I always find myself wondering how they figured those things out. Some of it nonsense, but other practices clearly based on some sort of observed results, which were then encoded in the lore. My favorites are the herbal/astrological associations, which were all very systematic and "logical," if you accepted the basic logic.
Thank you for the notes on my favorite beverage of tea and the recipes for sore throat. One recipe for colds is missing, one that my brother and I endured in our childhood-boiled onions on your feet at bedtime. Grandma Pearl cooked large onions from the garden till soft. We went to bed with one of Dad’s wool socks on each foot. Then, Grandma filled another sock with the onions and forced in on over the first sock. Then, you were expected to sleep. The only thing worse that trying to go to sleep with hot onions on your feet was waking up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom and jumping out of the top bunk to land on the cold squishy onions you forgot were on your feet! Then, came morning when Mom and Grandma came to check on you and amazingly your cold had broken and the hacking cough was almost gone!
Yes, this is true story of my youth in the late 1950’s and I gave that story as a Toastmaster speech complete with facial expressions that won the Washington DC area state award in 1994.
The one I remember best was bread and milk poultices to pull the infections from wounds. Not only did it work but often resulted in the surplus mash being heated up with raisins for a pudding
Pamela, great story! I thought I had heard or read all the onion "remedies" that our grandmothers came up with, but onions-in-socks is a new one for me. I'm adding it to my collection! Wouldn't you hate to have to wash those squishy, onion-stinky socks?? Just the thought of the laundry might have been enough to deter me from trying it. 😂😂😂 I would have loved to be in your Toastmaster audience. Bet you brought down the house!
Thank you Susan, for starting January 2024 off with a bang! The Old Foodie website is terrific. I used the link at the bottom of the Victory Sausage page to check out the previous post and found an Apple cake/German tart worth trying as well as an interesting article about the history of an ale named after Thomas Hardy. Soy and I are good friends. So, I will be trying the soy sausage and the soy bread recipe, too. Mine will be gluten free versions. I like the idea of browning grated carrot (and since I don't eat either onions or garlic, maybe a bit of a mild pepper?) to add to the mix and finishing the patties in the oven once they are browned. Might also be interesting to add chickpea flour sometime. This is the time of year when I truly enjoy having fresh sprouts to add to my meals. It is like a jump start on spring. Looking forward to The Rosemary Caper!
You're right, Sandy--Janet Clarkson's blog is wonderful. She has a couple of interesting books, too. Pie: A Global History is my favorite. She abruptly stopped publishing The Old Foodie in 2017 and I haven't been able to find out what's happened to her. There's a great deal of history packed into those entries, though--more than enough to keep us busy. Happy 2024 to you!
Will keep an eye out for Pie: A Global History. I do like both sweet and savory pies. Very glad to know of The Old Foodie blog. I do hope it stays viable. Also hope you caught Chris Hayes' interview of Rachel over the weekend. Peppered with more than enough ads, but worth it all the same. Let's get 2024 done with and move on! 😉
Yes, I saw the Rachel/Chris conversation. I'm not a big Chris fan, but Rachel always leaves us with something to think about. I very much miss her nightly shows. With you on getting through 2024. It's going to be difficult.
Hard to believe it's come to the point that it will not be safe to put political yard signs out, much less wear pins, etc. We will all need to encourage each other and stay strong and eat our spinach! 🤩
Your newsletters are one of my favorite ways to learn history. I remember blackberry brandy (homemade) being used for upset stomachs and teething. The garlic makes sense because it has antibiotic properties, which is verified by the NIH.
I love Yarrow and it's the one herb that I tend to plant even in my tiny spot in front of my retirement cottage. The red is my favorite, holding it's bright little head up all summer long.
I can no longer do fermented drinks or sugar but have come across another good (if a bit strong) sore throat help. Slice a clove of garlic thinly and hold a slice on each side of your mouth between your molars. Don't eat the garlic but do swallow the juice. It can be pretty strong but it does work wonders for that sore throat. I'd prefer the liquor and honey if I could.
Happy New Year to you. I'm looking forward to our literary romps in 2024.
Happy New Year! Our family "recipe" of sorts for sore throats/colds is bourbon, honey, and lemon juice. Which is the only time I imbibe bourbon -- Scotch preferer here, like my dad. The top notes of our cough remedy varied, depending on who put it together. 😳 😂
That's the wonderful thing about those hot toddies. Very much a personal thing. I drink both bourbon/Scotch, but if Scotch (a barley-based malt, vs corn) is available, I prefer it too. Hope your 2024 brings you everything you're looking for!
Forgot to mention that I LOVE the herb of the year. Yarrow is one of my very favorite plants. I have the old fashioned tall yellow ones and as many little red and white ones in the front garden as will fit ❣
Mine definitely have to deal with wet feet on occasion. Very heavy clay soil in this part of the Willamette Valley Oregon and where I live we can get flooding 3-4 times a year. But they've survived for more than three years. Don't know if it matters, but these are smaller red and white ones.
It's such a sturdy plant, too. Doesn't need any great fussing, extra attention. Did you know that the stalks are used in the traditional practice of the I Ching?
I love all your interesting articles. My grandma used to give us some kind of toddy with bourbon for sore throats. We are Kentuckians, so that was the liquor. Guess I disliked it so much that when I turned 21 I decided no to bourbon so I drank Scotch or gin. Rarely did anyone who ran out of Bourbon at a party ask to share my bottle! Now I only drink Gin when I am in Great Britain. The other times I stick to wine or beer.
I'll bet that Scotch or gin work just as well as bourbon, Toni. But since bourbon was a favorite home brew, there was always more of it around. 😉 The farmer down the road from my grandparents' Missouri farm had a still back in the woods, so the neighbors always had a good source.
Happy New Year to you, Susan! I'm thrilled you were able to work in my SCN Journaling class in your January to-do list, right after Oak gall ink and Irish coffee cake. Perfect. :)
"All About Thyme" is full of delightful, historic information that I find quite stabilizing in this chaotic world, like the universal truths in fairy tales. Thank you!
Thank you, Susan! You describe the intention of the class perfectly. It's a deeper level that reframes and connects our life story to others through the old tales. I love teaching it!
I gave the same SCN class April 2023; here's a student comment: "Kate Farrell’s guidance led us on a well-organized and intuitive experience where we encountered the tales, ourselves and each other on a very deep level. Through the class activities, I found my perceptions of self, society, and story interweaving and unveiling new truths.”
Happy New Year, Susan and everyone! Yarrow! I need to get some for my herb garden. I love the smell of it. I always learn something new here, and today, I learned a few new things. I was sitting here reading this while drinking my APC/raw honey tea because it is oh so soothing on this cold day in upstate NY. And that is my go-to for a sore throat, if I get one. Along with a little cayenne. I'm looking forward to your Pecan Springs short story! I can imagine the Victory Sausages were yucky, but now that we have so many plant-based items, the plant-based sausages actually don't taste too bad. Interesting that ink was made out of Oak Galls. Thank you, as always, for your continuing to educate us!
I think maybe the Victory sausages were resented because the men at home wanted their meat and complained about the plant-based product. Imagine a soybean bratwurst in 1944? Must've been pretty blahhh. I didn't find any early recommendations for cayenne, but I'm sure it works well for sore throats--capsaicin really does help to reduce pain (with an initial burning).
Re: educating. Early on in the series, one reviewer said "China's always trying to teach us something." Which is true--but primarily because I'm always trying to learn. And writing about something is my first strategy for learning. Hope your 2024 is wonderful, Pamela!
Mmmmm, an entertaining feast to discuss over the back fence.
Yes,the science fascinates me and is a bit of vindication for some "old wives tales"!
I always find myself wondering how they figured those things out. Some of it nonsense, but other practices clearly based on some sort of observed results, which were then encoded in the lore. My favorites are the herbal/astrological associations, which were all very systematic and "logical," if you accepted the basic logic.
Yes! But things get "squirrelly" once you reapply science.
It reminds me of times that doctors have said"do this. It works but we don't know why!"
But nowadays this is far too often a case of "Take this, Big Pharma pay me well to prescribe it" .........
Too true. Too terribly true.
Always enjoy reading the herbal remedies. Everything old is new again.
True, Marty, although with the best of these, there's now some science behind them.
Thank you for the notes on my favorite beverage of tea and the recipes for sore throat. One recipe for colds is missing, one that my brother and I endured in our childhood-boiled onions on your feet at bedtime. Grandma Pearl cooked large onions from the garden till soft. We went to bed with one of Dad’s wool socks on each foot. Then, Grandma filled another sock with the onions and forced in on over the first sock. Then, you were expected to sleep. The only thing worse that trying to go to sleep with hot onions on your feet was waking up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom and jumping out of the top bunk to land on the cold squishy onions you forgot were on your feet! Then, came morning when Mom and Grandma came to check on you and amazingly your cold had broken and the hacking cough was almost gone!
Yes, this is true story of my youth in the late 1950’s and I gave that story as a Toastmaster speech complete with facial expressions that won the Washington DC area state award in 1994.
The one I remember best was bread and milk poultices to pull the infections from wounds. Not only did it work but often resulted in the surplus mash being heated up with raisins for a pudding
Happily, reheating-with-raisins was not my experience with these things. I do remember mustard plasters, however. Without fondness.
Pamela, great story! I thought I had heard or read all the onion "remedies" that our grandmothers came up with, but onions-in-socks is a new one for me. I'm adding it to my collection! Wouldn't you hate to have to wash those squishy, onion-stinky socks?? Just the thought of the laundry might have been enough to deter me from trying it. 😂😂😂 I would have loved to be in your Toastmaster audience. Bet you brought down the house!
Thank you Susan, for starting January 2024 off with a bang! The Old Foodie website is terrific. I used the link at the bottom of the Victory Sausage page to check out the previous post and found an Apple cake/German tart worth trying as well as an interesting article about the history of an ale named after Thomas Hardy. Soy and I are good friends. So, I will be trying the soy sausage and the soy bread recipe, too. Mine will be gluten free versions. I like the idea of browning grated carrot (and since I don't eat either onions or garlic, maybe a bit of a mild pepper?) to add to the mix and finishing the patties in the oven once they are browned. Might also be interesting to add chickpea flour sometime. This is the time of year when I truly enjoy having fresh sprouts to add to my meals. It is like a jump start on spring. Looking forward to The Rosemary Caper!
You're right, Sandy--Janet Clarkson's blog is wonderful. She has a couple of interesting books, too. Pie: A Global History is my favorite. She abruptly stopped publishing The Old Foodie in 2017 and I haven't been able to find out what's happened to her. There's a great deal of history packed into those entries, though--more than enough to keep us busy. Happy 2024 to you!
Will keep an eye out for Pie: A Global History. I do like both sweet and savory pies. Very glad to know of The Old Foodie blog. I do hope it stays viable. Also hope you caught Chris Hayes' interview of Rachel over the weekend. Peppered with more than enough ads, but worth it all the same. Let's get 2024 done with and move on! 😉
Yes, I saw the Rachel/Chris conversation. I'm not a big Chris fan, but Rachel always leaves us with something to think about. I very much miss her nightly shows. With you on getting through 2024. It's going to be difficult.
Hard to believe it's come to the point that it will not be safe to put political yard signs out, much less wear pins, etc. We will all need to encourage each other and stay strong and eat our spinach! 🤩
Agree!
Your newsletters are one of my favorite ways to learn history. I remember blackberry brandy (homemade) being used for upset stomachs and teething. The garlic makes sense because it has antibiotic properties, which is verified by the NIH.
It's at the very top of the post, Karen. Maybe it got cut off somehow? You can see the whole post here: https://susanwittigalbert.substack.com/p/all-about-thyme-january-2024
Thank you! it was right there all the time; I was just in a hurry to scroll!!
I love Yarrow and it's the one herb that I tend to plant even in my tiny spot in front of my retirement cottage. The red is my favorite, holding it's bright little head up all summer long.
I can no longer do fermented drinks or sugar but have come across another good (if a bit strong) sore throat help. Slice a clove of garlic thinly and hold a slice on each side of your mouth between your molars. Don't eat the garlic but do swallow the juice. It can be pretty strong but it does work wonders for that sore throat. I'd prefer the liquor and honey if I could.
Happy New Year to you. I'm looking forward to our literary romps in 2024.
Happy New Year! Our family "recipe" of sorts for sore throats/colds is bourbon, honey, and lemon juice. Which is the only time I imbibe bourbon -- Scotch preferer here, like my dad. The top notes of our cough remedy varied, depending on who put it together. 😳 😂
That's the wonderful thing about those hot toddies. Very much a personal thing. I drink both bourbon/Scotch, but if Scotch (a barley-based malt, vs corn) is available, I prefer it too. Hope your 2024 brings you everything you're looking for!
Forgot to mention that I LOVE the herb of the year. Yarrow is one of my very favorite plants. I have the old fashioned tall yellow ones and as many little red and white ones in the front garden as will fit ❣
I had 2 Yarrow plants that didn't come back last year. Missed them and will replant them in the Spring!
Mine definitely have to deal with wet feet on occasion. Very heavy clay soil in this part of the Willamette Valley Oregon and where I live we can get flooding 3-4 times a year. But they've survived for more than three years. Don't know if it matters, but these are smaller red and white ones.
I've never seen them get too dry. But they definitely don't like their feet wet. 😉
They were on a downhill part of my lot, so i will move them when i plant. Thanks and happy new year!!
It's such a sturdy plant, too. Doesn't need any great fussing, extra attention. Did you know that the stalks are used in the traditional practice of the I Ching?
Where did I miss the Herb of the year: yarrow?? I went back to the beginning, but did not find it. I am new here, so maybe I am missing something.
No I didn't. Still so much to learn...even at my age 😆
And isn't that wonderful?? Curiosity is the greatest gift.
I love all your interesting articles. My grandma used to give us some kind of toddy with bourbon for sore throats. We are Kentuckians, so that was the liquor. Guess I disliked it so much that when I turned 21 I decided no to bourbon so I drank Scotch or gin. Rarely did anyone who ran out of Bourbon at a party ask to share my bottle! Now I only drink Gin when I am in Great Britain. The other times I stick to wine or beer.
I'll bet that Scotch or gin work just as well as bourbon, Toni. But since bourbon was a favorite home brew, there was always more of it around. 😉 The farmer down the road from my grandparents' Missouri farm had a still back in the woods, so the neighbors always had a good source.
Gin is my favorite alcohol, too. We can think of it as an herbal brew, you know. It's all about juniper berries: https://neatandshaken.com/pages/why-is-juniper-so-important-in-gin
That a very interesting article. And a little scary for gin drinkers. There are some good gins in the States.
Wonder what my condo association would say about me growing Juniper on the entrance patio to my building? They weren’t happy with the milkweed!
Happy New Year to you, Susan! I'm thrilled you were able to work in my SCN Journaling class in your January to-do list, right after Oak gall ink and Irish coffee cake. Perfect. :)
"All About Thyme" is full of delightful, historic information that I find quite stabilizing in this chaotic world, like the universal truths in fairy tales. Thank you!
It looks like a wonderful class, Kate--and timely. Perfect for a woman who is beginning to take her journaling practice seriously and would like a way to reframe the journey. Kate's class: https://www.storycircle.org/class/journaling-the-heroines-journey/
Thank you, Susan! You describe the intention of the class perfectly. It's a deeper level that reframes and connects our life story to others through the old tales. I love teaching it!
I gave the same SCN class April 2023; here's a student comment: "Kate Farrell’s guidance led us on a well-organized and intuitive experience where we encountered the tales, ourselves and each other on a very deep level. Through the class activities, I found my perceptions of self, society, and story interweaving and unveiling new truths.”
~Story Circle Network, April 2023
Happy New Year, Susan and everyone! Yarrow! I need to get some for my herb garden. I love the smell of it. I always learn something new here, and today, I learned a few new things. I was sitting here reading this while drinking my APC/raw honey tea because it is oh so soothing on this cold day in upstate NY. And that is my go-to for a sore throat, if I get one. Along with a little cayenne. I'm looking forward to your Pecan Springs short story! I can imagine the Victory Sausages were yucky, but now that we have so many plant-based items, the plant-based sausages actually don't taste too bad. Interesting that ink was made out of Oak Galls. Thank you, as always, for your continuing to educate us!
I think maybe the Victory sausages were resented because the men at home wanted their meat and complained about the plant-based product. Imagine a soybean bratwurst in 1944? Must've been pretty blahhh. I didn't find any early recommendations for cayenne, but I'm sure it works well for sore throats--capsaicin really does help to reduce pain (with an initial burning).
Re: educating. Early on in the series, one reviewer said "China's always trying to teach us something." Which is true--but primarily because I'm always trying to learn. And writing about something is my first strategy for learning. Hope your 2024 is wonderful, Pamela!