Father Knows Best

Have you ever seen the old television show "Father Knows Best"? My Mom and I have just discovered it, thanks to Netflix! It isn't action packed or dramatic, just meanders along. Our favorite part of the show is looking at the 50s decorating and the kitchen. Of course Jane Wyatt, being a good 1950s housewife, wears a myriad of aprons!

I came across this commercial for one of the sponsors, All Laundry Detergent.

I am sure not everyone is in love with vintage advertisements as I am. I thought we would take a small break. Parts 3 and 4 of the Herrschners catalog will be up Friday and Saturday.



Herrschners Part 2

My favorites are the pot holder holders and the sewing machine covers.What is yours? Maybe a bird cage cover? Or a matching bridge table set? Or a silverware keeper?

Tomorrow....Part 3!!

Herrschner's 1927-8 Catalog

Herrschner's is a mail order craft supply company started by Frederick Herrschner in Chicago. A hundred years later they are still in business. I came across a 1927 catalog. It is fantastic! some of the pages are even in color. And there are lots of Aprons!!

 Don't you love their chic hair-dos?

 Of course, I love the aprons! The embroidery is too cute!

Part 2 coming tomorrow.........

Cookbook Project- Exquisite Coconut Cake

I am just squeaking by with my goal of posting two cookbook project recipes a month. Lol! Somehow, coconut always makes us think spring. So feeling the need for a little springy-ness, this is what came out of the kitchen!

 Exquisite Coconut Cake from Betty Crocker Picture Cookbook.

Rich Yellow Cake

Cream together until fluffy....1/3 cup shortening....1/3 cup butter...1 1/2 cups sugar....Beat in thoroughly.....3 eggs.....Sift together.... 2 1/2 cups cake flour....2 1/2 tsp baking powder....1 tsp salt....Stir in alternately with....1 cup milk....1 1/2 tsp vanilla

Pour into 2 greased and floured 9" round layer pans. Bake 25-30 minutes at 350.

In my new Pyrex bowl!

Fluffy White Frosting

Bring to a boil in saucepan....1 cup sugar....1/3 cup water....1/3 tsp cream of tarter. Do Not stir! Bring to 242 degrees. While syrup is cooking, beat....2 egg whites....in bowl until stiff peaks form. Pour hot syrup very slowly in a thin stream into stiffly beaten egg whites, beating constantly. Add....1 1/2 tsp vanilla...Beat until frosting holds its shape. (it is handy to have an assistant to pour while you beat, or have a Kitchen-Aid)

I really liked this reciepe. It was not a sweet cake. Only one cup of sugar in the frosting and one and a half in the cake. I also added a bit of almond extract!

Yum!

Campell's Soup Ads

Here are a few of my new advertisements. I was so excited to happen across a huge box of them at a local shop! I love old ads, they are a glimpse into the past. Here are two from Campbell's Soup.

 From 1936 Good Housekeeping

 Close ups of the ladies in there lovely aprons!

 Everyone wearing a different style too! Aren't they cute?

1947 Good Housekeeping, Love the dishes too!

New Pattern in the Collection

 Thanks to my brother-in-law's Mother I now have a new pattern in the collection! It is from the early 1920s, very early, like 1920 or 23. I think the name describes it very aptly, the Sack Apron. It covers everything! I guess you could almost wear it as a dress, maybe it is a predecessor of the 50s house coat?

Can't you see the lady of the house ready to give her bungelow a thorough spring cleaning? Perhaps she lives in one similar to this? Cute isn't it!

from www.antiquehome.org

I did a bit of antiquing yesterday. I am so excited to share my newest finds with you, hopefully soon!

Antique Record Cabinet

Last week I succumbed. I couldn't resist any longer, I bought a 1920s record cabinet! It had been calling my name for a month, then last week I stopped in at the antique store on a totally different errand, and the price had been reduced!! Who can resist that!!

 My pictures are not the best. But you can see it is a beauty. The tag said it was a record cabinet, for phonograph records. But to me it looks like a side board for the dinning room. Currently, I think it is going to be used it the living room as a side table. I can just see it with a lacy scarf and a lamp with a pretty glass shade.

 It looks like it would have been the perfect size to store records. I am thinking it is from 1920-30 era.

A close up of the lovely detail.