Since starting the new 1930s study a few weeks ago I have been going about things in a calm and slow pace because I need that right now in this confusing time we live of 2025. I wonder how people felt in the 1930s when their life was suddenly complicated when their banks closed and many people lost their jobs.
When Charles and I do these living history studies I am always looking for ways to get a feel of how it was during these years of long ago. It is the home that I am most concentrated on. I use many methods for researching, the research room in the public library, books, newspapers, real handwritten diaries, Journals and old budgets as well as recipes. You will find many of these being used in my older posts in other studies.
The day before yesterday was Mothers Day and I decided for our 1930s study to have a pie judging with the family.
I made a 1950 lemon pie recipe and a 1931 lemon pie recipe. After our meal I brought out the pies and sliced tasting slices starting with the 1950 deluxe lemon pie. We were all discussing the texture and taste as we ate the pie.
Then we tasted the 1931 lemon pie and my son was the first to speak out and said I like this one, the 1931 and everyone agreed it was the best. When I made the pies I thought it would be the 1950 deluxe but to my surprise the 1931 won the blue ribbon. :) The photo above the 1931 is on the left.
The first ingredient is blurry print and is 1 1/4 cups sugar. I cut the 1/4 cup out and made it 1 cup. I normally use less sugar for these old recipes because they used more sugar in the past than we do today.
The lemon pie filling is cooked in a medium size boiler pot on top of the stove and you will need a whisk or spoon to stir constantly. You will also need to pre-heat your oven to 350 degrees to bake your pie crust and the Meringue on top. The contents of the pie (custard) is cooked in the boiler.
You can use any simple pie crust recipe, it is baked before adding the filling because we are adding a custard like filling.
I baked both pies in the oven at the same time so I used the 1950 directions since there were few directions in the 1931 recipe. .
A combination of my directions and the 1950 directions, I will add here you will be separating your egg yolk and egg white into two different bowls so when you separate the eggs put the egg white into a bowl large enough to whip the egg whites for a fluffy topping, and the yolks will be put in a small bowl. This 1931 recipe does not say to temper the egg yolks before adding to the hot mixture but I did because I did this on the 1950 recipe first. It said to spoon some of the hot mixture into the egg yolks and stir and then add back in the pot. I will try just adding them directly next time to see if this really matters.
The 1950 directions has slightly more information such as add boiling water gradually, stirring constantly, and cook over direct heat until thickened. I will add here turn down the heat and adjust as needed.
When stirring and cooking the filling it changes color and clears a little but not completely clear.
The meringue is made by beating the egg whites until fluffy adding sugar slowly while beating and when it makes peaks when the beater is lifted, it is ready to be added to the top of the pie. Place in 350 degree oven to brown the egg whites (the filling was already cooked in the boiler pot) cook the whites for 15 minutes but check your oven because it may brown more quickly.
It was a busy day so I did not get a lot of pictures, this was the deluxe 1950. It was taller because it had more eggs in the filling and the meringue and why I thought it would be better. However in this case the more simple the better it tasted.
It was agreed upon that I need to do more Pie Tastings. :)
Recently Charles and I purchased a Graduation scrapbook. We never intended or were looking for something like this. We normally use Diaries and journals for our studies.
I had purchased a new mouse for my very old computer I call Tank. They do not make a mouse for this computer anymore and I found one on ebay. That has been awhile but I forgot to give a review and ebay will send a notice saying you have not reviewed this item.
I went on to ebay and this scrapbook popped up. I had not been on ebay for quite awhile and have never searched for scrapbooks. Diaries have become too expensive so I do not know why, but this was on the home screen so it got my attention and so I looked at it. The years 1924 1925 got my attention because my Grandmother gave birth to my mother at the beginning of 1920. My father would have been entering school during this time.
Charles walked by and I said look at this scrapbook. The price was high so we normally would not look at something this price. As we looked through the few photos attached to the listing, we both became emotional, we stared at a particular page and we just sat there and pondered on it. I asked Charles why are we tearing up? Charles said because this was a time in which things were still proper and good, respectful and normal. It made us homesick for some reason.
Charles left the room and then came back in and said, "if you want to get it, lets get it". I said that it was too expensive. He said, maybe they would take less if we made an offer.
I was the one that was not sure but there was a pull for both of us. I suggested we think about it.
Neither of us could shake it, so it was decided that I would make an offer. The seller accepted.
We have to be very careful how we handle this book, it is so old and will tear easily. What is remarkable are the photos! They are better than photos today, so clear and solid.
Throughout the scrapbook Zola added pieces of her senior year. She even added pieces of fabric from her gowns that she wore to events. There are invitations and pressed flowers.
In the back of the book there are a few items she added into the 1930s.
Right now I will not disclose her last name in respect for her family that might still be living but they would be nieces or nephews for so much time has passed. To be a senior during this year she would have been born in 1906 or 1907. Someone in the family made a decision to discard this book as it was sold at an estate sale or somehow it got into the hands of an antique dealer.
Here is an amazing story. Last week May the 7th 2025, I was at the hospital having test for over half a day. If you have been reading my blog for awhile you know that I have some health issues and a heart problem. Nothing to be surprised about but I have to have tests off and on. I had to be there at 7:30 a.m. and they said I would be there for over half a day.
I had gotten a notice that the scrapbook was coming so we were concerned about it being delivered when we were gone. Charles could not go back with me anyway while I was there so I asked him to leave me there and I would call him that afternoon when I was finished. He had some work to do and then go to the house to wait for the delivery. We were both a little anxious because we have had issues with getting things delivered here.
After I rested from my tests, later that afternoon the book had been delivered and we decided to sit down and have a look.
There is so much to look through that I still have not looked at everything. All I could think of was I would love to find a High School History Teacher that could share this with the graduating class.
We were looking more towards the back of the book and found a graduation certificate! We were both reading it out loud as Charles was sitting next to me and I gasped! We both looked at each other wide eyed!
Zola graduated May 7th 1925! We received her book May 7th 2025, exactly One Hundred Years ago this same day! We have her scrapbook and do not even know why we bought it. There is a reason.....
I will post pictures off an on in my blog posts so I can share this piece of history with you. I researched the family genealogy this past week with the information I could get from the scrapbook and I will share a bit of Zola's life as well since she was an adult during the 1930s keeping her family name private until I can find if she has any living relative. She did have an occupation during the 1930s.
Just some 1930s info, I do not have a regular monopoly game but we do have this one. Before the name Monopoly, this game was called the LandLord's game and patented in 1904. In 1935 it had a new name and new inventor.
Since we are living like the 1930s, this is one fun game that would resemble the time we are studying. There are many other games as well because this time in history this is something people did for entertainment. They also went to the motion pictures.
Popcorn was very when people got together playing games in the home. In my old diaries, I often read about them eating popcorn while gathering with friends during the evening. I have been very surprised at how late they stayed up at night visiting with each other.
I will close here, I have been wondering how you all are doing and if you have made any changes in your home? Your meals or organizing? If you have any favorite games, look and see when they were invented to see if they belong in our study of the 1930s. I will be making more pies soon, of course we share the remaining with those that are judging the pie. :) Have you made any 1930s or pre-1930s recipes? Are you interested in me posting more recipes?
Hope to see you in the forum...
Grandma Donna
