on November 6, 2021
Reblog by: Lawrence Morra III
Zero Lift-Off Only The Beginning
Yes Dawn a beautiful reminder of so much good back in those fine days of genuine family tradition, full of love and beautiful standards! Sad to see what has happened to this nation especially the nasty displays of arrogance and disrespect for just about anything good in recent years that has the name American associated with it, all triggered by the most nefarious enemies among us!
But, the good thing is Truth never dies and will always prevail like Justice; as the light overcomes all darkness or despair! The power of prayer and hope are what this is all about, just like those original Pilgrims proved back in 1620 when they crossed an ocean in wooden ships putting everything on the line to find peace, freedom and to build a “Home Sweet Home!” Home is where the heart is, and that is what you and anyone thinking about this right now should focus on for this coming Thanksgiving, letting all the good flow from within pouring out from the heart to all those we love and care about, while even extending some of it to those who are having it very tough and even alone! We can begin with prayers and then genuinely put our best foot forward like those brave and good heartened Pilgrims did way back in the day!
We can be the “New Pilgrims Now!” It’s about overcoming all the odds that can at times be stacked up against us! We’re from “the best of the best” and not quitters; “We Shall Overcome!”
God bless you and yours, and a Special blessed Thanksgiving! Amen.
Brother in Christ Jesus,
Lawrence
Thanksgiving Dinner from the 1950s Housewife
by Dawn Pisturino on November 6, 2021
Thanksgiving menu 1950s style
Clear chicken or turkey soup
Bread sticks
Salted almonds
Celery
Olives
Roast turkey
Giblet gravy
Chestnut stuffing
Mashed potatoes
Brussel sprouts
Jellied or whole cranberry sauce
Romaine salad with French dressing
Cheese plate
Hot mince pie
Bonbons
Coffee
~
How to make chicken or turkey bone soup
“Never discard the bones of turkey or chicken as they always will make a delicious soup. Scrape the meat from the bones, break the bones, pack in a kettle, and cover with cold water, adding a small onion. Cover closely and simmer very gently for three hours. Strain and cool. One-half hour before it is to be served, return to the fire, and for every quart of stock, add one cup of the cold meat, season, and keep hot till needed. This soup may be greatly improved by adding to it, three minutes before serving, ten oysters to each quart of soup.”
Chestnut Stuffing
1 quart chestnuts
1/4 cup bread crumbs
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons cream
Salt and Pepper
1/2 teaspoon onion juice
Shell and blanche chestnuts and cook in boiling water until tender. While hot, rub through coarse sieve. Mix with remaining ingredients. Makes 2-1/2 cups.
~
Formal Table Settings and Service
Housewives of the 1950s set their holiday dinner tables with their finest china, bearing the most exquisite designs. If the dinner was served in courses, a different design might be used with each course. All the dishes used in one course would match.
Place Plate – 10-11 inches across. This was the base plate on which the dinner plate was set.
Dinner Plate – 10-10.5 inches across, used to serve the meat and side vegetables.
Entree Plate – 8.5-9.5 inches across, used to serve an entree, salad, or fish. May have been used for dessert if the fingerbowl was brought in on it.
Dessert Plate – 7.5-8 inches across, used for dessert or salad. Used for the cake plate at tea.
Bread and Butter Plate – 6-6.5 inches across.
Soup Plate – 8-8.5 inches across with a broad, flat rim. Or a bowl could substitute.
Cups and Bowls
Cream Soup Cup – A low, broad cup with two handles, 4.5-5 inches wide and about 2 inches deep. Used for purees, bisques, and cream soups.
Boullion Cup – Looked like a tea cup with two handles that was used for clear soups, consommes, and bouillons.
Chilled Cocktail Bowl – A low, broad bowl inside a separate container. The bowl would be used to serve grapefruit, shrimp cocktail, and other chilled foods. Crushed ice would be packed around the bowl.
Glass
Colored glassware was very popular in the 1950s and would have matched the colors in the china dishes. Crystal glassware was preferred for formal dinners, either etched, cut, or rimmed with gold.
Goblet – The main component of the glassware setting. Two other glasses would have been set alongside the main goblet, usually a claret glass and a champagne glass.
Sherbet Glass – A medium sized bowl on a short stem used to serve sherbet, ice cream, and other frozen dessert.
Finger Bowl – a low, broad bowl used to dip the fingers in water.
Silver
Polished silver gave an air of sophistication to the table setting. Besides the usual dinner knife, fork, and spoon, the 1950s hostess might have provided an array of cutlery including a butter knife and smaller knives and forks for fish, entrees, salad, and fruit.
A List of Useful Serving Pieces
2 or 3 tablespoons
2 or 3 dinner forks for serving
Medium sized carving set
Butter knife or butter pick
Gravy ladle
Sugar tongs
Pie or tart server
Cold meat fork
Olive spoon or fork
Berry spoon
Jelly server
Preserve spoon
Long-handled fork and spoon
Pickle fork
Pierced server
Salad dressing ladle
Lemon fork
Asparagus server
Entree server
Cake fork
sardine server
Ice tongs
Ice spoon
Sugar spoon
Sugar sifter for powdered sugar
Ice-cream knife or server
Cheese server
Melon knife
Grape scissors
Linen
The 1950s hostess preferred white linen damask for a table cover at dinner. The napkins always matched the tablecloth. Monogramming was very popular in the 1950s.
Centerpieces and Decorations
Flowers were popular centerpieces in the 1950s. The colors had to blend in with the rest of the color scheme. Candles were usually white or natural wax color. The candles were lighted before the guests entered the dining-room and were kept burning until after they left the room.
From The American Woman’s Cook Book, 1950
~
Sounds like a lot of work! A lot of serving to do, and a lot of dishes to wash! But the 1950s housewife took pride in setting a well-appointed table. She derived satisfaction from pleasing her guests. Of course, we all know that that does not always work with family.
Most importantly, however, Thanksgiving is and was a time to spend with family and friends and to be thankful for what we have. Washing dishes is a small price to pay.
Thanksgiving Prayer
Lord, source and giver of all things, we give You thanks and all the glory on this Thanksgiving Day for the splendor and majesty of creation. We give You thanks for the blessings of family and friends: both those gathered around this table and those who are present only in our hearts. We give You thanks for this food, prepared by loving hands, and for the graces You provide to nourish our spirits, souls, and bodies so that we may continue to serve You passionately. Help us to be faithful stewards of all we have been given. May we reflect Your love and that which we have received to all those we meet, especially the less fortunate in our midst. Amen.
Practice Gratitude – Conversation Starters for Around the Table
Name two things you are thankful for this year.
Who are you thankful for, and why?
What part of nature is inspiring and beautiful to you?
What is something that makes you laugh out loud?
What is an unexpected blessing you’ve received this year?
Choose someone you are with and share three things you admire and appreciate about that person.
What is something you love about your family?
How are you going to practice gratitude this year?
Have a Safe, Happy, and Blessed Thanksgiving this year!
Dawn Pisturino
November 4, 2021
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Thank you for re-posting, Brother Lawrence! I truly appreciate it. God Bless You and Yours! And I wish you a Blessed and Safe Thanksgiving this year!
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You’re very welcome Sister Dawn! I’m really glad to have the ability to do it! I also very much appreciate all of your input and kind thoughts! Have a blessed Sunday today!
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Same to you!
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Thanks it was a great and inspiring outdoors day mostly and met more artists this afternoon!
Hope you were in the groove having a magnificent day Dawn!
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