Beth’s Basket and Domestic Experiences

Hello dear friends! Welcome to the first post in the series A Little Women Holiday. Today’s entry and it’s accompanying video, Beth’s Basket and Domestic Experiences, share recipes and projects perfect for celebrating Thanksgiving.  

Beth’s Basket and Domestic Experiences

This post will cover making gifts for the neighbors, an easy and delicious recipe and a tutorial on how to create a cheery basket liner inspired by the March family. 

In Little Women Beth and her sisters write a newspaper titled The Pickwick Portfolio. One article is titled: THE HISTORY OF A SQUASH.

“Once upon a time a farmer planted a little seed in his garden, and after a while it sprouted and became a vine, and bore many squashes. One day in October, when they were ripe, he picked one and took it to market. A grocer-man bought and put it in his shop. That same morning, a little girl, in a brown hat and blue dress, with a round face and snub nose, went and bought it for her mother. She lugged it home, cut it up, and boiled it in the big pot; mashed some of it, with salt and butter, for dinner; and to the rest she added a pint of milk, two eggs, four spoons of sugar, nutmeg, and some crackers; put it in a deep dish, and baked it till it was brown and nice; and next day it was eaten by a family named March.”

Beth’s Butternut Squash Custard

This recipe is perfect as a delicious side dish or add a scoop of ice cream for dessert.

Beth's Butternut Squash Custard

Print

A lovely side dish inspired by Little Women.

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 40 minutes

Total Time 50 minutes

Ingredients

• 1 pound of butternut squash peeled, seeded and cut into cubes
• A dash of salt
• 1 cup of whole milk
• 2 eggs
• 2 teaspoons of cinnamon, divided
• 2 teaspoons of nutmeg, divided
• 15 saltine crackers, crushed
• 2 tablespoons of butter

Instructions

1. Boil the squash with a dash of salt in a pot of water until soft.
2. Drain the water from the squash and mash it.
3. Whisk the eggs and milk together. Add to the squash.
4. Add 1 teaspoon of the nutmeg and cinnamon and mix into the squash mixture.
5. Butter an 8 x 8 square baking pan or round ramekin, then add the squash mixture.
6. Melt the butter and combine it with the crackers mixing well.
7. Add remaining teaspoon of the nutmeg and cinnamon to the cracker mix.
8. Spoon the cracker mix over the custard.
9. Bake in 375 degree oven for 40 minutes or until brown on top.

Notes

Can be served as a side dish or with vanilla ice cream as a dessert.

Recommended Products

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• Mainstays Clear Glass Mixing Bowl, 2.5 Quart

Gifts For Neighbors

I always loved how good the March family was to their neighbors. 

Last spring we replaced a section of our fencing. Mr. Decor created charming little boxes with the reclaimed wood. I started a paperwhite (narcissus bulb) in a small jar with pebbles and tucked it into the box. I also gathered some seeds from our summer garden and placed them in an envelope for spring planting. Directions for the mini now and later garden were printed out and then hot glued to a twig to nestle into the box. 

Recently, the fall décor was 80% off at Joann’s so I picked up a cheery roll of ribbon and a few fall picks to add a pop of cheery color. 

So many of our friends and neighbors have been so good to us during Mr. Decor’s recovery that it will be a joy to deliver these boxes with a hearty “Thank you!”

Make A Basket Liner

In Chapter 5 Jo pays a visit to Laurie for the very first time. In their time together he mentions Beth with her basket. 

“How kind you are! Yes, that’s what it wanted. Now please take the big chair, and let me do something to amuse my company. No; I came to amuse you. Shall I read aloud? and Jo looked affectionately toward some inviting books near by. Thank you; I’ve read all those, and if you don’t mind, I’d rather talk,” answered Laurie. Not a bit; I’ll talk all day if you’ll only set me going. Beth says I never know when to stop. Is Beth the rosy one, who stays at home a good deal, and sometimes goes out with a little basket? asked Laurie, with interest. Yes, that’s Beth; she’s my girl, and a regular good one she is, too.”

Over the past few months I have watched and rewatched many of the Little Women movies and mini series. Beth is often shown with her basket. In the 1933 version, Beth (played by Jean Parker) is shown with a simple round basket.

A regular sewing basket accompanies Beth (played by Claire Danes) in the 1994 film. 

My favorite Beth was portrayed by Margaret O’Brien in the 1949 version. Her basket closely resembles the book illustrations. 

I found this charming little basket at the thrift store. I thought it would be perfect for cozy Little Women inspired décor. It just needed a cheery gingham liner. 

You can see the step by step tutorial of the basket liner, making the squash recipe and more in today’s new video. 

I’ll see you on Sunday!

Laura

A Little Women Holiday Series

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