Idaho‘s nickname is the Gem State because of the abundance of precious stones found. Opal, jade, jasper, and topaz are a few of the rare gems found there. The state gem is the star garnet.
Month: January 2017
Evening Amusements for Old-Fashioned Themed Parties – Part 3
I wanted to host an old-fashioned theme party for a few friends during the Christmas season. Read Evening Amusements for Old Fashioned Themed Parties – Part 1 for food ideas. Part 2 explains the Game of Concert.
Today I’m sharing two fun games. You need only your wit to play these games in a group setting. The games call for guests to think about their answers and also how they will outwit an opponent.
The Game of One Syllable
In this game, players take turns asking the person on their right a question, which can be any number of syllables. Each word of the neighbor’s response must be one syllable; it can be a whole sentence, just every word must be one syllable.
Example: Do you enjoy the winter season?
Answer: Yes, I actually enjoy driving in icy conditions.
Had he stopped at “yes” he would have been fine, but “actually” “enjoy” “driving” “icy” “conditions” get him booted from the game.
If any word of the player’s response contains more than one syllable, that person is out.
The Game of Five Vowels
This game is similar to the Game of One Syllable. The person asks a question to the player on their left and requests the response be given without an “e” (or an a, etc.) Then every word in the response must not contain that vowel.
If the player includes the forbidden vowel, he’s out.
Sound easy? (Hint: Think about asking questions that require an answer using a particular vowel and then forbid that vowel. That sparks everyone’s creativity.)
Guests enjoyed both these games so often played at parties over a century ago.
Next time we will talk about more party games. Hope you can join in the fun!
-Sandra Merville Hart
Source
Planche, Frederick D’Arros. Evening amusements for every one; a collection of mirthful games, parlour pastimes, shadow plays, magic, conjuring, card tricks, chemical surprises, fireworks, forfeits, &c., illus. by George Cruikshank and others, Porter and Coates, ca 1880.
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
“It’s not a happy book.”
That’s what a family member told me even as he urged me to read this novel.
This book is not my normal genre. The disjointed way in which it is written required some patience. I would have given up on the story early on except for a loved one’s comment that this book was “one of my top five books I’ve read.”
The author’s constant interruptions to explain backstory and foretell future events prevented me from becoming emotionally involved for half the book. Then I became engaged and lost several hours of sleep trying to finish it.
The book thief, a girl living in Germany at the time of Hitler, endures countless difficulties and suffers many losses. The power of the story strengthens and escalates toward a climax that made my heart hurt.
Recommend.
-Sandra Merville Hart
Potato Pudding Recipe
I found a recipe for potato pudding in an 1877 cookbook, Buckeye Cookery. I’d never eaten or even heard of this type of pudding and decided to try it.
The recipes in this cookbook generally leave a lot to the imagination, but ingredient measurements were given for this one.
Peel six potatoes, cut into small wedges and then cook them on the stovetop. When they are soft and fork-tender, mash them finely.
Separate 5 eggs and reserve 2 egg whites in another bowl. Beat egg yolks and stir into the potatoes. Add a cup of sugar and ½ cup of butter and stir well.
Beat 3 of the egg whites to a stiff froth. Fold into the potato mixture.
Grate one lemon rind and add this and its lemon juice and stir. Add 2 cups of milk or cream and ½ teaspoon of salt.
I baked it at 350 degrees for about an hour. Then I whipped the remaining 2 egg whites with 2 tablespoons of sugar until white and fluffy. This was used as icing for the pudding.
It smelled good but tasted strangely. Lemon and potatoes didn’t get along well together.
I decided to remake this recipe leaving out the lemon altogether. Instead I used cinnamon and nutmeg.
The quantities given made 6 single serving ramekins besides filling a medium baking dish. I chose to cut this down to a third of the quantities suggested.
Using 2 potatoes, 2 eggs, 1/3 cup sugar, 2 tablespoons butter, 2/3 cup milk, ½ teaspoon cinnamon, ¼ teaspoon nutmeg, and ½ teaspoon salt, I omitted the lemon components and followed the recipe above.
This mixture gave 5 ramekins, which were baked in a larger pan. The ramekins sat in an inch of hot water and baked in a 350-degree oven for 40 minutes. Then I whipped an egg white with a tablespoon of sugar and spread the meringue over the top.
This turned out much better. I refrigerated the pudding. Chilling it improved the flavor.
The original recipe is from 1877 cook, Mrs. Gov. Ingersoll from Connecticut.
-Sandra Merville Hart
Sources
Compiled from Original Recipes. Buckeye Cookery and Practical Housekeeping, Applewood Books, 1877.
Almost an Author Post – Research’s Unexpected Benefit
Novelists may sometimes find that their story stalls in the middle. Writers of historical fiction can reap unexpected benefits from their research.
DevoKids Post – Big Bend National Park
To explore this national park in Texas, take a desert hike (choose from short and easy walks to longer ones requiring several days), forested mountain hikes, or short river walks. This park is especially nice for bird lovers!
Evening Amusements for Old-Fashioned Themed Parties – Part 2
I wanted to host an old-fashioned theme party for a few friends during the Christmas season. Read Evening Amusements for Old Fashioned Themed Parties – Part 1 for food ideas.
The local library contained a book written in the 1880s on evening entertainments filled with various games, card tricks, forfeits, and even chemical surprises.
With a little planning, a dozen of us got into the spirit of the evening and enjoyed playing games that history seems to have forgotten.
I thought others might enjoy planning this type of evening so I’m sharing games we played with you.
The Game of Concert
- Elect a conductor who will lead an imaginary orchestra.
- Assign instruments, such as violin, harp, drum, trumpet, trombone, flute, cymbals, clarinet, tuba, bugle, fife, bass, etc.
- Conductor hums a tune and all join in noisily using their pretend instruments. The conductor waves imaginary baton and everyone ceases.
- Time for “solos.” Conductor makes motions to play a particular instrument. The person who has that instrument immediately joins in and pretends to play. If they don’t, they are out of the game.
Conductor continues with solos until everyone has played.
Historically, contestants earned forfeits for losing that were “paid” at the end of the evening. For our purposes, continue playing until only one player remains who claims the prize.
One of our guests had attended college to become a band leader but never found a job in that field. How fun to find out that tidbit early in the evening and be able to elect him as conductor!
He had to speed up to catch “band members” off guard. He did such a great job that everyone agreed that he won the prize.
Next time we will talk about more party games. Hope you can join in the fun!
-Sandra Merville Hart
Source
Planche, Frederick D’Arros. Evening amusements for every one; a collection of mirthful games, parlour pastimes, shadow plays, magic, conjuring, card tricks, chemical surprises, fireworks, forfeits, &c., illus. by George Cruikshank and others, Porter and Coates, ca 1880.
Old-Fashioned Stack Cake Recipe
My grandmother made stack cakes every year at Christmas when I was little. She was an excellent cook and baker but wasn’t blessed with enough patience to teach her daughters and granddaughters how to make them.
She never measured anything. Cakes, biscuits, and pies were all made by sight and touch. She held salt in her hand to know how much to add. She rarely guessed wrong.
Unfortunately, she shooed us from the kitchen if we asked too many questions about how to make something. We tried to observe quietly but it was difficult to learn how to cook that way.
When she died, I feared that her wonderful recipe was gone forever. I tried to make it from memory and came fairly close on the apple filling but not the cake layers. I remembered them being thin, like a big soft cookie.
Both my sister and I found the recipe while visiting the Smokies.
For the apple filling between layers:
Arrange a pound of dried tart apples in a large kettle. Cover the apples with boiling water to soften. This make take a few hours or allow to sit overnight. I drained this water but I’m not sure it’s necessary.
Add enough water to almost cover the apples and cook over medium low heat about an hour or until tender. Drain almost all the water from the cooked apples and then mash. I kept about a cup of water in the pot with the fruit.
Add a cup of brown sugar, ¾ cup sugar, 3 teaspoons cinnamon, ½ teaspoon ground cloves, ½ teaspoon allspice, and stir well.
To make six cake layers:
Sift 3 ¾ cups all-purpose flour into a medium bowl. Add a cup of sugar, 4 teaspoons baking powder, ½ teaspoon baking soda, and 1 teaspoon salt. Mix together.
Beat two eggs in separate bowl and add to flour mixture. Then add a ½ cup soft butter, a cup of buttermilk, and 2 teaspoons of vanilla.
Mix into a soft dough and divide it into 6 parts. Spread about a ¼ cup of flour over a surface to roll out each layer. (The layers are so thin that I rolled it to about half the size needed, placed the dough into a cake pan prepared with cooking spray, and used my fingers to pat it to the sides.)
The instructions suggested baking in a 450-degree oven but I baked at 425 until lightly brown, about 11 to 12 minutes.
Spread each layer with the apple filling except the top layer. Cover and store at least half a day before serving.
My grandmother wrapped her cake in plastic wrap. Then she covered them with towels and stored them in a cool place about two days before slicing. I did the same in her honor.
My guests enjoyed the cake. It felt good to carry on my grandmother’s tradition.
-Sandra Merville Hart
Sources
The Tates. Hillbilly Cookin, C & F Sales, Inc., 1968.
DevoKids Post – South Carolina, the Palmetto State
Colonists in South Carolina didn’t all support seeking independence from Great Britain until the British attacked Charleston.
Evening Amusements for Old-Fashioned Themed Parties – Part 1
I wanted to host an old-fashioned theme party for a few friends during the Christmas season. My husband and I issued invitations announcing this these before I began researching.
Christmas shopping, work deadlines, and family obligations prevented me from doing more than thinking about it until a week before the party.
I wanted a few ways to demonstrate how our ancestors entertained at parties a century or two ago. In the days for television and radio, how did folks pass the time? The best source for information like this are books and novels written during the time period.
How wonderful that the local library contained a book written in the 1880s on evening entertainments! There are various games, card tricks, forfeits, and even chemical surprises.
With a little planning, a dozen of us got into the spirit of the evening and enjoyed playing games that history seems to have forgotten.
I thought others might enjoy planning this type of evening so I’m sharing about it.
Instead of serving dinner, we simplified the menu to appetizers and desserts yet wanted to follow the theme.
I made gumbo soup using a recipe from 1877, a comforting dish that had many guests returning for a second helping. I prepared an old-fashioned stack cake similar to the dessert my grandmother baked every Christmas.
We drank wassail , which is warm mulled apple cider. The beverage also felt appropriate for the chilly weather.
Some guests got into the “old-fashioned” spirit with their pitch-in dishes. One couple brought a home-made apple pie. Another brought a variation of a yule log with peppermint shavings. Delicious!
After the appetizers were consumed, the ladies strung popcorn while the men opted for conversation. Fresh cranberries were added to the chain after every fifth popcorn piece making a pretty chain for the Christmas tree.
It was a fun and festive activity to begin our party.
Next time we will talk about party games. Hope you can join in the fun!
-Sandra Merville Hart
Source
Planche, Frederick D’Arros. Evening amusements for every one; a collection of mirthful games, parlour pastimes, shadow plays, magic, conjuring, card tricks, chemical surprises, fireworks, forfeits, &c., illus. by George Cruikshank and others, Porter and Coates, ca 1880.
Sandra Merville Hart 