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I’d like to think we’ve come a long way…
from this…
or this..
(I think I have those shoes..oops)
but I’ll admit… I did lay in bed this morning thinking…
I thought you’d appreciate having a list of ways to keep your husband or boyfriend happy..
you could even print it out and put it on your fridge so you remember…
Then I just couldn’t resist and Googled..
“How to be a good wife.”
This first website started out all right…
“How to be a Good Wife?
I am a firm believer of ‘what you give is what you get in return’ as far as human behavior is concerned. If you are a good wife to your Husband and treat him right, he would cherish you, love you and nurture you in return.”
Respect, good communication, etc followed, but then this little gem…
“11) Prepare yourself: A good wife honors her hubby by keeping a pleasant tone in her voice, a happy smile on her face and a neat and clean appearance. Take special care about your appearance and every day. Include exercises or yoga in your daily routine. Be hygienic. Some woman feel that once they are married why they should dress up or take care of their appearance. A man likes his wife to smell good. If you are unhealthy or not presentable your man may cheat you behind your back.“
What the?! And… the next website dashed all hope for the next generation…
“CLEANLINESS: If a man’s home is his castle and you don’t keep it looking like a castle, says Kanta Varsani, mother-in-law of our Art Director Virchand Pindoria, don’t expect him to treat you like a Queen ‘I will never understand why young women complain about doing the housework. Can you afford a maid? No? Then get on with it. Of course the man should help around the house – he shouldn’t leave his socks on the floor and needs to know where the laundry basket is – but it is silly expecting him to do all the housework. Especially if he is working and you are not. Men are also not very good at it! There is no excuse for a grown woman to live in squalor. You cannot put your house in order or expect your relationship with your husband to go smoothly if everything around you is a mess.”
“CLEANLINESS TIPS: Don’t see house cleaning as a boring job. … If you’re unsure how to manage your cleaning routine, ask your mother-in-law. We can tell you little secrets – like how you can make your whole house sparkle using just a lemon!”
I think it’s time I wrote a book,
right after I Google…
“How to be a good husband.”
♥
I’ve been trying to make the perfect pie-crust lately, not to be the perfect housewife
…but because I felt like it!
♥
I begged a master pie-crust baker to reveal her secret to pie-crust success:
“cold lard, ice water, vinegar, light hands, and chill the dough once it’s made”
♥
I also looked on the internet and found this No-Fail Pie Crust Recipe…
on the back of the Tenderflake box!
I guess the Internet gets a few things right…
Not too many photos today, I’ve done a retro, fun video.. (not a slideshow this time) because seeing it done makes it easier when doing it yourself…
♥
The Good Housewife’s No-Fail Pie Crust
- 6 cups Pastry Flour or
- 5 1/2 cups All-Purpose Flour
- 2 tsp salt
- 1 lb Tenderflake lard
- 1 tbsp vinegar
- 1 egg, lightly beaten
- Ice cold water
- Mix together flour and salt.
- Cut in Tenderflake lard with pastry cutter or two knives until mixtures resembles coarse oatmeal.
- In a 1 cup measuring cup (250 mL) combine vinegar and egg. Add ice water, enough to make 1 cup (250 mL) of liquid.
- Gradually stir liquid into Tenderflake mixture using a spoon. Eventually keep adding the liquid to the mixture, working lightly with your hands to mix. Stop adding liquid when the dough comes together and is moist. (I had about 1/3 cup of liquid left over.) Through away the remaining water mixture.
- Form dough into a ball. Using a knife or pastry cutter, cut dough ball in half, then in thirds to get six equal portions. Gently press into a disc. Wrap with plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 1 to 2 hours.
- by Tenderflake
Numbers 8 and 9 are just precious 🙂
Yes.. “even if he stays out all night”??? What the..
Yowza! A pound of lard to five and a half cups of flour seems a bit rich, but I’m down with the egg and vinegar, which we always use in our pie crust. Your expert is right about the light hand and the chilling though. We don’t bother with ice water either (our kitchen is cold). Can’t wait for your book.
Hahaha, that’ll stop the old arteries! Must be why it came together so nicely:)
I did love the photos at the beginning – reminded me so much of Mad Men but the 1955 housewife rules that must have been written by a male or a very ‘under the thumb and loving it kind of a woman’ was just nauseating. No wonder the divorce rate went sky high in that generation. Must go and powder my nose and practise speaking in a soothing, feminine voice – Carl’s about to return from the office! xx
I never thought of that.. But yes, it is no surprise divorces went sky high!!
Ha, now where’s the ribbon for my hair!!
I think I have a drawerful here;)
I love these pics!
Thought they would give you a laugh.. But they are pretty, eh?
Thank goodness for equality now days – right…
LOVED your video Smidge!
🙂 Mandy
I know.. But I grew up watching this go on!!
You laugh, but Katherine keeps putting this list under my pillow….
I think you may be feeling oppressed;) Thanks for the laugh, Greg!!
Hey! I often dream of my whole house being clean, then I wake up and face reality – LOL. Good one here and I have better luck with graham crusts than I do the flaky ones but nothing ventured nothing gained.
Hahaha… Yes, I have those dreams and dreams of it staying clean once we’ve done the work!!
It’s funny and seriously outdated but they all thought they were every bit as moderne as we think of ourselves today. I wonder what people 70 years into the Future will think of us after they’ve read one or two of today’s Cosmo quizzes.
You raise a very good point.. I think there will be all sorts of comments about this generation for sure, judging by the music videos I’ve seen.
Thanks for sharing this recipe. I’m going to be making a bunch of pies soon, so this is great to have!
I hope it works as well for you as it did for me.. And if it doesn’t, call Tenderflake! Lol!
Be hygienic! Actually, the woman who runs our local bar could take a few notes! Love the pictures and do we really believe that Dita irons in her heels and corset?! Love the recipe, lard is indeed the trick to good pastry (so my granny used to tell me) plus the egg to make it “short” but the vinegar is a new one ot me. Am intrigued so will just pop off to powder my nose, slip into my heels and corset and get back into the kitchen 😉
Hahaha, yes, be hygienic!! But only for your man, not yourself;) You sound like an experienced pie crust maker! Now go powder that nose!!
hahahaha I love this! I think I may have those shoes as well:)
The pie crust looks perfect.
They ARE pretty, aren’t they??
Oh I grill like that all the time. And my children are certainly always clean, polished and quiet when Mike comes home. LOL! Once a few years back I went to a social group in an effort to meet more women. The topic of the day “how to spice up your marriage.” Seriously they were advocating for many of the things on this list. (Make sure to compliment your husband daily because you know the girl at the office is. Um ok. How about compliment him because you like him?!) I came home horrified and disillusioned that I’d ever meet any women I could get along with in that town. Fortunately I was able to find some more like-minded people, but wow. I thought we had come farther than this. Mike and I still get a kick out of it to this day. Now off to go do the wash, better find my pumps first. LOL! Love this post Smidge!
I just knew you were that kind of girl;) Wow!! What an awful group?? I’m so glad you found some like-minded, progressive women to hang out with!!
I think that is how we were raised even though that article came out before I was born. That sentiment prevailed through the early 60’s until all hell broke loose. Thank God! Hahaha!
Great post!
I know!! I think some men our age still think this way but won’t admit it!
heheh, when I see those antique pics I always wonder how did they clean the house with their hair done like that, make-up on and those high heeled shoes? I fail miserably! LOL!
I vaguely recalling trying to look nice in the mornings.. For about a week!! Lol!
LOL! We are soooo bad! 🙂
Haha! You gave me a good laugh. I fear this could have been my Mother. I obviously did not inherit her need to be a good housewife. My husband howled with laughter as I read this post aloud.
It was my mother, til she got wise and went to school and decided to have a career.. Because she wanted to… Glad you husband had a good laugh!
His-terical, Smidge! If you have any questions about how to clean your house, just ask your mother-in-law! She’s sure to have some good tips! 😉 and why has no one told me before now that I STILL need to bathe, even After snagging my man? And “listen to him. What he has to say is far more important” ! Well, starting tonight when my man comes home, I’m turning over a new leaf! (I suppose this means I have to shave my legs too?)
Smidge loved your video too, especially the song! And the pup. And your own sweet hands!
xoxo. spree
Oh, gosh.. You’re his-terical yourself!! Yes, shave those legs, by all means, your husband will be so relieved!! Lol!
I’m looking at the third (and risque?) vintage image and thinking to myself…what can this mean?! What a great post, Barbara! All I can say is that if all this were true, I would fail as a wife and housewife. Do write a book…what fun that would be to read. Love your video…you are always so inventive and creative!
Hahaha, what can this mean is right. Well, I think that some advertising companies sold women on a whole lot of nonsense back then!!
I love reading those old “How to be a good wife” quotes. My mother in law has an old cookbook with a bunch of them. Hilarious! We laugh about them frequently. I have a pretty traditional marriage so I don’t mind trying to be “a good wife”, however, I’m not sure that I really ever accomplish it. Ha!
Pie dough is by far, my favorite food group. 🙂
I’d love to see that cookbook.. The recipes are probably priceless as well! I think traditional is fine.. If that’s what women want and choose to do.. Not just because society expects it of us. I love to bake and have a clean home too:) xoxo Smidge
Hahaha! Hilarious! Great finds Smidge. I can’t help but laugh my way through these. I swear I can hear my grandmother in some of them. Oh my. And by all means, yes! Write that book! It would be a perfect companion to these 🙂
Thank you for the pie dough recipe too!
I was lucky, my granny and my mom were both pretty progressive for their times.. Very progressive, actually. Xo Smidge Yes, I’ll write a book.. Just looking for the time to do so! So much housework to do;)
Cute little comics, Barbara. It was a very interesting time indeed. Nice pie crust recipe!
Glad you liked them!
Haha if my future husband (wow that is long way away!) expects me to be like your last two google finds then he has got to go!
But if he expects this pie crust I will be more than willing to oblige 😉
Yum recipe 😀
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
Yes, make that a long way away!! I know you will choose well!!
I loved the pictures too… And yes, where is our ribbons… 🙂 Thank you dear Barbara, with my love, nia
I’ve got a ribbon for you too!! Xo Smidge
I loved this post and the illustrations that are at the top of it. I too wonder (like an earlier commenter) what a generation or two away from ours will make of the articles and advice in today’s magazines.
I’m sure there will be so much commentary on this.. I’ll be curious to see what is said!
Oh, wow – I was excited I was from a later generation – until I read your googled tips… My husband must be super disappointed in me when he gets home and the kids’ stuff is everywhere and I may not smell as fresh as I should. I mean, how can I expect him to help out. lol. Crazy views! I love the Good Housekeeping advice about letting him talk since he’s more important and I have no right to question him. At least I’m picking up in the baking/cooking department – but like you, it’s totally for me. Thanks for the fun reads, today! And for the pie crust. 🙂
I know, eh? Who could write that stuff in today’s world?? I think my father-in-law could have told me more about cleaning the house than my mother-in-law ever could? Oh, well… I’m all for questioning my husband;)
What a fun read…Any time I am tempted to think I’d like to go back to the “good old days” I’ll whip this out! I am excited for all the instruction you’ve added about making a good pie crust. Mine are sadly disappointing, but I haven’t tried (again) for some time. Maybe I will give it a try! Seems like anyone who is a REAL woman ought to be able to make pie crust! Debra
Mine have been disappointing as well. The lemon meringue crusts worked because they were almost like a cookie short-bread crust so easy to handle.
My husband found this page from Good Housing magazine years ago and promptly posted it on our fridge with one of companies work magnet. We can all find the humor in this now… But somehow I really think that our hubbies think this is how it should be each and every day. They are caught up in some “Pleasantville” movie fairy tale. Your crust is just housewife picture perfect. Thanks for the humor Smidge. BAM
I think it’s hilarious your husband posted that! Yes, some men still expect this.. I think my generation of husbands grew up watching this and thinking it was awesome;)
Good Housekeeping Magazine that is, darn with that auto word detection….BAM
I just love this no fail pie crust. This is just a great recipe :). And the how to be a good wife article is just interesting. Since me and my future husband, whoever he may be lol, will be working.. I think we should both clean the house
I was so happy to find this recipe.. I’ve been searching everywhere for the perfect one. I know your future husband will be just the best husband ever, he’ll be lucky to have you!! Xo Smidge
You are so fun!
I loved the Louboutin 😉
Hahaha, someone finally noticed the reference to Louboutin!! xo
What? I missed a Louboutin reference? Where? *blink blink*
Hahaha, in the kitchen photo there is a bit of writing on it…
Ohhhh… what to say, where to start?? Watching Mad Men is good enough for me I think.
I’ve got one of those ‘handy’ little how to books from the 50’s. Says I don’t need to do any exercise as the light housework I will be doing as the woman of the household will be ample.
Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to go pretty myself up, pop some lipstick on, clean the kids, dust, make dinner, arrange his pillow and practise my best low feminine voice.
Hahaha.. we laugh, but we often do so much of this anyway:)
thank you for stopping by my blog and for your comments! i’m excited to have found your blog as a result — and i loved this post made me laugh
http://arhitekturaplus.wordpress.com/
I’m so glad!!
Lovely post, Barbara! I would fail as the perfect housewife especially when it comes to keeping the house spotless so I’m glad that we have a cleaning lady who comes once a week. 😉
You’re a lucky gal!
Sent from my iPhone
That’s what I used to hear from my grany’s at their age, wonder if there is any of these in our days.
Yes, I do also have such those dreams of waking up into a cleaned house, but I think when you have kids at a school age, don’t even think about it.
Your pie crust is so easy, will try it. Thanks so much for sharing such a beautiful article.
Very happy to know your blog, and very thaks to let me know about it.
Enthusiast to follow, keep up the good work.
I love those pics! And that was a great title!
Unfreaking believable!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I love old lists and such like that, but man…that one is a piece of work!!! No wonder so many marriages were unhappy!
I am horrible at pie crust. Perhaps this recipe would be the magic touch for me?
I know, it makes me angry when I read it! But then I laugh hysterically and wonder what the women did to get even!! They had to have resented some of those “rules”?? I’ve still tried to perfect my crust. The recipe is the right one, but I didn’t have cold lard, didn’t use regular flour and I cut the lard in too small.. It should be mostly pea sized. I don’t know if that helps.. But I’m trying again!!
Good tips! And yes…I get they did get even…in ways maybe we don’t want to know!!!!
Lol!!
In the whole scheme of things, 1955 wasn’t all that long ago and thank GOODNESS we have come such a long way from those times ! I am still gobsmacked from reading them. I would take the perfect pie crust and throw it at my husband if he thought that way lol.
Isn’t it sickening, especially the one where she shouldn’t question him if he stays out all night! Unreal! I’d have the locks changed, lol! And yes.. the pie in the face would be worth opening the door for!!
[…] your favorite pie crust recipe, I like the one I used for my Spring Flower Lemon Tartlets or the The Good Housewife’s No-Fail Pie Crust. Roll it out, cut out circles and press them into muffin or tart tins. Make sure to poke the […]
Priceless!