Delightful Retro Finds

Me and a few friends went to lunch at Wendy's today. I love Wendy's. Anyway, they are selling travel mugs for $2.99, and all the proceeds go to the Disabled Veteran's Memorial Fund. There are two style choices. The one I picked has two vintage Coca Cola ads on it from WWII. It's a great stocking stuffer or treat for yourself. Plus you get coupons inside! I tried to find a picture but didn't have success.

My second find of the day was the book "Make Do and Mend". It is a book of reproduction instruction leaflets from WWII. I had seen it on Amazon a few months ago, but found it today at Daedalus books for $5.00. It is full of wonderful WWII-ness, but the info is practical and

useful today: how to darn socks, repair a button hole, storage of your clothes, saving fuel, making slippers, cutting down adult clothes and turning them into children's clothes — and that's just scratching the surface. It is definitely a must have for those of us looking for vintage books and resources.

There is also another book in this series, "Eating for Victory". It's next on my list. ;)

Just a few photos . . .

Here are a few pictures I found sitting on my computer. Enjoy! :)

Vintage Recipe: Sugar Cookies

Here is the second Christmas cookie recipe from the December 1949 issue of Women's Day.

Sugar Cookies

Costs 34 cents

Yields 2 1/2 dozen

1/2 cup vegetable shortening

1 cup sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 eggs, grade B

2 1/2 cups sifted flour

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

Confectioners’ sugar icing

silver shot

citron

Cream shortening; add sugar, flavoring, and eggs one at a time; beat until light. Add sifted dry ingredients; mix well. Chill for 2 hours. roll thin and cut with floured Christmas tree cutter or other fancy cutter. Bake on greased cookie sheets in hot oven, 400 degrees F., about 10 minutes. Cool on racks; decorate with icing, silver shot and bits of citron or other candied fruit.

Vintage Christmas Recipe: Crisp Ginger Cookies

As promised, here is a cookie recipe from the December 1949 issue of Woman's Day magazine.

If I had a scanner I would post the whole magazine! Sadly, I do not. So here is recipe 1 of 52 vintage cookie recipes from the article "The Cookie Jar" by Glenna McGinnis.

Crisp Ginger Cookies

(Costs 30 cents)

Yields 2 1/2 dozen

1 cup molasses

1/2 cup vegetable shortening

3 cups sifted flour

2 to 3 teaspoons ginger

1/2 teaspoon [baking] soda

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon salt

Confectioners' sugar icing

Cinnamon drops

Heat molasses and pour over shortening; add sifted dry ingredients; mix well. Chill overnight. Roll very thin on floured board; cut with Santa cookie cutter or other fancy cutter. Put on greased baking sheets and bake in moderate oven, 350 degrees F., for 8 to 10 minutes. Cool on racks. When cold, outline cookies with icing; 1 cup sifted confectioners' sugar, mixed with 2 tablespoons water. Put in small pastry bag or a frosting gun. Decorate with cinnamon drops.

Christmas Cards and Barbara Stanwyck

Imprinted Christmas cards bother me. Can't we take the time to sign our own name? I understand if you have mammoth amounts to send out, but still — it's so much more personal and meaningful if it's in your handwriting. That was my rant for today ;)

The other day I was browsing a movie catalogue and came across "The Barbara Stanwyck Show". I never even knew Miss Stanwyck had a show, and I am absolutely thrilled!!! You can buy it on Amazon here. Only one season was made, and this DVD collection (volume 1) has 15 of the 22 episodes. Each episode is a drama, and they are full of guest stars. Barbara Stanwyck won "Best Actress in a Dramatic Series" for her show. (Which makes it surprising that there is only one season!) As a bonus feature on the DVD you get to see her making her Emmy acceptance speech.