Frugal Bootcamp: Heloise's Kitchen Hints

Published about 1963, this book came to me via a thrift store.  I looked for it online and Alibris has multiple copies for $.99 each.  It's also available through One Kings Lane and other sites. 

As I was trolling through looking for a photo of the book, I stumbled upon a review that said "Love reading this though it's horribly out of date..."  Really?!  What world does she live in?  Seriously, there are things that might be a wee bit dated but the bulk of what Heloise shared in this book is pretty much timeless hints for living well and on a budget.  That never goes out of date!  Some of the so called outdated stuff might yet come in handy.  Like how to bake potatoes over a gas burner.  Wash, wrap in foil, put over a low gas flame, turn after about ten minutes and test for doneness in another ten.  Mighty handy info if the electric is out or you happen to be cooking on a gas grill.

In the intro she expresses her opinion of homemakers in general: "You, the homemaker, are the backbone of the world. If it weren't for you there would be no home, family or world fit to live in.  You are a homemaker: chef..., nurse...,court of appeals, peacemaker, home economist, purchasing agent, budget and record keeper, decorator, hostess.

Chapter One:  Stop Stooping -  In the very first chapter Heloise suggests various methods of organizing kitchen contents.  She suggests first that you color code foods.  In her opinion the bulk are red, orange, yellow and green and she suggests that you designate one shelf (or portion of a shelf) to each color.  Condiments go on their own shelf as does white foods (pasta, rice, instant potatoes).  

She also recommends that you put things where they are easiest to get to.  Why stoop for oft used items when you could place them at an easy reach level?  I must say here that I envy the kitchen that is perfectly laid out.  I felt quite rich coming here to this kitchen with it's long countertops (compared to my former kitchens) and the multiple walls of cabinets.  Twenty years later I tell you sincerely that as much storage as it nets me, I am still figuring this kitchen out.  I've changed cabinets over many times, just recently rearranged the upper cabinets after Bess moved in.  I gave her a section of cabinet space to use for her family's snack items.  I discovered that I'd made things extremely convenient for myself.  

This chapter also urges removing clutter...Oh, so familiar tune.  And with good reason.  You cannot access what you have if it's crowded together.  You'll have more space and need less storage if you declutter.

Chapter Two:  Tricks and Treats for the Table -    a long chapter of hints for stretching, cooking and serving foodstuffs.  Such helps as how to freeze eggs (bought when they are very low priced naturally);  making gelatin in muffin tins for individual molded salads; seasoning tips for meats and appetizers.   A hint I've used for the longest time now which is to grate boiled eggs on a box grater for egg salad comes from this chapter as well.

Chapter Three: The Housewife's Helpers -  Do you remember Laine's 'servants'?  One and the same.  How to use the dishwasher to clean more than just dishes, how to clean the oven using ammonia and likely the one hint that most dates the book, how to defrost the fridge's freezer unit. 

Chapter Four: Fowl Play and Fish Day - hints for cooking these two items.

Chapter Five:  - Do It Yourself - Making aprons, dishcloths, recovering window shades, make your own net scrubbers.  

Chapter Six:  Mealtime Memos, more hints on foodstuffs this time vegetables and fruits, cleaning, prepping and cooking.

Chapter Seven:  Washday Winner - Laundry Helps  Here's where I learned a thing or two.  I've never ever read or known that I should be diluting bleach before adding to the washing machine.  No clue.  Now mind you, I seldom use bleach and in the last year or three I've been adding to the machine as it fills, then putting in clothes when the bleach is diluted.  Still, per Heloise, the clothes and soap goes in first, and then after the machine has filled and the soap is dissolved and the machine has agitated a moment or two, then the bleach, diluted by at least half strength, goes into the machine. 

And the mention of 'sal soda' is made here as it was in the Peg Bracken book. I paid closer attention this time around and it's actually washing soda which is used as a booster for heavily soiled loads of clothes.  Good to know, right?

I was also much amused to read of her seeing laundry lying on lawns in the New Mexico regions (back in her travel days)...The women told her it whitened laundry.  Well I think this is something we might try once more because I recall reading in historical documents and older books of 'drying lawns' where white clothes and linens were laid out to dry and whiten in the sun, but it must be lying on the grass.

Chapter Eight:  Bake Day Bliss  is just full of  good hints for baking. I got several helpful hints from this chapter.  The one I think will be the most frugal and a great time saver was to line a pie plate(s) with waxed paper and then fill with pie filling and freeze.  When solid, you can remove the filling and reuse the pie pan for another batch of pie filling.

I've used a similar method to make multiple pie crusts at once and found that very helpful, too.  I like to keep desserts on hand in the freezer for the occasional unplanned family day or visitors and this is an idea I'll be sure to try.

Chapter Nine: Rise and Shine! is a cleaning guide for every thing from appliances to walls and windows.  Lots of labor saving hints in this one.

Chapter Ten:  Heloise's Handy Stain-Remover Guide  Pretty self-explanatory isn't it? 

My opinion overall is that this book is worth reading if only it saves you a little labor or time or money.  I can sincerely say that I enjoyed reading and I did at least get inspired to change a thing or two and found a few tips I already use came from this book, which speaks volumes for it's being current to today.