In the Betty Crocker Cookbooks of old, you may be fortunate enough to find a hidden "creed" slipped inside. It is beautiful words written from a fictitious Betty Crocker (though keep in mind that a real-life virtuous woman did write it!) in the 1920's. It was meant to inspire homemakers from long ago to join the "Home Legion" and declare "Good Homemaking for a Better World". Oh how the times have changed (insert sorrowful sigh)... but doesn't that sound lovely and how useful would that be right now?
I stumbled upon this a few years ago but recently was reacquainted with it and wanted to share the encouraging words with you... I am also sharing a link to a
printable version should you like a hard copy for your home (I do believe the copyright has expired). It would be darling to frame as a decoration in a vintage-style kitchen or it can be placed inside a homemaker's notebook!
Homemakers Creed of the Home Legion
I Believe homemaking is a noble and challenging career.
I Believe homemaking is an art requiring many different skills.
I Believe homemaking requires the best of my efforts, my abilities, and my thinking.
I Believe home reflects the spirit of the homemaker.
I Believe home should be a place of peace, joy and contentment.
I Believe no task is too humble that contributes to the cleanliness, the order, the health, the well being of the household.
I Believe a homemaker must be true to the highest ideals of love, loyalty, service and religion.
I Believe home must be an influence for good in the neighborhood, the community, the country.
This is to certify that (member’s name) is a member of the Home Legion dedicated to Good Homemaking for a Better World.
~ Betty Crocker
I definitely find myself being an honorary member, what about you? Isn't it delightful?!!
My mother-in-law gave me my first
Betty Crocker Cookbook when I was first married and it has been my go-to for many years with its common, basic recipes. Sadly, I had to leave it behind when we moved and I noticed the newer edition I picked up at Goodwill does not have many of the same "from scratch recipes". The chocolate cream pie which was my favorite has been replaced with some quick version that isn't as appealing to me. It seems that "tempering eggs" is too much work for the modern homemaker?!? I feel like they are dumbing down the cookbooks... With that being said, I began searching for the older editions for myself and one for my daughter. I want to put a nice copy in her hope chest of the old fashioned recipes that are becoming extinct in today's "from the box" society.
My daughter also loves vintage (see her guest post on
Remembering Aunt Bee written when she was a young teenager) so when I found this set/3 pristine, Fire-King mixing bowls at the Salvation Army Store, I knew I would add these to her hope chest collection as well. The vintage linens I pictured were something that she brought home for me from an estate sale. I had to photograph them together before I packed them away for her since they match perfectly! When she becomes engaged I will probably wrap them together for her as a sweet gift -- the cookbook, the bowls and (probably the) linens in a gift basket of sorts with some small utensils.
I hope that I have instilled the values of the "Homemakers Creed" in her life and that she will enjoy these homemaking treasures from long ago in her future home one day! I am including the prices and information on these mixing bowls ($5 for set/3), kitchen linens ($1) and vintage cookbook ($1)* to inspire you that you don't need mounds of money to feather your nest or to prepare for your daughters' future one! Second hand stores are a blessing!
* Though I share a picture of the used Betty Crocker cookbook I found for myself, I came across a brand new copy, in shrink wrap, of the reprinted "Betty Crocker's Picture Cookbook" at a thrift shop for $1. I put this edition away for my daughter. The style matches those of the bowls perfectly!
Happy homemaking, the old fashioned, from-scratch way! 🌹
