February 16, 1952 Men Who Fix Things, Loads of Fun, Cross and Cranky, On the Sled and Cream Puffs

Dear Mother & Daddy,

"B and Bobby are working on the alarm clock so I might as well start this for I won't get Bobby to go to bed as long as there are tools around.  I guess he has a lot of both B and you, Daddy, in him, for he loves to tinker and fool with tools.  I hope so anyway for it is certainly nice to be able to fix things.  Do you remember how Beulah and I used to wonder what we'd do if we married men who couldn't fix things?  I guess we were both lucky. 

We are getting some pictures for our walls at last.  At least we are starting with two for the living room.  They come unframed so B is going to try to make frames although he really doesn't have the tools.

Our pottery class is loads of fun.  I started a teapot last night but didn't get done so I just hope it won't be too dry by next week.  The class just meets once a week for 1-1/2 hrs.  After the things are modeled of wet clay they are just set on a shelf to dry for a week or more until they are hard as rock.  Then they are baked-- or fired as it is called.  The design is painted on with colored clay and a liquid glaze is pour on it, then dried again on a shelf and fired for the last time.  It's a long process.  The glazes are different colors or clear.  That is where the color on dishes comes in.  The clay is cream colored after it is fired.

I have to iron tonight but I don't dread it like I used to.  I very foolishly left half of it the other night when I could have finished it and Ann has been so cross in the daytime and I've been out at night so I must finish it tonight.   She has been so cranky and hasn't slept well either but she took a nap today and was not so bad.  I am wondering if it might be a tooth.  It's about time for her two year molars.

I have been making cream puffs and we really eat them up in a hurry.  They would be a nice dessert for your club refreshments sometime and are real easy to make.

We have had some wonderful days but now we have a big sleet and snow storm on everything.  It is slick as glass everywhere.  B had the kids out on the sled this afternoon and they love it.

I wrote to Bessie right after Christmas but I never have heard from them.  Did she ever mention getting my letter?

I thought you might be interested in this letter.  You can give the stamps to Charlotte if she wants them but if she doesn't save them for Steve.  We gave him the ones from Egypt that we had from these people."

                         Lots of love,

                                   Bonnie

NOTE:  I'm sure that the letter Bonnie referred to is one from Edna and Woody Sorensen, lifelong  family friends who were traveling in Pakistan and Egypt.  Woody left the ISNU faculty to become the president of Augustana College in the early 60s.  The books are some that he gave to B & Bonnie from his collection prior to his move.

For information on the collection of artifacts and photos from his travels;  http://www4.uwm.edu/libraries/AGSL/Sorensen/SorensenPhotoInventory.cfm

Cream Puffs

Using a heavy pan, heat 1 c. water and 1 stick of butter until butter melts.  Add a dash of salt.  Turn heat to high and when the mixture boils, add 1 c. of flour all at once.  Turn off the heat and stir until a ball is formed.  Turn on heat, cook and stir until a film forms on the bottom of the pan.  Remove from heat and cool slightly.  Beat in 4 eggs, one at a time.  Drop in 12 mounds on greased cookie sheet (or use a pastry bag to pipe into mounds).  Bake @ preheated 425 for 20 min.  Lower heat to 375 and bake 15 min. longer until golden brown and feather light.  Turn off heat.  Remove puffs and make small slit in each.  Return to oven for 10 min. with heat off and door ajar.  Cool on rack.

Vanilla Custard Filling

Put 3/4 c. sugar, 3 T. cornstarch, a dash of salt and 2 cups of milk in a large sauce pan.  Mix well and heat until mixture is thick and shiny.  Remove about 1/4 c. of mixture to a small bowl and add 3 beaten eggs.  Return that gradually, beating, to the other mixture and cook and stir for about 2 minutes.  Remove from heat, add 1 tsp. vanilla and 2 T butter.  Stir until butter is incorporated.  Cover and cool mixture until ready to use or fill cream puffs and serve immediately.  (Variation:  Add 2 oz. unsweetened chocolate, grated, with the milk mixture for dark chocolate filling.)

Hot Fudge Sauce

Mix together one can Eagle Brand Sweetened Condensed Milk and 2, 1 oz. squares of unsweetened chocolate, grated.  Cook and stir until mixture is very thick and dark.  Remove from heat and add 1 tsp. vanilla.  Thin with milk to desired consistency.   

To serve cream puffs:  Slice off the top of each and reserve the tops,  fill with custard, put top back on and drizzle with fudge sauce.  Sprinkle with powdered sugar.