From Mama's Kitchen
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...for those who savor the look and flavors of yesterday's kitchen... |
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August 2006
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Mama's Kitchen is a free newsletter about kitchen collectibles. This newsletter is designed to be entertaining and educational, but also a dialogue among those who have a fondness for kitchen items of all kinds. I hope you'll join us for a few memories, giggles, laughs and some useful information about kitchen collectibles. I am not an expert in any field, but I have been buying and selling kitchen items for over 9 years and loving them for a lifetime. Remember collecting anything should be fun. This is especially true when you can use your collection on a daily basis. Please let me know if there is a particular item you would like featured in upcoming issues. |
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Do you remember Kitchen Gadgets, licking Green Stamps, Dish Night at the movies, Carnival Glass at real Carnivals? I am fascinated by trivia that is related to the 40’s, 50’s and 60’s era, and especially the kitchen. I thought I would share a few of my most recently learned facts about the history of some of my favorite things. All of these great facts can be found in the book, “Fun Kitchen Collectibles,” Schiffer Publications, 1996, by Jan Lindenberger.
...in 1889, the J. Ingalls Co. advertised for “lady agents to sell a unique article called the nutmeg grater.” this item sold for 25 cents. It was about that time that the name gadget caught on. ...Spice sets came in a variety of sizes and shapes, as did salt and pepper sets. many of these colorful pieces were sold not only at the “5 and 10 cent store,” but also at souvenir shops. ...vinegar and oil sets were often included with the spice sets. ...Juice reamers came in many sizes, shapes and materials, including glass, tin, aluminum, sterling silver, iron, wood and metal. ...Wooden mallets, meat pounders, butter bowls and paddles, butter churns, and rolling pins were the least expensive of the kitchen implements. ...Iron pots and pans and utensils were in kitchens in the 1930’s. they never seemed to wear out. By the late 30s colorful wooden handled utensils, such as egg beaters, whips, beaters, and mashers replaced much of the tin and iron. ...metal and tin kitchenware was virtually indestructible. ...Mixing spoons, spatulas, strainer spoons, skimmers, slotted spoons... were the housewive’s special tools. ...Wooden handled spoons often had burn marks from resting on hot metal pans. ...recipes were hand written and passed from generation to generation, some terms used in early cookbooks were inexact, like “pinch of salt,” “dab of butter,” “shake of baking powder” or “a squeeze” or “dib of this” or “a dab of that.”
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For this boil 1-1/2 dozen sour apples, peeled, cored, and chopped, in 3 pints of cider vinegar, adding a pound of stoned and chopped raisins, 1 pound light brown sugar, 1 tablespoon salt, 1/4 pound finely chopped ginger root, 1/4 pound chopped onions, chopped garlic clove, 1/2 pound mustard seed that has been heated in oven, and either a small fiery pepper chopped, or a shake or two of cayenne. Cook until apple is soft, stirring constantly. |
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“The Housewife,” Nov. 1909.
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Gravy Fork 
Our What's It this month comes from Rhonda who would like more information on this fork or know how she might find one. I haven’t been able to come up with anything. I think it was probably made in the 1960’s because of the color of the handle. None of my kitchen books has had anything that would help me identify a manufacturer. So I’m asking all of you, “Can you help Rhonda find her fork?” My mother ALWAYS used what we called the "gravy fork" for making gravy, sauces, candy, etc. Something about the design keeps the ingredients from sticking to the bottom of the pan, and also kept it from getting lumpy. I would dearly love to find either a used one, or wish that someone would start making them again, because using one makes ALL the difference Do you have an odd piece of kitchenalia that you'd care to share or ask others to help you identify? Just e-mail a picture and your thoughts to mamas@tias.com and we'll post it and any responses here. |
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Finding the Fork in the Road - Meat Forks I suppose the fork was one of the first gadgets invented. At least some people hold that to be true. According to Linda Franklin, author of “300 Years of Kitchen Collectibles,” the first fork mentioned in history belonged to a Byzantine lady who came to Venice as a bride in the middle of the 11th century…..and forks were not commonly used in England until 1611. I suppose the Flesh or Meat Fork soon made an appearance. Linda Franklin has them dated back to the late 18th century, but my guess is that they were around long before that time. The first ones I would guess were all metal probably from cast iron and forged by a blacksmith. The forks pictured below came along much later. The first was made by Androck in the 1930’s, has a bakelite handle which is commonly referred to as a bullet handle. Book value is $18-$20. The second was made by Ekco and is pictured in their 1957 catalogue as being from the 2600 series. It has a wood handle that is painted yellow and white with a black stripe. Book value is $12-18.
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The third was also made by Ekco, probably in the 1960’s when these colors were popular and everything was about “Flower Power.” Book value would be around $10-$12. The last one is a mystery. I don’t know who made it. If anyone does know, please fill me in on the secret. It has a wood handle that is painted a salmon color with a brown stripe. Value is whatever you can get for it. |
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My mother was a great basic cook. I can’t say gourmet because frankly we were too poor for her to vary the menu with a lot of different items. She was a genius at making meals that cost very little. Of course her way of cooking was to fry everything in either lard or bacon grease. Every once in a while she’d roast a turkey, chicken or ham but only on special occasions. Most of my memories of her at the stove are of her frying something. My mother and grandmother did not have or use a lot of kitchen utensils. I remember they had a spatula and a big carving knife but I really don’t remember much else. I think they eventually had a meat grinder and an electric mixer. However, I remember the thing I saw them use most was the everyday fork. It wasn’t a meat fork but just one pulled from the kitchen drawer. They whipped, beat, stirred and turned everything with it. I’ve often wondered as they stood there frying something why they never got popped with grease. I can’t fry anything without coming away burned and I use the longest pair of tongs I can besides ducking behind the pan lid. They would belly up to the stove and stand their continuously until it was done. I admit it’s taken me almost 35 years to learn how to fry chicken. I would either burn it or half the coating would stay in the pan. I could never get it to come out evenly. My mother would stand there turning it with a fork and it was perfect. It‘s a gift with which I’m sure only great chefs are blessed. Martha Smith from Ellsville, Mississippi wrote:
I lived with my grandmother and grandfather when I was 5 years old in south Mississippi. My grandmother would make Cat Head Biscuits. Called this because of their size. Of course they were made from scratch and she would put them in a large iron skillet to bake them. I think she would get 6 in that skillet. When they were done, my uncle and I would pour Karo syrup in a plate, mix real butter in that Karo and slide those Cat Head Biscuits thru the concoction. Man, oh man, that was some good eatin'. Fifty years later I can recall how good those biscuits were!!!
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Hanging wallpaper anytime soon? Get out your rolling pin. It works way better for getting out excess paste and air bubbles than those little rollers you buy. Joyce from Minnesota sent along this tip:
Place a few bay leaves in kitchen drawers to keep insects away.
Mary from Texas wrote:
To sharpen a machine needle, stitch through a piece of sandpaper.
Have you got a great kitchen tip or question, please send it along to mamas@tias.com |
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The home page of Mama's Treasures has been revamped to make it easier for you to find your favorite collectibles. I've also added a new category called the "Half Price Table." Any item from this category has been discounted 50%. Joining my mailing list also makes you eligible for promotional coupons and advance notice of sales. 15% Off orders of $50.00 or more through August 15th. See store for details and exclusions. New items added include Pyrex Pink Bowls and an Aqua Balloon Chip N Dip; Anchor Red & Black Stripe Barrel Salt & Pepper Set; Lincoln Tater King Scooper; China Chamber Pots; Hazel Atlas Refrigerator Jars; Empire Ekco Pink Utensil Set in the Original Box; Chamber Pots, Hull Milk Pitcher; Crocheted Potholders; Blue Calico Salt and Pepper & Spice Sets; Kitchen Gadgets from the 60s &70s; Federal & Hazel Atlas Glasses; Green Utensils; Tipp City Flower Spice Set; Green Stripe Barrel Range Shakers; Kromex Pink Spice Set, Canister Set & S&P Set; Androck Bakelite Bullet Utensils; West Bend Canister Set; Federal Dot Bowls; Vintage Sewing & Hankies; Primitives, Christmas, Cookbooks, Potholders and much more. Drop by and visit at www.tias.com/stores/mamas I love to chat, answer questions and we always consider reasonable offers. |
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Thank you for reading! Thanks for reading! Feel free to forward this to a friend. |
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