October 20, 1945 Daddy Keeps House, New Tire Pride, Waiting for Silverware and Pies

Joy of Cooking, c 1940

 Dear Mother & Daddy,

"I guess by the time this letter reaches you Mother will be back home again.  I hope you have had a good time and aren't too tired.  How did you like keeping house, Daddy?

We have been having the most glorious weather.  Today we don't even have a fire.  The sun shines so bright and yesterday it got up to 80.  The leaves are every color.  Last Sunday we went for a long drive.  It was a nice day and I've never seen such beautiful scenery before.  We finished a roll of color film and now we can hardly wait till we get the pictures back.

We had a letter from Bessie this week.  They still haven't heard from Francis Jr. since he got to California.

Several people from Hopkins were going to a football game this Saturday and we were asked to go but there are always so many things to do that we stayed home.  I had to go to the dentist then I baked two pies.  One is peach and the other lemon.  We have been eating our fruit we canned this summer and it really tastes good.  We got some coconut this other day so I fixed the lemon pie up fancy.

We got two new tires this morning.  They are Siberlings and look like a million dollars.

We got a letter from Tice Rollins this week.  He is stationed at Fort Devens, Mass.  which is about 175 miles from New Haven.  We hope we can get together one of these days.  His wife is with him.  We never really knew her but have met her.  She was a Springfield girl.

Teachers Meeting is next Friday so that means I'll have a day's vacation.  I don't know whether Sully will be here or not.  They have written several times.  They are still waiting for their silverware to come so we haven't been there yet.  He has been at our house so much I told B when they did get their silver we would go up some Friday evening and stay till Sunday evening.  Ha!

Write and tell me all about your trip, Mother."

                                Lots of love,

                                         B & Bonnie

Image courtesy of www.goantiques.com

NOTE from Ann:  Frank Seiberling founded The Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company in 1898.  See more about this interesting inventor below:

http://www.goodyear.com/corporate/bios/seiberling.html

 Lemon Pie (Bonnie's version adapted from the Joy of Cooking)

Prepare a crust but instead of using 1/4 c. water, use 2 T water and 2 T lemon juice.  Add to the sifted ingredients 1 tsp. grated lemon rind and about 1 T sugar.  If desired, add 1 egg yolk for color.

The filling:  Combine, cook and stir over very low heat, 3/4 c. sugar, 2 T cornstarch, 1/8 tsp. salt, 1-1/2 c. milk and 2 well beaten egg yolks.  Stir in 1/4 c. lemon juice and 1/4 tsp. grated lemon rind.  Cool slightly and turn into pie shell.  Cover with meringue and sprinkle liberally with coconut.  Bake at about 300 for 15 to 20 minutes till meringue is lightly browned and coconut is toasted.

Bonnie's Traditional Peach Pie

Peel and slice about 8 peaches.  Toss with 1 T lemon juice.  Mix 3 T flour or tapioca, 3/4 c sugar, 1/2 tsp. cinnamon, dash nutmeg and dash ginger.  Add to peaches with 1 t almond extract.  Turn into pie shell, dot with butter.  Add top crust, brush with beaten egg white, sprinkle with sugar and vent.  Bake at 375 for about 30 minutes or until crust is well browned.  Cool until set.