Childhood Memories Archives - Grateful Prayer

Iced Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

By Lorraine

Grandma’s Iced OatmealRaisin Cookies… The name of this cookie takes me back to my childhood. The kind of cookie Grandma made.
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I searched through all my cookbooks looking for a Cottage Cheese Pie recipe. It isn’t a well known dessert these days and even my Betty Crocker cookbook from the mid-seventies didn’t have it. Then I remembered a cookbook that belonged to my grandmother.

Vintage Childhood Chrome Table and Chairs Restoration

By Lorraine

Restoring my vintage childhood chrome table and chairs was a labor of love. This sweet mid-century Formica and chrome set has been in our family for many years.Continue Reading

Applesauce Cake from Grandmom’s Recipe

By Lorraine

Old fashioned applesauce cake from Grandmom's vintage recipe. Made with apples, cinnamon and cloves filling the house with wonderful autumn scent.

My problem tackling the huge piles of recipes I have is that each time I sit to sort them I quickly come across something that I just have to hop right up and make! I truly would have to live several lifetimes to make every recipe that ever made me think, “Oh, that looks good!”

So when I came across an old index card for Grandmom’s Applesauce Cake, I was preheating the oven before I could stop myself!

7-Layer Salad

By Lorraine

A salad right from the era of big hair and large eyeglasses! I was introduced to this salad in the early 1980’s by a neighbor and it became a regular at holiday dinners. It has been ages since we have had it and my husband has been asking me to make it for him again.

I’m not sure when Seven-Layer Salad became popular ~ perhaps it was in the 70’s but it brings back memories of the 1980’s for me.

Ok, so, like, do you, like, remember these slang words and, like, 80’s phrases? No, Duh, if you were, like, growing up then, or, like, had children during those years. Like, seriously, Dude, you’ll find many of these things, like, totally hot.

I loved The California Raisins doin’ their awesome Motown

How about happen’en TV shows like Dallas, The Jefferson’s, ALF and The Love Boat!

Did you ever purchase or play Atari, Pac-Man or Nintendo?

Did you love Strawberry Shortcake, Cabbage Patch Kids, Care-bears or Teddy Ruxpin?

How about stylin’ BIG hair, Velour clothing and high-waist-ed pants

As they say, “Those were the days!”

So, here is another salad, right up there in popularity with the 80’s pasta salad with veggies and Italian dressing that was showing up at every gathering.

You may think the Miracle Whip on the top is too thick, but it will spread nicely when served. Just be sure to use the serving utensils to dig straight down, getting all of the layers in each serving.

Our family is passionate about Miracle Whip. But, if you must, substitute mayonnaise for the Miracle Whip. You can even use part mayo and part sour cream.

Seven Layer Salad

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Ingredients

3 cups Iceberg lettuce, washed and cut into bite-size pieces.
light sprinkling of salt & pepper
light sprinkling of sugar
1 1/2 hard-boiled eggs, sliced
sprinkling salt and pepper
1/2 to 3/4 cups frozen peas, thawed
another 3 cups lettuce
light sprinkling of salt & pepper
1 1/2 hard-boiled eggs, sliced
a couple slices thinly sliced red onion
1/2 to 3/4 cups frozen peas, thawed
3/4 cup Miracle Whip
4 slices crisp bacon, crumbled
1-1/2 cups grated cheddar cheese

Directions

Arrange ingredients in a large clear bowl in order given. Carefully spread the Miracle Whip on top to seal to edges.

Cover bowl tightly with plastic wrap; refrigerate overnight.
Serves 6-8.

RECIPE NOTES
Adjust quantities of ingredients as desired, omit salt and sugar, if desired. Toss in additional veggies and leave out the bacon. Substitute spinach or mixed salad greens for the not-as-nutritious Iceberg lettuce. It is up to you.

Paint by Numbers

By Lorraine

Paint-by-number kits… do you remember them? Have you completed one?

This Playful Kittens piece was painted by my mom in 1954 and truly a piece of Americana.

The Nursery

By Lorraine

Sleepovers and playtime, this bedroom has become what the grandkids call

The Nursery.

It is a mix of vintage, garage sale and whimsy.

A room where cousins sleep and little ones head to as soon as they arrive.

Vintage French Provincial Bedroom Set

By Lorraine

My sister, Carol, just went to closing on a house she sold.

I lent a hand helping her pack.

We began in mid-November and through sorting and wrapping, taping and stacking, hauling and heaving, lugging and loading, stooping and stretching, sunshine and raindrops, lost keys and cell phones and frustrating inspections, there was much chatting and memories, stories and updates, giggles and laughter and sisterly love.

This vintage French Provincial bedroom set belong to our parents, purchased in the early 1960’s. It went to Carol when Mommy passed several years ago and I got the new set mommy was then using.

Carol doesn’t want to take this to her next home and though I wasn’t in need of a bedroom set, the sentimental value was too great to pass it up and now resides in our guest room.

The chest on chest belonged to Daddy and how I remember, as a kid, snooping through his top drawer and seeing his neatly folded hankies, perfectly placed wallet, coins, keys, pens, deck of cards and trinkets stored there.

I left the white iron bed that we had purchased and used until we received mommy’s new set. It is a queen-size and better suited for visitors than the full bed that is part of the set. I think it works with the other pieces.

Searching old photo albums for shots with the furniture in the background, I found these:

My 8th grade graduation

Cousin, Karen and I as flower girl and junior bridesmaid for Carol’s wedding

Daddy and his first grandchild, Chrissy (Carol’s oldest) at his organ

and

Carol ready for her senior prom

Carol, John and I looking a wee weary, took a selfie after a long, busy day, with only the steps to sit upon. Still happy together

(John may have been a just a tad grumpy being forced in a silly selfie photo, but he was a good sport)

and still finding fun in being together.

yes, sisters. she is so kind, smart, poised, beautiful and generous and I love her to pieces

❤

Next time, I will show you where I put the bed to this set and then my dining room changes.

ta-ta for now!

Grandmom Elsie’s Graham Cracker Pie

By Lorraine

Foods from childhood can evoke wonderful memories not just because we love the taste but also because it is associated with special people or events. Do you have a favorite dessert from your childhood?

My husband remembers his grandmom Elsie making Graham Cracker Pie for nearly every backyard cookout. It is really a humble pie of creamy vanilla pudding poured into a pre-baked graham cracker crust. Often times the pie is topped with meringue so the unused egg whites aren’t wasted. Grandmon preferred lightly sweetened whipped cream sprinkled with additional graham cracker crumbs.

Elsie Rebekah

I imagine Grandmom Elsie baked lots of pies in her day as she and her husband raised eight children.

John (on right with baby on his shoulders), his brother on left with Grandmom Elsie and Grandpop.

Here she is holding my twin babies (her great-grandchildren) as she told me of her own twin sons born many years prior.

Grandmom Elsie’s

Graham Cracker Pie

PRINT RECIPE

GRAHAM CRACKER CRUST

1 1/2 cup graham cracker crumbs

1/4 cup sugar

1/3 cup butter, melted

In a bowl, mix crumbs, sugar and butter together. If desired, reserve 2 to 3 tablespoons crumb mixture for topping. Using the back of a fork or the bottom of a measuring cup, press remaining mixture firmly and evenly against the bottom and side of pie pan. Bake at 350° for 10 minutes. Cool

VANILLA CREAM FILLING

2/3 cup sugar

1/4 cup cornstarch

1/2 teaspoon salt

3 cups milk

4 egg yolks, slightly beaten

2 tablespoons butter, softened

1 tablespoon +1 teaspoon vanilla

whipped cream for topping finished pie

Stir together, sugar, cornstarch and salt in sauce pan. Blend milk and egg yolks; gradually stir into sugar mixture. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture thickens and boils. Boil and stir one minute. Remove from heat; blend in butter and vanilla. Immediately pour into baked pie shell; press plastic wrap on to filling. Chill pie thoroughly, at least two hours.

When pie is completely cool, top with whipped cream. Sprinkle with remaining graham cracker crumbs. Refrigerate any unused portion.

Parmesan Chicken Cutlets

By Lorraine

Parmesan Chicken Cutlets and a childhood memory. When I was a little girl, we moved from the city of Philadelphia to an archetypal, all-American, small south Jersey town. Just a block up the road was a group of stores that included a pharmacy with a great collection of greeting cards and a chest freezer filled with frozen treats. When my cousins visited, we were allowed to walk to the pharmacy and buy whatever we wanted. I can remember sitting on the front steps of our home eating Creamsicles, Fudgesicles or drumstick ice-cream cones very slowly because we didn’t want to be the first one finished.

Sweet Lavender Scones in the Parlor

By Lorraine

Easy recipe for glazed Sweet Lavender Scones delicious with coffee or tea. Lavender buds impart a mild floral hint that is unique but not overpowering.

You just might want to plan a tea and invite a few friends over for a relaxed afternoon. These glazed Sweet Lavender Scones are delicious with coffee or tea. Lavender buds impart a mild floral hint that is unique but not overpowering. They look lovely and taste amazing.Continue Reading

Lily White’s Party

By Lorraine

Lily White’s Party…

Our daughter, Jill was telling me how recently she used a saying with her children that she remembered her dad saying to her as a child as she and her sisters prepared for bedtime. She knew he learned it from his mom and wondered where it came from. John would tell the girls, “Time for Kitty White’s Party”. Continue Reading

Pizza Toast

By Lorraine

Do you have a special food that is unique to your family? Maybe something unusual or passed down through the generations? My husband isn’t in the kitchen often but when he is, he makes his specialty. He calls it Pizza Toast.

A St. Patrick’s Day Birthday

By Lorraine

St Patrick’s Day has always been special in our family since it was also my moms birthday. The photo above is a St. Patrick’s Day Birthday given in honor of Mommy way back in the 1960’s. Held at my aunts house with friends, my dad (in white shirt) and me (in green dress).

Sweet Nostalgia

By Lorraine

My Christmas trees have some new ornaments this year.

Or, rather old, vintage ornaments that once hung from the branches of the trees we knew as children.

Another Wedding and a Night of Dancing!

By Lorraine

Yes, another wonderful celebration of the marriage of a sweet, young couple. Did I mention John and I have been invited to “7” weddings this year. Three of which I have been asked to photograph. (Not this one but I just can’t pass up an opportunity to shoot some photos!) Yesterday was the wedding of John’s cousin’s daughter.

The service

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