Top left corner..the blue enamel coffee pot used to belong to my grandmother. I remember her making coffee on the old wood cook stove. I still use the kettle to boil water.The strainer was a wedding gift and although it is a bit chipped I still like to use it. The cookie tin belonged to my husband's mother and she always had cookies in it, stored in the freezer. I loved to see her opening up this tin knowing we would be treated to delicious cookies. Every once in awhile I fill it up to store cookies in my freezer. The syrup tin is also from long ago when we used to purchase syrup in these tins. Oh it was so good to dip freshly baked buns in a saucer of syrup.
Top right corner..a cookie recipe page from my husband's Mom..I like the splattered and tattered look. Many of the recipes handed down did not have proper instructions but most of the time I can figure them out.
Bottom left corner..I received this tea set as a gift from my Mom and Dad when I was just a little girl. I spent hours having little tea parties with my dolls. Before I had any grandchildren I had already earmarked this for my first born granddaughter, as it turns out I only had one!
Bottom right corner..the tall pitcher with the bird belonged to my great grandmother, the smaller pitcher from my Dad's side of the family and the butter dish was a gift from my mother long ago. The embroidered spread was made by my Mom and I use that as a cover over my mixer when whipping cream.
These aprons are handed down from my mom and grandmother. The one with the little yellow flowers was my Mom's and was worn when serving at different functions. The red floral was sewn by mom and I remember her wearing it often as she cooked and baked. The green checkered apron was sewn by my grandmother, was used by both my grandmother and mom, and now it hangs in my kitchen and yes I do use it as well. It has yellowed with age but that only makes it more precious.
I had to mention chocolate cake as an 'old thing', it was a favorite in my growing up years and it was baked most every Saturday. Once my youngest brother was old enough to bake he would whip up this cake on short order and it was always delicious! My older brothers would deem the cake a success if they could squeeze it in their hands into a bar shape!
It is a simple recipe and so moist and delicious. I have changed it up a wee bit from the old recipe.
Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons butter, melted
- 1/4 cup cocoa
- 1 cup flour
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 egg
- Buttermilk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- Melt butter and stir in cocoa till blended. Set aside.
- In a medium sized bowl, whisk together dry ingredients.
- Break egg into a 1 cup measuring cup and fill up with buttermilk.
- Pour egg mixture and cocoa mixture into the dry ingredients and whisk until well blended.
- Pour into a greased 8" pan and bake in 350º oven for 30 minutes.
- Serve warm with whipped cream. Add a few berries and chocolate shavings and you have a most wonderful dessert.