Remember Home Ec Class?

Did you have to take home ec classes? We did in middle school, 5th-8th grade. I learned how to sew pillows, boxer shorts, a locker caddie, and most importantly hair scrunchies. (come on people it was the early 90's, scrunchies were a fashion MUST) We also had to learn how to iron a work shirt of our dad's. I'd say this was sexist except for the fact all the boys had to learn too.... so I guess that made it ok right? Either way I still hate ironing. We alternated school quarters between cooking and sewing classes, I have to say I loved both. Recently I found a stack of all the recipes we made in home ec... score. I must say we made some pretty awesome things:

Pigs in a blanket
Pancakes
Pizza
Banana Bread
Chocolate Chip Cookies
Easy Danish
Applesauce
Cornbread
Crumb Muffins
Nut Loaf... him this one made me stop and look again because it wasn't over the top butter and sugar laden like most of the other recipes... maybe it's time to bring the home ec nut loaf back into vogue!


I also have a memory of forgetting to add baking soda into cookies during class... so we ended up with hockey pucks... awesome. Any memories you'd like to share? The more embarrassing the better!


Nut Loaf
recipe given out in South Orange Middle School home ec classes circa early 90's
(my changes in parenthesis)

1 1/4 c flour (I used whole wheat)
1/2 c sugar (I used 1/2 splenda 1/2 brown sugar)
2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1 T. +2tsp salad oil (I used canola)
1/2 c milk (I used fat free)
1 egg
1/2 cup chopped nuts
(1/2 cup chocolate chips)
(1 tsp vanilla)

Preheat oven to 400 Grease and flour 2, 4" loaf pans.
Measure and mix together the dry ingredients into a large bowl of the electric mixer. Combine the liquids in the smaller bowl. Pour the liquids into the large bowl and beat at medium speed for 1 minute. STIR in nuts (and chocolate chips). Pour into the pans and bake for 25-30 minutes--watching carefully.