Silver Valley girl gave us this prompt for the week. We were to recall a vivid memory that happened at school during junior high. Raymond Pert's is here, Silver Valley Girl's is here.
In Kellogg we attended junior high at the old Washington School that had been the high school. I also attended kindergarten in a room in the basement. The building has since been torn down, but back in late sixties /early seventies junior high was grades seven, eight, and nine.
Ninth grade had two classes that I looked forward to taking all through junior high. One was P.E. with Mrs. H. The other was home economics. At that time boys did shop and girls did home ec. All through junior high I walked by the home ec room and was intrigued by the kitchen units, the wonderful smells, the big windows that brought sunshine into the room, the sewing machines, and the teacher Mrs. M. First semester we did cooking and second semester was sewing.
I had always loved to cook with Mom in the kitchen before home ec, but I don't think I really understood the science of cooking. I loved learning about nutrition and how to measure ingredients correctly. I also loved the cooking part of home ec. We tried things that I hadn't made at home. Also, I had this class in the middle of the morning so getting to sample food was a real treat.
We made many dishes during that first semester, but what I really remember was the Italian Tomato Sauce and homemade noodles. There was a large group of Italian people in Kellogg and they loved to prepare dishes from the homeland. I felt like I was a part of that culture as we learned to make the sauce. I remember watching it simmer during the class. I remember the smells of oregano and garlic filling the room. Then we actually made homemade pasta. I don't think I have made it since. After a few days of simmering the sauce, rolling out noodles, and cooking it all together we had a fine feast. Perhaps my love for recipes and cooking was cemented that semester in Mrs. M.'s class.
I must have used up all my home skills first semester, because the sewing semester didn't quite stay with me. I did learn to sew, I did make an outfit for the traditional ninth grade style show, and I got a good grade in the class. The Italian Tomato Sauce and Homemade Noodles are what stayed in my memory.
Thank you for the John Mayer blog!
ReplyDeleteI added him to my favorites and will try and start reading it!
very interesting...back in time..
ReplyDeletewe have a large contingent of Italians here, too
ReplyDeleteevery fall there is an Italian Heritage Day celebration PLUS... there is a grape stomp
I wonder if there is a homemade noodle demonstration, too. Those sound so yummy. (I'm a pasta person)
Ah, the old Washington school building. It was always a maze to me. . .but then I went to Pinehurst Jr. High - which was very small by comparison.
ReplyDeleteAh, Home Ec - loved it! (Especially the sewing and interior design part!)
Ah, Homemade Noodles. Time to make homemade noodles in chicken soup. Mom used to make it, and serve it over mashed potatoes! It was good, but the carbohydrates were exponential! I like homemade noodles, but have never tried them in Italian sauce. Now, I have something else to try!
Shelby: Yes, it did take me back!
ReplyDeletePamela: No grape stomps in Little Italy in Kellogg, but lots of pasta!
PIMD: I was trying to remember where they had the home-ec room at Pinehurst Junior High. Did Mrs. Johnson also teach home-ec? Now I think I will go buy the noodles.lol
I don't remember that from school, but have read it recently online. . .LOL! There were too many years between the time I took Jr. High Home Ec. and got married. . .at least 10 years - that I didn't remember much about Husband info.
ReplyDeleteMrs. Johnson taught both Home Ec and PE. She was great. Our Home Ec classroom was the first room on the left down the Jr. High Hall, moving away from the office and gym. I think it was the size of a double classroom with the kitchen being closest to the nurses, counselor's office area - and the sewing room further down. I believe they turned it into the Teacher's Lounge later, as the teachers just had a tiny, long room for their breaks. (Between the boys restroom and the former nurses station). I substitute taught at Pinehurst during the 1975-76 school year, and they were still using the small room at that time.