Potatoes

(Lyndon 7)
My mother had been a school teacher, had a great deal of determination and German drive, insisted on perfection.  One time when she was sick, I got supper.  My father said, "A good supper.  The potatoes are fine and well mashed too."  My mother said, "Yes, the potatoes are good but not well mashed.  They are full of lumps."  My father swore.

An excellent cook

(1980 memoirs)
And Frankie was unexpectedly an excellent cook.  Her pie crusts were always thin and flakey.  The beef steak was never burned.  The mashed potatoes were never lumpy.

Cleanliness

(1980 memoirs)
I want to make it clear, that tho Frankie's kitchen was old fashioned, all the work was carried out with utmost cleanliness.  The rolled edges of pans were not only scoured, but traced with a toothpick in case a trace of food remained there.  A kettle was kept boiling on a low burner to provide water to pour over every dish every time.

Kitchen stuff

(1980 memoirs)
Necessary arrangements included a pump for soft water to wash the hands, with wash basin beneath; a gas stove; a sturdy work table used to roll out pie crusts, mix puddings, peel vegetables and finally, with two large pans, one for soapy water and one for hot clear water, to wash the dishes.

Pass-thru cupboard

(1980 memoirs)
I already mentioned the sideboard Frankie made, but I haven't told about the cupboard somewhat behind the stove  --  this was a pass-thru arrangement, but we rarely used it for that because all the dishes were arranged to be reached from the kitchen.

Picking up chips

(1990s memoirs)
My father, Frank Parsons, lived as a boy in Waupun, Wisconsin....  The family was poor and his earliest memory was "picking up chips" for his mother, Martha, to get an early morning fire going for the family breakfast.

Fruit cake

(1969 December 7)
On December 7 we were snowbound and [Lorin and I] made fifteen pounds of Fruit cake.  (Jokingly we wondered if such a big recipe wouldn't last us the rest of our lives.  Only too true [noted in margin, June 1970].)  It was unusual for us to do these things together, and we thoroly enjoyed it.  He helped me partly because of the fun and partly because both of these projects [mincemeat and fruit cake] were too much for me alone, and he knew it and came to my rescue, as always.  We packed it all away with brandy ... and stored it in the attic after first taking out a cake for Christmas and sending one to Aunt Mary Maibuchner in Fond du Lac.

Mincemeat

(1969 November 15)
On Saturday, November 15, Lorin and I made five quarts of rich mincemeat from the recipe in the "Woman's Home Companion Cook Book."  Lorin's favorite pie.

Soup

(1968 December 1)
We had a fine #12 turkey, and now I have cut it all off the bones, covered them with water, added diced onion, carrot, celery, parsley, lemon slice, and tomorrow we'll have
soup.  How's that for economy?  You were brought up to be frugal, so it should come easy to you.  I will never spend much, unless I am absolutely carried away, and this is indeed a rare occasion.

Sugar baby

(1993 December)
[Susan Hirschy] used to live with her family next to us.  Jan used to put her snow suit on her and give her a well sealed paper bag containing the one cup of sugar I had phoned over for in desperation, and say "Give it to Polly, Susan."  And I on my porch would urge her on to come.

Breakfasts past

(1993 July)

Ron has put kerosene in Daddy's alarm clock [to fix it] - the one that roused me at 6:30 so many days. I would dash in the bathroom and then to the kitchen and get his breakfast. His breakfast was glass of orange juice, toast soft, egg just right, and ended with cornflakes. If I were very sick, he would skip the whole thing except the orange juice and go to Louie's Grill and probably liked it better than my cooking and the Milwaukee Sentinal every morning. O ye days of long ago.

Bird count

(1992 December 21)

It's Bird Count day in RC and groups go out in cars to see what birds they can see - kinds, etc. Jan's turn to bake cookies.

Jelly

(1992 August 22)

MM is having a new experience. She is making jelly out of everything she can boil. Our neighbor gave us two quarts of blackberries she picked, and jelly on the table for breakfast. It's apple sauce today - man across the street brot apples - heaven knows what kind - he said 4 grafts.

Cherries

(1992 July ?5)

Mary M spied the cherries on the tree and started to pick. Soon the neighbors were helping her. One got the ladder from the garage, and the littlest boy was getting them from the ground. ... I remember when we all picked, and Sherry made the pie on a hot day to show Sally how it was done.

Ben

(1992 June 18)

[While MM went to Madison] Ben was instructed to get our evening meal so it could not be said I had to do it. Ben has changed from desiring to be a chef to becoming a doctor.

Chops

(1992 June 18)

I went in the kitchen and asked MM, "What's for supper?" "Chops," says she. "What's Ben doing?" asked I. "Fixing himself a steak," says she. "He don't like chops." Bruce brot Ben to stay with us a while since he misses his mother. I am not sure which higher school each [grandson] will choose.

The bread machine

(1991 March 16)

I am making bread [with her new Bread Machine] and have come into the kitchen, where it smells yeasty and good. About the mixing - the hardest part was the pain of staying on my feet. Next time I'll take a couple of aspirns first. Second, I ran out of flour and had to get a 5# bag out of the very back of lower cupboard, taking all the near things out first. That's done for next time. Then there is a tublular "cup" that comes with the set - one must use for mixing ingredients. It is harder to put flour in than my open cups; but, as Karen said, "where else could you find a measure for 7/8 of a cup?" So true.

Sour apples

(1989 August 31)

We drove around, ending up 10 miles out in Indian Hollow where we got small sour apples called Red Free. Very small and sour.

(1989 September 3)

Well, I cooked the apples, added sugar, and left them to burn. They taste carmelized, an interesting taste. I hope I can rescue the pan, but it's in a poor state.

Pot boiler

(1988 January 22) Someone gave me a glass disk 2" across which when put in bottom of pot will prevent its boiling over! I have chicken soup boiling away, and this goes rattle rattle but does not boil over.

Microwave

(1988 January 9) I thought you'd get a microwave [because Polly taught Sally how to make popcorn in one]. Be sure to read directions carefully. I still like my toaster oven better to heat rolls and bake potatoes.