nom nom nom

* For those of you who haven't had enough sweets, I present:

 No clue on the date because there's no copyright or author info, only 2 photo credits. I found this tasty cookbook at video store that 1) rents DVDs; 2) has a used book rack outside; and 3) sells South African food. I love this neighborhood!

The cake at the top, with the cherry in the middle, is Alma's Quick Choco-Cake with Flaky Chocolate Icing. And the ring cake on the left is Aunt Nan's Chocolate Cake with plain white icing. I love recipes named after people, makes them seem more homey :) Although I think Aunt Nan got the short end of the frosting stick.

The book is filled with photo spreads like so:

oh my. Chocolate sundae, chocolate mousse, chocolate trifle, chocolate meringue pie ... and Queen Mary's Birthday Cake! (at the top, the stripey one that's been cut into). That was the most popular one in the book based on the stains on the recipe page. It calls for "castor sugar," which Google says is "an ultra fine sugar that is used mainly in baking cakes, souffles and mousses." Learn something new every day!

Under "Small Chocolate Cakes, Cookies and Goodies":

Chocolate truffles, chocolate eclairs, Noreen's Chocolate Fudge, and petites mousselines (those swirly round ones in the middle and bottom left). Never heard of them either, but you couldn't have a simpler recipe: 2 egg whites, 3 oz castor sugar, 2 oz ground almonds and chopped nuts for decoration. Oh, and you need Chocolate Butter Icing for the middle and the tops.

Next up, Children's Party Specials:

Which confirms my suspicion that this book is South African! The train is "Puffin' Billy," with a swiss roll boiler, a cabin of Norwegian cake, and rails and cowcatcher made from marzipan.

The cake at the top I would have called a log cabin, but it's a Native Hut. According to the description (which I just now read for the first time), "you can buy some little black dolls and construct a "native village" as a centre-piece to the table, or place a "hut" at each child's place, with a little black doll outside it holding up a card with the child's name on it." My word!

Moving along ... the book also provides some children's party games, including Do This - Do That, which sounds like Simon Says, and Spinning the Plate which involves a child holding a plate and calling another child's name while dropping the plate. The child called has to catch the plate before it hits the floor. yeah, I don't see that ending well.

And last but not least, Chocolate Drinks:

Well, those aren't all drinks, but let's not quibble about chocolate! On the bottom right, in the star shape, is a Chocolate Blancmange. As a child, I had lots of British children's books (my mom was British, and we lived in Bermuda for a few years). The children in those books were always excited about the prospect of blancmange but I never knew what one was, just that it must be good. It looks like a pudding crossed with mousse and gelatin. Still haven't had one, though ;)

Just above that, in the dotted glasses, we have Orange Cocoade. I like those chocolate oranges you can get at Christmas, but the idea of mixing chocolate syrup and orange juice doesn't sound tasty. Rounding out the drinks are Chocolate Egg-Nog (top left in the mug) and Cocoa Mallow (the beer stein with the marshmallows).

The big poofy white thing in the middle is Party Dessert. Don't even think of having it on a regular Tuesday night, it's PARTY dessert!

The last page of the book is a display of Cadbury's products:

I think they still make most of those. Don't think I've ever seen Mint Crisp, though.

Thanks for joining me in the drool-fest that is Cadbury's Chocolate Cookery!
I'm working my way through a stack of vintage cookbooks, so stay tuned for more festive foods :)

tiny as a tambourine

* Wow, it's been 2 months and a bit? You'd think a person without a job would be on this thing every day. I can confess that I have quite the crop of squashumpkins in Farmville, though.

*Most exciting news? As of last Tuesday, I am officially a Permanent Resident of Canada! They only gave me a letter, but when I get the proper "green card" in a month I can start looking for a job! yay?

* Today's theme is HATS! Last month I went to a rummage sale held in the "older" part of town, and one booth had boxes of vintage sewing patterns and not-so-vintage craft supplies. Silly me, I'm not used to the cutthroat business of swap meet/rummage sale/ephemera show browsing. If you see something, you must grab it right away, then decide if you want it later, because if you don't it'll be gone in 30 sec to somebody who does operate like that. So I missed out on some vintage clothing patterns, but I did snag the following:

If only I were a size 12!

But the following patterns (uncut!), in a plain brown envelope with an address label "From the Editorial Rooms of the Ladies' Home Journal," these will fit!

Tambourine Pillbox, No. 1935

"This hat, tiny as a tambourine and a "no headsize" hat, sits over your right eyebrow. There is a matching tambourine bag for which we have a pattern, No. 1936, 5¢."

Velvet Chou Hat, No. 1924

"This hat is really a skullcap with an immense chou in three colors. It can be made in a number of dramatic color combinations - Royal blue, purple and light blue; black, scarlet and green; brown, beige and green; black, gray and Royal blue; fuchsia, shocking pink and purple. Or you could use two shades of a color and a contrasting color."
Holy cow, can you imagine that hat in fuchsia, shocking pink and purple?!? I can :)

Overseas Cap, No. 1918

"The style and smartness of this simple black velvet cap depend on the perfection of its tailoring. Make it of the finest Lyons type velvet, or of velveteen, and use silk bengaline to face the cuff."

I saved my favourite hat for last!

Stovepipe Hat, No. 1929

"This is a rather extreme hat and should be made in bright colors as purple, scarlet, parrot green, greenish gold, or in black velveeteen."

Extreme hat, woo hoo! I only wish these were in colour. 

There were also two bag patterns in the envelope, but they have no photos. One pattern looks like it may be for the purse above.

I'm not sure of the dates on these, but on the list of available patterns that was also in the envelope, you can order patterns for John Fredericks Hats of November 1940 and 1941.

* That's quite the post for my return to Blogsville, so until next time, namaste!

What's that? Hawaiian noises?

Aloha! Welcome to Fantasy Island "How You Can Give Hawaiian Parties" by Patricia Collier.


At first I was going to post just the drawings, but the lettering is so nice!

Let's star with the basics. "If you are lucky enough to have more than one lei, wear them all happily and proudly."

Ah, those Hawaiian nights, with their disguised posts and pillars.

"Would you like to entertain a fairly large number of women friends all at once? ... Then by all means go Hawaiian!" mmm, Green-and-Gold Rice Ring with Mushroom-Creamed Chicken!
I do love the lunching ladies all down the left side, wearing their leis and ... sitting on springs?

Next we have Buffet Suppers - "on the light side" sounds tasty.

"Curried seafood with fluffy rice, at least six accompaniments." According to the next page, the accompaniments for curry include bacon, chutney, hard-cooked egg yolk, lemon, pickled pineapple, and Bombay Duck (shredded dried fish). I don't think I'll be getting Bombay Duck any time soon.
And look at Mabel, standing there with a twinkle in her eye thinking, "that Bruce would be such a catch, he cooks divinely and sets a beautiful table."

Something tells me that Mabel is not his type.

How about a Hawaiian Bazaar? After all, "every club-woman knows that any bazaar or money-making affair attracts more attention and gets more good publicity if it is built around a theme."

I can just picture the little old ladies giggling as they plan their tropical bazaar.

Here's a little illustration from the Grill and Beach Parties section. I don't have a smart remark for this one, just that it's funny the ukelele/guitar stands out so much more than the player does.

These Hawaiian Suggestions can apply even to Christmas or Thanksgiving! Love the tiki idol and woman with the sunflower muumuu.

The last third of the book contains all the recipes. I was surprised to find that most of them sounded good. This one is an exception:

Peanut butter. Pineapple. Pimiento. Why not pickles, or prunes?

And finally, I leave you with a recipe from Bruce.

Thanks for joining me on this tropical vacation - sponsored by Dole Hawaiian Pineapple Company, LTD.

(Still in the mood for pineapple? Check out Pineapple Delight on Flickr!)

Baby it's cold outside

* Hello there! How's it going? Did you have a good holiday-that-you-celebrate-or-don't-whatever-floats-your-boat season? I did! My first htycodwfyb here in Canada was filled with good food, and great family, and rain, and lights, and love. And presents ;)

Santa must have been reading my blog; I got zombie cross-stitch, and a purse made of seatbelts, and my mil crocheted me my very own Tiny Cthulhu!


He's been hanging out with Perogy Cat - I think they're up to something.

I also got the Halloween Tarot deck and book, illustrated by my favourite sinner Kipling West. There's something cheerfully creepy and smiling about her work. I'll never be able to afford a real painting, so I'll frame some of these lovely cards instead :)
Sadly, the box was missing the very last card (King of Imps), but after a quick e-mail to US Games it winged its way to me via airmail.

* Well, I came on here to post scans from "How You Can Give Hawaiian Parties", circa 1957, but went off track quickly. Here's a taste for next time:

Aloha!

Sorry for the absence. I don't have a good reason, so I'll say ... holidays, yeah, that's why. In the meantime, go read Mutts!

Special Kitty

* Earlier this week, Glen returned from the library with special presents - 2 vintage copies of Better Homes and Gardens! I usually prefer the 50s, but I love seeing stuff I remember from when I was a kid. And one magazine in particular made me very happy.

July 1974, 100 Ideas Under $100. Including a pile of plants on a piano! But what's this at the bottom?

ah ha ha ha ha! Critical Cat is critical! Why doesn't he like it? We don't know. Why did the cat deserve a word balloon? We don't know. Did I love this so much I made it my Facebook icon? Yes I did :)

* Today we took a nice little walk down to the Owl Designer Fair at Fernwood Community Centre. And it was awesome! Soooo much cool craftiness packed into one room.
I came home with a tin of delicious Blue Christmas tea from Traveling Sparrow - tastes of (local organic) lavender and Earl Grey, and smells wonderful. I drooled over Urchin Bags, made from recycled seat belts and air bags (maybe Santa will bring me one for Christmas? :) Siempre La Lucha had great cards and tees, including a scare-owl thinking of brains. Love Monkey's felted matroyshka dolls were adorable! And boo I forgot to grab the business card of the woman with the recycled leather and felt purses :( Never mind, found her!

* and now I'm running late - see ya later!

Snow Day!

BEFORE!
AFTER!!! currently :D