Food

There are 9 posts filed in Food (this is page 1 of 1).

March 30, 1934: Lady Baltimore Cake

1934 March 30 Friday

Sun shone bright but was chilly until p.m. the snow melted. I went to kitchen, churned or stirred the cream we separated last 2 days, baked a lady-Baltimore cake and tried some cream-puffs, they a fake so ate pudding, slept in p.m., read the mail and Sophie and I played solitaire this eve. I wiped dishes twice this week and can sand on my foot. Sophie got meals, made cottage cheese and all the other necessary work. Elmer gave stock hay from big-stack as usual and did the chores for Will got in from Pine-Ridge for Tom Sazama brought him here as he got to Bert Roundy’s at 1 a.m. with O. S. Ellis truck from Wood and Dell Furrey brought them down on horse-back, 1 cold and 7 head Geldings & Mares, he and Sazama staid for dinner and when they left Will slept all p.m., up for supper and again to bed.

lady-baltimore-cake 023

Lady Baltimore Cake. Photo by Erin via Flickr (CC BY-NC 2.0)

January 22, 1934: Sealed with lard, a novel idea

1934, January 22, Monday

Bright and a strong N.W. wind and dusty for awhile early a.m. then wind went down and was a nice day, about 48 above. Will chored and started to help Fritz put hay-rack together and a burr didn’t fit so he (Fritz) went to Wm Chauncey’s and fixed it and in p.m. they put wagon together and Fritz hauled a load of alfalfa for the calves, then the men fixed track in barn. Ben Clausen came with some butter and got an old soldering iron so he could fix his separator that the Cihak boys sold him and he helped Will fill and smoke sausage. Will had a slight cold so he rested at noon and in p.m. he helped Fritz put alfalfa in calf Rack and the other work as mentioned. I mixed more salt in the sausage and put it in the press for Will and Ben and worked at my receipt-book and rested in p.m. and fried sausage paddies late p.m. and took a bath in eve. Maggie got meals, all the other necessary work and cooked 6 1 lb. coffee cans of sausage in the oven and sealed with lard, a novel idea. We played rummy and pitch after supper. Lawrence Arcoren and 2 white men came for Henry’s horses.

January 10, 1934: An exciting act at the last

January 10, 1934, Wednesday: An exciting act at the last

Bright, lovely, thermometer raised to 34 above at 11 a.m. and [at] 2 p.m. was 46 above zero. I staid in front-room and worked at receipt book, played solitaire and to kitchen awhile when Maggie was making the cream-cheese, which was an exciting act at the last as it got thick, but Maggie stirred it smooth so was fine and put to get ripe in 5 days. Maggie also got meals, the sweeping and bed-making but first she aired all the quilts and finished ironing the week’s washing. Fritz hauled 2 loads of hay from near Jackson School-house and gave one to the stock and left one to be put on big stack. Seth Whiting came from Moore Creek where he counted the cattle, had dinner and went home. will went to where Fritz got hay and helped me put on a load then to O’Kreek, where he had dinner and took Zella or Big Tail to Wood, Mellette County, S.D., where they got a permit for Will to cut 100 poles on Zella’s Land on Oak Creek, N.W. of Carter, Tripp Co., So. Dak., and they came home via this place, so Will was late, came in at dark. Fritz brought in 3 eggs yesterday and Maggie looked several places but found none to-day.

Photo, Rural South Dakota, 1932 (National Archives)

Rural South Dakota, 1932 (National Archives)

January 3, 1933: Berry is now our governor

1923 Jan. 3rd Wednesday.

Was cloudy most of day and cold until towards — just lovely. Will & William snapped corn and finished on hill on B’s. I was sick so just baked bread and the meals and went for mail in eve. The men are very tired as they covered a lot of territory.

January 3, 1923

January 3, 1923

1933 Jan. 3rd, Tuesday

Bright, nice day. Yesterday was S.W. breeze and to-day N.W. but not too windy to put hay in barn for Will & Roy put 5 loads hay and one of oats not threshed. Wm looked at traps, took stock to field and got same in eve and worked at hog shed in garden. I got meals, baked a walnut-cocoa cake, started to make apple-jell but no thick. John Sloss of Crazy Hole here to see if he could get Red Cross Flour, he came horse-back and it is all of 10 miles or more down there, so horse traveling is coming back this winter for Berry is now our Governor. I cooked dried-corn and pork bones for dinner also made some sauce this day. I feel bum so rested in p.m. and gathered cobs in eve. The stock enjoy feeding in the field but are beginning to destroy oats in stack so must haul it in.

[Lisa’s Note: For more on South Dakota governor Tom Berry, see “The Cowboy Governor.” This diary entry also played a role in the Flash Narrative “Horse Traveling Is Coming Back.”]

January 3, 1933

January 3, 1933

1943 Jan. 3rd Sunday.

Was 2 degrees below zero at 10 a.m. so must of been real cold in night and early morning sun shone and a Northwest breeze. Last night some wind and snow fell that it was piled in roads to-day. We got breakfast and at noon a lunch of vegetable soup and sandwiches. Elsie swept floors and washed dishes this forenoon. I baked a spice-cake, put brown sugar, walnut icing on it. Elsie fixed jello last eve and we took cake, Jello and sandwiches to Tom and Sadie Whiting’s 29th Wedding Anniversary. Had a nice lunch of sandwiches, plenty of cake, jello 2 kinds and whipped cream, pickles, coffee and cream. They got presents of rugs, lace-table cloth, silver Dollar[,] dresser scarf and sugar and creamer. We all played pitch and some 500. Prizes of High and low went to Leonard, a box [of] cigars and [to] me a knife holder. Mrs. Wallace Gran [got] stationary and Graydon Hallack, an ash tray. We got home at dark. Those there were Mr. and Mrs. Jay Tate, Raymond and Dick, they left in a little while to go to 4H Meeting [at] Schneiderweit School-house, then to Carl Andersons to see Pauline, who is home from Sioux Falls, where she and Mildred are attending Beauty and Secretarial Schools. Mildred is working now.

Those at Tom’s besides Tates were, Mr. & Mrs. Carl Gehlsen,; Rita Marie and Bobby, Mr. & Mrs. Graydon Hallock, Judy & Graydon Baair, Mr. & Mrs. Stanley Whiting and Gary, Mr. & Mrs. Wallace Gran, Betty and Leonard, Mr. & Mrs. Wm Chauncey. Mrs. Thomas F. Whiting Jr. and Doris, Mr. & Mrs. Wm Van Epps and Billie, Will and I. Will’s cough is worse this eve and I have indications of a cold again but after a french-fried toast supports bed.

January 3, 1943

January 3, 1943

January 3, 1943, cont.

January 3, 1943, cont.

1953 Jan. 3rd Saturday

Partly cloudy but not bad. Dan and Will ground alfalfa this a.m. for Bulls and Calves and in p.m. ground ear corn for them also. I got eats, played solitaire and Men did odd jobs then Will no feel good. I never saw Betty and Calvin. Don’t know if they went to Mission.

January 3, 1953

January 3, 1953

January 2, 1943: I guess gas rationing keeps folks close to home

1923 Jan. 2nd Tuesday.

Was a little cloudy but warm and better p.m. William walked out & they snapped corn on B.’s. I was feeling bad.

January 2, 1923

January 2, 1923

1933 Jan. 2nd Monday.

This is a nice bright day except late p.m. was some clouds but they passed away. I got meals rested in p.m. gathered some cobs. Wm & Will chored and Wm took cattle and horses to the field and worked at fence and looked at traps. Will & Roy put 3 loads hay in barn and all visited with Jay Tate late p.m. who came in his car and we have no gasoline so one running a car now seems to us very fortunate. Ben looked at his traps and he and Mr. Lattimore went fishing.

January 2, 1933

January 2, 1933

1943 Jan. 2nd Saturday.

WWII U.S. Ration Book

WWII U.S. Ration Book

Snowed last night, was cold North wind, cloudy and some snow fell in day. W.D. chored and measured window for east side Wagner House was 4 in. too short so he took window to Whiting Store so Mail-man could exchange and bring another longer [one on] Monday and he went to look for plank to move his buildings and went to Frank Van Epps to buy a hog house and chicken house[,] came late to dinner for he got a load of sand to fix foundation at Wagner east side of house. He brought kindling here from Wagner Place. Got salt at Whiting Store in p.m. Will puttied Wagner west windows and painted them also. He didn’t feel well on account of coughing, cold on lungs so laid down in p.m. Elsie helps with meals, washes dishes swept floors down and upstairs and mopped kitchen. I laid down in p.m. got up so sick on account of eating too many boiled-beans at noon also sweet Potatoes and custard, boiled Pork and baked potatoes, which I fixed this forenoon. This is 2nd day of the New Year and we haven’t seen any one near here or even traveling on the highways so I guess gas rationing keeps folks close to home.

[Lisa’s note: See the Ames Historical Society’s World War II Rationing on the U.S. Home Front and Duke University Libraries’ Ration Coupons on the Home Front, 1942-1945.]

January 2, 1943

January 2, 1943

1953 Jan. 2nd Friday

Bright, nice day. Men gave cattle their cobs and Dan gave cattle hay in bull-pen and worked at fixing Burmas and took one in his Pick Up down to Bull-pen. Wm, Leo and Billie came in their car and Will and Mr. Abbott went in our Pick Up back to Abbotts to get a large Male Hog to take to Winner to sell at Sale Ring. He got $61.00 for it must [have] weighed 600 lbs. Wasn’t weighed just guessed the price as so, so. They came home early. Will had dinner at Abbotts and Coffee and rolls in town, got only a few groceries. I got what eats we had and played solitaire. Never saw Betty or Calvin to-day nor any one else.

January 2, 1953

January 2, 1953

New Year’s Day: Lime Jello salad with lettuce, celery and strawberries

1923 Jan. 1st Monday.

Bright in forenoon but cloudy in p.m. and a little snow fell in eve. Will went to Nelsons to see Elmer about storing corn in granary but they [would] rather haul. After work [was] finished we went up town to get William but Louise not home he didn’t come out[.] Louise was at Angels for New Years dinner.

January 1, 1923

January 1, 1923

1933 Jan. 1st Sunday

Bright, nice day. The men chored and Narvin Boyd came and he and Wm tried to get some fish. Ben also Ralph Walton and they with Will went to River but no fish so men visited in p.m. Narve & Wm got in stock that Will & Ben put in field in a.m. and boys went to Rossville in eve and Wm came back in time for supper. I got meals and had a little extra.

January 1, 1933

January 1, 1933

1943 Jan. 1st Friday.

Sun shone and a south breeze after frosty night so the wind dried clothes nicely, left out last night so Elsie Van Epps got them in, in afternoon and we folded them. She washed some of Billie’s clothes. I got meals, baked an Angel-Food cake and Elsie frosted it. I also cooked a cocoanut cream pudding, laid down in p.m. and got real sick after supper because I ate too rich beef gravy but milk of magnesia tablets got me well in a hurry. Mrs. Abbott and Elsie washed dishes last [evening] and she did again this eve so it is nice. Will, and W.D. took Mrs. Wm Abbott home after supper last eve just as the Family were coming for her. This New Years Day, Will & W.D. worked at East Side Wagner garage siding it and put in a window Frame and will got mail in eve and went to drive cattle to Shed as it clouded got foggy and looked real threatening to snow. They also fixed fence south side Wisenburger Pasture and W.D. put some cows back that were on Hay-meadow. We never saw anyone besides us this New Years Day but may go to Tom’s Sunday to a Wedding Anniversary party.

January 1, 1943

January 1, 1943

1953. Jan 1st Thursday.

New Years Day and bright, nice. I cooked the Duck Abbotts gave us for Christmas, made gravy, Mashed Potatoes. A Salad with Betty’s help of mixing and she brought cream that Thomas brought them last night. Betty chilled the Jello Lime, put in Lettuce & Celery and Topped in her Salad dish with Salad dressing & Cream & put Sliced Strawberries on top [of] the white layer for decoration also shredded cheese in first part. Had banana cake, Ice-Cream with lot of Strawberries on Top. We played Canasta or Samba in p.m. and Wales took enough eats for their supper. Also we played 500 and lost to Men. Abbotts were to come so we fixed table for 8 but they no come so made it small for us to play cards on. Thomas’s are going to Joe Lolley’s to eat New Years dinner and wear everything they got for Christmas, so Doris said last eve.

January 1, 1953

January 1, 1953

January 1, 1953, cont.

January 1, 1953, cont.

November 28, 1929: Girls home from St. Mary’s Academy

1929 Nov. 28th Thursday

This is a sunny Thanksgiving Day and quite cold and Wind from N.W. blew some. Dave came in at 1 o’clock with Nellie, Mary, Jeanette, Harriet from St. Mary’s Academy, O’Neill, Holt County, Nebraska, so we all staid here and fixed turkey and chicken & the other things to eat for Thanksgiving such as pumpkin pie, carrot and apple salad, mashed potatoes, dressing & gravy, grape-jelly, Coffee, Butter, Bread, Cream, Sugar, Salt & pepper. Roy and Will chored and went to Oscar Jackson’s and got him for dinner and Will took him back in eve. We just lunched in eve as Nellie had a box of chocolates and our apples, we filled up between meals so when eve came we had a plenty of eats. The folks played the radio but we all retired early as it was a bad night. I fed the poultry and [was] glad Will got in cobs yesterday.

[Lisa’s note: From the online St. Mary’s Chronicles, 1929: “The month of the Poor Souls passed quietly and without much ado, except Education Week which opened on November 15. It was closed with a program in which Longfellow’s ‘Hiawatha’ was dramatized. Our boarders left on November 27 for a four days Thanksgiving vacation. On December 1 school reopened.” See archived 1920s photos from St. Mary’s here.]

November 28, 1929

November 28, 1929

August 25, 1939: Fried cucumbers and news of pending war

1939   Aug. 25th   Friday

Cool night, east wind, bright after hazy, partly cloudy forenoon. I got meals, laid down in p.m., fixed 6 gals of cucumbers in brine, [got] it to boiled and poured over cucumbers until on day when new must be made, played solitaire, listened to news of pending war. Will painted at Barn and has pains in the sore on his leg but not as bad as yesterday. Narvin and Will fixed fence in Rock and Antelope Creeks between us and Tom’s right after breakfast. I guess the men puttied barn windows in forenoon and went to fix south windmill near Strids, put in new leathers in p.m. I fried cucumbers for dinner, men no like, I do.

Aug. 25, 1939

November 25: The Eats Were so Plentiful

~ Hidden Timber, South Dakota

November 25, 1926, Thursday: Cloudy, cold Thanksgiving Day and snowed in p.m. and was quite a storm, but bright before bed-time. Henry and Will worked at fence, and Will got rack at Lattimores, and after William came in with load of corn he husked, he and Henry got hay, and Will did the chores. I washed the clothes and didn’t hang them out on account of N.W. wind strong and snowy.


November 25, 1937, Thursday: Will dressed a turkey. I put it in the oven and we had a dinner with the other trimmings, for Harry and Family, Louise, Harley, Dorothy and Billie brought pumpkin pies. The children had colds, but they enjoyed the day anyway. Furreys went home before sunset, so on this Thanksgiving Day we had plenty to eat. This day is a Birthday Party for 1 year old Rita Marie Gehlsen, so Elsie had a nice angel-food cake for her, and she and Wm V. E. went to Carl Gehlsen’s last evening.


November 25, 1945, Sunday: Will fed calves, then he and Hank got ready to go to Abbotts to a dinner of roast turkey, duck and chicken, potatoes, gravy, corn, apple salad, beets, relish, dressing, apple, pumpkin and plum pies with whipped cream, bread, butter, cream and coffee. This is 20th wedding anniversary for Mr. and Mrs. Wm Abbott.


November 25, 1948, Thursday (Thanksgiving Day): Rained last evening, but not too muddy, for sun shone most of this day to go to Wm Fronek’s to their Silver Wedding Anniversary Surprise, but Will and I got there. Bess Adrian, sons Bob, Dean, Wm and Dick and their teacher Miss Dittner, Harry, Louise, Harley, Dorothy, Billy and Mary were there. Wm J. and Julia, Bob and Ronnie were at home, and Donna was at Aberdeen, S.D., for Teachers’ State Meeting. 

The eats were so plentiful, Roast Chicken, Goose and Deer Meat, Mashed Potatoes, Sweet Potatoes, Gravy, Dressing (several kinds), Cranberries (each family brought a dish of cranberries), Apple Salad, Several kinds of Pickles, butter, Poppy Seed Rolls, Cake, Pumpkin, Carrot and Cherry Pies. A Silver Trim White Cake, 3 tiers, for Anniversary. Julia baked this in memory of their anniversary. We had dinner and supper, was it good. Wm Joseph and Harry played Will and I Pitch, five games. Will and I won, and the Ladies washed dishes, visited, looked at nice embroidery and crochet work that Donna made. The young men and Dorothy played cards in Bedroom, and Billie, Mary and Dick were outside with B.B. guns. We came home after dark, and Lolleys were still at Thomas’s having a good a time as we.



November 25, 1954, Thursday: Bright, nice but chilly Thanksgiving Day. Harry, Harley, Billie, Dorothy and Mary came, brought 2 pumpkin pies, 1 qt. cream, 2 qts. pickles, a glass of jell (plum), pan rolls, and we had roast turkey, dressing and potatoes and gravy, bread and oyster dressing, 2 kinds, cranberries, Jello, salad of bananas, grapes and apples, coffee, butter, milk. Eight of us ate at the long table in front room. Men played cards and visited and read magazines. Mary and Louise put dishes in washer and cleaned water out of basement caused from toilet flush, and mopped bathroom. Dorothy ironed shirts and handkerchiefs, the men visited in front room with Bus McKee, and Patsy and Mary visited in Blue room and played records and called square dances.