Vintage hints nearly obsolete

 1003 Hints
Gloves, chintz, hose and shirt collars are hot topics in a vintage little paper book that's crumbling apart as I read it. First National Bank of Port Arthur, Texas offered this book for customers. I read "1003 Household Hints and Work Savers" with joy, in an era where many of these tips are unnecessary because the needs have become history.

          Don't toss hats in the waste basket. Consider what little changes would give them a new life next season reads one hint while another tells how to fasten stockings to garters to preserve girdle life. In a don't-try-this-at-home tip, the book suggests gasoline as a cleaner for your rhinestone pins and buckles. For real?
Add oomph to oysters by adding celery salt to your cracker crumbs.
This one's still nice: Conserve butter by using bacon drippings over casseroles and potatoes.
Another throwback, from this little book the Grammier-Oberle Funeral Home add with the phone number listed as 3-6631.

                            Butter Swap

                            Betterine is butter’s vegan twin.

                  Give whoever wrote that line a raise. I love working with this new product that’s sort of wrapped in brown paper packaging, that is to say, it’s got a wholesome look even before you unwrap this Natural Baking and Cooking Stick with “neutral taste.”  Amarlane Foods offers this solution for non-dairy baking that’s made from coconut oil with no added chemical ingredients. Bake naturally, without compromise in taste or texture. It’s non-dairy lactose free and certified OU Kosher. Notice the words neutral and natural are both used, so consider it for “transforming buttery desserts into healthier, dairy-free, vegan-friendly masterpieces (more fancy wording I can support). It’s neutral enough that you don’t need to lather it on your breakfast toast. Betterine is a tool for moving forward in a more healthy lifestyle.

                             Infuzed Thirst

                              Think you’ve heard it all?

                  Cosmetics and everything else is getting CBD treatment. Makers of Infuzed Thirst offer “ordinary” consumers what celebrities received in their Oscars swag bags: what they call “non-psychoactive, zero-calorie, zero-sugar CBD infused sparkling water,” with all-natural flavors and full spectrum hemp complex – the non-psychoactive component of the hemp plant. I do love a good lime sparking water and this one even has a good feel of the can in your hand, which is adorned with a lotus flower. Drink to your well-being is what the can says. I enjoyed my sample, so, just saying…. It’s out there.

                  Darragh Castillo loves experimenting and is pledging to eat very natural foods during Lent. Reach her at darraghcastillo@icloud.com

Who misses A.J. Judice?

                             Is boudain getting fancy on us? Judice’s 1927 has been open a few months in Nederland offering a festive setting to enjoy Cajun flavors from a famous local family’s name. It’s fancy enough to have boudain – typically sold in butcher paper at your local grocer/food truck - referred to as “Link of Boudain” under the “Starters” area of the menu. But it’s still sold by the pound, as Cajuns would expect.

                             Variations of oysters, shrimp and crawfish dot this menu and the restaurant is filled with families, old friends and dates out for some spicy fun. Look up at the pirogue  chandelier and around to enjoy some memories, such as A.J. Judice racing crawfish and posing as “The Crazy Frenchman” to promote his Port Arthur grocery store. Don’t mind walking around to view all the photos. You probably won’t disturb anybody at a table: it could be a “cousin” with another A.J. memory.

                      Place your bets

                      This is a great time to plug the crawfish races set for Port Arthur. Plan now for Cajun Heritage Festival, a Southeast Texas Arts Council presentation, set for the Carl A. Parker Multipurpose Center in Port Arthur on April 4. Tell your friends and pack the house for live music, races and eating contests, food vendors and more fun scheduled in the area for Sunday, April 5.

                      Slay your slaw

                      Have you dressed your slaw in the same way forever? If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. But, I’m kind of impatient. I’m in the never-waste-food club and I just combined a few random salad dressing packets – both creamy and vinaigrette – into a new blend and housed it in a beautiful Mason jar. I may add a bit more garlic or whatever I’m in the mood for, but whatever that tastes like will dress the slaw I plan to crunch my way through Sunday night. Try something new all the time.

                  Darragh Castillo loves experimenting, blending and making things into something new. Reach her at darraghcastillo@icloud.com

Rotary Taste of Gumbo has judges looking for "silky"

                  Port Arthur Rotary’s Taste of Gumbo is one of those events that people look forward to for the food and the company. Hugs, smiles and an abundance of little white cups full of rice and gumbo made Saturday’s event another hit at the Robert A. Bob Bowers Civic Center.

                             I hope there was any celery and onions left in Mid County, because these groups had cooked pots and pots to serve fans. I had the pleasure of being one of five judges who put their heart and soul into tasting and ranking. It’s not at all easy. Some loved a pot for the very same reason another did not care for. We all were looking for flavor, texture and what one called a certain “silky” quality. An athlete-style point system produced the following “winners,” though we agreed, all the restaurants and groups that participated in this worthy cause were winners for supporting Rotary projects:

                  First place: Catholic Charities Hospitality Center

                  Second place: Port Arthur Professional Firefighters Association

                  Third: Port Arthur International Seafarers Center

              Approachable flavor profile

                      Go on and approach that gouda. Dutch cow milk goes into Frico Grab & Go Snacks and that translates into little wrapped packages of mild, creamy snacks for you-on-the-go pleasure. Frico has been made in Holland for more than 120 years and makers say their “approachable flavor profile appeals to children and adults. So, because Nederland, Texas has a history of Dutch dairy farming, I’m figuring all the Bulldogs will like it as much as I do.

                     

                  The label is the contents

                             A guest pulled an RXBAR out when he visited and we shared a blueberry version three ways as a rich and gooey snack. I’ve seen these protein bars in the store and they’re appealing because of their simple label. 3 Egg Whites, 6 Almonds, 4 Cashews, 2 Dates, No B.S. is what this one reads in big letters. If you’re into this kind of thing, this is a good one.

                  Darragh Castillo loves a lot of gumbos and loves how proud each chef and family is of his or her own blend. Reach her at darraghcastillo@icloud.com

What you'll love in February

                  Artsy heartsy décor is what I’m feeling as the days get shorter and Valentine’s Day looms. January went out with a bang in honor of Seafarers:

                            

                             The Roasted Tomato & Fresh Mozzarella on Rosemary Bread was so photogenic, I had to go right in for a closeup.
          When Chef Carly Andrews Oubre and her team at Chic Chef Catering & Events shows up, guests leave talking about what they saw. For a few years she's been catering the Port Arthur International Seafarers' Center's cocktail party for special supporters. This good food keeps people coming back to a good cause.
          Here's some more of what she made for Thursday’s event: Sweet Potato Waffle Fry with Pulled Pork & Cotija Cheese; Chorizo & Grilled Vegetable Quesadillas with Chipotle Salsa; and Whipped Feta Artichoke Dip with Pita Chips & Crudites.
          If hors d'oeuveres are your thing, call this chef. As for supporting Port Arthur's amazing center, contact Doreen at aosusa@sbcglobal.net

                 

                             Back to February

                             Got your hearts out? February is Sweetheart month and don’t you love calling your sweetie Honey Bunches of Oats? No? Well, people do. I’ve heard it. Hey, that honey pot emoji on the phone is pretty popular. The Post cereal is popular, too and now there’s a new version: frosted. The label literally reads “with granola crunches you love,” and a little arrow pointing to them in a heaping spoonful depicted on the box. My husband was really excited when he saw this box and my honey loved their honey.

                            Taste of Gumbo

                             Rotary Club of Port Arthur will again host Taste of Gumbo on Saturday, Feb. 8 at the Robert A. “Bob” Bowers Civic Center. It’s a big deal in Port Arthur and I’m not the only one ready to sample bowl after bowl and support local Rotary projects. The event will begin at 11 a.m.;  Find your favorite Rotarian for tickets.

                             Darragh Doiron is a Port Arthur area foodie who loves experiencing and touting our local flavors. Reach her at darraghcastillo@icloud.com.