Recipe Gathering Evolution

Since we are talking about recipes, I thought I would share with you my first "serious" attempt at gathering family recipes together and filing them in one spot. This is a recipe notebook that I made for a class called Food Science. I constructed it during my junior year in college as a class project. It seemed to be such a major project. PCs were not something we had heard of in those days (all of a sudden I am feeling so old!). A typewriter, card stock, notebook dividers, a three-ring binder, and Elmer's glue all combined as tools for this cookbook creation. It seems like I spent hours on our family's old, clunky typewriter to get this project done. I was just happy the the typewriter was electric, even though correction ribbon was yet unheard of. It was strike-over or white-out, baby! So, alas, the typos and strike-outs remain. 

My Food Science teacher was a terrific woman. She had advanced degrees in nutrition.  I still consider her one of the best teacher's I ever had. She was a wealth of knowledge and had the highest of standards for all her students. Like me, she was a vegetarian and taught her classes from that perspective. She must have been in her early 30's during those years, but to her students she stood on a very high pedestal and was ageless! We were all somewhat in awe of her. She not only taught the home economics and dietetics students, but all the pre-med and nursing majors as well. Today, because I was thinking of her, I searched for her name on the Internet and was fortunate to find a video clip in which she was being interviewed.  I enjoyed ten minutes of hearing her speak again. I reminisced about old times as I listened to her talk. She lives in the midwest now where she is affiliated with a state university. I'm glad others are still learning under her tutelage.

I suppose one could say that it is not only recipes that bring back memories, but the pages and papers and ink that hold and present the words that make up those recipes. A few years back I thought that maybe I should revise my cookbook, giving it a new cover or even an entirely new notebook. It would have been easy to type up new tabs for section dividers and to re-glue magazine recipes that had been clipped and glued to a card stock page. But then the authenticity would be destroyed, and always one for keeping things real, I decided to leave it as it was created --- way back in 1976.

Old Time Cooking

 

There are some pictures that simply need to be taken, even if they are shielded by a layer of dirty glass and bright reflections.  The "Woman's Favorite Cookbook" in this photo is tattered and well-used.  Steaming hot and fragrant foods are illustrated by covered serving bowls with steam wafting as drawn some an artist who was generous with his ink and pen.  I think this artist must have been a man who hadn't been served very many tasty dishes in his life, as the woman on the cover is shown with a piqued and weary look on her face.  I suppose there is a reason why this cookbook wasn't titled "The Joy of Cooking".  Unable to reach through the glass to peruse this worn-out cookbook, I can only imagine the recipes and notes enclosed.  

Photo:  Pearce General Store, Pearce, Arizona

A Farm-Chic Party with the Farm Chicks

Terri, Jacque, and Paula go to a. . .
. . .Farm-Chic Party with the Farm Chicks

There's nothing more fun for vintage collectors and crafters than an event that draws a large group of them together to 'show and tell', shop, gather ideas, and share. It's like one big party! That's what happened last week-end in Spokane, Washington at The Farm Chicks Show. This post is for those of us who weren't able to attend, but wished we could have! Paula and Terri, from Elm Street Antiques, are back to their shop and report a very fun and productive time (if you count a trailer, an SUV, a car truck, and more all filled to the brim with new goodies!). Paula is shown in the photo above (center) with her sisters (Jacque is on the left and Terri is on the right). Together they enjoyed a very good time as they worked together to find new treasures for their shop on Elm Street.

Paula made a collage of some of their new items to share with us. Do you see a common theme? Pink, white, rose decals, shabby yet charming, cozy and comfy; all words that describe much of what Paula and Terri have had fun putting on display in their shop this week. It's a theme that seems to be very much in line with what others of the vintage, farm-chic persuasion love and enjoy! [Click on photo for a larger view]

Other Farm Chick adventures have been happening around the country as well, as Teri and Serena have been on a book tour signing for their new cookbook, Farm Chicks in the Kitchen. You might remember this previous post on Gracious Hospitality that shared of my opportunity to chat with them one day when Karleen and I went grocery shopping together and timed it for the book signing hours.

And you can visit a few other blogs of happy attendees at The Farm Chicks Show below. I think you'll see some common threads to this post --- such as group photos in front of The Farm Chicks silo and lots and lots of farm-chic ware! Happy browsing!

Vintage Mommy

Forget Me Not Dreams

A Cottage Family

Constantly Vintage

Heart Rocks Home

Farmhouse Accessories

Camp Whimsy

Wishing you a very happy 'farm-chic' & Farm Chick day!

Photos copyright@Paula2009

The Farm Chicks

Under the guise of going grocery shopping and buying seed packets for our gardens, Karleen and I went to the supermarket. It was a neighborly thing to do.


But tucked in our cart was a book recently purchased. It was the "Farm Chicks in the Kitchen" cookbook! Along with all the regular supermarket advertising in the newspaper and fliers was word that the "Farm Chicks" were coming to town and would be having a book signing event.


As a reader who enjoys "Country Living" magazine (a place they have been featured many times) and as a friend of Paula from Elm Street (she loves the "Farm Chicks"), it seemed that meeting the "Farm Chicks" would be something that would spice up the day, the week, the month, the year!


And it did! Karleen and I were there early and the lines were short. Teri and Serena were friendly, cheerful, and informative. It was fun to chat and learn from them. They are true country gals --- with a genuine down-home friendliness.


Their books were displayed nearby, ready for eager buyers. The pages within are filled with great country recipes and wonderful kitchen and craft ideas. The book begins with the life story of both Teri and Serena; human-interest blurbs about their growing up years which set the stage for their "Farm Chickness" in later years.


I especially enjoy the story of how they met. One time Teri was preparing dinner when Sister Kathleen called about a new woman to their church. She needed a sponsor. Would Teri be willing to mentor her? She was, and the rest is history. A beautiful friendship developed between Teri and Serena --- and a multitude of creative ventures and ideas resulted from that simple phone call.


Soon they were not only cooking and preserving together, but going off on junking adventures in search of antiques and memorabilia to satisfy their home decorating urge. Eventually they had 'too much stuff' and had their first yard sale in a neighbor's yard. From there the fun continued and continues still with "The Farm Chicks Antique Show" that is held each year.


My cookbook is now duly autographed by both Serena and Teri. I'm enjoying reading the recipes and preparing to try some of them in my own kitchen. Intermingled with recipes and kitchen tips are great stories of their lives and the lives of those they meet as they venture to new places in search for antiques and more. Sprinkled throughout the pages I've also found terrific ideas that will satisfy any one's creative urge! Instructions for vintage aprons made from old sheets, and a scone cozy that is perfect for afternoon tea, ideas for shelf trims, and directions to make food covers --- and much, much more --- are treasures tucked here and there between sections of recipes and lore.


Their book is on my 'most highly recommended' list --- and they are on my 'even higher recommended' list as ladies of farm charm, well deserving of the name "Farm Chicks".

You may visit Teri's and Serena's website and blog easily by clicking on my "Friends of Gracious Hospitality" blog roll. They have been on my blog roll for awhile --- thanks to Paula from Elm Street and her enthusiastic recommendation of their creative expertise.

To Teri and Serena, it was great to meet you! Happy trails to you as you continue teaching others to live well, laugh often, and cook much!

Photos copyright@LaTeaDah2009