Vintage Vittles Vednesday

Here's another vintage recipe! This one is from the 40's and is one of my favorites. It may sound sort of weird with two condensed soups but it's one of those comfort food recipes. Something for a weeknight in the fall when you don't feel like spending a lot of time in the kitchen.

Chili Mac-Spaghetti
1 lb ground beef
1 medium onion
1 10 3/4 oz can cream o mushroom soup
1 10 3/4 oz can tomato soup
1/2 tsp chili powder
1/2 tsp hot sauce
1/4 tsp black pepper
dash of cayenne pepper
1 lb dried spaghetti
1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese

In a large saucepan cook the ground beef and onion until the meat is browned. Drain off excess fat. Add the soups, chili powder, hot sauce, black pepper, and cayenne pepper. Bring to boiling, stirring often; reduce heat. Simmer, covered, about 45 minutes, stirring often.
Meanwhile, cook pasta according to directions. Serve sauce over hot cooked pasta. Sprinkle with cheese; pass additional sauce and cheese. Makes 4 servings.

Vintage Vittles Vednesday

In my unfulfilled dream of living a vintage life, I cook all my families meals in vintage pots, serve them only in vintage dishes, and eat them solely from vintage dinnerware. The meal being prepared atop a vintage range/oven combo and eaten at our vintage table complete with vintage linens. A girl can dream.
You may be wondering what sort of delicious delicacies I would make in said vintage life (or not, if you read the title of this post). Why, vintage ones, of course! A true collector, such as myself, must amass an appropriate collection of vintage cook books and recipes.
I would like to share a recipe with you today that I found very amusing. Hopefully you, too, can find some humor in this ridiculous beverage. I found it under the subcategory "Man-Pleasing Appetizers"!

"POW!"
2 cans (10 1/2 ounces each) condensed beef broth (bouillon)
1 cup water
1 1/4 tsp. horseradish
1/4 tsp dill weed

Heat all ingredients to simmering, stirring occasionally. Serve hot with celery "swizzle sticks."

6 servings (about 1/2 cup each)

I know my man enjoys sipping meat flavored beverages while smoking his pipe in front of the fire on a cold autumn night. Now, go please your man! ;p

What to eat? Wednesday

My husband, Luke, and both of my kids are sick. I have been chasing a little green booger monster around the last couple of days and I'm spent. Or maybe I'm lazy and looking for an excuse not too cook. Either way we ordered pizza for supper and I'm not going to lie. It was delicious.
Greasy, cheesy, goodness on a crispy, buttery crust. Green and black olives, onions and mushrooms, I thank you. I don't feel badly for not slaving in the kitchen in order to make my dear family a nutritious meal. Why should I?
I also cheated when I made Amelia's baby food. The gasp that just escaped your lips is not going to stop me from sharing with you the easiest, quickest, sneakiest way to make baby food for your little puckle pastry.
I bake sweet potatoes in the oven along with acorn squash. I steam fresh organic green beans and peas. I simmer peas and carrots on the stove. However, that all takes time and preparation that we busy mommies don't always have.
There are already precooked, ready to puree veggies out there waiting to make your life easier. Yes, yes you could just buy the jars of baby food but where's the fun in that? Plus, it's so much more expensive! I am talking about canned veggies.
Just grab a variety of canned vegetables with "no salt added" on the label. Toss them in the blender or food processor and puree to your hearts content. Add a little of the juice to make sure it is the right consistency for your baby, then poor the finished product into ice cube trays. One can makes approximately 2/3 of a tray.
Place in the freezer and once frozen through, toss the cubes of baby food into an appropriately labeled container or baggie. Done. The next time Amelia needs to eat I'll just grab a cube or two (she's 7 1/2 months old) and pop them in the microwave for 22 seconds (ovens may very).

Natural cleaner

After having children I really started paying attention to labels and what kinds of crazy chemicals are in everyday products they could come in contact with. I'm not worried about them getting under the sink and drinking a gallon of drain cleaner. We keep our cleaners locked away. I'm more concerned with the cleaners we use on our floors and the detergent we use on our clothes and dishes.
I think most of us are looking for ways to be safer and also to be more environmentally friendly. These cleaners were created in order to make our lives easier but at what cost? Ok, I'm not climbing onto my soapbox to start preaching. I just thought I would share a couple of cheap, easy, natural cleaners that I use and you probably have the ingredients already in your house. In return maybe you can share some of your own recipes for floors, laundry, dishwasher, etc.
Glass cleaner: For a really actual streak free, (not just says it is and then really isn't) glass cleaner find an empty spray bottle. Mix in 2 tbs of white vinegar, 1/2 tbs cornstarch and fill it up with warm water. Shake it up and get ready to see what you really look like in the mirror! Use crumpled up newspapers for a lint free and re-user friendly wiper-uper.
Carpet stain remover: Mix a paste of 1/2 cup borax, 1/2 cup vinegar and 1 tbs salt. Spread the mixture onto the carpet stain and let it dry, preferably overnight. Then just vacuum it up. I used this when my son pooped on our very light colored carpet and the stain is gone!
Deodorizer for wooden cutting board: I use the juice from one lemon and create a paste directly on the cutting board with baking soda. Let it sit for at least 10 minutes and then wipe it clean with a washcloth.
Deodorizer for thrift store leather (purses, wallets, bags, etc.): Place the item in a plastic bag that you can either tie shut or has a zip lock opening. Carefully place a bowl with a cup of baking soda in the bag with the stinky item and seal it up. After a day or so take a sniff and if the item still has that offensive odor, exchange the baking soda with some fresh stuff and tie it up again.

I am always looking for more recipes. Please share! I use Melaleuca laundry detergent but I would like to find another option.