaspoon)

Directions
Day #1
1. Mix ingredients for sauce.  Cover and chill overnight.

2. Boil potatoes and boil eggs. Refrigerate overnight

Day #2
3. Place Celery in cool water so it will be crisp. Leave in water for 10 – 20 minutes.

4. Peel potatoes and cut them into small cubes.

5. Chop celery, bell pepper, onion, and pickles.

6. Mix and serve.

There is a debate in the family as to whether it tastes better to serve the potato salad immediately or allow it to refrigerate overnight. Try it and let us know what you think!

Posted in 1950's Food Preparation, 1950's Wife Project, Recipes | Tagged , , , | 8 Comments

Freebie Friday – Fresh Berries

Emily June 12, 2010
[23] comments

Day #5
“Fruit must be used or frozen quickly in order to maintain flavor, freshness, and taste.”
page 116 of Good Housekeeping’s Guide to Successfull Homemaking, 1956

This week has been a week of firsts.

I made my first homemade crust.

I tasted my first candied pickle.

I wore my first apron.

And I picked my first blackberry.

Southern Belle Farms, located on Turner Church Road in McDonough, is open for blackberry picking. And Kathy at Southern Belle even agreed to show me how to make the perfect blackberry cobbler! This morning, she met me at 8:00 AM for what I expected to be a two-hour lesson. Cobbler is one of my favorite dishes, so I assumed making it would be labor-intensive.

I was happily surprised! The cobbler only had seven simple steps:

1. Pick fresh blackberries at Southern Belle or your nearest fresh market.
2. Bring six cups of berries to a boil in water and turn down the heat to simmer for 5 – 10 minutes.
3. Add 2 cups of sugar to simmering water and continue to simmer.
4. Spread Pilsbury dough onto wax paper with a rolling pin and a little flour (she assured me that the cobbler was just as good with pre-made dough. What a relief!)
5. Place 1 piece of dough on the bottom of the pan and add berry and water mixture, along with 1 more cup of sugar.
6. KATHY”S SECRET: Cut the edges off the dough and drop them into the berry mixture for little “dumplings” inside your cobbler.
7. Place the second piece of dough on top with along with butter and sugar.

Bake at 350 degrees for about 45 minutes.

After tasting cobbler with FRESH berries, I can see that this is the KEY ingredient. My grandmother assured me tonight that she cooked cobblers and pies with in-season fruit. There is no substitute for handpicked sweetness!

So, Jake at Southern Belle agreed to give away a free basket of berries to one reader of this blog. To be eligible, simply leave a comment and I will enter your name into the drawing. If you want your name to be added TWICE,
post the following update on Facebook (let me know that you posted the link on Facebook):

Win free berries from Southern Belle Farms through the 1950′s Wife Blog: http://everydayexperts.com/2010/06/12/freebie-friday-fresh-berries/

I will announce the winner on Monday, June 14th at 4:00 PM. Feel free to leave comments and Facebook posts until then! Although other freebies will be available through the mail, this one must be picked up in McDonough.

Thank you, Southern Belle for bringing locally grown berries to our community! And thank you, Kathy, for sharing your expertise with us. You are a treasure!

Posted in 1950's Food Preparation, 1950's Wife Project, Recipes | Tagged , , , , | 23 Comments