Have You Tried Essential Oils?

I have to tell you that I was a little skeptical at first.

Sure, I loved the aromas of several essential oils and used them in my cleaning products, but I wasn't sure about how effective they really were as far as health.

My son has severe asthma and we have a great doctor who recommended putting peppermint oil on his feet at night to help him breathe.

The largest pores on your body are on the bottom of your feet and absorb quickly...so watch what you put on your feet..haha!

To make a long story short...it really helps!

I was quite surprised and really pleased because for a tiny fraction of an investment I have something that doesn't interact with his other meds and is a natural God provided help!

Tim used to drink a lot of peppermint tea when he was having trouble breathing.

Well, 1 drop of peppermint oil has the same potency as 28 cups of tea! 

I have a sweet friend Beth who recently started getting essential oils through a wonderful company called DoTerra.

 They have THE BEST pure oils on the market. In fact, you really cannot find anything that comes close as their organic sources and processing contains no fillers.

I decided to try lemon oil, after learning that it helps with stress...and recently we have been dealing with a family issue that has caused a lot of worry. {It's a long story that I may share as I think there needs to be more awareness.}

I can't believe how good I feel!

Just a couple of drops and I feel like I am uplifted and ready to tackle any problem.

I have been deep in prayer over the issue, and I know the Lord is working in miraculous ways...but the oil has been such an added benefit!

And it is something God made and provided for us.
Living in a way that is more sustainable is a wonderful thing!

Here is more information about lemon oil:

Traditionally, lemon oil has many uses. It is a powerful antiseptic and can be an effective means to improve circulation.  It is a considered to be an excellent antibacterial agent. This makes it well suited for respiratory infections or inflammation.  Historically, adding a few drops of lemon oil to warm water with a sweetener has provided relief for many suffering from coughs or sore throats.

Additionally, its pleasant sweet aroma can be uplifting to lighten any mood as well as cleansing to the environment.  One of the easiest ways to receive the remarkable qualities associated with lemon oil is to diffuse it into the air or utilize direct inhalation from the palms of the hands. Lemon oil can effortlessly be applied to the bottom of the feet or added to a glass of water as a purifier and for a quick energizing boost.  Interestingly, lemon oil has also been known to be strengthening to the fingernails. Simply apply the oil directly onto the nails.

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Essential oils are really worth researching.

Of course, if you have a condition in which you are taking other medication, it is smart to check with your doctor first.

I think you will be surprised to learn that many are so safe to try.

Essential oils are used for a wide range of emotional and physical wellness applications. 

They can be used a single oil at a time or in complex blends depending on user experience and desired benefit.

 They are usually administered by one of three ways: aromatically, applied topically, or taken internally as dietary supplements.

I have seen/heard some amazing testimonies from friends recently.

I have a friend who tried Citrus Bliss instead of going back on Wellbutrin and is feeling better than ever.

Back pain really helped by using Deep Blue...a blend of seven essential oils.

And the list goes on:).

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Today, my dear friend Beth has offered to give away one 15ml bottle of Lemon Oil... which has some wonderful properties... 

Antibacterial
Antibiotic
Antiseptic
Antiviral
Astringent
Diuretic
Disinfectant

It is also great for:

Calm & Stress Relief

Cold and Flu Season

Disinfect Living Area

Insect Repellant

Asthma
Cold and Flu
Constipation
Fever
Hypertension
Sore Throat
Stomach Ache
Stress
Throat Infections

Beth is also giving one winner a 5ml bottle of Wild Orange.

Wild Orange Essential Oil
Citrus sinensis

Cold-pressed from the orange peel, wild orange is excellent for energizing and revitalizing. It is also commonly used as an effective tool for uplifting mood, as well as for its wonderful citrusy aroma. It also has these properties and helps in these ways...

Antibacterial Antidepressant Antifungal Anti-inflammatory Antioxidant Antiseptic Carminative Choleretic Digestive Hypotensive Sedative Stimulant Calm and Stress Relief Cold and Flu Season Acid Reflux Cold and Flu Depression Heartburn Indigestion Muscle Pain Stomach Ache Stress

Would you like to try either the lemon or orange essential oils?

To enter to win, just leave a comment as to which one!

For a second chance to win, visit DoTerra and tell me about another essential oil you may try in the future:).

If you want to personally order...just click HERE to shop and find great information.

Winners will be announced next Friday, April 6th.

{There will be 1 winner of the Wild Orange and 1 winner of the Lemon Oil.}


If you have questions about essential oils OR would like to order something at wholesale prices, feel free to contact Beth {she is super sweet and super helpful} at bethw@wrayjournal.com

Have a great day!

Julia

*I am not being compensated in any way for this post...I have just really loved the products!

A Great Depression Lesson Plan

I really enjoyed our work week full of Depression meals...and I learned soo much!

I thought it would be fun to post a lesson plan for kids on the subject!

I was inspired after my bloggy friend, Valerie, wrote to me about a book she had used to teach her third grade students about the Depression.

She was so sweet to send the lesson plan, too!

We love books, and this one looked so great I ordered it right away.

Thank you Valerie:).

The unit study is based on this book:

 

Just click on the picture for ordering information.

Here is the lesson plan...

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Leahs Pony By Elizabeth Friedrich Illustrator: Michael Garland Hardcover Publisher: Boyd Mills Press ISBN: 1563971895 Published: Sept 1999 Pages: 32 Ages: 4-8 Reading Level: K-3 Paper Publisher: Boyd Mills Press ISBN: 1563978288

LESSON: LEAHS PONY Lesson Summary This Depression Era story paints a realistic picture of the hard life of American farm families during the l930s.  Leah decides to sell her beloved pony in order to raise enough money to help her family keep their farm.  The day of the farm auction arrives - what will happen to all of Mama and Papas prize possessions? Concept: Price Definition: The price is what people pay when they purchase a good or service, or what they receive when they sell a good or service.  Market prices are determined by supply and demand - the buying and selling decisions of producers and consumers. Comprehension  Questions Why was Papa able to buy Leah a pony at the beginning of the book? Papa had a very good (tall and straight) corn crop.  We can infer that he probably produced a lot of bushels that year and got a corn price high enough to afford the pony. Why did Leahs family have to sell their possessions? Leahs papa had borrowed money from the bank to buy seeds, but the seeds had dried up and blown away.  Now they had no crop to harvest and sell in order to pay back the bank. Even if the market price of corn was high, papa had no corn to sell!  The bank was going to sell the family cattle, chickens, pickup truck, tractor, and other farm items to recoup the money it had loaned to Papa. The bank was going to sell the familys possessions in a farm auction. What is an auction?  How are prices determined in an auction? In an auction, items are sold to the highest bidder.  The item is supplied by the auctioneer; the item is demanded by the those bidding on it.  Thus, in an auction, the price is determined by supply and demand. How did Leah decide to help her family pay back the loan to keep from selling all the farm animals and equipment? She sold her pony to Mr. B., the grocery store owner.  She used the money she earned from the sale to bid on items in the auction. What was Leahs opportunity cost when she decided to sell her pony? Leah had a choice to sell or keep her pony.  When she chose to sell the pony, her opportunity cost was giving up all the benefits of riding the prized possession she loved so much. Explain how selling the tractor in order to keep the land would affect the family. Selling the tractor (a valuable capital resource) at a high enough price would help pay the bank debt; however, Leahs father wouldnt be able to plant anymore corn without a tractor.  This might force the family leave the farm. Explain how Leahs neighbors helped her family save their possessions. The neighbors held a penny auction.  (See Authors Note in back of book for information about a penny auction.)  Rather than purchasing papas possessions and keeping them for themselves, they bid very low at the auction, purchasing the items for very small amounts of money. After the auction was over, they gave the items back to Leahs family - absolutely free! The penny action helped Leahs family save their possessions? How did it affect the bank? It hurt the bank because the bank was not paid back for the money it had loaned to Papa.  Many banks failed during the Great Depression because many debtors were not able to pay back loans. How was Leah rewarded for her efforts to save her familys farm? Mr. B., the grocery store owner, gave her back the pony for helping to save her familys farm. Other concepts:  Economic Wants, Scarcity, Opportunity Cost, Supply and Demand

*It would be fun to tie in a weeks study and read the books below, as well as use the Depression Era recipes and cook a few meals like they would have had back then. *Take a day and play Monopoly with your kids...it came out during the Depression! *Here is another great link to Depression lesson plans. A list of Great Depression books for kids to enjoy... Excerpt from Amazon:  In 1932, Akron, Ohio was no better off than other parts of the country. Since Black Tuesday in 29, companies are closed, men all over the state are out of work, and families are running out of hope. Thirteen-year-old Rudy wants to help but doesn't know where to turn. His father, sullen and withdrawn, spends his time sulking on their front porch. His mother is desperate, not knowing how she will feed and care for her family. When Rudy learns of other boys leaving town and heading west to seek their fortunes, he hops a train figuring at least there will be one less mouth to feed at home. Excerpt from Amazon:  When Dorothy's father loses his job and cannot find another, the family borrows a car and sets off for Idaho where jobs digging potatoes can be found. The author was eight years old when she wrote this family story told to her by her aunt.  Excerpt from Amazon:  Bonnie loves to sing while her father plays a fiddle. In better times, the family was happy in its modest home. But hard times took away Bonnie's father's job, then their house, and then even her father's fiddle. Hearing the unkind remarks of a neighbor, Bonnie's father leaves to search for work at the nearby port and to relieve the economic burden on his wife, who has started to take in laundry. A distraught Bonnie determines to take her dog, Caesar, and go find her daddy! In her search, Bonnie discovers the pivotal part she can play in rescuing her family and restoring their lives. Excerpt from Amazon:  In Kansas in the year 1937, eleven-year-old Jack Clark faces his share of ordinary challenges: local bullies, his father’s failed expectations, a little sister with an eye for trouble. But he also has to deal with the effects of the Dust Bowl, including rising tensions in his small town and the spread of a shadowy illness. Certainly a case of "dust dementia" would explain who (or what) Jack has glimpsed in the Talbot’s abandoned barn — a sinister figure with a face like rain. In a land where it never rains, it’s hard to trust what you see with your own eyes — and harder still to take heart and be a hero when the time comes. With phenomenal pacing, sensitivity, and a sure command of suspense, Matt Phelan ushers us into a world where desperation is transformed by unexpected courage. Excerpt from Amazon:  On January 1, 1935, Rose Samuels bids good riddance to a dry, desolate year and begins a new one. The severe drought has left the fields too dry for crops and the farms are all failing. Times are tough, but with hope, love, and determination, Rose and her family manage to turn the year around. Excerpt from Amazon:  Drawing on memoirs, diaries, letters, and other firsthand accounts, and richly illustrated with classic archival photographs, this book by one of the most celebrated authors of nonfiction for children places the Great Depression in context and shows young readers its human face.   Have a great day! ~Julia

Aunt Mabel's Brown Stew, Depression Corn Bread, and Vintage Eggless, Milkless, Butterless Cake

Today's meal is a great stew.

Stews were very popular during the Depression as you could "throw" anything into the pot and create a great meal. 

Chicken and rabbit were popular meats to use.

I am using {beef} stew meat today, as this a what I have in the freezer.

It is a great dinner and very filling.

Cornbread was also very popular during the depression.

The recipe I used is from the era and very simple and delicious.

I absolutely HAD to try the Eggless, Milkless, Butterless Cake!

You will be pleasantly surprised by how lovely it is!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Depression is usually not branded as a time of culinary creativity. Meal makers were concerned more with providing substance than whipping up a Pillsbury Bake-off winner. However, making do with what few ingredients they could afford makes the Depression significant in culinary history. No time before or since has food been as simple or basic as then.

"Even though my Daddy couldn't find work and my mother took in sewing for extra money, we never starved because Grandpa was a fisherman and restaurants continued to buy from him." Says Maude Page, ten years old at the height of the Depression. "There wasn't much money for convenience foods. For instance, my mother used to make some pretty delicious casseroles using canned goods, but canned goods were one of the things we couldn't afford during that time. Most everything we'd store bought before, like cookies and bread, was cheaper to make from scratch. There was a whole lot of baking going on during those days."

"Every Saturday night we'd have hotdogs and beans. Except for an occasional roast from Grandpa or a traded chicken from next door, we only had meat-hotdogs once a week.

"The one thing we missed the most was fresh fruit. The only time the scent and taste of an orange graced our table was at Christmas. Every year we'd find an orange tucked in the toe of our stockings. We considered it a great treat."

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Aunt Mabel's Brown Stew

From: The Country Mother's Cookbook by Jane Watson Hopping

If you have leftovers, use them the next day for Shepard's Pie. 
Just put leftover stew in a 2qt. casserole dish and top with mashed potatoes and cheese.
Bake for about 40 min. at 350 degrees.
Yum!

Depression Corn Bread
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Dissolve 1 pkg yeast in 1/4 cup warm water

Scald: 2cups milk

Pour over: 1/3 cup lard or shortening {I used vegetable oil} and 1/3 cup of sugar. 

Cool and add 2 eggs, well beaten and 1 tsp salt and the yeast mixture. 
Mix well and add 4 cups flour and 1/2 cup cornmeal. 
Pour mixture into two loaf pans at this time and let rise until double. 
Bake in 350 degree oven for 45 mins 

Vintage Eggless, Milkless, Butterless Cake

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Vintage WW1 Eggless, Milkless, Butterless Cake

1 cup water
2 cups raisins
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. cloves
1 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup lard (shortening) {I used vegetable oil}
1/4 tsp. nutmeg
1/4 tsp. salt
2 cups flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. baking powder

Place water, raisins, cinnamon, cloves, brown sugar, lard (shortening), nutmeg and salt in a saucepan and mix. Place on heat and bring to a boil. Cook 3 minutes. Allow to cool, then sift together the flour, baking soda and baking
powder. Stir into cooked mixture.
Place in a greased loaf pan and bake at 350F for one hour.

More Interesting Facts...

The Great Depression started in 1929

The Stock Market Crash was one of the main reasons for the Great Depression. Billions of dollars of stocks were lost.

The Stock Market crashed on October 29, 1929. This day is known as "Black Tuesday."

As a result of the crash unemployment went up, people lost their homes, people were very poor and could not afford the necessities of life.

Fifty percent of the children in the United States did not have "adequate food, shelter, clothing, or medical care." Some went completely without these necessities. Children started fainting because they did not have enough to eat.

Many people had to go to soup kitchens to get food. The lines were very long. People would spend all day waiting in line just to get a small meal. Soup kitchens were run by charities.

Some people did not even have a soup kitchen to go to. People had to pick trash to find food.

In the 1920s there were no governmental programs to help those who had fallen on hard times. As a result of the Great Depression we know have many governmental agencies to help in times of need.

People did not have money for necessities so there was no way they were going out and buying things they did need. Companies that sold items such as car and other appliance that were selling like crazy before the depression were not selling anything. So production factories stop making money so more people lost jobs.

People who did have jobs made barely enough to survive. Hired farm hands only made
$216.00 a year. A doctor made $3,382.99 a year. 

A few years later things became worse for Americans when the Dust Bowl started. In the area of the Dust Bowl people suffered from a severe drought and dust storms.

Dust was everywhere: lungs, food, drinks, houses, furniture, bodies.

Many people fled their homes to get away from the dust. They had little food and no place to stay. They lived in old cars, boxcars, and some on the streets.

The Dust Bowl most of the crops in the affected region. So there was little food to go around.

Many people were headed west to start over where there was no dust. Many people went to California. Others had no choice but to stay behind and suffer.

People who had savings in banks lost all their money. Banks had lent the money out and there was no money to pay it back. Today we have protection when we put our money in the bank thanks to laws past as a result of the Great Depression.

Many people lived in settlements where they built shacks out whatever they could find. These settlements for called Hoovervilles, named after President Hoover.

President Herbert Hoover in office in the beginning of the Great Depression. He was blamed for "doing too little too late."

Some people would go into restaurants and pretend they were going to order when the waitress went back into the kitchen they would poor all the stuff on the table like ketchup, salt, pepper, etc into their water. They would drink it down before the waitress came back and then they would tell her that they changed their minds and they didn't see anything on the menu they wanted. This drink mixture was called "Hoover soup."
{source}
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And one more thought to ponder during hard times...


Christians can be and ought to be content with the simple necessities of life...First, when you have God near you and for you, you don't need extra money or extra things to give you peace and security... God is always better than gold...Second, we can be content with simplicity because the deepest, most satisfying delights God gives us through creation are free gifts from nature and loving relationships with people. After your basic needs are met, accumulated money begins to diminish the capacity for these pleasures, rather than increase them. Buying contributes absolutely nothing to the heart's capacity for joy...Third, we should be content with the simple necessities of life because we can invest the extra we make for what really counts (God's Kingdom)"
~John Piper 


Have a lovely day:).

~Julia

Aunt Barbara's Famous Chili and Homemade Rolls

I really needed a quick meal tonight, as I just ran out of time today!

So I jumped ahead in my menu plan and made chili and homemade rolls...mmmm!

Chili was actually a widely used economical meal during the Depression. 

I am not sure why I found that to be amazing...chili dates back to the early 1800's:).

Today I am sharing my Aunt's recipe because it is by far THE BEST! 

You can just pop the ingredients into a crock pot in the morning and have a delicious meal in the evening.

The rolls are a depression recipe and so light and flaky!

Jack {age 4} said he could eat 300 of them.

I did add a salad ...again making the meal larger...but I can't live without my salad!

Aunt Barbara's Famous Chili

1 lb. ground beef

1 onion, chopped

1 green pepper, chopped

1 cup celery, chopped

2 cloves garlic, minced

1-16oz. can diced tomatoes

1-16oz. can dark red kidney beans, drained

1-8oz. can tomato sauce

2-3 TBS. chili powder {to taste}

1/2 tsp. crushed basil

1 bay leaf

1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. pepper

dash paprika

dash cayenne pepper

In a large pot, cook ground beef, onion, celery, green pepper until meat is brown. Drain fat.

Stir in undrained tomatoes, tomato sauce, chili powder, basil, salt, pepper, bay leaf, paprika, and cayenne pepper.

Bring to boiling. Reduce heat. Cover and simmer for 2 hours, occasionally adding water as needed. Add kidney beans about 30 minutes before serving.

OR...

cook beef, put everything in the crockpot, and cook on low for 6-8 hours.

It is a great leftover and even better the second day!

Homemade Rolls

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Homemade Rolls 

3 cups scalded milk 
4 tablespoons butter 
3 tablespoons sugar 
1 teaspoons salt 
8 cups sifted flour 
1 cake yeast {2 1/4 tsp. dry yeast} foam dissolved in 
1/4 cup lukewarm water 

Pour scalded milk over sugar, salt and butter. When lukewarm beat in 4 cups flour. 
Mix well and add the dissolved yeast foam. Cover closely and let rise in a warm place. 
When light add enough flour to knead. {4 cups.} Cover, let rise until light. Roll out to 1/2 inch thickness. Shape with biscuit cutter. Brush each piece with melted butter, crease through the center, fold over and press the edges together. Place in buttered pan 1 inch apart, and let rise until very light. Then bake in a brisk oven 15 minutes. { I used 400 degree oven to bake them. }

* I actually shaped the dough into about 2 inch balls, placed in pan, and brushed with butter. 

More Interesting Facts About the Great Depression

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By 1932, 40% of the banks in the US had failed.

In 1932 the government announced a temporary halt by banks of home foreclosures.

Unemployment reaches its worst point in 1933 with the unemployment rate at 25.2%.



When people think of the great Depression and the US presidents, they usually think of Franklin D. Roosevelt (FDR). When the depression started and for the next three years, the president was Herbert Hoover and FDR wasn’t elected until the fall of 1932.

Shortly after his inauguration, President Roosevelt blamed “unscrupulous money lenders” and a “generation of self-seekers” for the economic problems.

Between 1929 and 1932 the average income of the average American family dropped by 40% from $2,300 to $1,500 per year.

During the depression of the 1930s the average wage of manufacturer was $17 per week, for a doctor the average wage was $61 per week.

By the end of 1930, some 3 million children were forced to quit school and at least 200,000 of them took to the roads on their own.

The government came up with programs to put Americans to work repairing and building. The Empire State building, the Chrysler building, the Golden Gate Bridge and Rockefeller Center were all built during the depression.

The depression changed clothing as well when the zipper became widely used because buttons became too expensive.
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Have a lovely day.

~Julia

Homemade Mashed Potatoes with Hamburger Gravy, Corn on the Cob, and Honey Baked Apples

This meal was sooo delicious!

The mashed potatoes and gravy were favorites and the corn buttery and delicious.

Never before have I baked apples, but I will definitely try it again...oh my goodness it was a treat!
Again, during the Depression the mashed potatoes and gravy probably would have been a whole meal for some people.
I have definitely made this dinner larger, but if you freeze/can/preserve during the summer...items like corn are readily available and still make this a cheap meal.
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{source}


Here is another interesting tidbit about farming during the Great Depression and how it affected the way people ate...{source HERE}


Farms in the 1930s were diversified, growing a variety of crops in the fields, vegetables in the garden and fruit in the orchard. Small farms usually raised chickens, eggs, hogs, and cattle, as well as keeping horses and mules for work, and sometimes sheep for wool and meat. Some farmers kept bees and harvested the honey. Women baked their own bread.

During the Depression, this self-sufficiency carried over into their social life. One-dish suppers and church potlucks were important ways to have fun and share food. On radio and in women's magazines, home economists taught women how to stretch their food budget with casseroles and meals like creamed chipped beef on toast or waffles. Chili, macaroni and cheese, soups, and creamed chicken on biscuits were popular meals.

In the 70 or more years since the Great Depression, a lot has changed on the farms of rural America. All of these changes have resulted in farms that usually specialize in only one main crop. Today, entire regions have become "monocultures." 

This really makes me think that during hard economic times, like we are going through now, gardening is such a great way to supplement your diet!

On to the recipes...

Homemade Mashed Potatoes with Hamburger Gravy

Recipe HERE.

Poor Man Meal: Homemade Mashed Potatoes with Hamburger Gravy 

Homemade Mashed Potatoes

Potatoes
Milk, cream or sour cream
Butter
Salt

Directions on how to make homemade mashed potatoes

Peel potatoes, you can leave a little of the peel on if you are using red potatoes. 
Cut potatoes in bite size pieces. Place in boiling water and cook until tender. 
Do not overcook or you will have soggy mashed potatoes. 
Just cook until a fork can be pierced through easily. Drain potatoes. 
Place potatoes in a bowl and mash with a potato masher. 
Add butter, salt and milk, cream or sour cream (please don't use leftover potato water yuck!). 
The proportions are what ever you like best. I like mine a little more buttery which makes them taste 
better with a little more butter. Normally I use milk and save the sour cream for special occasions. 
I rarely use cream because I don't notice much added flavor but the added calories are significant.

Note: If you mix your potatoes too much, they will start to get stiff and gluey,be careful to mash them and mix in the other ingredients just until done, no need to keep stirring!

Hamburger Gravy

What you need for 2 cups of gravy:

1/2 lb. hamburger
2 Tablespoons  flour
2 cups beef broth
Salt and Pepper to taste

Directions on how to make your Hamburger Gravy
Brown hamburger. Add a little butter if needed (if there isn't at least 2 tablespoons fat left from hamburger). Add flour and stir until hamburger is coated. 
Add beef broth and stir until flour is all mixed in and broth starts to thicken. Salt and pepper to taste.

Serve over potatoes and add grated cheddar cheese on top.

*I doubled this recipe for our family of 6.
It was GREAT!

Corn on the Cob

I used our fresh, frozen corn on the cob and topped it with melted butter:).
If you are planting corn this year, click above for information on how to freeze it on the cob.
Click HERE for a tutorial on freezing whole kernel corn.

Honey Baked Apples

From: The Many Blessings Cookbook by Jane Watson Hoppings.

Oh dear...these apples were absolutely wonderful!!

I made a couple of changes to the recipe...

I sprinkled about 1 tsp. cinnamon and 1tsp. nutmeg on top and put a tiny pat of butter in the center of each apple. 

They took about 1 hour to bake:).

We skipped the sweet cream, but it would have made a delicious topping.

Have a great day!

~Julia

Ham, Green Beans Depression Style, Leeks and Potatoes au Gratin, and Rice Pudding

This meal wasn't very different from having ham and scalloped potatoes, but it was much easier!
The Leeks and Potatoes au Gratin were a snap to make and only baked 15 minutes.
They were real rib stickers...so my boys loved the meal!

We also had leftover Whole Wheat Buttermilk Rolls from last night and homemade applesauce.
I am sure this is a little more than a typical depression meal, but I think a farm family would have had most of the ingredients on hand.
We really enjoyed it...even the rice pudding!

Here are the recipes...followed by some interesting facts about the Great Depression.

Ham

I thaw a 4-5 pound ham and then slice it fairly thin.
You can rub the top with brown sugar if you want.
Because our hams are smoked, I just leave it as is, add about a cup of water to the baking dish, cover, and then cook at 200 degrees for 3-4 hours.
Check with a thermometer to make sure the ham is above 160 degrees internally before eating.
We use leftovers for sandwiches!

Leeks and Potatoes au Gratin

I substituted cheddar cheese for the Swiss:).

Green Beans Depression Style

This was a very different recipe!

I had my reservations, and am sorry to say this was not popular at the table last night.
In many ways, they tasted like Dilly Beans...so if you love that combination, you will love this dish.

Original recipe HERE.

• 1 -2 lb green beans {fresh or frozen thawed}
• 1 lb pork ends {I used the ends of the ham I was baking.}
• salt
• 1 cup vinegar
• ½ onion
• water to cover

Directions:

1. 1
   Break beans in half and put in large kettle.
2. 2
   Add rest of ingredients.
3. 3
   Bring to full boil.
4. 4
   Cover half way, turn heat down to simmer, forget it for about 3 hours.
5. 5
   Scoop out with slotted spoon or serve with broth.
   
   
   
   
   

   
   

   

   
   
   Rice Pudding
   Recipe from HERE.
   
   

   2 1/2 cups whole milk

   
   

   1/3 cup long or short grain white rice

   
   

   1/8 teaspoon salt

   
   

   1/4 cup brown sugar or white sugar

   1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

   1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

   1/4 cup brown or golden raisins, optional

   Lightly sweetened whipped cream {opt.}

   
   

   Rice Pudding: In a medium heavy bottomed saucepan combine the milk, rice, and salt. Place saucepan over high heat and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium to medium-low and simmer until the rice is tender (about 25 minutes). Stir the milk mixture frequently using a heatproof rubber spatula or wooden spoon to prevent the rice from sticking to the bottom of the pan. When the rice is tender (al dente) remove from heat and add the sugar, vanilla extract, and ground cinnamon. Return to heat and cook until the rice pudding thickens, about 5 to10 minutes. Remove from heat and add the raisins. Spoon the pudding into your serving bowls and cover with plastic wrap. If you want a film or skin on the puddings, allow them to cool before covering with plastic wrap. Refrigerate until serving time, about 1 to 2 hours. 

   If desired, garnish with lightly sweetened whipped cream.

   Makes 2 to 3 servings.

   Note:  Can double the recipe for 4 to 6 servings.
6. 
   
7. 
   

Interesting Facts from the Great Depression

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

{source}

During the Depression, distressed farms were sometimes sold at “Penny Auction” (forced auctions) in which farmers would assure that a distressed neighbor would be able to buy back his own farm by holding bids down to pennies, nickels, and quarters. They would dissuade those who wanted to make higher bids, sometimes symbolically with dangling nooses at the auction scene.

 By the 1930s, thousands of schools were operating on reduced hours or were closed down entirely. Some three million children had left school, and at least 200,000 took to riding the rails.

On May 6, 1929, Joseph Stalin predicted to a small group of American communists that America would experience a revolutionary crisis and that the American communist party should be ready to assume the leadership of the “impending class struggle in America. 

Scholars estimate that nearly 50% of children during the Great Depression did not have adequate food, shelter, or medical care. Many suffered rickets.

A new look in women’s fashion emerged in the 1930s. In response to the economic crisis, designers created more affordable fashions with longer hemlines, slim waistlines, lower heels, and less makeup. Accessories became more important as they created the impression of a “new” look without having to buy a new dress.

Causes of the Great Depression are widely debated but typically include a weak banking system, overproduction, bursting credit bubble, the fact that farmers and industrial workers had not shared in the prosperity of the 1920s, and a government-held laissez faire policy.

Have a great day!

~Julia