New Dresses...

After a very long and stressful week at work MrD needed to relax… so after a leisurely breakfast, hubby jumped on his bike and headed for the mountain trails to let off some steam

After he left I spent a little time in the garden.. watering, dead heading a few plants and just checking everything was ok in the victory garden

I’m not sure from where a dozen little cucumbers had just miraculously appeared from

because I’m sure they weren’t there yesterday!!

I then spent the next couple of hours in my sewing room

finishing the dresses  Ive been making for the Red Cross...

before starting a new project

The stash of fabric I inherited when my dear Mother in Law 

passed away September will last me for years

The Whistler " Notes in the Night"

27 June 1942

MrD got home late afternoon... having had a great time up the mountain. So I made a simple supper of cheeseburgers and fried potato wedges.. and we ended the day listening to the lastest episode of "the Whistler" on the radio.

Ration Book Changes

Here we are at the end of another work week… so this morning I went did the weekly grocery shop. There was a bit of chatter at the store about the fact sugar rationing changes on Sunday. Instead of each stamp being valid for 1 pound of sugar over a 2-week span, have doubled the value of each stamp to 2 pounds of sugar and extending its validity to a full month

  

I don't think it will affect us.. we will still get 4lb sugar a month for the two of us... and for us that's quite a bit.

When I got home I got changed and because its Friday it was time to give the dining room a good clean. I also cleaned the hall, threw a couple of buckets of soapy water over the front porch and steps and gave them a good scrub.

When MrD got home we had an early dinner.

I made a quick and easy Chicken Fricassee

Then we spent an enjoyable evening at our local cinema watching creepy horror movie

starring Bela Lugosi.. one of Hubby's favourite actors

The Corpse Vanishes 1942 

starring  Bela Lugosi and Luana Walters

One Egg Cupcakes

This week is flying by, and as usual Thursday was Kitchen cleaning day.

Thankfully tomorrow is shopping day as the fridge is looking very sorry for itself... 

although being so empty its easier to wipe clean

The pantry however is still looking well stocked.

 Last years preserving has paid off and we still have lots of canned goods

 and its almost time to start preserving this years harvest too!

So my shopping list this week is mainly fresh foods and vegetables

The tomatoes in the Victory Garden are growing in abundance..

 lots of different varieties...    

yet none of them show any sign of turning red!

The cake tin was looking a bit empty. Although MrD and I dont eat a lot of sweet treats.. its nice to be able to grab a little something to have with a nice cup of tea. These cupcakes from Better Homes and Gardens Magazine, February 1942 fit the bill perfectly.... and the recipe only uses one egg.. great for a wartime bake.

The cakes rose beautifully, were light and tasted lovely. I topped them with the Creamy Chocolate Frosting used in the recipe, which only used 2 squares of chocolate.. but next time I will use some of my homemade jam and make little fairy cakes

1/4 cup shortening

2/3 cup sugar

1 egg

11/3 cups flour

1/4 teaspoon salt

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 cup milk

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

• Thoroly cream shortening and sugar
• Add egg, and beat well. 
• Add flour, sifted with salt and baking powder, alternately with milk and vanilla extract. 
• Fill greased cupcake pans two-thirds full. 
• Bake in moderate oven (375°) 20 minutes. 

Original Magazine Clipping

Better Homes and Gardens Magazine
February 1942

Another Wednesday... Another New Book

As its Wednesday its bathrooms day. 

They get a swish and a wipe every day... 

but once a week they get a good scrub! 

Bon Ami Cleaning Products Ad
1942

And my cleaner of choice? Bon Ami. 

It leaves everything gleaming and gets rid of those stubborn stains

House work done.. I managed to sit down with a cuppa and read some of the book I started last night

Evil Under the Sun by Agatha Christie published in 1941

MrD has already read it and enjoyed it!. 

And just like the other books she has written.. I just cant put it down

For dinner we had a very simple chicken stir fry followed by Lemon Cracker Pudding ...

Broadcast June 24, 1942

And to end the day we relaxed  listening to another Suspense Radio Show.. "Wet Saturday"

Estofado Sonorense.. Beef Stew, Sonora Style

What a hot day is been... but the garden is blooming...

especially the roses.

and look....our first turnip

Im sure it will be delicious especially the turnip tops

Tuesday means it was Living Room cleaning day. 

I really love the way the room smells after all the polishing is done

Dinner tonight was the first recipe I've tried from a newly aquired "Elena's Famous Mexican and Spanish Recipes" by Elena Zelayeta 1944. And I was pleasantly surprised.

The stew meat was very tender and the dish full of flavour... and I made no changes,  The dish cooked down and thickened, so I served it over Mexican Rice with some tortillas. But there was enough leftover for us to have later in the week.. possibly served as a soup

2 pounds beef stew meat
1 large onion, minced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 bell pepper, diced

1 cup tomato sauce

1 tablespoon vinegar

1 teaspoon oregano

Salt and pepper

2 tablespoons flour

Original Book Recipe

• Place meat in heavy pan
• Add minced onion, garlic, and bell pepper 
• Pour tomato sauce over all, then add vinegar, oregano, salt and pepper, and last the flour sprinkled over 
• Cook on top of stove, covered, approximately 1½ hours, or until tender. 
• Do not use any shortening; the fat on the meat will be suficient. 

Elena's Famous Mexican and Spanish Recipes

by Elena Zelayeta 1944 

Picnic Salad

Happy Monday Lovelies

Well these Mondays sure do come round fast.. but the laundry was done early and dried quickly on the washing line... And because its Monday.. I changed the beds and gave the bedrooms a good clean.

That done... I collected the eggs from our ladies and went out to the Victory Garden and dug up a few potatoes for tonight's dinner... Picnic Salad

The recipe from Better Homes and Gardens Magazine, July 1942 is a spin on the traditional potato salad as its a full meal in itself.. incorporating lovely chunks of cooked ham.

I did cut down on the seasonings... I had already salted the potatoes while they were cooking.. and I thought two teaspoons was a lot. So...season to taste! But apart from that.. it was really delicious.. crisp and fresh.. with or without carrots,  and the recipe made plenty so it can be used as a side dish too.

4 cups cubed cooked potatoes

2 teaspoons salt
1½ cup chopped green onion
1/2 teaspoon pepper
¼ cup diced celery
6 hard-cooked eggs, sliced
2 cups cubed cooked ham
3. 3/4 cup mayonnaise
2 cups grated carrot

Original Magazine Clipping

• Combine potatoes, onion, celery, ham, and seasonings. 
• Add eggs and mayonnaise. 
• Toss lightly; chill. 
• Arrange on lettuce or other greens in salad bowl. 
• Garnish with carrot. 

Better Homes and Gardens Magazine
July 1942

Barbequed Pork Ribs

 Happy Sunday Lovelies..

and Happy Fathers Day

Today I remember my own dear father.. the best Dad, Gaga, Brother, Uncle and Friend anyone could wish for...

 
Its been twenty years since we said our goodbyes and he joined my mother in heaven . He was always a true gentleman.. always the comedian.. always the kindest and gentlest man in the room. They truly broke the mould when they made him.

 

I am so proud to be his daughter and will love and miss him always

With my foot all better we made it to church this morning where it was lovely meeting up with our friends Ginny and Michael. Ginny says shes been having a few twinges so Baby Hughley could be making an appearance sooner than we thought  

When we got home.. MrD worked on his old lawn mower which kept cutting out. Of course he fixed it... he's a genius!!

As for me I prepped a special Fathers Day treat for him... his favourite Barbequed Spare Ribs from the July 1942 Better Homes and Gardens Magazine

The sauce on these ribs is absolutely delicious.. not too sweet with the right amount of heat. Its very simple to throw together and the ribs come out really tender. MrD loves it... and the sauce is so good over chicken too.

The only thing I did different was not to add more liquid smoke.. or celery seed at the end. But that's just a personal preference.

"Liquid smoke tastes like real hickory smoke, may be omitted"

3 to 4 pounds spareribs, cut in pieces

2 teaspoons liquid smoke

1 cup ketchup

1/3 cup Worcestershire sauce

1 teaspoon chili powder

1 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon Tabasco sauce

2 cups water

2 teaspoons liquid smoke

1 teaspoon celery seed

• Place ribs in shallow roasting pan, meaty side up. 
• Sprinkle with 2 teaspoons liquid smoke. 
• Roast in hot oven (450°) 30 minutes. 
• Combine remaining ingredients except smoke and celery seed
• Bring to boiling and pour over ribs. 
• Continue baking in moderate oven (350°) 1 hour or until tender. 
• Baste ribs with sauce every 15 or 20 minutes. 
• Fifteen minutes before ribs are done, sprinkle with remaining liquid smoke and celery seed. 

Better Homes and Gardens Magazine
July 1942

Today, June 21st 1942, there was concerning news on the radio. Rommels Panzerarmee Afrika attacked Tobruk with massed air support, penetrated a weak spot on the eastern defensive perimeter and captured the port. The fall of Tobruk threatens to prolong the war as the port was vital to allied operations because it was the only deep-water harbour in Eastern Libya. Without the port, our armies will be forced to bring most of their troops and supplies overland.

As our first Lady, Eleanor Roosevelt said:

 "Now is the time to prove our unity. Every front belongs to every nation and we who are the youngest and strongest nation now facing the Axis powers, must show our determination to win. This can best be done by proving our unity of feeling and of purpose with every one of our allies. Success may mean more sacrifice, even changes in our way of life, but if we can shorten the war by an hour, everything we will do will be worthwhile."

As usual we pray for those who have lost their lives... for the thousands that have been taken prisoner  and pray that the Lord will give our leaders wisdom in the fight