TAKE YOUR KITCHEN OUT OF THE HOSPITAL

BY: Paul Coze

TEXT, PHOTOS AND ILLUSTRATIONS BY PAUL COZE Is your refrigerator white? What about your stove? Have you never seen a colorful refrigerator?

For many people, the operation of getting out of bed is quite a task, which, incidentally, seems to repeat itself every morning. Then comes the problem of breakfast. Even if somebody cooks it for you, there are days when you cook it for somebody else, or in your lonesomeness, for your poor little self.

So, you walk to the kitchen, practically in your sleep and put on the coffee pot. The cold kitchen with its two large white blocks-refrigerator and stove-in the wee hours of the morning, gives you the awful feeling that you are in a clinic and not a joyous fellow starting the day on the right foot. And, as you sit there, discover-ing life again with the first cup, one day, you may revolt against the cool overpowering emptiness of all that mechanized, practical equipment and feel that the kitchen is a hospital.

You may belong to the non-sensitive people, who don't care about the looks and feel that this early meal is good enough any old way. If that's your case, stop read-ing this story; it is not written for you-you might just as well go and wash the dishes. But, if many times you have felt that the kitchen has become the real living room of the household, maybe a few of these suggestions might give it a little flavor.

There has been a tendency in the last few years, to make the kitchen a pleasant room. With imagination and a little effort, anybody can add a few ideas, a few brush strokes and some odds and ends and change its whole appearance. The following suggestions are inspired by the traditional Southwestern designs, but this could be transposed into the Pennsylvania Dutch, the Colonial, or even the modern style. So, let's face the first problem.

Warm Up Your Refrigerator

Keep the ice inside. Give color to that awful white cube. If a few refrigerators are found on the market in a pastel shade, it is an exception. Nevertheless, any main paint store can get you a special enamel paint for this purpose. Once you have painted it in a solid color, you can add designs by using artist oil paint (in the tube), thinned with a little turpentine and some varnish for high gloss. If you use peasant-type decorations, your handling could be primitive and wouldn't look any worse for that. You could cut out flowers, birds and leaves, after drawing them first on brown paper, such as grocery bags are made of. Then, according to your plans, hold them against the surface and follow the outside with a color pencil. This will allow you to repeat form exactly. Now you use a pointed soft brush. Fill in your large surface first. When that is dry (from one half hour to an hour), you can add finer lines and complete your work. Once you have washed your brushes in turpentine, then with soap and luke warm water, you can sit down and enjoy the first drastic step taken toward improvement of the room (illustration 1). There is nothing as ugly as a water tank. Repeating colors and design on it, might make quite a change. If it takes an important place in your kitchen, decorate it with an important design. You cannot hide what is obvious, so make it more obvious by using it!

The Stove

Unfortunately, as a range by nature gets hot and needs constant cleaning, it isn't easy to paint it. We can solve part of the problem by what could be hanging around it, by shelves or even by painting the wall behind it, if there is space. I believe that the most colorful, that which will really give a touch of salt and pepper to this space, would be salt and pepper and the rest of the spices. A kitchen without herbs, is like lips without lipstick, television without a comfortable seat, or a sky without clouds-they can do without, but they could be more pleasant with.

A European on his return to the United States, after five years back in the old countries, was asked, "Do you find any change in the United States?"

"Yes," he said, "with no doubt. A drastic one. America's civilization is coming of age."

"Quite a statement! What do you mean?"

"I meant that now you can find cooking herbs in every market."

It is true. A variety of spices and herbs not only will season the food, but could make a very pleasant display on a small shelf, easy to reach behind the range. The wood could be natural, painted, carved, or decorated with a few lines according to the style. If the common type of spices are bought in red packages, they could be transferred into small glass jars, saved from any kind ofkitchen product, such as instant coffee, boned chicken, and many others. The lid, as well as the glass, could be decorated. Later, we'll tell how.

A very reasonable touch, perfectly fit for that place, inexpensive and practical, is a collection of wooden spoons and forks; the classic set that every dime-store sells for salads, or the imported items found in better stores, antiques picked here and there, or the home carved variety. One can make a rack for them by driving three inch wooden dowels in a board (illustration 2). Incidentally, other wooden equipment could be part of the decor, such as a meat tenderizer, rolling pin, meat chopper and coffee mill.

There, we can see such delightful items as a garlic mortar and pestle, a pepper mill, fancy large salt and pepper shakers (they could be painted jars, regular holes made in the metal lid by using an ice pick and a hammer). Cute hooks of bright colors will hold colorful pot holders and glove.

A few copper pieces would add interest. A small frying pan costs around four dollars and is wonderful to make sauces and small amounts of gravy, to melt butter, etc. Sometime an old clock could be hidden behind a painted piece of plywood where an opening has been made to match the face (illustration 3).

The small copper frying pan will give you a variety for your fried eggs. At a low fire, melt your butter, drop the eggs, sprinkle with dry tarragon leaves, salt and pepper to taste.

Speaking of shelves, the old Spanish Americans used to hang it by the neck, so to speak. The illustration 4 shows how. There are hanging strings of onion and garlic, hard salami, bags of spices, drying herbs, parsley; even pots and pans. In that case, extra hooks are made. For example, by cutting coat hangers and bending them in an "S" shape. It is a good idea to match the pegs holding the wooden spoons by the stove and have a few of these driven in the one inch side of the shelves. They can be used for colorful and smaller objects. On these can stand large serving plates (put a little stop so they won't slide), (illustration 5), some Mexican ware, salad bowl, earthen ware (Indian, Mexican or French), pitcher and jars of olives, maraschino cherries, or any preserves. (I even have a bag of beans.) Sometime a plant, especially a vine or a sweet potato, will bring life by growing down in one corner, coming out from a painted can (illustration 6). An interesting light effect could be made by putting a fluorescent tube in the back part of the shelf, accentuating the silhouette of these varied utensils. On an empty wall could be a painting, probably under glass. (Incidentally, an original water color or a sketch with a large mat costs hardly any more than a good framed print.) I love to see a few nice plates hanging also on bare spots on the wall; special hooks are available at any dime-store.

The rack for knives could be made so simply out of a nice piece of wood or an old bread board (illustration 7). It is very handy to have a few of these tools near the kitchen work board. Naturally, Hopi plaques, Mexican or Chinese baskets could be used for bread, fruits, etc.. and add color to a corner.

If you use the hanging pole, you could match it with the drapes. As I believe that any folk art ties together, my drapes are made of large bedspreads from India, hand blocked and are very reasonable. I added lining of a foot wide border of Indian Head, and instead of rings, I used heavy wooden loops (illustration 8).

Inasmuch as we are speaking of windows, let's talk of a typical Southwestern touch.

A New Use for Brush and Comb

In the early historical time, naturally, window glass was a luxury. A few were brought from Spain later, then in the covered wagons. One can imagine how seldom glass was shipped. But if it got there, one tried to make the best of the little that did arrive intact. This, and their desire to imitate traditional Spanish churches, led the Spanish Americans to paint glass instead of using regular stained glass windows, even in small removed chapels. I have not been able to locate the real original formula used to paint glass. Discussing this matter with some of the leading authorities in Santa Fé, as well as artists who have decorated many windows, I find out that quite often the paint soon peeled off. In our synthetic age, paint stores put out a special media for this purpose and there is also a dollar book in the art stores that has patterns and good suggestions. I have been happy by mixing best quality transparent artist out colors with some Damar varnish and painting thoroughly on a glass FREE of dirt and grease (it has to be specially clean). The exciting effect that could be obtained by the "combing" is shown in illustration 9. Scrapers could be made of metal or wood. One should remember to paint in the backgrounds and the large zones first. Add as little white as possible (not zinc, which cracks) as white will make it opaque. Here again, soft brushes should be used and the general approach to this work should be to do and undo; in other words, cover a section and when it has dried, scrape some off. In some cases, bands of transparent glass of another color could be obtained by sticking carefully masking tape of different width. Paint over the whole section and peel these off to create that border which then could be painted with the second color. Also, one could easily remove complete section with a rag dipped in turpentine and one will secure some sharp edges by wrapping the rag over a flat stick or the finger. There is no end to the fun that is to be had, especially since one behind them (be sure to find a way to reach the bulb for changing it and not to set it too close to the glass so the heat won't break it). Putty should be used around the glass.

The Best Drink Might Come From an Empty Bottle

This statement sounds somewhat discouraging. Nevertheless, there is a way of using interesting bottles by making high-ball, wine and water glasses out of them. Guy Heekman, about 25 years ago, started this fashion in Santa Fé. But in 1938 he invented a system to cut bottles in two easily, which is described here in the photographs. A sheet of asbestos, some heating wire unit, a few bricks and a cord is all the equipment needed. As far as smoothing the edges, one doesn't need to buy an electrical sander. It could be rented, or, even better, one could bring the cut glasses to any machine shop, as the operation lasts only a few seconds. This glass could be used without decorations, or again, could be painted.

As we are talking about bottles, don't forget that the most common beer bottle could become an exciting candle holder, if, by using several colored candles, one shouldn't worry if he fails, as everything could be washed away with turpentine when wet, or scraped off when dry, with a razor blade to make correction, or sharp edges.

Painting panes in French doors, small kitchen windows, especially if they face an ugly wall, is not all! The same glass painting could be applied on bottles turned into lamps, cans become flower pots, or solid color plates hanging on the wall.

In my fireplace story¹, I mentioned the use of glass bottle ends and Mexican glass plates for lights opening set into the wall and they could be used effectively either by planning or cutting openings in the wall or set in plywood if one adds closets or corners in an already built kitchen. They are delightful with an electric bulb, set will allow the drippings to cover all sides (illustration 11).

Of Cooking Books and Recipes

An attractive book shelf could be done by using bricks, pumice blocks, etc. One or two on each side, according to the height desired and laying between them a shelf made out of a nice piece of wood. Wood and bricks could be painted or left natural (illustration 12). The place for the cooking books and recipe files could be made attractive and certainly should be planned in a handy place in the kitchen. Cover the books with amusing oilcloth to protect them while cooking. I'm much tempted to give you a couple of Southwestern recipes from New Mexico and a French one for good measure.

As I cannot resist, here they are: Take a very dry board, one by six or wider, the Length a few inches shorter than the wall space. A foot or so from each end, drill two half-inch holes, opposite each other, by the edge of the board. Get some half inch rope and make a loop, ending underneath the shelf with a heavy decorative knot. Hang the shelf on each end to a very heavy hook, driven in the ceiling. I have seen some which have a round pole hanging from smaller ropes to the center of the shelf.

New Mexican Frijoles

Do not soak beans, but boil them for ten minutes. Throw off water and add fresh boiling water. (This removes "burp.") Cool in Picuris¹ 1Picuris or Tesuque is an Indian earth pot with a lid. Could be replaced by the Mexican or French type. pot until done, then salt to taste and mash a little with a wooden spoon. There must be plenty of liquid. In the meantime, fry some chopped bacon. Use bacon grease to wilt some chopped onion. Add bacon and onion to cooked beans with some chile or paprika and before serving, sprinkle frijoles with grated gra yellow cheese.

Sopaipillas

I have noticed that in Arizona, sopaipillas are done in a cigar-shape and used with a chocolate sauce as a dessert. In New Mexico they are round puffs, used in place of tortillas. Here's the recipe as given by the Albuquerque "La Cocina": A good bread dough rolled thin, cut and chilled, then fried in smoking hot fat (450°) makes a tasty Sopaipilla. A true native Sopaipilla is made with baking powder.

3 cups flour 1 tbsp. baking powder 1 tbsp. lard ½ tsp. salt Enough water to make a stiff dough.

Rolls thick, cut and fry in smoking hot fat.

And now, a little advice from "Zee French Cook,"

(meaning myself). The word French has been misused in the United States. What sells everywhere as a French dressing, has nothing to do with the salad dressing as done in France. Let me tip you off between you and me.

Salad Dressing As In France

For each tablespoon of wine vinegar, two to three of olive oil. First, add salt and pepper in the spoon where you pour the vinegar. Mix well with a wooden fork. Add oil, mix well. Pour this over lettuce, romaine or watercress leaves at time of serving the salad, which is right after the main dish. Leaves should be well dried, well separated and only the large ones should be torn into two. Toss well until salad is evenly moist. If garlic is wanted, (as done only in the South of France), take a toasted end of French Bread and rub your clove or your buttered garlic into it. Toss this "crouton" with the salad. If no garlic is used, try a pinch of tarragon leaves. You will thank me. For stronger taste, add some dry mustard in spoon of vinegar. Do not mix too many types of greens, nor tomatoes, celery, or anything that is not a true salad. This "eez zee" classic recipe of the average French table.

Oh yes, about "zee" wine! (Only dry wines with meals.)

A votre santé!

The Modern Touch

If your kitchen is modern, you can take advantage of Arizona nature to add some interest in a corner, a shelf, or a centerpiece for your dinner table.

Mexican Mobile

Flattening large cans, such as two-pound coffee and fruit juices, then cutting them with large shears, (it's easy), master the true Mexican tinwork technique. Invent forms. Punch hole with ice-pick, hang them with fine wire of different lengths on arms of coat hangers and you'll have in a few minutes an interesting mobile in a combination of Southwestern and modern style (illustration 13). Mexicans decorate the tin by using nails and any odd shapes of metal as punches and hammering design into the tin. If you are in a damp climate, shellac your tin to prevent rust.

Greet Your Guests

There is no true Southwestern hospitality without farolitos and luminarias. There are no Fiestas or parties in the traditional Southwest without these. They are nothing but grocery bags with a candle in them. They are displayed in the garden, in the driveways, on walls and benches and on roof tops at any gay occasion. In Europe and Spain, as well as in China, the Venetian or Chinese Lanterns are hanging from wires. Since the existence of brown paper bags, devout Spanish Americans used these to light up the trail of a procession or the approach of a church for night services, hence, the habit of using them around private homes. Luminarias are pitch-pine bonfire bonfires, placed on double rows to light the way for a procession. Their names have been used often instead of farolitos, which are the paper lanterns. To make these, use a good size paper bag, fold twice on top to stiffen it and fill in with dirt or sand, about two or three inches in the bottom, once the bags have been placed. Pat the dirt or sand, then stick the candles in the center, about two inches deep (illustration 14). At sundown, light them. They will be pretty well windproof and they are substantial enough to not be a fire hazard. Naturally, do not set them on wooden roofs or on any place where shrubbery is is dry. And now your grounds are smiling, your kitchen is gay and your dinner wine is at the proper temperature. You may have cooked with gas, but you used herbs in your cooking. The Southwestern tradition is making life more beautiful under the sparkling Arizona night and you are set for a wonderful evening. You are . . . until you have a good night's sleep and wake up again, ready to go back in the kitchen a gay and happy kitchen, saying "Good morning!" to you, as you have taken it out of the hospital!

nothing but grocery bags with a candle in them. They are displayed in the garden, in the driveways, on walls and benches and on roof tops at any gay occasion. In Europe and Spain, as well as in China, the Venetian or Chinese Lanterns are hanging from wires. Since the existence of brown paper bags, devout Spanish Americans used these to light up the trail of a procession or the approach of a church for night services, hence, the habit of using them around private homes. Luminarias are pitch-pine bonfire bonfires, placed on double rows to light the way for a procession. Their names have been used often instead of farolitos, which are the paper lanterns. To make these, use a good size paper bag, fold twice on top to stiffen it and fill in with dirt or sand, about two or three inches in the bottom, once the bags have been placed. Pat the dirt or sand, then stick the candles in the center, about two inches deep (illustration 14). At sundown, light them. They will be pretty well windproof and they are substantial enough to not be a fire hazard. Naturally, do not set them on wooden roofs or on any place where shrubbery is is dry. d And now your grounds are smiling, your kitchen is gay and your dinner wine is at the proper temperature. You may have cooked with gas, but you used herbs in your cooking. The Southwestern tradition is making life more beautiful under the sparkling Arizona night and you are set for a wonderful evening. You are . . . until you have a good night's sleep and wake up again, ready to go back in the kitchen a gay and happy kitchen, saying "Good morning!" to you, as you have taken it out of the hospital!

THE "TEA HOUSE" IN OKINAWA:

It is with the greatest delight that I renew the enclosed subscription. I wish to change the address of Yoshiko Omi in Okinawa somewhat. Recently, this address has come into the limelight as "Matsu Noshita" and in Okinawan means, "Tea House of the August Moon." This is the "Tea House" of stage and screen reputation.

Two weeks ago I had the pleasure of revisiting the "Tea House" and Yoshiko, the prettiest "Geisha" in the house. She had a year's collection of ARIZONA HIGHWAYS. All of the girls examine the magazine as it arrives and exclaim mostly about "the funny tree, not in Okinawa." This is the saguaro. It's very difficult for them to imagine a country as spacious and as beautiful as ours, because they live on such a crowded island. Your wonderful magazine will do its part in their education.

To Yoshiko and her friends: A friendly, western "Howdy" or in her language: Banzai and a thousand more Banzais!"

CANYON STORY:

No question about it! Your issue in May dedicated to Grand Canyon is one of the best issues you have ever had on that wonderful subject. I have been to the Canyon many times, have made the hike from Rim to Rim twice and also have ridden the mules. The hike is a man-size job, especially in summer. For the less sturdy, I recommend the mules.

A few years ago my wife and I, thinking of ways to spend Christmas away from the confusion inevitable to the Christmas Season, decided to spend the holidays at Grand Canyon. We arrived December 23rd, left January and. It snowed that week and altogether the stay was wonderful. It was one of the best Christmas observances we ever had. Somehow, daily confronted by the majesty of the Glorious Gorge, we felt that we had never been closer to the Glory of Our Lord. Grand Canyon is all you say it is. But what is needed is more and more accommodations. The South Rim is, to say the least, a mad house during the summer months.

Comments on our Grand Canyon issue (May 1957) bave been varied and interesting. It seems that Grand Canyon leaves strange and different impressions on all visitors to the area, and no one goes away without being impressed. As for Mrs. Tennant we can only say we understand more acconnnodations are to be provided in the not too-distant future. We'll agree they are needed.

MR. DOBIE:

Mr. Powell's article concerning J. Frank Dobie in your June issue was one of the best you have had in a long time. I have been a great admirer of Mr. Dobie and his writing and treasure his books in my library. His contribution to American literature will be recognized by generations to come.

We agree with Mr. Hartwell. The works of Frank Dobie will live.

OPPOSITE PAGE

"CLOUDBURST AND ROLLING HILLS" BY MABEL WEADOCK. The picture was taken from the top of the divide between Tucson and Sonoita on the Empire Ranch, just as a storm was building up over the Santa Rita foothills. The late afternoon light, coming in under the overcast, made the hills appear as though they were folded one upon the other. These welcome storms mean more grass in fine cattle country. The picture was made with a Rolleiflex camera, 1:3.5 Tessar f-75 mm lens. The film was Daylight Ektachrome; the aperture f5.6 at 100th second. Mrs. Weadock is the wife of J. F. Weadock, executive editor of The Arizona Daily Star, Tucson. The Star is one of Arizona's outstanding newspapers.

BACK COVER

"WHITE FLOWERS AND DARKENING SKY" BY WILLIS PETERSON. The months of July and August are colorful ones in the White Mountains of Arizona. In years of abundant rainfall, meadows are covered with mountain asters, wallflowers, daisies and bluebells. Here these flowers grace the roadside near Big Lake. 3½ x 4% Speed Graphic, 1 second at f.22, Ektachrome film.

WITCH WIND Fearful the fox in the rabbit brush; Cautious the coyote, deep in his den; Still as a shadow the shy brown thrush; Crouched in her nest the cactus wren; Saved, one and all, by their chosen shields, From the sandy whip the Witch-Wind wields.

LOST SERENADE Once there were train whistles, Train whistles calling Over the hills through the night as they ran, Echoing, echoing, Far in the distance, Rousing the wanderlust heart of a man.

Once there were train whistles, Haunting, imploring Now there are train horns, with none left to say, "Come with me, lonely one . . ." Now there are train horns, Bellowing only, "Get out of the way!"

OLD FRONTIER FORT Crumbling walls of stone and mud Hide their long-dried stains of blood. Under tumbleweed and dust, Broken sabers rot with rust. Here brave bugles, sweet and shrill, Sound no more-nor ever will YUCCA-BLOSSOM Earth blesses the flower On desert sand Summoned to seek Unseen command: Like a hooded nun not asking why: Proud to live And proud to die.

MORNING TOILETTE The earth, Enclothed with day, Has washed her face in dew And brushed the tangled stars from out Her hair.

NIGHT VIEW OF THE CITY My heart Tonight finds peace Above the snarling sounds Of traffic. I am pillowed with The stars!

SONG FOR DAVID I know a boy with spurs on his feet Who finds the way to a still retreat Where turrets flare and a lone bird flies And a world awakes in green surprise. He watches the earnest tracks of a plough And young corn rising on earth's brow. He dreams a dream as young boys will And takes an echo from the hill.

And where the aspens grow trembling tall He answers when gold trumpets call.