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Tuesday, September 18, 2012

Kitchen Aids - Then and Now

What's It Wednesday #42


We kitchen divas love our gadgets. Kitchen appliances and various aids just makes life a bit easier when it comes to entertaining and daily food preparation. I love my electric teapot. When I use to see them on my favorite British television soap opera (Eastenders) many years ago, I could not wait for them to start selling in the U.S. As an avid tea drinker, it was on top of my list of "must haves".

However, once in while I do miss the whistle from the stove top kettle. It just brings back such found memories.

The Kitchen divas of yore, like my great-grandmother Helen, also sported the latest teapots of their day. Helen loved her gadgets and always kept up with the latest trends in what ever was new fangled for the house. I don't actually use her teapot but I do keep it on display in the kitchen along with some of her other goodies and my grandmother's as well.

The children of today don't know anything about how we got ice before they were miraculous placed in the doors of refrigerators. I actually don't care to use ice makers at all. 

Does anyone, other than me, remember this doohickey? First of all, this was a fun way to get ice and secondly, I have to tell you, for some reason ice tasted so much better coming out of this metal tray. Your cool drink took on a completely different personality with these marvelous ice cubes they yielded. I am so glad I kept my grandmother's ice trays. Beside, they are kind of cute.

Nowadays, a four slice toaster is common place and makes toasting quite convenient. As much as we pay for a "good" toaster  these days, it could never take the place of the toasters of yesteryear.

The best part of my grandmother's Sears and Roebuck toaster was that the toast would fly up, quite high, from the toaster. I would peer slightly over the counter waiting for the toast to fly. It is my understanding that the  adults didn't particularly care for flying toast. Now we have expensive boring toasters. 

I am not much of a baker, but I do use my mixer mostly for kneading East Indian flat breads called rotis. This includes parathas, chapatis, and my all time favorite, naan. 

My mother tells me that my great-aunt used this mixer to make the most delicious cakes, cookies, pies, and breads. My grand-mother had a large pink sunbeam mixer and I could not wait to lick the homemade cake batter from the bowl and the beaters. 

It is my understanding that when this mixer came out, having 10 or 12-speeds was a major plus in a kitchen appliance. 

Music is a major part of my cooking routine. I tend to play classical musical during breakfast and jazz pretty much anytime. I love foreign music as well. Boleros when cooking Cuban food, Zen music when cooking Thai, Chinese, or Japanese cuisine, Bhangra when preparing East Indian dishes, and Ska when cooking a down home Caribbean meal. 


My fondest memories of Helen was of her singing along to her Admiral radio in her amazing kitchen. Sometimes she would even stop and dance a bit as she would twirl me around. Music was an essential part of her food preparation. Now, it is mine as well. 

Ok Kitchen Divas, what are some Kitchen Aids that you remember growing up?

xoxoxo

Paula



Ivy and Elephants

 Thank you all for all that you do to inspire others! I know I am inspired each and every week by each and every one of you. 

Here are this week's fabulous features.

Janet from The Decorating Diaries created this beautiful french door from a cabinet door she found.

Helen from Helen's Decor struck gold with this Chippendale find. 

Just get ready to fall in love with Shannon's enamelware at
 Southern Belle with Northern Roots

Laurie's Turkish prayer rug was a major score at Heaven's Walk

Lee Caroline features these wonderful upcycled lightbulbs at A world of Inspiration

Go on a relaxing tour of a beautiful sleeping porch while visiting At Home on the Bay

Ok fabulous people it's your turn.


43 comments:

Shenita @ Embellishments by SLR said...

This brings back a lot of memories! I haven't heard the whistle of a tea kettle in quite some time! Thanks so much for hosting and the trip down memory lane!

Unknown said...

Oh I just loved this post - and I can even remember someone having a toaster where the sides came down and you laid the bread on it and lifted the sides back on - do you remember those? Or people toasting bread over the gas stove!!!
Beautiful features as always! Thanks so much for hosting a great party
Hugs,
Suzan

Betsy@My Salvaged Treasures said...

I have so many memories of baking in my grandmother's kitchen. Thank you so much for the memories. I actually still use ice cube trays, the plastic ones though. We had a near disaster with a water line coming off from the freezer's ice maker a few years ago, and I'll never take the chance again.
Thanks so much for hosting.

Angelsdoor * Penny said...

Thank you so much for stiring up so many wonderful memories.. My grandmother and my mom had the same metal ice trays... I love them.. My grandmother also had the beautiful royal blue, deep red and yellow metal glasses.. Do you remember them? They kept cold drinks and shakes ICE COLD, and hot chocolate HOT.. I wish they were still around.
Great post!
fondly,
Penny

Angelsdoor * Penny said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Revi said...

Love this post, Paula! I have used most of the items you featured - and I LOVE Indian food. Thanks for hosting.
-Revi

Barbara F. said...

Lots of lovely memories here. My mom and aunt had the MixMaster. I actually got to bake with it a few times before it went to the Big Kitchen in the Sky! I had a whistling tea kettle just a few years back. My new one doesn't whistle. :( I am able to join your party this week, too. xo

Debbie-Dabble Blog and A Debbie-Dabble Christmas said...

Love all of your great Kitchen gadgets!! I have my parent's meat grinder that they used for grinding nuts for nut and poppy rolls for the Holidays and for making keilbasi.
Great features!!

Thanks so much for hosting!!

Hugs,
Debbie

Arr said...

My great-grandmother had an ice tray like that. It was so hard to pull the lever to release the ice. LOL

I loved all of these photos. I've seen many in my grandmothers and great-grandmothers kitchens.

Heirloom treasures said...

I love the old kitchenalia. The one I remember most was my mum used her very modern for the time,kenwood chef. It had a metal bowl with a rubber cover. The inside was like sandpaper and it was used for scraping the potatoes. She added a little water and they swished around until the peel came off. She used the dough hook with the glass bowl for kneading bread. Although I have the modern version, it doesn't do as much as her original.

Carlene @ Organized Clutter said...

Loved your post. I collect vintage kitchen bowls and utensils but only one toaster was electric. I do remember my grandma using her electric mixer a lot.

Gina said...

I love this post! Such sweet memories! I can remember those ice cube trays. I also remember that I could never pull that lever to get the ice up, I always had to have a grown up do it.

Judy at GoldCountryCottage said...

Hi Paula: You certainly have some great collections and the features from last week are all wonderful. Thanks for hosting again..Happy Wednesday..Judy

Dee@FrenchBleuVintage said...

Oh this post makes me remember my Nana's kitchen before school every morning. My mother would drop my brother and I off early so she could leave for work. My Nana's basement kitchen was always filled with music from her radio, the smells of fresh coffee and whatever feast was awaiting for us come lunchtime when we were allowed to walk next door from our school to her house. Thanks for the memories.

Antiques And Teacups said...

Lots of fun vintage things! It gives such character to a home. You have such wonderful collections! Thanks for hosting!
Ruth

SwedishCorner ~ DownUnder...Pernilla said...

Thank you for hosting! Lovely memories :) I love my kitchen appliances. Great to see beautiful old ones too.

Cindy Adkins said...

Hi Paula,
Another great post! Love your great-grandmother's teapot, and oh yes, I remember those metal ice trays! Thanks for hosting.
Cindy

Nancy @ The Headmistress said...

I remember those metal ice trays!!!! We have plastic ones up here at our cottage because the Headmaster REFUSES to have an icemaker in the fridge!
Thanks for hosting!
Nancy

Unknown said...

Thank you so much ladies for another wonderful party! I just love visiting your lovely blog. It is always so inpsiring!! This post is bringing back lots of memories. Love it. Hope you are having a great week. :)

akawest said...

Thanks for inviting me to the party! I linked my garden tour, added your party to my list, and am following back! Whew, I am tired...bedtime soon!

Katie @ Southern Chic Love said...

my mamaw used the metal ice trays. :) I loved getting the ice out as a kid. & my grandfather drove the ice truck. :) love your blog!

Connie@shabbyforsure said...

Hi, At a garage sale Sat I picked up the cutest little gizzmoes to stick in the ice tray to make pop sickles. They are vintage plastic, really cute. I'll have to find some ice trays. Love your post. Thanks for hosting...Connie

Joy@aVintageGreen said...

I thought you might like to see a 1940's egg grading scale, certainly used way back when. Loved your post about kitchen tools - I remember the jumping toaster and waiting to catch the toast. Such well made appliances and they could be repaired if needed too. Thanks for hosting. Good memories indeed.
Joy

lvroftiques said...

Paula!!!!!! Oh girlfriend it was sooo great to hear from you!!! Thank you so much for your prayers! They're working, I'm feeling so mush better.....

My goodness this post has been a blast from the past! Of course I remember every one of them. And I still have my grandmothers ice cube trays *winks*....Yes I think the cold drinks tasted better too. I also have my mothers Sunbeam mixer that's very like yours. We used our Sunbeam toaster for about 25 years then it lit on fire and could have burned the house down if we hadn't been right there! But sheesh it worked like a dream for 25 years! Newer appliances just don't last like that. How about old batter bowls? I loved those and still do. Or pyrex bowl sets with apples? I remember those in my Grandmothers kitchen and I'm still looking to complete a set of them. Anyhoo I could go on and on *winks*

Thanks for hosting this wonderful party! It's so good to be back and joining in all the fun! ((HUGS)) Vanna

Simply Simplisticated said...

Thank you so much for the invite to come party with you! Thanks for hosting as well:) Deidre~ http://simplysimplisticated4.blogspot.com

Unknown said...

I linked up and started following! Love your blog and thanks for stopping by mine and following!

<3 Bethany @ The Sepia Puppy

Kathryn Ferguson Griffin said...

Thank you for hosting! Wishing you a grand week. Toodles, Kathryn @TheDedicatedHouse

Helen's Decor said...

Hi Paula, First of all thanks so very much for the feature of my "new" (to us) Chippendale Chest, that we finally got the seller to sell to us at a very reasonable price after a mere 2 1/2 years. I have to admit, I don't miss trying to get ice from an ice tray. Feeling a bit spoiled these days with our ice makers, aren't we alll? Thanks for hosting...I'm loving being a part of your group of bloggers, Helen

Chenille Cottage said...

Hello dearest Paula,
What a wonderful blog..It is so filled with beauty and nostalgic moments. I recognize several things that my Mother had in her kitchen.
Thank you for the kind invitation and thoughtful comment on my blog. I am deeply humbled.
Blessings,
Carolynn

Leena Milligan Lanteigne said...

I do remember the whistling tea kettles, the flyings toast and those metal ice cube trays! Those were so hard to get ice from, you could get a real work-out before having a refreshing iced drink! I also remember my mom defrosting the freezer by putting pots of hot water in and closing the door, to get some of the ice to soften. She also ironed sheets! One of my favorites was drying the sheets on the line outside. They always smelled SO GOOD! The mixers remind me of my mom always making wonderful treats around Christmas time. Thank you for a great little sentimental trip! I will be linking up to your party to show off my latest vintage find! Hugs, Leena

Blue Creek Home said...

I totally remember having my fingers stick to those metal ice trays! And, you are right, it seems like your drink tasted better with "homemade" ice!! I loved the sound it made when it released the ice. Then we went to those crazy plastic ice trays that you twisted to release the ice.
Thanks for the party nudge!
Rhonda

Barbara @ 21 Rosemary Lane said...

Thank you so much Paula for stopping by and leaving your sweet comment. Looks like a great party...thank you for inviting me. Off to check out all the wonderful inspiration.
Have a great weekend!!!

Unknown said...

What wonderful features! Thank you for finding me, so I could find you. Love your blog! And thanks for the invite to link up. :)

debra said...

When I was a young girl growing up next to my grandparents house I remember the meat grinder hooked up to my grandfather's workbench in the garage. If I saw that I knew that they were going to grind up some ham for home made ham salad.

I have a post on my website about memories growing up and some of these sort of food related memories...so I loved this post of yours

debra said...

When I was a young girl growing up next to my grandparents house I remember the meat grinder hooked up to my grandfather's workbench in the garage. If I saw that I knew that they were going to grind up some ham for home made ham salad.

I have a post on my website about memories growing up and some of these sort of food related memories...so I loved this post of yours

Karen said...

Can I just tell you how much I love your post. Thye're always so interesting and well written. How fortunate to have those great family treasures. I wish we had kept some of these things. I remember those ice cube trays well. I couldn't ever get ice out of them LOL. Beautiful features too.

thistlewoodfarm said...

What a wonderful party!

Thank you so much for inspiring me today!
blessings,
karianne

Johanna Gehrlein said...

Hi Paula,
what a fun to see those old kitchen machines. To tell you the truth, I still make my ice cubes that way. But meanwhile the cube maker is from plastic. Thank you for sharing this nice post and for hosting this sweet event.
Best greetings, Johanna

Stan and Jody Gabara said...

Thanks for hosting a fun party! Love all the features.
Beautiful antiques! Brings back lots of memories of all my mom's collections.

Jody

Cherry Warrick said...

What a fun post! Yes, kitchen gadgets have sure changed over the years, haven't they? Enjoyed seeing your photos and reading your words about each one. And thanks for visiting me at Pursuing Heart - and have fun as you do some digital scrapbooking!

Jen @ Bungalov said...

Hi Paula! Thanks for telling me about your party!!! I am exciting to look around and check out other projects :)

Diann said...

What a fun look back to our favorite kitchen gadgets! We still have and use the metal ice cube trays at our family cabin! Thank you for joining us for TTF last week. I hope you are having a great day!

Danice G said...

What a great subject, retro kitchen appliances. I barely made the deadline, but got my retro can opener on there. Have you ever sen one of those contraptions? ♥

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Gratitude is the Memory of the Heart ~ French Proverb ~ We are so grateful that you stopped by ~ Please visit again soon! ~ Much Love, Patricia and Paula