Historical Food Fortnightly - A Mid-Century Bonus!

The Historical Food Fortnightly Challenges were challenging, educational, and, most of all, great fun!  Since Patrick and I had chosen to meet all challenges with recipes from the years we were born, 1950 and 1951, we got a lot of teasing about when we were going to make a stereotypical mid-century food staple:  aspics.  Well, here it is!  Our Mid-Century Bonus for our family and friends - Tomato and Cheese Aspic!

From one of our CBS Homemakers Exchange Recipes books:

Finding the ingredients in 2015 was easy.  But finding a fun mold for the aspic meant a little antique shop shopping which yielded these two beautiful molds.

Forward with the mid-century aspic!

Ingredients ready.

First seven ingredients cooked.

Gelatin ready.

Gelatin softened in cold water.

Gelatin then dissolved in boiling water.

Cooked mixture strained.

Gelatin and lemon juice added.

Mold and dessert glass treated with a little oil.

Mold and glasses half filled with mixture and then chilled until firm.

Chilled and ready for the next layer.

Cottage cheese and onion mixed.

Cottage cheese and onion mixture layered.

Remaining tomato mixture poured over cottage cheese layer.  Into the refrigerator until firm.

Presentation makes everything taste better and since we have no idea how this will taste we put a little extra touch into both of our presentations.

How completely 1950's!!!  And the taste?  Tangy and a great addition to any meal!  Especially delicious as I tried it for lunch on a hot summer day while sitting on the deck.  The chill of the aspic and the fresh flavors of tomato and green pepper were wonderful!

This is a bonus for our friends and family and also the last post for the Mid-Century Meals blog.  It wouldn't be complete, however, without sharing our most recent adventure.

When Patrick and I moved to North Carolina in 2002 we bought a pretty acreage with a log home and space for our horses, Gabriel and Vinnie.

Gabriel

Gabriel and Vinnie

Vinnie with his favorite neck scratch position.

While we lived there we rescued two miniature horses, Buddy and Honey.  Honey was in foal and later we had another mini named Sweetie.  I'm going to overload you with cute!

Buddy

Honey

Honey and her newborn foal, Sweetie.  Don't miss Sweetie in the lower left corner peering through the fence!  She's only 18 inches tall.

Three days' old.

Sweetie learns how wonderful a neck scratch feels.

Never too young to learn how to lift a hoof for the farrier.

If Mama does it, it must be the right thing to do.

We sold the home in 2005.  Several months ago we were contacted by the home's owner, the same gentleman who purchased it from us, and today I'm sitting in the home again!  Yes, we are moved back and although some things are changed we are ready to continue the memories we stopped 10 years ago!

10 years later the trees have really grown and the log home has darkened with age.

The barn is still great and the neighbor's horses are keeping the pastures under control.

Have always loved the living room windows and ceiling!

The loft will become my new sewing space.

When we first moved here we had a German Shepherd Dog named Tasha.  She has since passed and now we have the new puppy named Tasha.  Tasha and Patrick seem to be settling in nicely and this is my view from the loft most Saturday afternoons.



Can you understand why this is one of my favorite corners of the house?

The kitchen has changed but still has that great preparation and serving counter.

And I don't wait long before I invite friends Natalie and Maryl over for some ladybug salads and wine.

Looking forward to the new Historical Food Fortnightly Challenges beginning September 2015!  Meanwhile, we're looking forward to enjoying our new/old home and cooking in our new/old kitchen!  I wonder if there are horses in our future?  Hmmmm.....

Enjoy!

Patrick and Jeanette