Lessons and recipes of the past - TEAM Resources

Before the arrival of electricity, life was characterized by manual work. People hauled water by the pailful, cleaned clothes by hand with a tub and scrub board, and to feed the family cooked over a stove that had to be stoked up each morning.

Hired help for child care and household chores was one way to ease the burdens of everyday life. But not everyone could afford such a luxury. I am sure that many tired mothers and fathers collapsed into their beds at night, exhausted after completing the day’s tasks.

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Food just seems to taste better when enjoyed outdoors

I am feeling great because I have access to so much fresh produce that gives nourishment and refreshment during this peak growing season.

We are so lucky to have the conveniences that we have today. I think that many of us do not appreciate what we were given with electrification. We take so much for granted. If the power is out for more than an hour, there is panic. There are outbursts like: “Help, I’m missing my show;” “How will I dry my hair?” and “I was popping popcorn in the microwave.”

Many readers will remember the Penny Powers character created in 1956 by the Saskatchewan Power Corp. to help families adapt to their new electrical appliances.

The first Penny Powers, Lillian McConnell, took her knowledge to fairs, schools and community halls across rural Saskatchewan.

A few years ago, I was at a garage sale and picked up a copy of Penny Powers’ Oven Meals. I love the idea behind the book to produce a complete meal out of the oven, economical and efficient.

Recipes from the 1950s are becoming trendy as we try to move away from convenience foods and get back to the basics in our kitchens. I have adapted some of my own recipes and used some from Penny to put together the following menu.

To see the Penny Powers collections, visit www.saskpower.com/pm/power_generations/penny_powers.shtml.

Sweet and sour meatballs

1 cup uncooked rice 250 mL

11/2 pounds ground beef 750 g

salt, pepper and onion salt

according to personal taste

1 cup warm water 250 mL

1/2 cup brown sugar 125 mL

1 cup ketchup 250 mL

1/4 cup vinegar 60 mL

Preheat oven to 350 F (180 C). Mix rice with beef, salt, pepper and onion salt and form into 11/2 inch (3.5 cm) balls. Mix the water, brown sugar, ketchup and vinegar. Put meatballs into a 31/2 quart (3.5 litre) casserole. Pour sauce over the top and cook for 50 to 60 minutes.

Serves four.

Oven cooked rice

1 cup converted rice 250 mL

13/4 cups boiling water 425 mL

2 tablespoons butter 25 mL

1 teaspoon salt 5 mL

Combine ingredients in a greased 11/2 quart (1.5 L) casserole. Stir well and bake covered at 350 F (180 C) for 50 minutes.

Buttered brussels sprouts

In a one quart (one L) casserole, place a package of frozen brussels sprouts, 1/4 cup (60 mL) water, one tablespoon (15 mL) butter, 1/2 teaspoon (two mL) salt and a dash of pepper. Cover and bake at 350 F (180 C) for 50 minutes.

Peach Betty

1/4 cup sugar 60 mL

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon 2 mL

1/2 teaspoon nutmeg 2 mL

1/4 teaspoon salt 1 mL

1 cup graham cracker crumbs 250 mL

3 cups sliced canned peaches 750 mL

1/4 cup peach juice 60 mL

juice and rind of one lemon

Drain peaches, reserve juice. Mix sugar, spices, salt and crumbs. Place 1/3 of the crumbs in a greased 11/2 quart (1.5 L) casserole. Place half of the peach slices on the crumbs, sprinkle with another 1/3 crumbs; repeat peach layer. Mix juice, lemon juice and rind; pour over peaches. Sprinkle with remaining crumbs. Dot with butter. Cover and bake at 350 F (180 C) for 50 minutes. Serve warm with ice cream.

It’s in the can

One of the easiest ways to refresh your home this spring is by painting. It is a cheap and fast way to give your room a new look. Here are some tips from paint maker Benjamin Moore.

Patience: Never judge a paint colour by what’s in the can or the wet paint on the lid. Paint always dries to a darker colour than when it is wet.

Back away from the wall: Don’t hold a small paint chip against the wall to be painted because the colour behind the chip influences its appearance.

Now you see it, now you don’t: To make an object such as an unsightly air vent disappear, paint it the same or similar colour as the wall or ceiling behind it. To make an object such as crown molding stand out, paint it a contrasting colour to the surface against which it is placed.

A step up: If you are fearful of applying a colour that might be too dark overall, then select the same colour one shade above or higher on the sample chip strip. This way you will maintain the depth of colour, but without as much intensity.

Grey expectations: To create a more subdued or sophisticated colour tone, select a colour that is more grey-based or toned with black. This helps to lower the brightness so that it feels more subtle but doesn’t lack

depth.

Patience for paint: Before you rush to a conclusion about the paint colour you have applied to the wall, remember that latex paint can take anywhere from 14 to 28 days to fully cure. Only at this point will you really know the true paint colour and sheen.

Spring into action

April is known as Earth Month.

More than six million Canadians join 500 million people in more than 180 countries

in staging events and projects to address local environmental issues.

Besides driving less, reducing energy usage, supporting farmers’ markets, composting and recycling, what else can we do?

One activity that many of us forget about is taking the time to plant and nurture trees. Have you ever stepped outside a windbreak

on a typical breezy prairie day or sat in the shade in the summertime heat? What can I say, other than thanks to those who planted before us.

Here is some tree trivia:

One large tree can provide a day’s oxygen for up to four people.
The tree’s most important job is energy conservation and carbon dioxide absorption.
Studies show that hospital patients with a window view of trees recovered faster and with fewer complications than comparable patients without access to such views.

Trees intercept rainfall and reduce run-off.
Properly located trees can reduce the demand for fossil energy by shading buildings to reduce air conditioning demand, breaking winter winds to lower heating needs, preventing soil erosion, manipulating snow drifts and sheltering livestock in both winter and summer.
Trees and shrubs are effective insulation against noise.
Each healthy tree can reduce airborne dust by as much as 7,000 particles per litre of air.
You need about 500 full-sized trees to absorb the carbon dioxide produced by a typical car driven 20,000 kilometres per year.
One large tree can lift up to 100 gallons of water out of the ground and discharge it into the air in one day.