Chill Out!

Betty will always remember the November she and her husband bought their first Frigidaire, just in time for the holidays and her visiting Mother-in-law. Everyone was impressed with their new kitchen appliance. Now Betty can’t imagine life without it! With shelves of storage space, never again would Thanksgiving leftovers go to waste. Except someone forgot to put away her Mother-in-law’s cranberry jell-o mold, oh well.

In preparation for the holiday season add to your retro kitchen with these wonderfully mid century appliances. Created by Big Chill, each dishwasher, refrigerator and stove mixes 1950’s design with modern technology. Just because your fridge was made in the twenty first century doesn’t mean it has to look that way!

www.bigchillfridge.com

Set Your Table with Edith Heath

Betty spends every November preparing for Thanksgiving and remembering all that she is grateful for. As she begins to wash and organize her Heath ceramic dishes for the big day, she can’t help but feel lucky. With simple clean lines who wouldn’t appreciate each beautifully designed piece?

Edith Heath was one of the most influential designers of the 20^th century. Her avant-garde ceramic dinnerware caught the attention of the nation. Her use of glazes and clay bodies added to her distinctive look. Her company Heath Ceramics also created architectural tiles, which won her the American Institute of Architects Gold Metal as well as the admiration of many architects including Frank Lloyd Wright and Eero Saarinen.

www.heathceramics.com

Happy Halloween!

If you haven't planned a Halloween party, it's not too late to celebrate. Have a few friends over to watch a classic scary movie, like The Birds and make Betty's favorite October treat, spicy pumpkin custard. Happy Halloween!

Betty Crocker's

New Dinner for Two Cook Book 1964

Spicy Pumpkin Custard

1/2 cup mashed cooked or canned pumpkin

1/4 tsp. salt

1/2 cup evaporated milk

1 egg yolk

2 1/2 tbsp. granulated sugar

1 1/2 tsp. butter

1/4 tsp. cinnamon

pinch each of ginger, nutmeg, and cloves

Heat over to 350 degrees. Blend all ingredients together with rotary beater. Pour into 2 custard cups. Place in pan of water 2 inch deep. Bake 45 min., or until silver knife inserted 1 inch from edge of custard cup comes out clean. Cool at least 20 min. Invert oh dessert plates.

2 servings.

Retro Wishes for Halloween

Betty loves to send holiday cards to her friends and family. Being that Halloween is one of her favorite holidays, she always makes sure to mail spooky greetings in time for October 31st. These vintage style cards by Hello! Lucky are perfect for retro wishes on All Hallows Eve.

www.hellolucky.com

Spooky Sweets

Betty knows that Halloween sweets aren’t just for little goblins and ghouls. After she tucks her trick or treaters into bed, the grownups have cocktails and creepy cakes. Betty serves her guests angel and devil’s food, perfect for Halloween night. No one goes home empty handed. Betty fills treat bags with candy corn, a holiday favorite since 1880. So this October 31st treat yourself, you dessert it!

Check out Betty’s favorite recipe for Angel and Devil’s food cake below!

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Better Homes and Gardens: Pies and Cakes 1966

Angel Cake

1 cup sifted cake flour

¾ cup sugar

12 egg whites (1 ½ cups)

1 ½ teaspoons cream of tartar

¼ teaspoon salt

1 ½ teaspoons vanilla

¾ cup sugar

Sift flour with ¾ cup sugar 4 times; set aside. Beat egg whites with cream of tartar, salt, and vanilla until stiff enough to form soft peaks but still moist and glossy. Add remaining ¾ cup sugar, 2 tablespoons at a time, continuing to beat until egg whites hold stiff peaks. Sift about ¼ of flour mixture over whites; fold in. Repeat, folding in remaining flour by fourths. Bake in ungreased 10-inch tube pan in moderate oven (375 degrees) 35-40 minutes, or until done. Invert cake in pan; cool. Remove from pan.

 

Red Devil’s Food Cake

½ cup shortening

1 cup sugar

3 egg yolks

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 ½ cups sifted cake flour

½ cup cocoa (regular-type, dry)

1 ½ teaspoon soda

1 teaspoon salt

1 1/3 cups cold water

3 egg whites

¾ cup sugar

            Cream shortening and 1 cup sugar until light and fluffy. Add egg yolks, one at a time, beating well after each. Stir in vanilla. Sift together cake flour, cocoa, soda, and salt; add to creamed mixture alternately with cold water, beating well after each addition.

   Beat egg whites until soft peaks form; gradually add ¾ cup sugar, beating until stiff peaks form. Fold into batter; blend well. Bake in 2 greased and lightly floured 8x1 ½-inch round pans in moderate oven (350 degrees) about 35-40 minutes or till cake tests done. Cool 10 minutes; remove from pans. Cool; frost with Chocolate Frosting. 

Devilish Decor

Every October Betty spends her weekends preparing for her annual costume party. She starts by transforming her house with devilish décor. Placing paper pumpkins on the table and candles on every shelf Betty's ranch becomes a haunted house. Surrounded by antique family photos, a ouija board is the perfect prop. For those more interested in the future Betty sets out fortune telling cards. But her favorite decoration is a set of poison cocktail glasses. So this weekend take the skeletons out of your closet, dig up your holiday décor and get into the spirit like Betty does every year!

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Fall Fashions

Now that it is officially fall Betty and her family spend their weekends picking pumpkins, hiking through their local state park and taking afternoon drives in the country, all the while enjoying the changing leaves. Sporting a cozy sweater, gloves and scarf Betty is ready for the cool weather. She packs away her summer dresses replacing them with cardigans and skirts, all perfect for autumn. Dressed in shades of orange, yellow, blue and cream Betty takes to the outdoors enjoying her favorite season.

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