HISTORY Aug 2009: Cy-Fair Texas History, Cost Cutting Ideas and Recipes

ractically since the beginning of time, human beings have faced times of plenty and times of want. Today one cannot listen to the radio, watch TV or read the newspaper without hearing about the tough times we in the United States are going through: people losing jobs, losing homes, shortages of food, high prices, businesses going under, etc. Even comic strips are using the current economic problems as subject matter.

In times like these, people often develop creative ways to survive. Not too long ago, cutting coupons out of newspapers was thought of as something that only really lower-income people did. Now “couponing” has become almost fashionable. Utilizing mass transit and carpooling has also become more acceptable as people look for ways to save a few dollars.

Some of the most ingenious ways to save money—or to have dessert when the main ingredients are not available—have been developed in America’s kitchens. This was especially true during World War II when the people at home were called upon to support the war effort through mandatory rationing of goods and commodities in order that food and supplies were available to the soldiers on the battlefields. Butter was one of those rationed items. The clipping shown here from a World War II era Houston newspaper was found

in the memorabilia of a now-deceased Cypress resident. It gives a unique way to stretch one pound of butter into two pounds.

Have you ever heard of “Mock Apple Pie”? It is made using saltine crackers in place of the apples. Sugar and the apple pie spices make it taste very much like the real thing. There is also “Poor-Man’s Pecan Pie” which uses quick cooking rolled oats in place of pecans.

We would like to build a collection of old cost-cutting ideas and recipes Cypress people have used through the years as they coped with hard times. If you have something like this to share, please e-mail it to janel_54@att.net. We will add these things to the Cypress Top Historical Park archives.

Cypress Top, located at 26026 Old Hempstead Highway, is one of Commissioner Steve Radack ’s Harris County Pct. 3 Parks. Museum buildings are open every Tuesday from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. for drop-in visitors. The Cypress Historical Society conducts tours at 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. To schedule a group tour for a different day and time, please call this Pct. 3 office number: 281-357-5324.

“When the going gets tough, the tough get going.” - Joseph P. Kennedy (1888-1969), father of U.S. President John F. Kennedyl