How To Be A Good Wife

The following is an excerpt from a 1950's high school home-economics text book that my mom found. I think it's funny and definitely something that I'm going to try one day. Enjoy!

"Have dinner ready. Plan ahead, even the night before, to have a delicious meal--on time. This is a way of letting him know that you have been thinking about him and are concerned about his needs. Most men are hungry when they come home and the prospect of a good meal is part of the warm welcome needed.
"Prepare yourself. Take fifteen minutes to rest so that you'll be refreshed when he arrives. Touch up your makeup, put a ribbon in your hair and be fresh looking. He has just been with a lot of work-weary people. Be a little gay and a little more interesting. His boring day may need a lift.
"Clear away the clutter. Make one last trip through the main part of the house just before your husband arrives, gathering up school books, toys, paper, etc. Then run a dust cloth over the tables. Your husband will feel he has reached a haven of rest and order, and it will you a lift, too.
"Prepare the children. Take a few minutes to wash the children's hands and faces if they are small, comb their hair and if necessary, change their clothes. They are little treasures and he would like to see them playing the part.
"Minimize all noise. At the time of his arrival, climinate all noise of the washer, dryer, dishwasher, or vacuum. Try to encourage the children to be quiet. Be happy to see him, greet him with a smile and be glad to see him.
"Some don'ts: Don't greet him with problems or complaints. Don't complain if he's late for dinner. Count this as minor compared with what he might have gone through that day. Make him comfortable. Have him lean back in a comfortable chair or suggest he lie down in the bedroom. Have a cool or warm drink ready for him. Arrange his pillow and offer to take off his shoes. Speak in a low, soft, soothing and pleasant voice. Allow him to relax and unwind.
"Listen to him. You may have a dozen things to tell him, but the moment of his arrival is not the time. Let him talk first.
"Make the evening his. Never complain if he does not take you out to dinner or to other places of entertainment. Instead, try to understand his world of strain and pressure, his need to be home and relax.
"Your goal: Try to make your home a place of peace and order where your husband can renew himself in body and spirit."

The Introduction

I am under the impression I was born in the wrong era. I'd much prefer living in a more simple time. A time when women wore dresses, heals and red lipstick. A time when men wore a white shirt and tie. A time that hardly saw jeans, t-shirts and sneakers. A time when families all sat down and had supper together. When kids called their parents things like "Mother" and "Dad". I want these things for my own family someday. So, I've decided that since I'm 20, not married and don't have any children, I'll practice on my parents and two younger siblings. The things that follow will be my sucesses and failures...wish me luck!

The White Cake

In every respectable 1950's kitchen would have been a cake. Not just any kind of cake but the fluffy white kind with white icing and coconut. You know, the kind your grandmother used to make.
With just a few ingredients, you too can make this yummy cake!

Cake:

2 heaping cups of flour
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 heaping tsp. of baking powder
1/2 cup shortening
1 cup milk
3 eggs

Beat all of the ingredients together adding the eggs one at a time. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Bake 30-35 minutes. Let cool out of the pans. Makes two 8 inch round cakes.

Icing:

1 cup shortening
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla
1/2 tsp. almond extract
4 1/2 cups powdered sugar
3 to 4 Tblsp. milk

Beat the shortening and extracts until creamy. Add half of the powdered sugar and beat well. Add 2 tbsp. of milk. Beat in the remaining powdered sugar and add enough milk to make the icing spreadable.

Assemble the cake like you would any layer cake. I finely chopped some walnuts (about a cup), and pressed them into the sides and then sprinkled some shredded coconut on top. Here is the finished product. Enjoy!