I put sentiment on the shelf recently and actually emptied
my bookshelf of all my old Trixie Belden books. When I was in 4th
grade, I began reading the series with gusto and through the years, amassed
over 30 of the Trixie books, only missing a couple. I realized that I would
never likely reread them and most were paperbacks anyway, dog-eared and
yellowed. So they were perfect to add to the library sale.
Back in those days, my book collection was scant. We mostly
checked books out of the library or bookmobile and swapped amongst friends. My
mom loved books and was a voracious reader so one summer she signed me up for
the Book of the Month Club and I received The Happy Hollisters series. I also
loved the Hardy Boys mysteries and shared those books with my older brother.
But Trixie was my favorite. She and her best friend Honey, blaze through one
adventure after another and were friends I wished I knew in my hay bale
childhood. They were obedient, kind, fair and loving. Great fiction.
Often Mom would have to track me down in the treehouse in
the big elm, my “playhouse” (which doubled as the old corncrib) or the backyard
tire swing to iron a basket of clothes, make beds or bake a pan of bars. She’d
find me on a dude ranch in Arizona or camping in a red trailer or solving a
mystery in a haunted mansion. Trixie, Honey and I were at it again. Mom was
never angry with me for temporarily dodging my tasks. She’d chuckle and retell
the story of how HER mother would find her curled up in the big chair by the
fireplace when she was supposed to be dusting, or propped in the crotch of an
apple tree in the orchard when she needed to feed the hens savoring “The Girl
of the Limberlost.” She was a diehard book nut.
The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. I guess that
explains why I just received the first six Trixie Belden books (that’s it
though, NO more!!) from Amazon and am rereading the delightful stories I
enjoyed in my youth. I can hear the creak of the rope as the swing glides
gently in the June sunshine and the screen door squeak as Mom calls my name.
TRIXIE’S CHOCOLATE CHERRY BARS
1box chocolate cake mix (use white cake mix for a variation)
1 can cherry pie filling
2 eggs
1/3 cup milk
6 tablespoons butter
1-1/2 cups sugar
1 cup chocolate chips
In a mixing bowl, combine cake mix with pie filling and
eggs. Beat well. Pour into a greased 15 by 10 inch pan. Bake at 350 degrees for
25 to 30 minutes. In a saucepan, combine milk, butter and sugar. Bring to a
boil. Remove from heat. Add chocolate chips and beat until smooth. Cool
slightly and spread on cooled bars.
EASY SUMMER DAY OATMEAL COOKIES
1-1/2 cups raisins
1 cup butter
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon baking soda
5 tablespoons raisin juice (reserved from cooking raisins)
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon cloves
1 teaspoon cinnamon
2-1/2 cups flour
2 cups oatmeal
1/2 cup chopped walnuts (optional)
In a saucepan, cook raisins in enough water to cover them
for 10 minutes. Drain and reserve liquid. In a mixing bowl, cream butter and
sugar. Beat in eggs. Stir in soda, raisin juice, salt, cloves and
cinnamon. Add flour and oatmeal,
stirring well. Add nuts, if desired. Drop by spoonfuls onto cookie sheets. Bake
at 350 degrees for 8 to 10 minutes.
SUNSHINE SPONGE CAKE
3 eggs
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup cold water
1-1/2 cups flour
1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/8 teaspoon salt
In a mixing bowl, beat eggs until light. Add sugar
gradually. Continue beating until mixture is creamy. Add water. Add flour which
has been sifter with baking powder and salt. Mix well. Pour batter into a
greased and floured 9 by 13 inch pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes.
