27 August 1957 “Dealing with the Town, Preparing for a Hurricane, Spam Recipes, and a Wonderful Woolworth’s Advert”

Well, again I have been rather lax in my posting. But, in my own defense, this month has been insane with the odd things that have come up. Certainly the main issue has been dealing with our rental house, the tenants, going to court, cleaning the mess and so on. Thus far, besides paying a man with a truck and trailer $200 to take a large load of garbage and old furniture from the yard, I have make nine trips to our local dump with my station wagon filled to the brim!

There was some good news this past Wednesday. As I had mentioned before, we had to meet with the town Health Code department, as we were given a citation concerning the garbage and various rotting furniture in the yard. We did not get this to our actual address but to the rental address which we had no access to until we got the tenants out. Then we still did not know anything had been mailed there (Most likely tenants threw it away). So after Hubby’s staycation we went there to begin dealing with the aftermath of the worse tenants ever and found the notice stapled (into the nice clapboard siding I might add) saying we were now being charged $100 a day starting the first (it was then the 16th).

After our story to the board, the tenants, the court case and so on, they forgave us the dept. One of the ladies on the board even said, “I used to be a landlord, so I know what you have gone through. Notice I said ‘used to be’”.

Now, however, we have Hurricane Irene heading for our shores. It may be nothing, as last years hurricane was nothing when it reached us but some light rain and very little wind. But, many are saying this could be as bad as Hurricane Bob, back in the early 90’s, which could mean no power for a week. So, we have been dragging in all our heavy vintage metal patio furniture from the terrace. All potted planters that are not too large to carry are stored in the barn and we have battened down all the hatches. We even nailed in some cross beam wood across our Barn buildings doors, as one set is a French door full of glass that opens outwards.

All the kerosene lamps are filled and placed about the house, board games at the ready, extra ice laid aside and many containers of water at the ready. I even stocked up on some canned meats and things. Even, yes, a can of Spam. I could not resist. It lead me to consider all the Spam recipes from the 1950’s and here are a few.

This fiesta Peach loaf sounds, er, interesting? I bet it actually is quite good. And, I have canned peaches set aside as well.

Here are a few Spam recipes which I found HERE.

Sweet and Sour Spam Recipe
12-oz can SPAM, cubed
8-oz can bamboo shoots, drained
1 lg. carrot, sliced diagonally
6 green onions, sliced
1 clove garlic, minced
1 small cucumber, cut in chunks
2 tbsp cooking oil
1 tsp soy sauce
3 tbsp sugar
3 tbsp catsup
3 tbsp vinegar
1 tsp ginger
1 tbsp cornstarch
2/3 cups water

• Heat oil in a wok or large skillet over medium heat. Add the carrot, green onion, garlic and cucumber cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until crisply tender.
• Add remaining ingredients except the SPAM and bamboo shoots.
• Continue cooking, stirring constantly, until sauce is thickened (5 to 6 minutes).
• Add SPAM and bamboo shoots. Cook over medium heat until heated through (4 to 5 minutes).

Serve over rice or noodles.
4 servings

 

Spam Salad

Spam Recipe for Spam Salad
1 can of Spam, regular or low-salt
1/4 cup diced white onion
1/4 cup diced sweet or dill pickle
1 large hard boiled egg, diced
1/4 teaspoon celery seed
Sandwich spread or salad Dressing to taste
Chop or grind Spam to consistency of coarse hamburger. Mix with other ingredients using enough sandwich spread or salad dressing to consistency you desire. Chill thoroughly. Serve as a dip with chips or crackers or spread on bread Spam salad sandwiches.

Now, apropos of nothing, I thought I would close with this wonderful Woolworth Ad for sewing notions and things. It is just fun to peruse and it gives ideas for vintage style buttons, lace, and ric-rac.

If I am suddenly not posting for the next week, it might very well be due to the fact that we are without power. It was out for almost a week during Hurricane Bob. I hope all of you who are in the path on the East coast or have loved ones there, you are prepared. At least if we lose power we can play pioneers for a week, which might be fun.

Happy Homemaking.