On Chickens and Valentines...

This is an interesting blog post title, isn't it?  The chickens are loving this warmer weather we are having.  It has been in the 40's with 50's and even a day of 61 in the 5 day forecast.  It feels like a heat wave!  The snow is melting and the mud and muck are beginning.  I'll take it though, as opposed to the freezing temps.  I need to remember that Winter isn't over yet ...it is Iowa after all and we have been known for some big snow storms in March (even ocassionally in April):(

This is a picture of my Valentine's present.  I am really excited about the cookbook.  It is called The Farmer's Wife Harvest Cookbook.  It has a lot of old time recipes and menus that farm wife's put together for threshing days.  Some of the recipes go back to the early 1900's, with most of them from the 20's and 30's.  Here is a sample of a menu used by a farm wife in 1921 to feed a crew of threshers:

Roast Beef with Gravy

Baked Beans

Mashed Potatoes

Bread and Butter

Cabbage, Peanut, and Banana Salad  (interesting combination...)

Soft-Top Pie

Cake with fresh fruit sauce or gelatin fruit salad

Salad

Iced Tea or Coffee

This should be fun to read through and even try some of the recipes.  It will be a good history lesson as well, I am sure.