13 November 2019

Fiery death

As we suffer the rage of bushfires in this summer of 2019, I look back through the family tree to identify several painful deaths caused by burns. These deaths make us pause to consider the pain both physical and mental endured by those who suffer from the ravages of fire.

MARTIN KAIN

When Coleman Kain married Bridget O’Dea in the old church at Pinkerton Plains in South Australia in 1891, his father Martin was 70 years old. Martin and his wife Catherine had been in South Australia since 1857 bringing 5 sons with them on the Lady Ann. Tragedy dogged the family with the loss of two sons. One in 1891 as a result of a railway accident and an 1896 death after four years of illness.

By 1897 Martin himself was quite feeble. A stumble into the fire was to have dire consequences.

HAMLEY BRIDGE, April 5.-A sad accident occurred to Mr. Martin Kain, an old and highly respected resident, aged 80, who is very feeble. He fell into the fire a few days ago and got very badly burnt on the right arm and hip. He appears to have lost all feeling as he was driven into township to-day to see the doctor, a distance of about three miles, and although the road was very rough he did not suffer any inconvenience. The. doctor considers the case very serious. This family lately lost a son who left a widow and several children.₁

On the 23rd April, Martin died from his burns. He was buried on Sunday 25th April in the Pinkerton Plains cemetery.

MARY HOGAN (KITSCHKE)

Mary Hogan was one of six children born to John Hogan and Johanna Horgan. They lived on a farm at Taylor’s Gap between Tarlee and Kapunda in South Australia. When Mary was born in June of 1868 her eldest sister Hannah was 6, brother Timothy 4, and sister Johannah, 2.

Mary and her baby [twin?] sister Bridget Helen were baptised at St Rose’s Catholic Church in Kapunda on June 5 1868. With 6 children under 7, life for their mother Johannah would have been very busy. Their father John, whom Johannah had married in 1861, was a well respected farmer in the district.

When Mary was 28 she married Anthony Joseph Kitschke. This would have been a happy occasion for the Hogan family as the eldest daughter, Hannah Catherine who was only 23 had died the previous year leaving behind her husband James O’Sullivan with 6 young children.

Mary and Anthony had a farm at Canowie Belt east of Jamestown. Six children were registered as born to them over the next 12 years, but two of those babies died soon after birth. By December of 1917 the youngest surviving child was 6 years old and Mary was now 49.
The newspapers of the day tell the sad tale.

SAD BURNING FATALITY
Mrs. Anthony Kitschke, of Canowie Belt, was washing, and was wearing a hessian apron. Whilst she was at the copper the hessian ignited, and her other clothing caught fire. She tried to roll a table cover round herself, but this also caught fire. Except for a small portion about her shoulders, her clothing was all burnt off. She had no one near to aid her. When Mr. Kitschke came home shortly afterwards he found her on the verandah, terribly burnt. Strange as it may seem, after the burning she got water from the tank and put out the burning fragments lying about the verandah. A neighbor did what she could to relieve the poor sufferer, who lived for 48 hours and was conscious to the last. Possessed of a cheerful, generous disposition, she was highly respected by all. ₂

Another obituary reports:
OBITUARY. MRS. A. KITSCHKE, CANOWIE BELT.
Our Canowie Belt correspondent writes: —Quite a gloom was cast over the district on Wednesday last when it became known that Mrs. A. Kitschke was burnt to death and died on that morning. It appears that Mrs. Kitschke was doing her washing on Monday morning, when her dress became lighted from the copper, and before she could get it under control, she was frightfully burnt. Dr. Aitken was immediately on the spot, but could do nothing beyond making her death easier. Father Doyle attended Mrs. Kitschke during her last few days, and administered the last rites of the Church.

Mrs. Kitschke was a fine strong woman of 49 years, and was respected by everybody. She leaves a sorrowing husband, Mr. Anthony Kitschke, three sons, and one daughter to mourn her loss.
The funeral took place on Thursday and was the largest funeral that went into Jamestown for a number of years. About 80 traps followed the remains. Very Rev. Father Doyle officiated. R.I.P.₃

THOMAS HORGAN

Another death as a result of a farm related fire occurred in 1957.

The death in a Melbourne Hospital in January of Thomas Horgan was very sad and tragic. Mr Horgan suffered severe burns on November 13 [1956] whilst burning grass at his homestead in Belalie East. He was finally taken to Melbourne for special treatment after spending several weeks in the Jamestown hospital. Mr Horgan was born at Jamestown in 1903 and was a son of Mrs C and and the late Mr John Horgan.

Thomas at age 53 left behind a wife and four young children. He was buried in the Jamestown Cemetery in South Australia.

My thoughts go out to all those who have suffered losses past and present through fire, whether that be loss of life, loss of property or loss of peace of mind. May your community and loved ones support you through difficult times.

1. 1897 'ACCIDENT AT HAMLEY BRIDGE.', The Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1889 - 1931), 6 April, p. 6. , http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article35075051

2. 1917 'SAD BURNING FATALITY.', The Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1889 - 1931), 22 December, p. 7. , http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article5582519

3, 1917 'OBITUARY.', Southern Cross (Adelaide, SA : 1889 - 1954), 21 December, p. 15. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article166984831

1 October 2019

Hannah at Semaphore

My mother at the beach

This photo from the O'Dea family photo album is labelled Hannah at Semaphore.

In 1923 Georgina Ellen O'Dea had moved to Hamley Bridge after the death of her husband in 1919. Her third daughter Hannah was 11 at the time of the move.

Two years later there is a report in the Port Adelaide News of a picnic to Semaphore beach. Could it be this picnic that my mother was attending? There is no date on the photo but is it possible that she is about 13 here?

COUNTRY PICNICS AT SEMAPHORE

The Midland District annual picnic, which embraced residents from Tarlee, Saddleworth, Riverton, Stockport, and Hamley Bridge; was held at Semaphore on Saturday. This was the fifteenth annual picnic, from the Midland District, and it is claimed that the district was the first country district to organise an annual picnic to the seaside.

It originated as a combined picnic of the Sunday schools of the district, Mr. D. L. Striibling, then of Tarlee, and now of Henley. Beach, being responsible for the innovation. Two or three hundred persons attended the first picnic, which, year by year, has gathered popularity, until on Saturday fully 1,700 adults and children participated, and two very long trains were necessary to convey them to the beach. Oh arrival at Semaphore they were welcomed by the Mayor of Port Adelaide, who informed the committee that the beach officer would do all in his power to make the visit an enjoyable one for them.

After the previous day's downpour model picnicking conditions prevailed. Many of the visitors availed themselves of the opportunities given for sea bathing, while others found enjoyment among the beach amusements or in talking with city friends who had come to Semaphore to spend the day with them. The president of the central committee was Mr. E. A. Gray (Riverton) and the secretary, Mr. J. O. Taylor (Tarlee). The secretaries of the committees of the various centres were:—Riverton, Mr. E. A. Gray; Stockport, Mr. G. H. Weste; Hamley Bridge, Mr. H. N. Ellis; Saddleworth, Mr C. H. Roberts; Tarlee, Mr. J. O. Taylor.

1925 'OUR MAGAZINE SECTION', Port Adelaide News (SA :1913 - 1933), 13 February, p. 1. (OUR MAGAZINE SECTION), viewed 01 Oct 2019, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article212958143

This post first appeared on earlieryears.blogspot.com by CRGalvin

20 August 2019

Marriage 1936 style

Romance in the air

Looking back once more at my mother's family, the 1930s decade was awash with weddings. Shortly before the 1933 wedding of her eldest sister Mary, the next in line Margaret Monica O'Dea announced her engagement to James Barry. Margaret Monica had been born in Hamley Bridge, South Australia on 4 May 1910 to parents Patrick and Georgina O'Dea. James Peter Barry was the son of Thomas Benedict and Johannah Barry. He was three years older than Margaret.

O'DEA - BARRY. - The engagement is announced of Margaret Monica, second daughter of Mrs. G. E. O'Dea, of Hamley Bridge, and the late Mr. P. J. O'Dea. of Pinnaroo, to James Peter, youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. T. B. Barry, No. 2. Frobisher avenue. Flinders Park.₁

It was almost three years before their wedding took place in 1936. The depression years had taken their toll and for a young couple the challenges of saving for a marriage and obtaining some household goods would have been difficult. In December of 1936 this report of their wedding appeared in the Southern Cross, South Australia's Catholic weekly newspaper.

O'DEA—BARRY WEDDING.

L to R: James Ryan, James (Jim) Barry, Margaret O'Dea, Hannah O'Dea

Marriage Solemnised at Hamley Bridge.

At St. Mary's Church, Hamley Bridge, on November 3, the marriage was solemnised of Margaret Monica, second daughter of Mrs. G. E. O'Dea, Hamley Bridge, to James Peter Barry, youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. T. Barry, Flinders Park, by the Rev. Father Farrelly. The bride, who entered the church on the arm of her brother, Jack, was gowned in white marocain, with lace yoke, and insets of lace in the full sleeves. The skirt, which had godets of fine pleats, merged into a train. She wore an embroidered tulle veil, which formed a long train, lent by Mrs. D. Healy, and carried a bouquet of pink and white rosebuds.

Miss Hannah O'Dea, sister of the bride, was bridesmaid. She was frocked in apple green floral georgette, made tunic style, featuring high neckline and long sleeves. A green picture hat, and shoes to match completed her toilette. She carried a bouquet of pink rosebuds.

Mr. James Ryan (cousin of the bridegroom) was best man. Little Therese Conley (bride's niece), Monnie Bennett, and Keith Martin, hung horseshoes on the bride's arm, on leaving the Church.

Prior to the marriage, the bride was tendered a kitchen evening in the Druids' Hall, by her many friends. Mr. S. Casaretto thanked those present on behalf of the guest.₂

Further notes

The photo is one from our family collection and as well as the bride and groom has a lovely picture of my mother Hannah who in November of 1936 was 24 years old. At this stage she was engaged to Eddie Horgan and their marriage followed shortly after in April of 1937.

James (Uncle Jim) died in July 1974 and Margaret (Auntie Marg) lived for another 25 years until her death in January 2000. They are buried together in the Murray Bridge cemetery.

1933 'Family Notices', The Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1931 - 1954), 18 February, p. 14. , viewed 12 Aug 2019, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article41468474
1936 'Family Notices', Southern Cross (Adelaide, SA : 1889 - 1954), 4 December, p. 12. , viewed 12 Aug 2019, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article167081559

This post first appeared on earlieryears.blogspot.com by CRGalvin

13 August 2019

Conley O'Dea wedding 1933

Hannah's sister marries

Martin Conley and Mary Ellen O'Dea 1933

My mother Hannah O'Dea (Horgan) had two older sisters and three younger brothers. During the 1920s the newspapers of the day often published columns of interest from country centres mentioning a variety of comings and goings as well as social activities in the towns and districts. There are several mentions of Misses M.(Mary) M. (Margaret) and H. (Hannah) O'Dea attending such functions in and around Hamley Bridge, South Australia.

In December 1929 the engagement of her 21 year old sister Mary was announced in the papers:

O'DEA - CONLEY. - The engagement is announced of Mary Ellen, eldest daughter of Mrs G E O'Dea, Hamley Bridge, and the late Mr. P. J. O'Dea, Pinnaroo, to Martin, fifth son of Mr. and Mrs. J. J. Conley, Hamley Bridge, late of Halbury.₁

A long engagement was not uncommon and it was not until almost four years later in November of 1933 a short notice appeared in the Chronicle - Miss Mary O'Dea and Mr. Martin Conley were given a social evening at Hamley Bridge prior to their marriage. ₂

This O'Dea family, Georgina and her 6 children, had been living in Hamley Bridge near Georgina's in-laws after the death of her husband in 1919. Mary Ellen O'Dea, the eldest daughter pictured here, was born 1st June 1908 at Pinkerton Plains when her parents lived there on a farm before their move to Ngallo in 1911.

Martin Conley, son of James and Catherine, was almost ten years senior to his bride. Two weeks after their marriage an article describing the event and its participants appeared as below.
(Paragraphing has been added to the transcription for ease of reading)

Conley — O'Dea

At St. Mary's Church, Hamley Bridge, on November 22, Mary, the eldest daughter of Mrs. and the late Mr. P. J. O'Dea, and Martin, son of Mr. and Mrs. J. Conley, of Hamley Bridge, were married by the Rev. Father J. A. Gatzemeyer.

The bride, who was given away by her eldest brother, Jack, was gowned in ivory moracain, ankle length. The skirt was finely pleated, with sash effect at the waist. The bodice was trimmed with crystal beads, and a large flat bow in front edged with goffered frills. The sleeves were finely tucked at the shoulder, falling full to wristband. Her tulle veil was arranged cap fashion, with clusters of orange blossom at the sides. She carried an ivory prayer book, and also wore a crystal necklace, the gift of the bridegroom.

The bridesmaid, Miss Hannah O'Dea (bride's sister) was frocked in pale blue floral Swiss voile, ankle length, the skirt having three small frills at the hem, and the bodice puff sleeves and three organdie frills at neck line. She wore a lemon shade picture hat of Bankok straw, edged with organdie, and small blue flowers under brim. She wore blue shoes, and carried a bouquet of flowers to tone with her costume.

Mr. Laurie Conley (bridegroom's brother) was best man. During the ceremony the choir sang anthems. Mr. Mick O'Dea (brother of the bride) sang 'O Salutaris,' and during the signing of the register, Miss Laura Murphy sang "Ave Maria" (Cooper). The "Wedding March" was played by Miss Mary Doyle. Lucky horseshoes were hung on the bride's arm by Miss Monica Bennett and Mrs. E. Martin. After the ceremony the bride's mother entertained about 50 guests in the Druids' Hall, Including Rev. Father Gatzemeyer, friends, relations, and members of St. Mary's choir.

The bride travelled in navy blue crepe de chine, coatee effect, with yoke of white crepe de chine, spokestitched. A long navy coat and hat completed her costume. Mr. and Mrs. M. Conley's future home will be at Hamley Bridge. ₃

Two daughters, Marie Therese (1934 - 2019) and Helen Mary (1936 - 2012) were born in Hamley Bridge. The Conleys moved to Port Lincoln shortly after Helen's birth. Two sons were born in Port Lincoln. Martin died in December 1990 and Mary's death followed in June 1998. They are buried in the North Shields cemetery in Port Lincoln.

Dressmaking terms

Goffered - a crimped or fluted lace edge or frill sometimes done with a goffering iron. A goffering iron was heated by inserting a poker from the fire. It was then used on collars, cuffs and frills..₄
Spokestitch - HOW TO SPOKESTITCH. To spokestitch by hand, this method is successful:-Take a piece of chintz and tack on to it the two edges which are to be joined, In the exact shape in which it is proposed to join them, and at the desired distance apart. Thread the needle with a long thread of silk or cotton, a double thread of silk twist giving a good effect, or a single thread of knitting silk. Put the needle under the edge of the hem on one side, and bring it out on the right side. Then carry it across and insert it in the upper side of the edge exactly opposite, and bring it out above the thread. Continue to work from side to side, exactly as if doing featherstitching. ₅

1929 'Family Notices', Chronicle (Adelaide, SA : 1895 - 1954), 12 December, p. 55. , viewed 12 Aug 2019, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article87466013
1933 'News From Country Centres', Chronicle (Adelaide, SA : 1895 - 1954), 23 November, p. 14. , viewed 12 Aug 2019, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article90953994
1933 'Conley—O'Dea', Chronicle (Adelaide, SA : 1895 - 1954), 7 December, p. 79. , viewed 12 Aug 2019, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article90951962
Goffering iron https://www.vinterior.co/listings/victorian-goffering-iron-italian-tally-iron-cuff-collar-laundry-kitchen-antique
1921 'HOW TO SPOKESTITCH.', Examiner (Launceston, Tas. : 1900 - 1954), 1 February, p. 3. (DAILY), viewed 12 Aug 2019, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article51109086

This post first appeared on earlieryears.blogspot.com by CRGalvin

6 August 2019

A fitting tribute 100 years ago

An active community leader

2019 - influenza has killed 83 in Queensland so far this winter but 100 years ago....

1919 - influenza killed around 15 000 across Australia

Grandfather Patrick Joseph O'Dea was one of those victims in August 1919. This tribute appeared in the Pinnaroo and Border Times on 15th August 1919, one week after his death.

Death of Mr P.J. O’Dea.

"Profound regret and deepest sympathy was expressed throughout the Mallee districts on Friday last, when the sad news of the death of Mr Patrick J. O’Dea, the well-known and highly respected farmer, of Ngallo, became known.

The late Mr O’Dea had been attacked with influenza about three weeks ago, which complaint turned to broncho-pneumonia. On Sunday, August 3rd, he was taken from his home at Ngallo to Nurse Pahl’s Private Hospital at Pinnaroo, and although he rallied a little during last week, he gradually grew worse and died last Friday at about midday.

The deceased was highly popular in the district, and took a leading part in almost every movement for the welfare of Ngallo and district. The late Mr O’Dea for a number of years, occupied a seat as a Councillor for the Shire of Walpeup, and for a period was President of the Walpeup Shire Council, during which time he served the Ratepayers faithfully and well. He was also a fluent speaker and was called upon to voice his sentiments at many public functions, and his demise will be a decided loss to the district.

The late Mr O’Dea was 42 years of age at the time of his death, and leaves a widow and six young children to mourn his loss. The funeral which took place from Mr R. McCabe’s residence, Pinnaroo, on Sunday afternoon, was well attended, the cortege being a lengthy one. Owing to the services of a priest not being available, Mr E. J. Kain, of Ngallo, read the burial service at the graveside. The sympathy of the district is extended to the relatives of deceased in this sad bereavement."

Patrick had been an active member of the community in the region and was regularly mentioned in the local newspaper advocating for the school, the farmers and the church as well as being called upon to chair meetings and propose votes of thanks at many social occasions. One of those six young children was my mother at just 7 years of age, yet throughout her long life she remembered him with great fondness.

R.I. P. Patrick Joseph O'Dea 18 October 1877 - 8 August 1919. Further information about Patrick appears in these earlier posts A victim of the influenza epidemic and Where did they get those names? That post includes his 1907 wedding photo.

This post first appeared on https://earlieryears.blogspot.com/2019/08/a-fitting-tribute-100-years-ago.html by CRGalvin

5 May 2019

Finding George and Rosa

The photo reveal

George and Rosa Bennett c.1932

One of the many benefits of writing up family stories is the interest shown by relations near and far. Recently I have received some additional photos from a first cousin. One of these photos shows our great grandfather George Bennett, my mother's maternal grandfather.

I had previously written about George in Restaurant on fire which detailed his marriage in 1877 and the subsequent births of the children. Then I wondered What happened to George? after several court appearances when he left Bridget Helen in 1915.

This photo is listed as great grandfather George Bennett with his second wife. A clue at last, a remarriage. This sent me back to search the South Australian marriage records which reveal that George in August of 1932 claiming an age of 69, married Rosa Mary Davis aged approx 57. ₁

George had claimed to be 25 years old in June of 1887 at the time of his first marriage.

Less than ten years after this second marriage, his death notice of July 1943 lists his age as 83. ₂

BENNETT.—On July 17, at Adelaide, George, beloved husband of Rosa Bennett, of Frew street, City. Aged 83 years

Did he reveal that he was over 70 after they had married? It appears there was also some age discrepancies in Rosa's claims too. At her first marriage in 1903 ₃ she is listed as being 24 years old. Her first husband Edmund Daye Davis was more than twice her age at 51 and died as a result of a tragic gunshot wound only 7 years after their marriage.₄

Rosa and George are buried in the same plot at West Terrace cemetery in Adelaide. On her death certificate in 1959 she is listed as being 89 years of age which would place her birth around 1870 so in 1932 when they were married he was probably 73 and she may well have been 62.

We'll probably never know but now I wonder if this photo could have been taken in 1932 about the time of their marriage.

1. SA marriages District Hindmarsh Book/Page: 333/431

2. 1942 'Family Notices', The Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1931 - 1954), 18 July, p. 10. , viewed 04 May 2019, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article48875217

3. SA marriages District Adelaide Book/Page: 217/988

4. 1910 'LIFE'S TRAGIC SIDE', Chronicle (Adelaide, SA : 1895 - 1954), 29 January, p. 41. , viewed 05 May 2019, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article88393869

This post first appeared on earlieryears.blogspot.com by CRGalvin

30 April 2019

Zucchini slice

These recipes are in my mother's handwriting and are housed in a battered, blue plastic folder. They are transcribed here as part of the A-Z Challenge 2019. Each day in April a new letter of the alphabet and accompanying recipes are posted.

So I have come to the end of the alphabet and it has been an interesting look back at recipes from earlier years, treasured not necessarily for their content but for the fact that they are in my mother's handwriting. There are many more recipes than those I have managed to transcribe here. Now the next job is to compile them all into a readable file that I can pass on to her grandchildren.

I hope you have enjoyed this glimpse of cooking from the past.

Zucchini

Zucchinis were a late introduction to my mother's cuisine and I speculate that this recipe came from one of her daughters. It has a cross next to it, perhaps this means she adapted it or found another recipe or made it only once and was not happy with the result. Perhaps one of my siblings will enlighten me as I have never tried this recipe.

Zucchini slice

400 to 450 gr. Zuccini (grated)
5 Eggs (Beaten)
½ pkt Bacon Bits
1 lge onion (lightly fried)
1 cup grated cheese
½ cup Oil

Add oil to beaten eggs
Combine and add other ingredients.

Bake 30 to 40 minutes in mod[erate] oven in slice tray.

Previous posts in this A-Z series

Hannah's Recipes A-Z challenge

A - Apricots, Apples and Afghan biscuits
B - Banana cake and Boiled fruit cake
C - Carrot cake and Chocolate peppermint slice
D - Date Loaf and Dried Apricot Jam
E - Easy Apricot Slice
F - Flans and Fruit Balls
G - Ginger Biscuits and Ginger Flan
H - Honey Sponge Roll with mock cream
I - Icing
J - Jubilee Cake and Baked Jam Roly Poly
K - Ki Si Ming or Hi Li Min
L - Lemon Tart, Lemon Cordial and Lemon spread
M - Macaroons and Munchy Peanut biscuits
N - Nutties
O - Orange Cake
P - Pasty Slice, Potato Pancakes and Peppermint Malties
Q - Quick and easy Quiche
R - Rabbit
S - Sponges and Small cakes
T - Toffee almonds and Tuna mornay
U - Utensils
V - Vanilla Slice
W - Walnut and Orange slice
X - Xmas Biscuit Mix
Y - Yo-Yos

This post first appeared on earlieryears.blogspot.com by CRGalvin

29 April 2019

Yo-yos a shortbread variety

Shortbread Yo-yos

Cream 6 ozs butter with 2 ozs icing sugar.

Add 8 ozs S R Flour with 2 ozs custard powder.

If too stiff add a llittle milk

Roll into small balls & flatten with fork.

Mod[erate] oven

When cold join tog. with 1 tablespoon butter beaten with 2 ozs icing sugar, van[illa] ess[ence]

This post first appeared on earlieryears.blogspot.com by CRGalvin

27 April 2019

Xmas Biscuit Mix

Christmas biscuits

It is unusual to see Christmas written as Xmas in my mother's handwriting as her emphasis on the celebration was the Christ in Christmas. Luckily for my A-Z challenge she listed this as Xmas biscuit mix.

Xmas Biscuit Mix

18 malt biscuits (crushed)

15 marshmallows (chopped)

4 ozs glace cherries (chopped)

2 ozs whole ginger (chopped)

2 ozs walnuts (chopped)

2 ozs raisins

¼ teaspoon vanilla essence

½ tin cond[ensed] milk

Mix all tog[ether]

Form into rolls and roll in coconut

Slice as needed

Keeps indefinitely in fridge.

26 April 2019

Walnuts

Orange and Walnut slice

Fresh walnuts from the tree in our yard were valued and carefully cracked trying to avoid splitting the walnut halves. The emptied halves too were tools for imaginative play - stuffed with a little cotton wool for a fairy's bed or a gumnut baby. I suspect broken walnuts were used in this recipe and in later years those purchased in packets.

Orange and walnut slice

1 pkt Marie Biscuits (crushed)
4 ozs Butter
⅓ cup condensed milk
½ cup walnuts
Grated orange rind

Melt butter & cond. milk and pour over dry ingredients

Mix well and press into biscuit tray

Ice with icing sugar and orange juice

This post first appeared on earlieryears.blogspot.com by CRGalvin

25 April 2019

Vanilla Slice

1 pkt Sao Biscuits
600 ml cream
1 pkt vanilla Instant Pudding

Line 8 in. tin with biscuits

Mix Vanilla Instant Pudding with the cream

Pour over biscuits

Place another layer of biscuits on top

ice with pink icing and coconut

Make day before required to allow biscuits to soften

24 April 2019

Utensils for cooking

Utensils

U - there is no recipe starting with U in my mother's folder but this set me thinking about the utensils she had available to her through many years of cooking.

When she first married in 1937 she joined my father's household and would have inherited her mother in law's kitchen. It was three years before my parent's marriage that Elizabeth Agnes Smyth (Horgan) had died and in that intervening time my father Edward, his brother Joseph and their father Andrew had no female living in the house. A housekeeper/cook visited once a week and cooked a mutton roast. My father's recollections were that they then ate cold mutton and mustard for their meals for the rest of the week.

At age 25, in 1937, Hannah would have had to adapt quickly to supplying meals for the three men. What might have been in her kitchen? The kitchen would have contained a wood burning stove that needed to be kept going on low overnight ready to boil the heavy kettle on the stove top first thing in the morning. There would have been no other source for hot water, so the kettle on the hob was an essential tool.
A meat grinder was more than likely present to use all the scraps of meat. Butter pats, for shaping the butter after beating the cream by hand. A rolling pin and a wooden spoon still essential tools in a kitchen were probably there too. The meat safe was probably outside on the coolest part of the verandah.

In the old farmhouse where we lived until I was nine, there was a wood burning stove and a kerosene refrigerator. A toasting fork was used at breakfast time to hold the bread over the previous night's embers. A 32 volt generator ran the lights at night.
Cakes and biscuits were mixed with a wooden spoon in a large earthenware bowl. In the newer farmhouse in the 1950s there was great joy when electricity came to the farm.

As time went by Mum became the proud owner of an early Mixmaster - an electric beater with matching bowls. An electric stove was added to the kitchen but often she preferred the wooden one that she was accustomed to. Later on a mouli was used to puree soups and tomato sauces.

Household work and cooking for a large family with limited utensils was a full time job. Her old Green and Gold recipe book was an invaluable guide and as I've transcribed her recipes I've found many of the basics come from that book. A history of its publication is available here on the Australian Food History timeline. My copy shown here with its distinctive cover, is a 46th edition dated 1992. It has now been published in a 75th edition.

So to the women who first contributed the recipes, thank you and to my mother who learnt from them, recorded her successes and cooked with a minimum of utensils thank you once more.

23 April 2019

Toffee Almonds and Tuna Mornay

These recipes are in my mother's handwriting and are housed in a battered, blue plastic folder. They are transcribed here as part of the A-Z Challenge 2019. Each day in April a new letter of the alphabet and accompanying recipes are posted.

The almond tree near the house grew well and once they ripened we were set the task of huskng and shelling the almonds. Mum used to say we should whistle while we worked so that we could not eat the precious almonds. Pity some of us never learnt to whistle!

Toffee almonds

2 cups almonds

(shelled but not skinned)
1 cup sugar
½ cup water
1 teaspoon vinegar

Place in medium saucepan and stir over high heat

Keep stirring as it thickens (about 10 mins) and until it thins again & turns into toffee

Turn onto a greased tray & separate with two forks.

[ed. Try not to eat them all at once!]

Curried Tuna Mornay

This mornay with a dash of curry for flavour was a quick and easy meal for a large family, definitely not on my menu nowadays.

Make a sauce with 1 pint milk, 3 tablespoons plain flour & seasoning.

Add heaped dessertspoon curry powder (blended) & 1 dessertspoon of lemon juice to the mixture.

Then add a large tin of tuna & a large tin sweetcorn.

Place in casserole [dish] and cover with crushed weetbix & grated cheese.

Brown in oven.

22 April 2019

Sponges and Small cakes

Sponges

Our birthday cakes were often a double-decker sponge filled with delicious homemade jam and freshly whipped cream. The secret to my mother's feather light sponges was the gentle folding in the flour after the eggs were beaten. This was done with a spoon rather than beaters.

Sponge

4 egg whites stiffly beaten

Then gradually add ¾ cup sugar

Mix egg yokes[yolks] and beat in

Sift tog.

¾ cup cornflour

¼ cup plain flour

1 [flat] teasp. cream of tartar

½ teasp. carb soda

Stir in lightly and bake 20 mins in mod. oven

And sponge roll

2 tins 10 - 12 mins

Patty Cakes

Small cakes were standard fare at many a function. Unlike the large cupcakes of current times these were cooked in the small patty pans. When cooled there were a dozen different ways to decorate them. Plain icing for everday consumption or the top was sliced off, a dollop of whipped cream added then the top replaced and sprinkled with icing sugar.
These small cakes were also turned into jelly cakes, by carefully rolling them in soft jelly then covering all over with coconut. Quick and easy to make and decorate. Where the recipes specifies flavouring, this could be the addition of vanilla essence, or cocoa, or ginger or lemon rind etc. depending on the flavour desired.

Small Cakes

1½ cups S.R. flour
2 eggs
4 tablespoons milk (sml ½ cup)
½ cup butter (4 ozs)
¾ cup sugar

Beat eggs and sugar fast till
thick and creamy (about ½ min)
Add butter (melted) then milk, flavouring and flour

Cook in 425° [F] oven on top shelf
till firm to touch ( 6 -8 mins)

20 April 2019

Rabbit roast or casserole

Rabbit

Rabbits were a pest on the farm, digging burrows and spoiling the land. It was a thrill to go out 'spotlighting' for rabbits. After they had been skinned and gutted, two would be stuffed with breadcrumbs flavoured with mixed herbs and onion and then oven roasted. The meat was often overcooked, tough but quite tasty.

Here's another recipe in my mother's book but I don't remember her cooking rabbit this way. It sounds rather better than the dry roast rabbit.

Rabbit

Cut rabbit into pieces and cover with seasoned flour.

Place in casserole in layers with seasoning then sliced apple. Add 1 tablespoon brown sugar and 1 cup milk.

Cook in moderate oven for 2 hours.

19 April 2019

Quick and easy quiche

Quiche (Kit's)

This quick and easy version incorporated the pastry mix into the eggs and cream. Kit White, 1919 -2017 (born Katherine McInerney) was my father's first cousin and one of my mother's good friends. The Whites were a large family so this shortcut recipe would have been a great timesaver.

3 eggs
1½ cups milk
1 sml onion
¾ cup pastry mix
Salt
Pepper
Parsley

Beat all together then add 2 or 3 slices chopped bacon

Cook in mod[erate] oven ½ to ¾ hr.

18 April 2019

Pasty, Potato Pancakes and Peppermint slice

Pleased to have found some Ps

This recipe was designed to feed a large family. My mother sometimes baked it in the roasting dish, rather than make individual pasties.

Pasty Slice

Line a large oblong dish or lamington tray with pastry.

Then prepare 1 packet of thick vegetable soup with 2 cups of water.

Place 500 grams mince meat and ½ cup of breadcrumbs into a bowl and add the cooked soup. Mix well.

Put mixture into the uncooked pastry case and sprinkle with parsley.

Cover with pastry and glaze with milk.

Bake at 350° for 1 hour.

We did not live anywhere near a fish and chip shop, so home made hot chips (French fries) or potato pancakes were a treat.

Potato Pancakes

4 lge Potatoes
2 eggs
2 tablespoons S.R. Flour
1 med. sized onion - Salt

Grate raw potatoes and onion
Add beaten eggs and flour
Mix well & fry till golden

Something sweet to finish this post.

Peppermint Malties

1 pkt Malt Biscuits
1 pkt Crown Mints
¾ tin Condensed Milk
1 teaspoon Brandy
Coconut

Crush biscuits and peppermints finely
Combine with cond[ensed] milk and brandy
Roll into a roll in greaseproof paper
Cover in coconut.
Chill and when firm cut in slices.

17 April 2019

Orange Cake

Oranges

In the orchard of fruit trees near the farm house, there were several orange trees. Whether they were the big juicy Navels or the smaller Valencias, my mother relished those delicious fruits. This recipe has a smalll amount of orange rind added to the cake batter, but it was in the icing that one tasted the full orange flavour. Use icing sugar with a small amount of melted butter and milk, then add finely grated orange rind. This adds tang to the cake.

Orange Cake

2 eggs

4 ozs butter

¾ cup caster sugar

½ cup milk

1½ cups SR Flour

1 tablespoon grated orange rind

Combine all ingredients and beat for 3 mins.

Bake in 8 in. ring tin or 2 log tins.

Mod[erate] oven 30 -35 mins.

16 April 2019

N for Nutties

These recipes are in my mother's handwriting and are housed in a battered, blue plastic folder. They are transcribed here as part of the A-Z Challenge 2019. Each day in April a new letter of the alphabet and accompanying recipes are posted.

Nutties but no nuts involved

This is the only recipe in the book for the letter N. Some recipes are sparse on method but where biscuits are involved, a small tablespoon of mixture generally spreads into a large biscuit, so depending on the size of the end product required, adjust the amount added to the baking tray.

Nutties

Nutties

1 cup S R Flour

1 cup cocoanut [sic]

1 cup Toasted Muesli Flakes

1 cup Sugar

¼ lb Margarine

1 egg

1 sml teaspoon carb soda

1 tablespoon golden syrup

Melt marg[arine] syrup and carb soda (tog)

Cool slightly, add egg

Mix in dry ingredients

350° oven - 10 -15 mins

15 April 2019

Macaroons and Munchies

Macaroons

These are not the macaroons you would expect to buy in a bakery or patisserie, rather a lemon pastry base with jam enclosed by a macaroon type topping.

Macaroons

Pastry
2 heaped cups S R Flour
¼ lb butter
yolks of 2 eggs
2 teaspoons lemon juice (& make up to 1 cup with water) [see in method]

Method
Rub shortening into flour
Beat together egg yolks & lemon in a cup & almost fill cup with water
Stir into flour etc.
Roll thinly and cut into rounds placing sml. spoon of jam in the centre.

Topping
2 egg whites
¾ cup sugar
1 cup coconut
Beat egg whites till stiff
Gradually add sugar, beating continuously.
Stir in coconut & place a spoonful on top of jam.

[Bake in] Mod. to slow oven

Munchy Peanut Biscuits

My mother had several peanut biscuit recipes, but this one took pride of place in her handwritten folder.

Munchy Peanut Biscuits

4 ozs butter

1 cup brown sugar (firmly packed)

1 cup plain flour

¾ cup rolled oats

½ cup cornflakes

1 egg

sml pinch salt

½ teaspoon vanilla essence

½ level teaspoon baking powder

4 ozs salted peanuts

Cream butter & sugar, beat in egg and essence, then sifted dry ingredients.

Stir in lastly oats, cornflakes and peanuts

Place sml spoonfuls on baking sheet & cook at 350°

13 April 2019

Lovely Lemon

Lemon Tart

Lemon Tart filling

Lemon Tart Filling

Beat together

3 egg yolks
juice of 1 lemon & grated rind
1 cup honey
1 dessertspoon melted butter
1 tablespoon cornflour

Place in uncooked flan and cook [bake] for 20 - 30 mins.

Then top with:-
3 egg whites stiffly beaten then gradually add 1 teaspoon lemon rind and 3 tablespoons honey

Place on top of cooked tart, and leave in oven about another 10 minutes
(until lightly browned)

Lemon cordial

Lemon or Orange cordial

Lemon - Orange Cordial

6 Lemons or Oranges juiced and grated rind of 3

5 cups sugar

5 cups boiling water

1 oz citric acid

1 tablespoon (flat) Epsom Salts

Pour boiling watter over the sugar and rind.

Add other ingredients and strain when cold.

Bottle.

Lemon Spread

This one was titled Lemon Cheese otherwise known as Lemon Butter or Lemon spread. Store in the refrigerator but I guarantee it won't last for long as you are tempted back again and again for more.

Lemon cheese
3 eggs
2 ozs butter
½ lb sugar
2 lemons
Beat tog. - sugar, butter, yolk of 2 eggs and the whites of 2, juice of 2 lemons, [finely grated] rind of 1
Stir over low heat until it thickens.

12 April 2019

K is for Ki Si Ming

The dish with two names

Mutton was a staple meat on our menu as the older sheep were killed for consumption. Mum never wasted a scrap of meat, it was all scraped from the bones and put through the hand turned mincer. This recipe used that mince with added vegetables and rice.

Ki Si Ming or Hi Li Min

500 gr mince
2 slices chopped bacon

Brown the meats in a little oil then add

¼ sml cabbage shredded
1 cup sliced beans
½ cup chopped celery
1 sml sliced onion
2 tablespoons rice
1 pkt Dutch curry and rice soup
Seasoning
4 cups water [written up the side of the recipe]

Simmer all for 25 mins

This dish can be found on the internet under various names with many variations of flavours and ingredients, too many to list here.