Do you remember downtown Niles in the 1950s?

Published 3:55 pm Friday, May 16, 2008

By Staff
These dwindling days between seasons can sometimes be quite hectic and you hardly know whether to get out your skis, be prepared to crawl in your boat or unpack your spring clothing. Whether we care to admit it or not, weather conditions are inclined to play havoc with our dispositions!
Perhaps that is why I got such a kick out of an article (directed to our Creator) that read "So far today, I am doing alright. I haven't gossiped, lost my temper, been greedy, grumpy, nasty, nor been self-indulgent! Nor have I whined, cursed or eaten any chocolate. However … I am going to get out of bed in a few minutes and I'll need a lot more help after that!" I wish to thank the individual who mailed me this article, for it brightened my day!
I agree it is difficult to keep smiling when you are busy bailing water out of a flooded basement, or almost lose your car in a "pothole" or temporarily lose power; but from what I am continually hearing on the news report … our community has not suffered nearly as badly as some of those around us. Our road crews are to be commended for keeping the roads passable and I am sure that their families breathed a sigh of relief when these men arrived home safely. Let's attempt to put the severe Winter cold behind us and look forward to the beautiful forthcoming blossoms whose thirst has been quenched by all of this year's moisture. As I sit here typing this column, a huge covey of birds, most likely starlings, have taken up residence in my trees and their lusty chattering is almost deafening … so surely this must be a harbinger of Spring!
I received today's first recipe way back in the year 1958 and was told that this rich and delicious pie was the type that was made back in the days of Mary Lincoln … before people went through the routine of calorie counting.
Cream Pie
9 inch pie shell pastry
1/2 cup heavy cream
1 cup brown sugar, finely packed
1/4 cup butter
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Set oven to 425 degrees. Line pie tin with pie shell. Separate eggs, then beat just the yolks and the heavy cream together slightly. Stir in the brown sugar and melted butter very gradually until the mixture becomes completely smooth. Add the extract, then beat the mixture vigorously with your egg beater. Beat the egg whites until they hold their shape, then mix in the yolk mixture very gently. Pour this mixture into your unbaked pie shell and bake for 15 minutes, reduce the oven heat to 325, and continue baking for another 25 minutes. Allow pie to cool completely before serving
Homemaker's Hint: Many of us tend to spruce up our rooms with new paint this time of year. I used to find it helpful to immerse a popsicle stick into the paint can and save it. Then if, heaven forbid, I run out of paint, I can take the stick to the store to verify the color.
Timely Trivia: Did you know that at birth a Dalmatian dog is pure white? As the dog matures, the spots appear.
Potato Balls
2 cups hot mashed potatoes
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon celery salt
dash cayenne
1 tablespoon butter
1 egg
2-3 teaspoons chopped parsley
flour for dipping
Beat butter and seasonings into the hot mashed potatoes. Allow mixture to cool for a few minutes. Add egg and parsley, then whip the mixture with a fork to make certain it is thoroughly blended. Roll a small amount of this mixture into a ball, then roll this ball in a small amount of flour to coat it evenly. Drop these balls into hot fat and fry until golden, then drain on paper toweling.
Homemaker's Hint: It is next to impossible to give any ironclad rules as to the exact amount of food each of us should eat, for people certainly vary in their bodily needs and abilities to digest different kinds and quantities of foods. Normally, your sense of taste stops registering keen satisfaction before your stomach begins to feel full. Listen to your body!
Timely trivia: Did you know that the Bureau of Engraving and Printing prints approximately 22,000,000 paper bills daily?
Apple Pan Dowdy
8 large tart apples
1/2 loaf stale brown bread
1/4 cup dark brown sugar
3/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 cup cold water
2 tablespoons butter
Cut bread into thin slices, then pare off crusts. Butter each slice, then lay them evenly into a buttered baking dish until it is neatly lined. Place the pared and sliced apples evenly on top of this, then cover with an even coating of the cinnamon, a small dusting of salt and pour water over all. Cover the top with bread, placing the buttered side up. Bake in a 350 degree oven for about 60 minutes, serve immediately.
Timely Trivia: In the Middle Ages, children were always given a candle during baptismal services. This custom gave origin to the habit of giving our children candles on their birthday cakes.
* Life is not mere living, but the enjoyment of health!
Chocolate Cornstarch Pudding
2 cups scalded milk
1 1/2 squares chocolate
5 tablespoons cornstarch
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup cold milk
bit of salt
3 tablespoons hot water
3 egg whites
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Combine cornstarch with sugar and salt in the cold milk. Now pour this into the scalded milk in the top of your double boiler and cook for ten minutes while stirring constantly. Once thickened, add the chocolate which has been melted in the hot water, then beat this mixture until it becomes smooth. Gradually begin adding the egg whites, which have been beaten stiff, and the extract. Pour into a mold and chill, then serve with whipped cream
Did you know that oranges were once many years ago referred to as "sours" by the Arabs in southern Spain? They were originally cultivated because the skins were thought to possess medical qualities.
* There is no other single violation of nature's laws which causes so much ill health as overeating!
Homemade Corn Fritters
1 cup cold chopped corn
1 cup milk
1 teaspoon baking powder
2 egg yolks
4 tablespoons flour
2 egg whites
1/2 teaspoon salt
dash pepper
Beat the egg yolks until they become very thick and lemon colored, then add the milk, seasoning, corn, flour and baking powder in just that order. Last of all, cut in the egg whites which have been beaten to a stiff froth. Drop this fritter mixture by spoonfuls into hot oil. Fry just until they become a golden brown.
Food facts: Did you know that an egg, in its raw state, is practically a liquid?
Homemaker's Hint: I frequently wear white blouses to work and find that even within a matter of a few hours … yellow rings can be seen forming on the collars. Try rubbing a generous amount of white chalk onto the stain, then allow it to sit for at least 10 minutes before laundering as usual. The chalk seems to absorb the sebum oil which retains the dirt and creates the ring so the stains wash away easily.
Baked Onion Souffle
1/2 cup stale bread crumbs
2 teaspoons chopped parsley
1 cup cold boiled onions
1 egg yolk
1 tablespoon butter
1 tablespoon flour
1/2 teaspoons salt
dash paprika
1 cup milk
2 egg whites
Finely chop onion. Make a white sauce from the butter, flour, seasonings and milk. When it boils, then add to it the bread crumbs, parsley, chopped onion and beaten egg yolk. Beat the egg whites to a very stiff froth, then fold them into this onion mixture. Pour into a buttered casserole, place it into a 350 degree oven and bake for 15 minutes. Serve with cream sauce.
Timely trivia: With warm weather just around the corner, we will again be faced with the dilemma of eliminating house flies who are infected with all types of noxious bacteria. Flies carry all types of germs on their wings and hairy feet, and are said to have killed more American soldiers in the Spanish-American War than the bullets of the Spaniards.
Homemaker's Hint: Long periods in front of a computer screen can strain your eyes, so they offer this exercise for preserving your vision. Hold one thumb in front of you at arm's length. Move it in a circular motion for a good 30 seconds, then use it to trace figure eights for 30 seconds .. all the while following your thumb with your eyes. This is said to strengthen the orbital muscles that control eye movement, thus keeping your vision sharp.
Johnny Cake
2 eggs
1 cup cornmeal
1 cup milk
1 tablespoon melted butter
1/2 cup white flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
Melt butter over hot water. Separate eggs, then beat yolks slightly. To this, add the milk, butter, cornmeal, flour and salt. Beat this mixture thoroughly, then add the baking powder and beat again. Fold this mixture in with the egg whites which have been stiffly beaten. Place into a greased, shallow baking dish and bake for 35 minutes in an oven of 350 degrees. To serve: cut into squares and serve while warm. (Note: an elderly gentleman introduced me to this recipe many years ago and referred to it as "Johnny Cake," since his name was John, I am thinking that perhaps it was something that he concocted … thus was referred to as "Johnny Cake." … Lou)
Timely trivia: Have you ever noticed that each time they make the statement "History Repeats Itself", prices seem to increase?
Food Facts: Although nuts are said to be a healthy snack, they tend to lose up to 10 percent of their healthy oils when roasted.
*As popular as they are, when they make their appearance, I have often wondered why they are not obtainable throughout the year … instead of just during the Easter Season?
Hot Cross Buns
1 pint milk
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 yeast cake
1/2 cup butter
3 eggs
1/2 teaspoon salt
flour
Scald milk, then pour it over the butter and salt. When lukewarm, add the dissolved yeast and well-beaten eggs. Sift in just enough flour to make a thin batter, then beat this batter with a whisk for 10 minutes. When it becomes full of bubbles, just add enough flour to make it into a dough. Knead this dough hard and then let it raise. Once the dough has doubled in bulk, turn it out, knead it and cut it into buns. Place these buns into a greased pan to rise, brush them over, when ready to go into the oven with a syrup made from 1 tablespoon of cream and 2 tablespoons of sugar which have been boiled together for just a minute. Dust the tops with cinnamon and then just before baking, cut two gashes in the top with a sharp knife. By adding currants or raisins to this recipe, they make exceptionally good fruit buns.
Timely trivia: According to statistics, they claim that 70 per cent more "root canals" are performed on smokers than non-smokers.
A touch of levity: Did you read where two surgeons and a dermatologist were dining together, when the first two doctors began to laugh hysterically? "What's so funny?" the dermatologist inquired. "Sorry, you would not understand," one of the surgeons replied. "It happens to be an inside joke!"
*Just thinking how tasty sour milk doughnuts with a hot cup of coffee can be … immediately brought to mind the old Lork Bakery, owned by Gus Lork, and located at 1709 Oak Street. If my memory serves me correct … I believe this was along about the year of 1953 … some 55 years ago! Close your eyes and revel in the memories of those bygone years. Burt Luth was Niles City Clerk, Mr. Collins was our postmaster, Elmer Easton was our locksmith, and we had a delightful little ladies apparel shop, Betsy Ross, which was located on Main Street in Downtown Niles. Pete Rogers was the manager of our A&P Supermarket on Second Street. Buehlers Meat Mkt. At 116 Main and Hausers Meat Mkt. at 122 Main, though competitors … were often spotted having coffee together on their lunch breaks. No matter how small my purchase, they were always quick to throw in a few free bones for my pets. This congeniality between Niles Merchants and residents is what makes Niles such a very special city!
Sour Milk Doughnuts
2 cups flour
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 scant teaspoon baking soda
1 scant teaspoon cream of tartar
dash nutmeg
1/2 tablespoon butter
1 egg
1/2 cup sour milk
1/2 cup sugar
Sift dry ingredients together, then rub butter into flour with your fingertips. Add the sugar, egg and milk. Beat thoroughly, then place the dough on to a well-floured board. (Note: Since this produces quite a soft dough, it will not be too easy to handle, but you can do it! I have faith in you!) It will help greatly if you use a knife to turn it over. Knead the dough lightly, then roll it into a sheet. Cut the doughnuts with your ring cutter, then fry them in boiling oil but only four or five at a time.
Timely trivia: I believe that sometime during the 1950s there was also a bakery somewhere on Main Street that went by the name of "Better Maid." Readers- feel free to correct me if I am mistaken!