The fun of finding treasures in the attic. (Country conversation & feedback).

COUNTRYSIDE: My wife and I own a big old farm house. When we moved in, we noticed that the attic was filled with a scattering of junk and papers of all sorts. Recently, I got it in my heart to do something about it and started the monumental task of cleaning it out. What a find! Old books, love letters from the 20s and 30s, old periodicals, old Christmas cards (it's amazing how the quality has improved with technology), old records (some broken, unfortunately), odds and ends of all kinds.

There was also a collection of recipes on 4 x 7 index cards. I don't know how far back index cards go, but these were really yellowed with age. I did find dated material from the mid-60s, so they could be from that era. They were new to me, and it felt like reviving the past to read through them. Here are a couple that I thought the readers of COUNTRYSIDE might find interesting.

Raisin Pudding

1-1/4 cup flour (I use whole wheat.)
1/2 cup sugar.
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt

Sift together and combine with:
1 cups raisins
1/2 cup milk

Then put into greased or oiled
baking pan. Mix together:
1 cup brown sugar
2 cups boiling water
2 tablespoons butter

Pour this carefully over the batter.
Bake at 375[degrees]F until batter is done,
approximately 30-40 minutes. Test
with toothpick or fork. A half teaspoon
of cinnamon sprinkled over the
top is a nice touch.

Hot Potato Salad

6 pounds hot, diced potatoes
4 cups peppers (sweet green or red)
12 hard boiled eggs ("hard cooked"
  on the recipe)
3 cups onions, chopped fine
1/2 pound bacon (being a vegetarian,
  I used imitation bacon bits)
1 pint vinegar
1 tablespoon salt
3 tablespoons sugar
1/4 cup water

Fry bacon and onions until done
or tender. Add vinegar, salt, sugar and
water. While hot, pour over the potatoes.
Add eggs and peppers. Mix thoroughly,
together. (The card said it
serves 35.)

I also found an old paperback of Henry David Thoreau's Walden. The first printing was in June, 1942, with successive printings through March, 1953. It's the kind of literature readers would cherish.--Brian Wagner, 16851 Wabash Rd., Waldron, MI 49288-9501