Happy Thanksgiving

This year I am cooking up all my Thanksgiving favorites, vegan style.

Want to see my feast?  Follow along on instagram @livinvintage

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Happiest of Thanksgiving to all that celebrate.

  

Two Festive Holiday Dressings from 1960

Time Saver Corn Meal Dressing

(for 10 to 12-pound turkey)

A moist flavorful dressing, with an eggy "base" of corn meal mush 

1 cup cornmeal

2 cups cold water or stock

1/2 cup butter

1 cup chopped celery

1/2 cup chopped green pepper

1/2 chopped onions

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon pepper

1 1/2 teaspoons poultry seasoning

5 cups toasted bread cubes

2 eggs beaten

Combine cornmeal and water in a saucepan. Add butter and cook until mixture thickens, stirring constantly.  Combine hot mush with remaining ingredients.  (Use an additional 1/2 cup warm water for more moist stuffing.)  Stuff lightly into neck region and body cavity of turkey.  Roast according to standard roasting directions.  Dressing may be baked in covered casserole in slow over (325F) 50 to 60s minutes.

Oyster Corn Bread Dressing

(for 10 to 12-pound turkey)   

An heirloom recipe which lends itself to many delicious variations

6 cups crumbled corn bread

5 cups soft bread crumbs

1 1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon pepper 

1 1/2 teaspoon poultry seasoning

1 cup chopped celery

1/2 chopped onion

1/2 butter

1 cup oysters drained

2 eggs, beaten

liquid from the oysters, plus enough milk to make 1 1/4 cup

Combine crumbs and seasonings.  Lightly brown celery and onions in butter; stir in oysters.  Add to crumb mixture, mixing lightly.  Gradually add eggs, then oyster liquid and milk.  (Use an additional 1/2 cup milk for more moist stuffing.)  Stuff lightly into the body cavity and neck region of turkey.  Roast according to standard roasting directions.  Dressing may be baked in covered casserole in slow oven (325F) 50 to 60 minutes.

Photos From the Past: Thanksgiving

Like many vintage devotees, I have a soft spot for vintage photos.  I've always felt that old photos offer a unique window into the past -- a seemingly more realistic one verses the carefully crafted Hollywood films of the time. 

 I love that so many of these photos are at awkward, canted angles or capture unexpected moments -- something we are missing out on in the digital age.

I am also fascinated by the way people lived generations before me.  How did they keep their kitchen?  How did they arrange the furniture in their living room?  How did they hang their curtains?

And all the sweet handwriting.  Some of my most prized possessions are vintage photos with my grandma's handwriting on them.

Don't get me wrong, I love my digital camera and the camera on my iPhone.  The ability to carry around a small, convenient camera with me nearly at all times is amazing.  I get to capture special moments no matter when or where I am.  But, sometimes I do miss the excitement of waiting to get my film developed from my camera, not knowing what the result would be. 

These photos are all from mid 20th century Thanksgivings and can be found on my Vintage Thanksgiving Pinterest board. 

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving to all my USA readers!  

Enjoy all the delicious food and fun times with family and friends!

And for those of you already shopping the sales, the shop is already on sale for the weekend!  Official details tomorrow.

Vintage Thanksgiving Menu - Splurgin' in 1952

Welcome back for the last menu in the series of menus for all price points as found in a 1952 Woman's Day magazine.  If you missed the first two, see the "cutting costs" Thanksgiving menu and the "moderate" Thanksgiving menu for more Thanksgiving menu ideas.  This final menu in the trio is for the lady who wants to splurge this holiday season!

The "Splurge" menu includes:

-oysters on half shell with cocktail sauce

-oyster crackers

-cheese sticks

-clear mushroom soup with whipped cream

-celery hearts

-stuffed olives

-black olives

-whole cranberry sauce

-cranberry jelly

-roast turkey

-giblet gravy

-wild rice stuffing

-sherried yams

-brussels sprouts

-orange filled avocado halves on escarole with french dressing

-double corn sticks

-butter balls

-frozen nesselrode pudding

-almond macaroons

-salted pecans

-mints

-coffee  

In 1952 this cost about $2.45 per person, which would be $21.65 in today's money according to an inflation calculator.

I hope you have enjoyed these three as much as I have!  It's always so interesting to see how people ate and menu planned back in the day.  Now onto planning my contributions to the Thanksgiving feasts I am heading to this year.  Only one week to go!

Vintage Detroit | America's Thanksgiving Parade

| Detroit, 1962 |

 Ever since I was a little girl, starting off Thanksgiving morning would not be complete without plopping myself in front of the tv to watch the Detroit Thanksgiving Parade, also known as America's Thanksgiving Parade.

| Detroit, undated |

Detroit's Thanksgiving parade was started in 1924 by the J. L. Hudson company.  Charles Wendel, Hudon's display director, got the idea after seeing the success of Toronto's Eaton's Santa Claus Parade.

| Detroit, 1973 |

Wendel also is responsible for one of the most iconic elements of the Detroit parade, large paper mache heads; which were inspired by those he had seen on a trip to Europe.

| Detroit, 1935 |

America's Thanksgiving Parade is the second oldest in the States, tied with the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.

| Detroit, 1940s |

While the parade is now shown nationally to over 100 million viewers, it was first televised in 1948 to local viewers.

Which Thanksgiving Day parade do you watch?

Make a Turkey | a vintage craft for the kids

Jack and Jill, 1963

I recently acquired some vintage Jack and Jill magazines and this little gem was among them.  It's a perfect craft to keep the kids busy on Thanksgiving morning while you are busy in the kitchen!  And, as the mini blurb above suggests, you can decorate the Thanksgiving table with your kids' creations.

There's still time to take the Etsy Shopper Survey and have a chance to win $25 to Livin' Vintage Shop!

Vintage Thanksgiving Menu - Cost Cutting in 1952

Last week, I shared the "moderate" priced Thanksgiving menu.  Next up is the "cost cutting" menu as seen in a 1952 Woman's Day magazine.

All the menus are built around a traditional turkey roast and gravy.

This menu includes:

-grapefruit and orange cocktail

-cream of asparagus, croutons

-celery sticks

-carrot curls

-whole cranberry sauce

-roast turkey

-giblet gravy

-sage stuffing

-candied sweet potatoes

-turnip cubes in mashed potato nests

-spinach with egg

-lettuce wedges with chili sauce mayonnaise

-hot biscuits, margarine

-lattice topped mince pie

-tea

-candy corn

In 1952 this cost about $0.95, which would be about $8.39 in today's money according to an inflation calculator.

Stay tunned for the "splurge" menu next week!

Also, don't forget to take the etsy shopper survey for a chance to win $25 to Livin' Vintage Shop! 

How to Jazz Up Your Cranberry Jelly This Thanksgiving

When I saw this idea in a 1950 issue of Better Homes and Gardens, I just knew I had to share it with you all.  How genius is this?!  It's such a simple way to make the Thanksgiving meal more fancy/festive.  Plus, I bet this would really go over big with the kids table! 

Don't forget to take the etsy shopper survey for a chance to win $25 to Livin' Vintage Shop!

Vintage Thanksgiving Menu - A Moderate Price Feast

I found this series of three Thanksgiving menus in a 1952 Woman's Day magazine and I thought it would be fun to share one a week until Thanksgiving.

All of the menus are based around a turkey and gravy, but the sides accommodate your holiday meal budget, from low to high.

This "moderate" menu includes:

-french fruit cup

-mushroom bisque

-celery

-paprika wafers

-green olives

-whole cranberry sauce

-roast turkey

-giblet gravy

-savory stuffing

-holiday sweet potatoes

-creamed onions

-green beans

-lettuce hearts with blue-cheese dressing

-clover-leaf rolls

-butter

-pumpkin chiffon pie

-coffee

In 1952 this cost about $1.35 per person, which would be $11.93 in today's money according to an inflation calculator.

Stay tunned for the "cost cutting" menu next week!

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Happy Thanksgiving to all my American Readers!!

This year I will be remembering my fabulous Grandma, who went to live in Heaven last Thanksgiving. I am so thankful that she was my Gram and that she was with us for so many years.

Thanksgiving Recap and Last Day for Giveaway

Happy Belated Thanksgiving!!! I hope everyone had a wonderful day on Thursday and filled up on lots of yummy food!!! I was really excited for Thanksgiving this year -- I love the food my mom makes and I really enjoy helping out in the kitchen. Each year I learn more and more from my mom and I know that years down the line, when it's finally my turn to host I'll be prepared.

We normally have dinner with just our family of my parents, brother, and maternal grandmother. However, this year we had some guests over; my grandma's sister Frances and her son joined us for dinner. Like my mom, I love entertaining and it was so fun to have dinner guests this year.

While my mom was finishing up the cooking, I got to set the table with some of my vintage linens. I love that my mom lets me do this. She normally gives me the job of setting the table and always gets a kick out of what I come up with.

I decided to wear this dress I traded for at Lost and Found Vintage. I had mentioned it in a post a few months back and it has been hanging in my closet ever since. I was waiting until I found the right sweater to go with it to wear it. I found a sweater a week or so ago and was itching to wear my new pearl necklace and earrings, so Thanksgiving was the perfect opportunity to do so.

Dress: Lost and Found Vintage

Sweater: J C Penny

Lizard Heels and Pearl Necklace: Estate Sale

Pearl Earring: Halzberg Diamonds

Don't forget, today is the last day to enter into my giveaway!!! If you posted about this, don't forget to comment and send me the link. I will be drawing the winner tomorrow evening.

Emily