Wednesday 3 November 2010

The Apron



I am sure most of you will have received this in an e-mail at one time or 'tother, but it's lovely and I wanted to share. It brought back alot of memories for me, and I hope you enjoy it as well.

An Ode To The Apron

I don't think our kids know what an apron is. The principal use of Grandma's apron was to protect the dress underneath, but along with that , it served as a potholder for removing hot pans from the oven.

It was wonderful for drying children's tears, and on occasion was even used for cleaning out dirty ears.

From the chicken coop, the apron was used for carrying eggs, fussy chicks, and sometimes half hatched eggs to be finished in the warming oven.



When company came, those aprons were ideal hiding places for shy kids, and when the weather was cold, grandma wrapped it around her arms.

Those big old aprons wiped many a perspiring brow, bent over the hot wood stove. Chips and kindling wood were brought into the kitchen in that apron.

From the garden it carried all sorts of vegetables. After the peas had been shelled, it carried out the hulls.



In the fall, the apron was used to bring in apples that had fallen from the trees.

When unexpected company drove up the road, it was surprising how much furniture that old apron could dust off in a matter of seconds.



When dinner was ready, Grandma walked out onto the porch, waved her apron, and the men knew it was time to come in from the fields for dinner.

It will be a long time before someone invents something that will replace that "old time apron" that served so many purposes.




This is a picture of my Great Great Uncle Darius and his wife Janet. Aunt Janet always wore a white dust cap on her head as well as her apron. My Aunt Freda told me that Aunt Janet always kept all her money pinned to the inside of her apron, so I guess to her . . . the apron was her piggy bank as well.

I love aprons and was given quite a few when I got married all those years ago. Some were quite utilitarian, and others very pretty, obviously to be worn on special occasions. I always wore an apron at work all the time, when I worked at the Manor, but it was not a pretty one . . . it was a 'cheffie' type of apron. I do have some patterns, however, to make a variety of aprons and I think, after reading this . . . I will just have to get down to business and make myself one! A good old fashioned one, made from calico and edged in coloured binding tape.

Now . . . here's something that will set your taste buds to tingling and I bet you have everything in your cupboard to make it this morning for your breakfast. You can have it sitting in front of you in less than 10 minutes I promise!



*Cinnamon Roll Toast*
Serves 2
Printable Recipe

This delicious and easy version of Cinnamon Toast is a real winner. You can multiply the ingredients to suit any amount of people you want to serve this too. My youngest son can’t get enough of this one! It’s so simple and tasty!

2 slices of raisin cinnamon bread
1 TBS softened butter
1 tsp cinnamon
½ cup icing sugar
½ TBS water
1/8 tsp vanilla

Spread both sides of the bread with the softened butter and then sprinkle evenly with the cinnamon. Heat a non-stick skillet over medium heat. When hot put the bread in and brown on both sides. When done, remove to a place. Stir together the icing sugar, water and vanilla until smooth and drizzle over the top of the hot toast. Serve. (you can make this with any type of bread you wish, plain white, whole wheat . . . I just happen to prefer the cinnamon raisin bread!)



In The English Kitchen today I get to test out some fabulous Jamie Oliver Kitchen Kit. I cooked a meal from his latest cookbook and I share a recipe for his delicious Stuffed Apples!


5 comments:

  1. I have lots of those old aprons. I used to wear them in my younger days and they really did come in handy. Of course we used to wear lots of things that required dry cleaning, where now everything is wash and wear so maybe that is why we stopped wearing them. One thing I miss is pockets. Those roomy pockets could hold a lot of things. The pictures of the patterns sure do bring back some memories. I love cinnamon raisin bread too. I hope your Wednesday is a wonderful one!

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  2. I have never worn an apron but I sure do remember them on my mom and grandmother and also most of my mom's sisters and friends. The person who wears them around here is Jim. He is always in the kitchen at church with one on (chef style) and he even has one that is fancy. One time one of our dear friends made him one that looks just like a tux. Black with a white ruffly shirt front, red bow tie and cumber-bun. It was always my favorite but he prefers the plain one of course.

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  3. I love aprons and I love this article on them, I have seen it before but always love it. I do wear aprons...it just makes the food turn out better I think! ;D

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  4. I think it is sad that "the apron" is used so rarely these days. I still wear one when I am cooking to protect my clothes but my girls usually do not....maybe they are not as messy as I am.

    I have made your cinnamon toast and my kiddos love it.

    Have a great day. Love, Lura

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  5. Marie, I love Pinnies as we used to call them.
    I have collected them for years, usually when I am on holiday, just to remind me where I have been. I receive them for Birthday and Christmas presents.
    Here in France the French Ladies put one on each morning to do their cleaning and cooking and save their clothes.
    Thank you for sharing the Apron page.

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