June, 2009

  1. Rainbow Toss

    June 30, 2009 by Tarrant Figlio

    This past weekend we went to a Pride Festival that was a bust but on the way home from it we passed a…VINTAGE KITCHEN store!

    From a 1958 Good Housekeeping Cookbooklet Hamburger and Hot Dog Cookbooklet purchased there…it seems appropriate to share the Rainbow Toss recipe first…really a macaroni salad. Ok if you see the circus tent illustration and think of the combo of sliced hot dogs and rainbow tossing…maybe too camp to even consider.

    Hey, what can you expect? I have been sitting at the hospital since early morning with a mother who is having a really tough time and could use your prayers and good thoughts. Or I could. Or both of us. Or just all of us. So many people have so much more going on in their lives this week.

    Rainbow Toss

    1 8-oz pkg elbow macaroni, cooked, chilled
    1 teasp salt
    1 cup sliced celery, cut on angle
    3/4 cup diced, pared cucumbers
    1/3 c minced green peppers
    1/4 c minced onion
    1/4 cup sliced stuffed olives
    1/4 c liquid drained from olives
    4 chopped, hard-cooked eggs
    1 cup cooked salad dressing
    1 lb franks, thinkly sliced diagonally
    2 teasp. prepared mustard
    1/8 teasp pepper.

    Mix macaroni with rest of ingredients. Toss well; refrigerate until chilled. Makes 8 servings.

    Category retro food | Tags: | 8 Comments

  2. My Not so Retro Childhood

    June 25, 2009 by Tarrant Figlio

    Today has been a sad day. Both Farrah Fawcett and Michael Jackson have died. One very expected. One very sudden.

    Farrah Fawcett was the background girl to be when I was a child. The flipped hair…I have a picture of my attempt somewhere.  She was strong, interesting, smart, yet beautiful and popular. Really beautiful.Then there were the tv movies that brought issues like domestic abuse home and hope.  Yeah, I wanted to be her when I grew up…complete with Lee Majors.

    Then Michael Jackson…there were the little kid Michael Jackson shows I saw here and there. Then…Thriller…the build up…the trip to my sister’s house (she lived nearby at the time and had CABLE!) I remember the drama, the goosebmps, the sheer wow factor…sitting on the dark floor watching this guy and some zombies. Of course, I had the album. And the Bad album. There was no getting away from him being part of the soundtrack of my life. I did a white glove thing for a while while finding out who I was at 13. I tried and failed for years to be able to moonwalk. Not only that…his birthday was the only celebrity birthday ever listed with mine.

    I never was a fainting fan. I did get goosebumps every time I saw a live interview or live show on tv. He had sparkle…not just on his clothes. He turned it on and off but he had incredible sparkle. His performances are unforgettable.

    So, just  a bit of my 70s and 80s childhood…and a feeling like I am indeed getting old and it isn’t just those “old” people on tv when I was a kid who die and make me sad.

    Category retro food | Tags: | 1 Comment

  3. Green Beans with Bacon

    June 24, 2009 by Tarrant Figlio

    Another Southern favorite and one hard to avoid if you are a vegetarian in the south is Green Beans with Bacon. Those green beans on the veggie plate? Not vegetarian. Just warning you.

    They are darn good though.

    1/2 cup bacon, diced
    1/4 cup sugar
    1/2 cup vinegar
    2 cups cooked green beans

    Cook slowly for 10 minutes to an hour (if you start with uncooked green beans). Add a bit of salt and pepper if you are the sort.

    Category retro food | Tags: | 1 Comment

  4. Sweet Iced Tea

    June 23, 2009 by Tarrant Figlio

    We are southern folks here and stuck in the great white north with its many charms but no sweet tea.

    Just in case you were wondering…here is how I make sweet tea.

    10-12 black tea bags
    3/4-2 cups sugar
    1/2 gallon of water

    Boil that up on the stove until the tea is dark and the sugar dissolves. Then dump into a gallon pitcher. Top off with cold water and/or ice. Chill.

    Be mystified when you must rinse and repeat the next day…especially when your tea drinkers are suffering from southern homesickness.

    Note: Instant sweet tea does not substitute for the house wine of the south.

    Category retro food | Tags: | 4 Comments

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