Remember the popular song by Frank Sinatra from the 60s, “It Was a Very Good Year”?
When I was seventeen
It was a very good year
It was a very good year for small town girls
And soft summer nights
Well, that song has been going through my mind a lot lately. In fact, the very good year that I’ve been thinking about is 1955 for 2 reasons.
- It was the year I was born. (Maybe I shouldn’t say that too loudly.)
- It’s the year that my newest book will be set.
You see, I’m part of a new series that’s coming up (big announcement later), and the books will be set over a span of more than a century. I’m looking forward to writing in the 1950s, but it’s not anything I’ve ever done before. In fact, I’m pretty sure I’ve never even read a romance set in the 1950s.
But I’m looking forward to it. A lot. And the research has been so fun! Some things I remember, and others I don’t. (I was very young, you know.) Since I suspect many of you reading this blog are around my age, I thought it’d be a big trip down memory lane to share some of the uniqueness of the 1950s.
World War II had ended a decade earlier, and the country was flourishing. Women who had entered the work force during the war remained there, and disposable income was high. Busy suburban lives required families obtain a second automobile, virtually unheard of at the time. Convenience items for the home like frozen foods and kitchen appliances were soaring, television was hugely popular, and entertainment was in high demand.
Here’s a little trivia:
The 1955 Studebaker was touted as having America’s newest and smartest two-toning, geared toward a wife’s (or any woman’s) tastes.
Pillsbury Quick Cinnamon Rolls were introduced.
This I do NOT remember. I guess it’d be handy to know what produce you had on hand, right?
Green Bean casserole was created by the Campbell Soup Company.
The Mickey Mouse Club debuts on ABC. (My favorite show EVER when I was a kid!)
As you can see, 1955 was a fun year. Lots happening. And it makes me even more excited to start my new book.
One more thing I’d like to share with you – an original 1955 Recipe! It really brought me back when I read that you make this dessert in a ‘refrigerator tray.’ I’m thinking it could be an ice cube tray, too. My mother used to make a frozen dessert in an ice cube tray – remember when you had to pull up a lever and break the ice, and that you could lift the little ice cube compartment thing right out?
Four-Flavor Freeze
- 1 1/4 cup finely crushed chocolate cookie crumbs
- 2 Tb. sugar
- 1/3 cup melted butter or margarine
- 1 pint vanilla ice cream
- 1 cup mashed, ripe bananas
- 1/2 cup chopped black walnuts
- 1 Tb. sugar
- 1 cup heavy cream, whipped
- 2 – 3 Tb. shaved semisweet chocolate (I used chocolate chips)
Combine cookie crumbs, 2 Tb. sugar, and melted butter. Press into refrigerator tray and chill.
Break ice cream into chunks: beat till smooth (with electric beater, spoon, or rotary beater).
Quickly fold in bananas and nuts. Pour into crumb crust and freeze till firm.
Fold 1 Tb. sugar into whipped cream. Spread on ice cream.
Sprinkle chocolate over whipped cream. Freeze.
When ready to serve, place tray on warm, damp cloth for a few minutes to loosen crust.
Serves 6.
As you can see, this is a nice-sized recipe for small families or empty nesters. The dessert was delicious! Refreshing with a subtle banana taste. I highly recommend it!
Be sure to join me on October 24th! I have a fun 1955 trivia game planned for you.
Until then, I’d love to know if you have read a romance set in the 1950s before?
What is your favorite 1950s memory?