Sunday, August 30, 2009

Vintage Cookbook Recipe: Bacon and Tomato Shortcake

Today I made "Bacon and Tomato Shortcake" from my Vintage Cookbook titled "Quick and Easy Meals for Two" by Louella G. Souer (Assoc. Food Editor, Ladies Home Journal). This cookbooks has "Over 200 tempting, easy to prepare menus - over 500 up-to-the-minute, time-saving, kitchen-tested recipes - for brides, young marrieds, career girls and all busy homemakers."


Here is the Recipe:
"Add 1/2 cup milk to 1 can condensed mushroom soup. Add 2 tbsp finely minced onion and 2 tbsp finely minced green pepper. Heat together. Meanwhile, saute 4 strips bacon with 2 thich tomato slices (floured first). Make fresh toast, put a fried tomato slice on each piece of toast. Top with 2 slices bacon. Pour the hot sauce over all and sprinkle with grated cheese."


The things I did slightly different were: used red pepper, instead of green. I also chopped up extra bell pepper and onion and sauted it in a small amount of the bacon fat before adding to the soup/milk mix. Additionally, there was way too much sauce and I did not use it all. Either way, my husband loved it! View More Photos of the Preparation & Finished Product on Flickr.

Friday, June 19, 2009

Stormy Weather & Lightning


I've strayed... again... SORRY! I've been busy renovating my house, planting my first vegetable garden, weddings, work and more! I want to learn how to photograph Lightning and Stormy Weather ... better... Here is one of my first shots... HOPE YOU LIKE IT! check out all of my FLICKR photos HERE!

Saturday, June 6, 2009

Vintage Curtains - I Love Them!!


Hello All - Sorry it's been so long! I've been busy! Today I'm trying to decide if I should add curtains or valences to the back 2 windows in the Dining Area in my Front Room. What do you think? I have a nice set of Vintage Fiberglass curtains in the sitting area that have Leaves on them. The color of the leaves matches the Green paint color in my dining area.

I've been searching eBay for some curtain ideas... Here are some Unique Drapes that I found!

Thursday, May 7, 2009

Retro RECIPES - California Curry & Cheese Wafers


Today I am featuring some RETRO RECIPES that I tried for dinner tonight!

First I made the Cheese Wafers from the Cookbook "Specialties of the House" from 1960. This cookbook is a selection of "Great recipes that guests ask for - chosen from eight of America's most admired and popular cookbooks ... " My husband thought these were great and is happy that there are more to bake in the fridge... I added freshly chopped chives to the basic recipe.

Cheese Wafers recipe:
Mix together 1 cup flour and 1-1/4 cups grated sharp Cheddar cheese. Cut into this 1/4 pound butter as you would for any pie dough. Roll the dough into a long sausage about the thickness of a quarter, wrap in wax paper and chill several hours in the refrigerator; the dough will, for the matter, keep for a week or two. When needed, slice off the wafers thinly, as you would icebox cookies, and bake in a moderate oven on a lightly greased cooky sheet until golden tan, about 10 minutes. These are delicious. For variation I sometimes add 1 or 2 tablespoons minced ham to the dough, or 1 tablespoon finely chopped parsley or chives. Or the wafers may be sprinkled with caraway or celery seed before baking.

My second recipe was California Curry from the Pyrex Prize Recipes cookbook published in 1953. This cookbook was "Dedicated to All Men, Women, and Children who Love to Cook in Pyrex Ware." This recipe was good - needs more flavor & I forgot to add the cashew nuts.

Ingredients:
1 package quick-cooking rice (5 oz)
1 can tuna (7 oz)
1 can condensed Cream Chicken soup (10.5 oz)
1/2 cup milk
1/4 tsp curry powder
1-1/2 cup drained crushed pineapple
1/2 cup chopped cashew nuts (2 oz)

Recipe Steps:
1. Cook rice according to the directions on the package.
2. Pour boiling water over tuna fish to remove excess oil & drain
3. Mix soup, milk and curry powder in a Pyrex Flameware Saucepan. Cook over low direct heat until almost boiling, about 5 minutes.
4. Add tuna and drain pineapple and bring again almost to boiling point, about 5 minutes.
5. Serve over hot cooked rice. Top with the chopped nuts.
*** If you wish, you can turn rice into a Pyrex Round Cake Dish, pour on the tuna sauce, and place in a moderate oven, 350 degrees, for 15 to 20 minutes. Top with nuts just before serving. ***



Here are Pictures of the Cheese Wafers & California Curry - Also check out more photographs on Flickr!

Tuesday, May 5, 2009

I made it to the ETSY Front Page!

I'm so EXCITED!! I made it to the Front Page of Etsy with my Retro BUTTON Mini BOUQUET in Vintage Blue Glass Vase !!! Thanks everyone for looking at it!

New Porch, Facia & Soffit - Part 2

All NEW Facia and Soffit has been added around my house, FINALLY (we've been in limbo since Fall)! Also, I was surprised to see that the PORCH ROOF was being added! It looks great and I can't wait for the concrete to be poured and get a chance to sit out there! I have some 1950's blond wood - lounge chairs that will look great out there! These chairs need to be refinished, but I don't think this should be too difficult. I need to find a low table for in between the chairs. I also have to replace some outdoor lights that were were on the corner near the garage. Unfortunately, the Originals are not longer usable. Does anyone know of a Retro Style outdoor lighting source? Check out my Earlier post about my Porch for more information. My next project is to add a Perennial Garden in front of the porch, find some Vintage Planters for the porch and some other Unique Vintage items to display. And More Pictures on Flickr!



Saturday, May 2, 2009

Retro Handmade MAY Design Contest


The Retro Handmade Team on Etsy is holding its first monthly design challenge! This month's theme is GREEN! Please VOTE (for me)!

My entry is the Retro Green Green Green Vintage Button Bouquet! This Retro ReDesign is a Floral Arrangement that contains 10 Green Button Flowers, 2 Green Spiral Accents and 3 Silk Green Leaves. Each Flower has and assortment of 1 to 3 Green Upcycled Buttons and Beads. Each button is hand-picked and individually added to a green cloth wrapped stem. From there, each of the stems is hand twisted. This bouquet can be displayed as a whole or each stem can be displayed individually.

If you are interested in purchasing this bouquet after the contestt is concluded - please contact me and I can reserve it for you. I also have several other Button Bouquets on Etsy and a Variety of Other Retro ReDesign items Available! Also, see More photos of my entry on Flickr!

Friday, May 1, 2009

I love Vintage Clothing!

I have a "Larger" collection of Vintage Clothing. I love the bright colors of the 1940's and 50's era House Dresses, Rhinestones and Plaid! I have just started to photograph my collection... I may end up selling a couple - Or maybe not :)
I need to buy a mannequin, so that I can display them and to help photograph the collection. Does anyone have any suggestions for where to get vintage one reasonably?

Check out some additional Vintage Clothing photographs on flickr!

Also, Check out these Awesome Vintage Dresses that I found on eBay!

Thursday, April 30, 2009

My Favorite Things... K La Moyne Ebonyte & More

This cupboard is in the Dining Area of my house and I've recently finished re-organizing it. Let's just say, it's been a lot of fun! This built in cupboard; has a closed storage area below and 4 Shelves above with glass sliding doors. My favorite shelf houses a portion of my Kaye LaMoyne - Ebonyte Collection (Branchell Melamine). I have been collecting K LaMoyne for about 10 years. My collection started with about 10 pieces that my Grandparents gave me. Most pieces are hand painted with characters that mean "Good Taste."

The rest of my cupboard houses various other collectibles. Including salt & pepper shakers in many shapes & sizes, hazel atlas condiment server, glass & metal pitchers, funsten's pecan choppers, aluminum ice bucket and much more! Check out more photos on my flickr page! Please let me know if you have any questions about my items.




Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Thanks for Featuring Me!

Just wanted to THANK the AWESOME etsy Seller SWIRLYARTS for featuring me on her Blog - Cuteable - "a Mon-Fri treasure trove of cute stuff for you and your home!!" In the Blog Post entitled Cuteable Finds - Virtual Labs she has featured my Retro Mini Button Bouquet! So Check it out!

Tuesday, April 28, 2009

1950's Porches... I'm fixing Mine & Need your Help!

Okay, I'm currently in the process of re-doing my 1950's porch. I'm not really sure what to do. This is how the porch looked last fall. The original owner thought it was a good idea to put the gutters on the roof (all around the house). We have since removed the roof-top gutters and a portion of the front porch roof, since it was rotted through (from the roof gutters). I want to extend the porch along the front (to the right) of the house. I'm not really sure what this should look like. I have some 1950's books, with floor plans, but they haven't been very helpful. I don't want a railing - because I like the fact that you can now see the brickwork. There were some really ugly bushes, that have also been removed.

You will also see in the second photograph that the port has been fixed, however since then, I've decided to stretch it down the rest of the front (oops... ) So, this week, the concrete is being poured and next week the porch roof is being extended. From there, we will be adding gutters, downspouts and rain barrels. And we will be adding a perrenial garden in front... So many things to do... So little time.


Does anyone know of any websites or books that give good suggestions for 50's porches? I have 2 lounge chairs waiting... I need a small table and I need to figure out what type of posts to use.

Here are some Vintage Porch items that I found on eBay while researching my porch... Maybe it's what you're looking for!?!

Friday, April 24, 2009

HAPPY ETSY DAY!

HAPPY ETSY DAY to All Fellow Etsians and Etsy Supporters! I hope that everyone finds some great deals, by supporting this day. :)

Check out some of My Favorites & Support a Fellow Etsian!
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Please Feel Free to Browse some of my items - Everything Comes with a FREE GIFT in support of ETSY DAY!
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Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Estate Sale Season! YAY!

Okay, Just wanted to let everyone know how excited I am that Estate Sale & Rummage Sale season is upon us here in Milwaukee! I went to 2 Estate Sales this week & got lots of goodies... At least a dozen 1950's cookbooks & pamphlets, AWESOME Red Plaid Pants, Vintage Wallpaper, Funky 80's Sunglasses, Bright Yellow Heels, Costume Jewelry, Pyrex Bowls, Cute 1950's Napkin & Placemat sets and too much more! So, if you live in the Milwaukee area - you will probably see me... :) I will post pictures shortly...

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

VINTAGE BLACK - Retro Ebay Picks

Todays eBay Picks are Vintage AND Retro BLACK items... I have found Retro items for almost every other color - so I thought it was time to hit up the timeless color - Black. Including an ART DECO Black Gloss Ceramic HANGING LAMP, RETRO Original 1950's Coasters Lady Faces Black / White and a Vintage MM 50s Retro Jumbo Coin Purse Black Handbag.

Thursday, April 16, 2009

VINTAGE WEDDING eBay Picks...

I remember searching for Vintage Wedding items & being amazed at how many great Retro Wedding items were available! It was very difficult for me to find exactly what I was looking for - so I hope some of these items help! Please let me know if you need any help find any items for yourself. Todays Picks include a Vintage 50s TULLE & LACE WEDDING Gown - This is AWESOME!, a Vintage 1940's Wedding Cake Topper Plaster Bride Groom and an Antique/Vintage Linen Napkins/Box Set 1929 Wedding Card


Monday, April 13, 2009

eBay Picks - RETRO CHAIRS - I have a thing for them...

Today's eBay picks are CHAIRS!!! RETRO CHAIRS and VINTAGE CHAIRS and DANISH MODERN CHAIRS - I have unique chairs all over my house - different colors, shapes & sizes. I just can't get enough of them...

Sunday, April 12, 2009

I'm Featured in an ETSY Gift Guide YAY!


My newest Retro ReCreation is featured in the Greetings & Flowers Gift Guide!

It is the "Retro BUTTON Mini BOUQUET in Vintage Brown Glass Bottle." Check out some of my other items in my etsy store Retro ReDesign!

eBay Picks - 1950's ERA PAMPLETS - i love these things!

Okay, today's Picks are 1950's era Pamphlets... I have a VERY larger personal collections of these... I pick them out because of Funny Cover designs or topics. Also, there are cooking supply/ recipe pamphlets out from the era as well... This includes things like - Technique of House Nailing or 3 1950's Baking & Mirro-Matic Pamphlet ... So take a look at my picks or search for your own on eBay.

Saturday, April 11, 2009

NEW Retro ReDesign - RETRO ReCreations - Vintage Buttons & More...

I've recently added several NEW items to my ETSY shop - Including a Vintage Button Bouquet, a Vintage Original Apron/Dress, Vintage Button Bracelets and more!

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Wednesday, April 8, 2009

Friday, April 3, 2009

Vintage GREEN Items on eBay - check them out!

Here are my Daily eBay Picks - For VINTAGE GREEN items... Green was my hardest color this week - for some reason Great Green Vintage items were hard to find... Please search RETRO GREEN or VINTAGE GREEN on eBay to find some of your own great finds!

Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Vintage Aqua Must-Haves! from eBay!

I would like to start something NEW! I will be posting some Must-Haves from eBay everyday - of course everything will be centered around Vintage, Retro, Atomic memorabilia - but there will be a daily theme. Todays theme is AQUA! It's the greatest color out there - and I hope you enjoy my picks!

About Me & What I Like

I thought I would take a couple minutes to tell you a little about myself and Retro ReDesign!

I love everything Retro & Vintage! My house was built in 1957 and is fully furnished with 50's era furniture and memorabilia. My passion for Retro has led me to start my New etsy site Retro ReDesign to sell my Retro ReCreations! And to sell some Vintage Originals!

My Retro ReCreation's consist of mostly Vintage Buttons, Costume Jewelry and other Beads that have been re-purposed. I am eco-conscious and I try to re-use as much as possible.

As for my personal collection... My house features mainly Aqua and Red 1950's era items. Along with some Green & Yellow for good measure. Please check out my flickr page to see examples of my house!

Additionally, If you have any ReDesign questions or would like to purchase a ReCreation - please let me know! I would be happy to do custom orders as well.

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