In This Edition Of Our Somewhat Weekly Magazine:
- Time Capsule: Food Trends of The 40’s
- Sharper Carrots
- The Varnum’s Food Fare
Our Favorite Quote Of The Week ~ “Education is learning what you didn’t even know you didn’t know. ” – Daniel J. Boorstin
Time Capsule: Food Trends of The 40’s ~ Time Capsule: Food Trends of The 40′ – The war is in full motion in the early 1940’s and affects how Americans purchase food and how they cook. Rationing is a normal part of life. Newsprint ads inform “housewives” to slice their own bread. Commercially sliced bread is out of the question in order to conserve labor. “Be smart, Mrs. Menu-Planner! Pep up your meals- save money-give your family important nourishment with the special wartime MASTER LOAF. It’s improved for perfect home slicing.” Meanwhile, it seems there is no stopping human creativity. Many surprising foods we now take for granted were born in the 1940’s. Here are a few noteworthy examples: York peppermint patties (1940), Cherrio’s and M&Ms (1941), Nachos and Chicago Style Pizza (1943), Nutella (1946), Betty Crocker’s Cake Mix (1947), Frozen French Fries (1948), The Whopper, Instant Pudding and Seedless Watermelon (1949).
Sharper Carrots ~ Remember back to school in “our time?” The new scissors and workbooks, and the colorful ruler. The new pencil-case and brand new pencil sharpener. In truth, most of the previous year’s supplies probably would have lasted right through college, but let’s face it, going back to school is stressful and doing so with new treasures in hand eases the pain of parting with the leisure of summer. Which brings us to carrots, oddly enough. Some ingenious, and probably nostalgic inventor came up with the carrot sharpener. Recognize this classic little gem? The thing is, as silly as this may sound, it makes perfect sense. The Karoto makes the perfect carrot, zucchini or cucumber rosettes. And maybe it makes preparing meals less stressful too. Available from a company called “Monkey Business.” Look it up!
The Varnum’s Food Fare ~ Kitchens of the Great Midwest by J. Ryan Stradel… You can’t go wrong with a story set in the midst of the legendary Midwest hospitality. In fact, we think we share the same values here in Vermont. J. Ryan Stradel’s debut novel is designed around Lars Thorvald, a single father and Eva, the baby daughter he is determined to raise in the midst of the long traditions of the Minnesotan table. In fact, dad loves his native cuisine so much that he concocts an original puréed pork shoulder especially for little Eva. The at once funny and sensory novel captures the deep ways in which food is linked to identity and community. “Kitchens of the Great Midwest is an unexpected mother-daughter story about the bittersweet nature of life–its missed opportunities and its joyful surprises. It marks the entry of a brilliant new talent.” – Goodreads. Look it up at The Varnum Memorial Library, or at your own local library.
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