Day 19: Continuance
I've always been drawn to older ways of doing things: cooking, handwork, sewing. Often times you hear people say they feel like they were born in the wrong era. I have felt that way my whole life. I love my fancy gadgets and technology, but I feel like I always have one foot in a slower, more deliberate way of life. About 10 years ago I was at an estate sale with my mama. We were there scoping out an old treadle sewing machine (still in it's wooden shipping crate from years and years ago). We decided to make the investment and I meandered into the kitchen where the cashier table was. While I waited in line I noticed that all of the cookbooks and kitchen knick knacks were still laying around. When I asked the cashier how much the cookbooks were he replied that I could make an offer because they were planning on hauling off what was left at the end of the day. I picked up a copy of the Joy of Cooking and underneath was a small file box of recipes. "Ten dollars for both?" I could tell he thought he was getting the better end of the deal, but I knew better. When I got home I laid down on the floor in front of the fireplace and took out each recipe, one by one. This was the recipe box of one Mrs. O.P. Breland. No one famous or spectacular in any public fashion, but her box of recipes was like opening up a time capsule. Un. Believable. There were recipes written on the back of old laundry order forms dating back to 1945. There were clippings from newspapers from around the country. There were so many recipe cards exchanged at church and over bridge scrawled on calendar pages and calling cards. I spent hours and hours pouring over each little scrap of paper. I continue to be astounded that someone was just going to toss all of that history. There are big chunks of time that were not the best time for cuisine in our country historically speaking. Apple Sauce Salad or Spam in a Blanket anyone? She also has some really simple but incredible recipes. I will post the recipe for Coffee Crispies in a bit. When I look through her recipes and all of the different women who gave her their recipes, I feel connected to them in some strange way. I feel this fierce guardianship...a need to protect the heritage of all of these recipes. I was joking with the Man the other night that I should cook each recipe in the box Julie and Julia style but I don't think I could do it. Julie may have had to bone a duck, but she didn't have to make and consume Sea Foam Salad Mold (serves 6). To bring this story full circle (kind of): The next week was my birthday and my parents watched the boy so that the man and I could have a little time to ourselves. One of my favorite things to do in Austin is to spend way too much time at Uncommon Objects. It's an antique/vintage finds store that is set up booth style with individual sellers. I walked into one of the booths, I looked down and saw a box of beautifully preserved rosette style candles in a box. When I picked up the box I glanced at the lid laying next to it (see below)
Now. I know that this only means that this seller (clear across town) was at the same estate sale that I had been at the week before. I get that. I choose however to think of it as a little something more. Kind of like a thank you or acknowledgement that I respect and honor Mrs. Breland's past and will continue to marvel at the record that she left behind in her recipes. I'm funny like that.