Feature Article August 24, 2003
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Brown Flour Gravy-A Recipe From the Depression EraBack in the 1930s, the Womens Institute organization arrived in the village of Mississippi by way of Lanark County. My mother, Elizabeth, had joined the W.I. early and often spoke of what a great benefit it was to the newly-weds, new mothers and girls in the area. There were 30 members, with Grandmother Geddes, Aunt Lila Steele and Jeannie Riddell being the organizations highly energized leaders. Meetings were held on a monthly basis and, of course, for special events such as Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. Recipes were passed around to the members, as well as any extra garden produce, potatoes, carrots, beets, green onions, milk, butter, and clothes.
Aunt Lila was a seamstress extraordinaire and she made the clothes for the village girls and boys from fabric sent out by the Red Cross in Kingston. Mens full- length overcoats were a real gift. She could rip the coat apart, turn it inside out andvoila!--there was a girls or boys winter coat or jacket. I can remember well a dark gray winter jacket made by Aunt Lila, complete with a zipper.
I obtained this recipe from Lucinda Crawford, who once lived in Mississippi and then moved to Zealand with her husband Keith. By the age of 15, Lucinda was a professional cook. She looked after her sisters and brothers.
Brown Flour Gravy:
Heat the frypan to about 6 on the heat indicator and put in 2 Tbsp. of margarine. After it melts, add 2 Tbsp. flour and let it brown. Add enough fresh potato water, vegetable water or cold tap water to make a thick gravy. Blend to remove all lumps. Excellent on mashed potatoes or on turkey or chicken dressing. Goes well with fresh homemade bread, too!
Many thanks, Louie, and I hope all is well.
So you have managed to catch one of those hang-on-forever summer colds? well, my mother had a sure-cure recipe and here goes:
Garlic Tea Recipe:
In a large saucepan bring three cups of water and 3 cloves of garlic (cut in half) to a boil. Turn off the heat when the water boils, and add cup honey and cup of lemon juice. Strain. Sip cup, warm, three times a day.
Refrigerates well up to a couple of weeks.
