Modern Screen (Jan-Nov 1944)

By MARJORIE DEEN The planting of crops was, therefore, a matter of vital concern. As early as 1848 — one short year after their arrival — a flour mill was in full operation to take care of the wheat which had grown amazingly well despite the general lack of water. In fact, by an ingenious method known as "dry farming," large wheat harvests have been produced in that state ever since. This, coupled with the vast distances that lie between farms, ranches and towns, undoubtedly explains why Mormon women have always been excellent and enthusiastic home bakers. (In this respect both Laraine and her mother, Mrs. Johnson, are no exceptions, you'll discover.) However, since the early settlers were drawn from people of all nationalities, in other respects Utahans cook pretty much like Mrs. Suburbia everywhere, except that they continue to be notably thrifty. This stems from the fact that Brigham Young — a superb organizer and a great booster for home manufacture and locally grown products — believedthat waste was not to be tolerated in a community which, at first, was entirely dependent upon its own resources. History, proudly proclaims Laraine Day, records no greater achievement in the face of terrific suffering and great hardship than that of these determined people who literally made the desert "bloom as the rose.'^ No wonder Mormons look on the first settlers as their "immortals," that their biggest holiday is called "Pioneer Day" and that a section of the State Capitol is used for a museum which presents an excellent crosssection of their life in the early days. And now for the recipes we're offering you this month. They feature outstanding favorites of Laraine's which she and her folks brought with them from Utah. (Laraine's parents now live in a lovely guest house on her estate in Santa Monica Canyon. But members of their family still live in Roosevelt, Utah, where Laraine was born. From them she gets regular supplies of Utah honey — thicker and somewhat less sweet than other types — and of holiday turkeys which she distributes as Christmas gifts to understandably appreciative friends.) Laraine's recipes stress home baked specialties as you can well understand. First and foremost are "Airy Nothings" which are really Something! Also outstanding is Laraine's Chocolate Cake with the Mock Whipped Cream which tops it or fills it — according to whether you prefer to bake it in loaf or in cup cake form, as pictured at the left. Then, too, we were given directions for making homemade noodles by Laraine's mother. Noteworthy additions to this collection are: A Roquefort Cheese Dressing, always featured at the informal barbecues Laraine and her husband Ray Hendricks love to give; and an old-fashioned way to prepare steak — with Cream Gravy. A leaflet containing all these — cake, cream-like topping, noodles, salad dressing, steak and Airy Nothings — is ready to be sent out to you, so just mail your request to: THE MODERN HOSTESS MODERN SCREEN MAGAZINE 149 Madison Ave., New York 16, N. Y. (Please be sure to enciose a stamped, self-addressed envelope.) as in hh-Naptha Take it from Junior — 'there's nothing like a white shirt. It does something to a guy.' Surveying the immaculate expanse below his Adam's apple, who could say that Junior overstates the case? Naturally, the washday labor that produces his snowy shirts, doesn't concern Junior. It's only one of the minor miracles that any boy with a doting Mother takes as. a matter of course. But we know a great many women who say that for turning out whiter washing— with less work — 'there's nothing like Fels-Naptha Soap.' FELS-NAPTHASOAP-banishesTattle-Tale