"Waste not- Want not" said my Grannie


(recipe after story.... and lots of pictures)

I have many wonderful memories of a FABULOUS grandmother, because my mother was a wise and gracious mother who shared us with her mother in law.  She wanted us to have as many sources of wonderful healthy love in our life, as possible.

Something my grandmother always said, was, "Waste not.  Want not."  That was old fashioned talk for take care of and make good use of what you have, and you are not gonna LACK.  Well, please don't take that euphemism to mean that she put her trust in people before God, because she did not.  She was a vital witness for Christ to me, and she was priceless in value for the part she played in molding her grandchildren for Christ.

She lived through, in fact suffered through the GREAT DEPRESSION (edited Monday after my cousin Louis helped educate me).... the Great Depression was before the WAR EFFORT which was in support of WWII.  During World War 2, rations were implemented. Did you know that during this time, SUGAR and I believe some other foods were rationed??  You could not purchase at a store unless you had your little book....



my grandpa's down below; I think I see a penciled date 10.29.43, on this one at bottom right.  =76 years ago!

my grandmother's:


My Aunt Tootsie's, I believe:


 Aunt Joyce's  from the other side of my family:


a look inside at the stamps or coupons; I am not sure what they were called:



This one belonged to Aunt Pearl, when she was 5'7" tall, 114 pounds, probably age 13 or 14...



        Gasoline was rationed :



Grandpa's:


Interesting!  These were issued even per the children apparently.  Some of those above, were for children of the family.

"Oh God, thank you for bringing us through that difficult time.  Help us to be grateful, wise and generous of spirit, through Christ, and WISE to live according to Your will no matter the politics around us."



My grandmother knew how to make TOYS from nothing, to entertain us kids, and this was before internet and Pinterest of course, which is loaded with cheap DIY toy ideas today.  She knew how to make leftovers (no microwave) be the most delicious meal ever.  Sun up to sun down, she worked at home.  Breakfast, delicious breakfast set on the table for family.  Eat. Enjoy.  Wash dishes.  Go upstairs and QUILT, then go downstairs and prepare LUNCH.  Eat. Enjoy.  Wash dishes, and then go upstairs and QUILT.  Then come downstairs, and prepare "SUPPER," also known as DINNER.  Eat.  Enjoy.    And finally after dishes were done on that meal, she would sit with my grandfather for a while, in the living room, where he was either watching a western movie (cowboys, horses...) or reading his BIBLE, and often during this time, my grandmother did a handcraft like sew by hand barbie doll clothes for her grand-daughters.

Another one of her sayings, was, "Idleness is the devil's workshop."



This recipe is in honor of all the people who lived through the Great Depression, and WAR EFFORT when for common working class people, times were tough.  If you threw food away after one meal, you may not have a next meal, and times were unsure.  At this time, many people enjoyed, "Bread Pudding."   

When their bread was old and on the verge of molding, (or maybe they would cut the moldy parts off and use other parts- just sayin' 'cause I know it's true) then they would make a delicious comforting dish such as this, to delight and indulge their family  IF they had any sugar in the house.  Remember, it was rationed.


This very recipe, you can adapt by cutting back on the moisture portions (if not mixing with dry bread) and you can mix the sweet milk and egg with RICE and have an equally popular depression era dessert known as RICE PUDDING.  My grandpa called it "speckled pup pudding!"  I am sure to add cinnamon when I make Rice Pudding!



You will either like this or you will not.  My daughter, daddy, and I enjoy it very much!



......................Old Fashioned Bread Pudding...................

Here is a good foundation to start this, but you watch me adapt it!!!



3 cups bread crumbs (old bread or biscuits or for rice pudding, maybe 3 1/2 c. to 4 cups rice!)

2 cups hot milk

1/2 cup sugar
2 eggs
1/4 cup butter
1/4 t. salt
1 t. vanilla
1/2 cup raisins
preheat oven to 35*

Here I go...........................................................

my ingredients:


I used my full loaf of on-sale, old french bread, so I increased my ingredients:

1)  I heat in the microwave, 2 1/2 cups milk and one stick of butter cut up.


2) I whisked well, 3 eggs.


3) Measured 3/4 cup sugar


4) I stirred my warm milk and butter and added 1/2 package raisins, and heated it for 30 seconds more in microwave.


5) Woops!  Almost forgot the Vanilla.  Added 1 teaspoon.




6) Cut up my bread into about inch cubes, and oiled my casserole dish.




7) I whisked in, the egg mixture with the milk sugar mixture, and tossed it with the bread.



8) Put it all in my casserole dish, and I can tell you it already smelled like a treat !!

Now, in the oven, set in my bigger pan of water to help it stay moist like it is supposed to be.

Bake 350* for 45 minutes.


Bake 350 * for 45 minutes with a pan of water below to emit moisture.

It was beautiful !


I decided to put the lid on it so it did not dry out as it cooled.  My preference.


It actually was perfect, but my daughter wanted a sauce.  

So this is in honor of my Aunt Pearl, who taught me the basics about making sweet sauces.

I got a can of peaches. I like those packed in 100% juice.




I pureed the peaches, and dumped them in my saucepan on medium heat.


 To this I added about a tablespoon of soft butter.

I poured about 1/3 cup milk into a cup and added only a tablespoon of sugar to this because the peaches are already plenty sweet, and then I added 2 teaspoons of cornstarch.  Stirred it up and added it to the peach mixture.



Let it simmer and thicken a little.  




Peach sauce for YOURS??


Yes, please !!



My daughter took one bite and said with passion in her voice, "Ummm..... thank you Mom."
"You are so welcomed, honey."
Now who can we share this with?.........seriously we can't eat this all ourselves........

Grandma Mary Martha 💖
(a.k.a. Tammy Tot, as Aunt Pearl called me sometimes)
♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡

In memory of my Aunt Pearl, who was beloved to me, and many others.  Thank you for living, and sharing your faith..... and your cooking skills with me.  I am looking forward to seeing you in Heaven Aunt Pearl♡

Love you, sweet Aunt Pearl♡

...................................................................................................
Before baking:

I found someone to share the bread pudding with, and decided to make the same recipe with (I didn't measure it) probably 5 or 6 cups of cooked rice, and generous cinnamon.  Having baked it the same way; with water under it, 350* for 45 minutes.... When it first came out, it was a little watery.  I noticed when it cooled, the moisture seemed to absorb into the rice.  I got the clever idea to add Almond Meal, for protein which is the coolest thing..... just simple almond goodness in ground up form.  I can assure you this will be my breakfast tomorrow, with my coffee:



Oh, I put some rice pudding in individual containers, anticipating a picnic.  Later we used some of it  at home.  I plopped it on a plate, heated it in the micowave for 40 seconds and had a hot breakfast with my coffee:
💖💖💖💖💖

















Comments

  1. I will go back and edit some.......... My cousin Louis, just pointed out that the ration books were for WAR EFFORT WWII (World War 2) which was after the Great Depression.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Rice pudding or Arroz con Leche!!! Yum!! My family recipe was much like yours but we used
    sweeten condensed milk Nestles (I think because if they were out of milk they used this) added cinnamon, raisins and omg was it good!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you for sharing that! "Arroz con leche!" I like that !!

      Delete
  3. Thank you so much! I really enjoyed that so much. I love history and learned something new. God bless you!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I am glad you visited ! Thank you for your kind encouragement.

      Delete

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