From Grammy's Recipe Box: Temperature in Cooking

This is a contribution from Grammy's recipe box. I inherited this recipe box as a young girl when Grammy (Elsie Louise Munce Caraway) passed away from ovarian cancer. Over the years, I've cherished its contents. Some recipes date back to my Grammy's mother El and Grammy's aunt Esther in the 1910-20's. If you use a recipe or cooking tip from Grammy's recipe box, I'd love to hear about it. Make sure and take photos so we can share them here.



This card sits in the front of Grammy's recipe box. It was obviously an important reference. Written in fountain pen, I'm guessing it dates back to the 1910-30's. It's a simple reference--one that was probably very important in the kitchen of Grammy's mother, Elsie Pump Munce, and herself.

I'm including conversions below for readers outside the U.S.:

Freezing temp 32F/0C
Body temp 96.5F/35.833C
Simmering temp 185F/85C
Boiling temp 212F/100C
Coagulation of protein 158-167F/70-75C
Ferments are destroyed 160F/71.11C

Both Grammy and her mother lived at near sea-level. I know that when Grammy moved to a higher elevation (in the early 1940's) she probably had to adjust her temperature references.

I'm curious as to why "coagulation of protein" was such an important temperature. And I wonder if the temperature listed for "ferments are destroyed" is still accurate according to today's standards. I haven't researched this and would be interested in anyone's insights and findings.

The Spirit of Elijah

As I've read and pondered the wonderful posts here this Primary song came mind-

"The hearts of the children turn to their fathers.
Malachi prophesied the hearts shall turn.
Elijah fulfilled the prophecy.
And fam'lies can be sealed for eternity"
Words and music: Patricia Kelsey Graham copyright 1982

I am so grateful for the fulfillment prophecy from Malachi 4:5-6

• Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord: And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children and heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.

The earth is being flooded with love in the hearts of the children for their fathers. That wonderful spirit of Elijah works on all who will feel it. And as Cindy says, "The veil is only as thick as we make it!"

What a glorious time to be living when all of the information is so easily accessed and even non-rearchers, such as myself, can do a simple search and uncover, for example, the Revolutionary War record of our 3rd great-grandfather William Caraway. (You can view these documents here).

I am so grateful to be part of this great work, in my own humble way.

A New Family Member

You just never do know what is going to be waiting for you in your in box when you get up in the morning! Monday I got a lovely surprise. Cindy, my *sister-niece* and family historian/keeper of all digital photos, forwarded me an email from a heretofore unknown Caraway cousin, Joyce!! I am nearly euphoric! (Joyce found Cindy through Ancestry.com when she responded to a photo of Fleming Caraway, our grandfather.)

Some might wonder why so here are the answers:

First, and foremost, I LOVE family! I just do!

Second, I have a dearth of known cousins. On my Daddy's side most of the cousins are so much older than I am that there hasn't been any contact and the Caraways are a non-communicative lot. Sadly there are only 4 cousins on my Mom's side and they are equally non-communicative.

So now we have Joyce. The emails have been flying hot and fast through cyberspace! What wonderful instant-gratification. I look forward to learning more about this wonderful cousin.

Did I mention how much I love family?

Bill and El Munce's Yosemite Trip of 1912

Letter written to Elsie Munce Caraway by her father William "Bill" Munce:

Home 1-29-1960

Hello Kids:

Well, you have sure handed me a dilly of an assignment, requesting at this late date the mode and method of your arrival at 2010 East 16th St. in Oakland, Calif. (see photo at right) on April 15, 1913.








I'll have to go back to 1912 to get this tale off to the right start.

Our neighbors, named Garner, wife, and daughter, talked up a trip to Yosemite Valley, said trip to be made in a covered wagon and a team of horses.
Dad supplied the transportation and we russeled(sic) up the grub. So bright and early one July morning we hit the trail, and enjoyed every hour of the four days it took to reach Inspiration Point where we got our first glimpse of wonders of nature.

We made camp under the Royal Arch, and for about ten days we tell we were leg weary; and then went over to the North Fork were Mrs. Garner had a mother and brother on a sundown ranch close to a small Indian village where we stayed about a week...

...then took the trail back toward home by round about roads, arriving safely having spent about 25 days of dust and ashes with board and lodgings in the open. Believe me it was a close race as to who got the first bath. I ran a close second.

Time marched on, and on one occasion I see mother making baby clothes and asked her how come? She said I had planted seed under the Royal Arch and that she was going to make a dady(sic) out of me which she did, for she wanted her baby born in Oakland so here we are back where we started from.

When my mother hears the news she was real tickled and told your mother-to-be that she had been with each of her daughters when their baby came, so she would standby.

On the 15th day of April, old Dr. Beckwith was on the job with all his equipment and you took your own sweet time coming out to see what kind of company you were forced to keep.

You were a red, rosy, package, and I can still hear my mother singing, crying, and praying as she was giving you your first bath. She never got through telling folks of her new granddaughter's big blue eyes and ready grin.

She was the proudest Granny in town and was happiest when she had you in her arms and sang to you some of the old time scotch lulabyes(sic).

Hope this is what you wanted; but if it isn't sing out and I'll try again.

Dad

Below are scanned images of the original letter

Granny Jessie and Little Elsie's Special Connection

Grandma Jessie Rae Munce holds her baby granddaughter Elsie Louise Munce (later Caraway)

Born to parents Bill and El Munce at home on April 15, 1913 in Oakland, California, little Elsie Louise Munce became the apple of her grandmother Jessie's eye. Little Elsie's father, Bill, wrote:

"Little Elsie was a red, rosy package when she arrived, and I can still hear my mother singing, crying, and praying as she was giving Elsie her first bath. Mother never got through telling folks of her granddaughter's big blue eyes and ready grin. She was the proudest Granny in town and was happiest when she had Elsie in her arms and was singing some of the old Scottish lullabies."

Grandma Jessie Rae Munce holds a slightly older Elsie Louise Munce (later Caraway)

How Jake Caraway Got His Name

Photo of Jake and Frank taken about 1898
Jake was probably 1 year old and Frank was around 3 years old.

The following account was told to Ann Caraway Boucher by Frances Amy "Frank" Caraway Stacy:

"When Jake was a baby, he was frail, thin and homely. Everyone was concerned that he might not survive, but a fine elderly gentleman named Mr. Norwood was living with us at the time as Father was away, and would come and do the necessaries [chores] everyday. He felt deeply about Mama and we little ones, and we called him 'Uncle Norkie'. Well, he would hold the new baby and try his best to comfort him, calling him 'My little Jake,' and the name just stuck to him forever. When Jake was quite a lad, he added his middle name 'Homer' himself."

A Portrait and A Poem

The above Munce/Caraway family portrait has a handwritten poem on the back by Bill Munce, the patriarch of this Munce clan.

If we counted our blessings as we count our little pains
If we soon forgot our losses and remembered just our gains
If we tried to be as big and fine as you and I should be
What a wonderful and happy place this world of ours would be

Photo identification:
Location: Bill and Erma's house at 6652 Brann Street, Oakland, California
Date: possibly 1959
Top (left to right):
Fred Munce (son of Bill Munce and Elsie Pump Munce)
Ann Caraway (daughter of Jake and Elsie Caraway)
Middle (left to right):
William "Bill" Munce (father of Elsie, Jack and Fred)
Patricia Munce (daughter of Jack and Jane Munce)
Sue Caraway (daughter of Jake and Elsie Caraway)
Margaret "Pat" McCauley Munce (wife of Fred Munce)
Bottom (left to right):
Elsie Munce Caraway (daughter of Bill and Elsie Munce)
Erma Hazelton Munce (third wife of Bill Munce)
Kathleen Munce (daughter of Fred and Pat Munce)
Joanie Caraway (daughter of Jake and Elsie Caraway)
John Munce squinting boy (son of Fred and Pat Munce)
Richard Munce (son of Jack and Jane Munce)
John "Jack" Munce (son of Bill and Elsie Munce)
Jane Judd Munce (wife of Jack Munce)