July 16, 1949 Warm Days, Cool Nights, Applesauce, Apple Butter and Tart Apple Chutney

Dear Mother & Daddy,

"We have had the most wonderful weather for the past week and are dreading the hot days again.  It gets warm during the day and the nights are real, real cool.  It would be nice if it would be this cool when we move. 

We think we'll move Aug. 15, the Monday after school is out on Friday.  We hope to get the new place all cleaned up and ready to go into before that so there will be no painting or messing after we get there.  Then we can come back here and clean up.  We have been shopping for a dining room outfit and rugs but haven't bought any yet.  We think we want a modernistic one in light wood--nothing extreme but rather plain.  We found one we liked pretty well but haven't decided yet.  Rugs like the one we have are $129. and we need two more so don't know what we'll do yet.  We can't spend that much.  We could, but we want a car too, so are going to get by with the least amount of furniture we can.  Course, we want our house real nice so we'll just have to wait and see.  We sure like our sweeper.  It cleans real well and easy and it is so easy to use the attachment.  The house is much cleaner when I use the floor brush than when I use a dust mop.

We are still talking Hudson.  B got interested in Pontiacs and went to see the dealer.  They wouldn't sell unless it was fully equipped and then it was higher than the Hudson which I'd rather have anyway.  The Hudson dealer here has been after us and made good offers but we're going to talk to Ray.

I'm going to can a bushel of apples next week.  We got the Duchess at the orchard for $1.50.  Think I'll make applesauce.  Bobby eats so much fruit that I'd like to can quite a lot--especially peaches.

Bobby has been good as gold.  I hope everyone is fine."

                    Lots of love,

                         B, Bonnie & Bobby

NOTE from Ann:  In the summer of 1949, movie popcorn became a lucrative and big hit.  See the brief article below from Life magazine.

The post-movie mess

Apple Sauce (from the Ball Blue Book, 1943)

Wash, pare, core, and slice apples.  Add a little water to start cooking.  Cook until soft.  Press through strainer.  Sweeten to taste.  Reheat to boiling.  Pack into hot jars.  Process 15 minutes in hot-water bath, then complete seal.  (Should be cooked in an enamel kettle and stirred with a wooden spoon to prevent discoloring.)

Bonnie's Apple Butter 
 
Begin with 6 c. unsweetened applesauce.  Combine with it 6 c. sugar, 2 tsp. cinnamon, 2 tsp. ground allspice, 2 tsp. ground cloves and 1-1/4 c. apple juice.  Cook very, very slowly till thick, stirring often.  Pack into jars, cool and refrigerate.  Delicious.

Tart Apple Chutney 

Peel and chop 2 lbs. apples and 2 lbs. tomatoes.  Chop 2 med. onions and combine with 1 lb. seedless raisins, 1 lb. brown sugar, 1 qt. vinegar, 1/2 tsp. cayenne, 1 T ground ginger, 1 tsp. ground allspice,1 tsp. nutmeg, 1/4 tsp. cloves and 2 tsp. salt.  Add apples and tomatoes.  Bring to a full boil, lower heat and simmer till thick.  Pout into jars and seal.  Make 6 pts.