Pecan Pie Recipes from Three Generations

Photo by Jonathunder

Do I have your attention?

Pecan pie is a favorite in the South.

I've never eaten one I didn't like.

Photo by Dobbi/Flicker

In the Delta, we pronounce this rich, buttery flavored nut

"peh-kahn."

Not

"pee-can."

I think it's because there's an obvious joke about the latter pronounciation--

one I won't go into here!

Pecan in Shell and Shelled. Photo by U. S. Dept of Agriculture

Pecans are native to the United States, especially the South.

They were consumed and traded by Native Americans when the first explorers arrived.

European countries got their first taste of the nut 

sometime in the 16th century.

Because the pecan tree grows wild in the South, 

pecans are often the first choice for many of our recipes.

Farmers in this area often left the pecan trees in their cleared fields,

where tenant farmers and friends spent hours "picking up pecans"

off the ground for their winter treats. 

One tree can provide several gallons of shelled pecans.

Extra shelled nut meats freeze well, so they are always handy for baking.

Enough history?

Ready for the recipes?

Well, let's go back in time to ca. 1920s-40s.

I found this recipe tucked inside my Grandmother's White House Cookbook.

I'm sure she used it. She never saved any recipe unless it was good.

I have a suspicion this particular recipe came out 

sometime during the Depression, since there's so few ingredients 

and since this is a very old piece of cardboard the recipe is printed on.

Or, it could have come out in the 1940s, when butter was rationed?

I searched the web for Crustine Shortening 

but could find no reference to it.

I did find that Bake-Rite was a shortening 

that was often used during that time period.

I have to admit, I've never baked a pie from this recipe. 

But, like I said, 

Grandmother wouldn't have kept it if it wasn't a good one.

Most recipes she just kept in her head.

 

My Mom had her own favorite recipe 

that she perfected over the years.

She was known all over town for her delicious pecan pie. 

It was basically the same recipe as Grandmother's,

except she made a larger pie,

and she substituted butter for the shortening.

Mom's Pecan Pie

3 eggs

3 tablespoons corn starch

1 1/2 cup light corn syrup

2 tablespoons sugar

2 tablespoons butter, melted

1 teaspoon vanilla

3/4 to 1 cup chopped pecan meats

Coconut to taste (optional)

Beat eggs with a whisk. Add remaining ingredients.

Top with a few whole pecans.

Bake in a prepared, uncooked pie crust at 350 degrees

until done in the center and edges are browned. 

Do not overcook.

Photo by Stu Spivack/Flicker

Mom's Pecan pie was one of my favorites, but over the years, 

I developed an allergy to corn syrup and corn starch. 

With a little research, I found an alternative--

a pecan pie made with buttermilk. 

Yes, I said buttermilk.

 It's much simpler. Tastes great. And, it's not as syrupy sweet.

So, here's the last of three generations of Pecan Pie recipes. . .

Dru's Buttermilk Pecan Pie

adapted from a 1928 recipe 

Whisk together 3 Eggs in a bowl. Add 1 1/2 cups Sugar and 2 tablespoons Flour. Whisk. Then add 8 tablespoons softened Butter, 1/4 cup Buttermilk and 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract. Whisk. Place 1 cup Chopped Pecans in the bottom of an uncooked Pie Crust (the refrigerated pie crusts are the best). Pour egg mixture over it. Take  Whole Pecans and place on top. Bake at 350-375 degrees for about an hour or until pie is set in the middle and the crust begins to brown.

YUM!!!!!!!!!

I could eat a whole pie right now!

Grab a bag of "peh-kahns" and join us!

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The Country Bedroom 1930s Style

I love this bedroom!

I call it "Farm Style Chic."

 It could be considered 1930s style and old fashioned. 

But, here at the historic district, that's what we're all about!

The entire bedroom is filled with vintage items and family mementos.

And, lots and lots of roses and lace and flowers.

Shirley Temple was a favorite child actor during the 30s. 

That's me on the left. 

My hair was just as curly as Shirley's!

A pair of Mom's gloves. . .

A porcelain shoe from my Grandmother Duncan. . .

 

A thrift store dresser. . .

Pink silk roses from Aunt Mamie. . .

Stacked jewelry boxes from each of the Magers women. . .

Beautiful crystal lamps from Grandmother Duncan. . .

A vintage pink linen frock and hat 

that Aunt Mamie once wore. . .

Did I mention she loved pink roses?

And, more vintage family clothing from several eras.

Any one of the dresses could have been stitched on a machine like this one.

The Bruce Treadle Sewing Machine came from an auction in Missouri.

It still works as if it were brand new.

Hats and dresses from two Grandmothers.

Yes, I am aware that the hats don't match the time period of the dresses.

There's a reason for it.

Each hat is placed on a dress of it's owner. 

I remember my Grandmother Magers wearing the hat on the right

 to church almost every Sunday.

That's her ca 1910 dress.

Gotta have a fan to keep cool in the summer. . .

found in the farm workshop.

Two vintage china dogs from my huge collection.

Daddy started that collection when I was 4 or 5,

with a small Scotty dog from the Five and Dime.

To this day, I can't resist buying "just one more."

Farm Style Chic. . .

Don't you agree?

This Post Is Linked to: 

White Wednesday #151 @ Faded Charm Cottage
Vintage Inspiration @Common Ground
Feathered Nest Friday @ French Country Cottage 

Barn Quilts and Cross Stitch

Barn quilts have become very popular. Have you seen them?

As I crossed the country from Arkansas to Tennessee to Kentucky to Virginia over the last few years, I've watched numerous new "quilts" going up on old barns and sheds. Each one is a work of art and brings new life to the older farms.

Designing and painting my own barn quilts in 2008,
I mount them proudly on our own barns and sheds
every spring and summer.

Then, a friend in Texas took the barn quilts in another direction.

.

Tina loves to cross stitch, designing her own patterns 

from objects that interest her. 

She surprised me with lovely cross stitched pieces of my barn quilts! 

I was amazed at the detail she was able to achieve.

Just look. . .

Barn Quilt
The Widner-Magers Farm Historic District Logo

Cross Stitch

Barn Quilt
"John's Bow Ties"

Cross Stitch

Barn Quilt
"Grandmother Magers' Flower Garden Quilt"

Cross Stitch

Isn't her work amazing?

So, whether you paint a barn quilt
or cross stitch one,
why not add a touch of this popular art form
 to your home this year?

Farmer Boys and Overalls

Isn't this photo from an old calendar the cutest?

Well, look at these cuties-- real farmer boys--
my cousins in the 1950s.
They should've been on the calendar, too, don't you think?

Which brings me to the subject of  farm fashion.
Let's talk overalls.

Every boy had at least one pair. 

"Bib" overalls, t-shirts and plaid shirts have been worn

 ever since the land was cleared and the farming began here in the Delta. 

Denim was fashionable on the farm long before city folks discovered them.

The stripe overalls that my cousins wear in the photograph
were often associated with the railroad.

Who knew there were so many stripes to choose from!

But, solid blue overalls were the cheapest--and the most popular.

Did you know that overalls have been around since 1750?
They were worn by the British army and called "slops".
They didn't look much like our overalls today.
That came ca 1850--100 years later.

Known for their comfort, handiness, and durability,
overalls were quickly a hit among the working class.
To many, overalls are the standard farmers uniform
 and so it was from the time farmers moved into this area.

Farmers found them cheaply priced and appealing.
They had many pockets and loops for tool storage.
 They fit loosely, which allowed layering in cold weather
and air circulation in the summer.

They could be easily patched--

and patched--

and patched.

Who doesn't have a photo of their farmer father, grandfather,
or great grandfather in overalls? 

I know I have several.

I rarely saw my Grandfather Duncan
(I called him "Pop")
in anything but overalls.
Every Christmas he'd received a couple pairs
of "brand new Big Macs" for the coming year.
And, every Christmas he'd dress in one of those new pairs.

 I still have a few of his overalls that I treasure.

Does this bring back memories?
Did you wear overalls when you were a kid?
Click on the "Comment Button" below
and tell us your story. 

And, if you happen to see my cousins,
please tell them how cute they were!

The Delta Folk Art of Stephen Hudson

We met Stephen Hudson in 2010 at the Mid-South Farm & Gin Show in Memphis, Tennessee. He says he's a painter and sculptor and a proud parent of "Hope."
I fell in love with his nostalgic Delta paintings that brought back so many memories of the black families who lived on the farms and in our community.

I saw this painting, "Sunday Morning Memphis Blues," when we arrived at the exhibit hall. I was instantly drawn to it, but Stephen was nowhere in sight. I never dreamed I'd be able to buy it. Yet, all morning long, I kept an eye on that booth.

When Stephen appeared early in the afternoon, I made a "bee line" to meet him and was instantly as drawn to him as I was to his paintings. John and I visited with him for a while. Very down-to-earth, soft-spoken Southern gentleman.

There were two paintings I liked. When I found out they were for sale, each within my price range, I had a hard time deciding.  Then Stephen told us the story of the man in the painting above. That convinced me.

It's a story on canvas of Furry Lewis, a Memphis Blues musician who was best known on Beal Street, playing the acoustic blues of the 1920s. In his younger days, he traveled with  medicine shows and minstral shows. An accident in 1917 cost Furry his leg. He was running for a train and got it caught underneath. From then on, he wore a peg-leg. And, he sang the blues every Saturday night on Beal Street--and suffered a hang-over each Sunday morning.

I loved it! 

I bought it!

But, all year long that second painting haunted me.

When we were making our plans to attend the 2011 farm show, John called Stephen and inquired about the painting I didn't buy. Stephen had sold it--"Shoot!"--but, he had another I might like. We planned to meet.

I was shocked when I saw it! Stephen had never visited our farm--hadn't seen our website--had no idea that he'd painted our shotgun houses! Not only that, the rocker on the porch is exactly like the ones we use here on the farm. The red Coke chest is a carbon copy of my Dad's old one. We never had a bull dog, but big snapping turtles are a common sight here in the spring. And, the people on the porch? It was like looking inside my head of memories. Of course, I bought it!

Here are our shotgun houses. 

Cowboy's is on the right, the "spitting image" of Stephen's painting.

I now have two Stephen Hudson paintings. The 2012 Farm & Gin Show is coming up. John's going to see the newest farm equipment. I'm going to see Stephen!

There are other folk art paintings that I like, but Stephen Hudson's and Gladys Watson's pieces are my all time favorites. They capture the very essence of past life in the Delta.

But, more than that, I just like looking at them!

Post Script:

I added this Stephen Hudson folk painting to my collection--from the Farm and Gin Show, March 2. . .

The Farm Dress, Then or Now?

"Plain and simple. 

Neutral colors with a basic design. . .

wooden buttons on the bodice, 

a matching belt, 

tie-circle pockets in front. . ."

Is this a description of a farm dress from the 1930s?

It could have been--

I was very excited one day when I stumbled across a blog called Vixen Vintage. There was a wealth of information about 1930s-40s fashion. Since I love and collect vintage clothing--and often wear it-- I was intrigued from the start.

At Vixen Vintage, I found posts full of information and ideas that we can incorporate here at the historic district. Posts such as:  "1930s Farm Dress"--"How To Do A 1940s Hairstyle"--"How To Tie A 1940s Headscarf"--"Hat Etiquette For Women"--and so many more! 

Solanah is a delightful young woman, who lives vintage everyday. She works at a vintage clothing store, models vintage clothing for Fab Gabs, and has a personal retro style of dressing. She tells a little of her story in her blog: "My family is full of vintage lovers.  I've been around it my whole life, from going to estate sales., to getting my aunt and sister-in-law vintage hand me downs. I started wearing it regularly in high school, mixed with modern, and after that, it was vintage 24/7."

Believe it or not, the latest fashion trend sweeping the country is vintage clothing. All those dresses your Mom wore-and you Grandmother wore-"way back when" has become a hot item from thrift stores to trendy boutiques, as well as online stores such as Etsy and Ebay. Young people in their 20s, 30s--and 40s--are embracing a vintage style that is very tasteful. The look is clean and well done.

I could say that about Solanah--"well done." 

Her vintage style is romantic and timeless. 

The information she shares at Vixen Vintage is invaluable.

So, back to the 1930s farm dress. 

Old or new? 

Well, it's new. Solanah  fashioned it from a vintage pattern, 

but it would have been totally at home on the farm in the1930s-1950s.  

I call these dresses the "everyday cotton wash dress," an item that was a staple in farm women's lives. Church clothes may have been ordered from a Sears catalog or bought at the downtown department store, but for most farm women, the everyday cotton wash dress was home sewn, acquired as a hand-me-down, or bought at a tag sale.

Work was hard and relentless. 

Clothing had to be durable and washable.

 

Just as we all have photographs of our fathers and grandfathers in overalls, we also have snapshots of our mothers and grandmothers, in their work uniform--the everyday cotton wash dress.

While these cotton dresses may not fully catch on in the new Retro Style movement, they are very much a part of farm history.

Maybe I should call them, 

"Retro--Delta Style."

Visit:

 Vixen Vintage 

Vixen Vintage Farm Dress