The Compulsive Cataloger, Vol. I, no. 1 -- Is that a stove in your pocket, or...?

When I'm living in my box it will be good to have today's discovery in my shopping cart.

I'm going through the boxes and envelopes marked "Howard's war relics" that I had stored in the "treasure trunk" until a later date. And it's getting later all the time.

So without further ado I present the pocket-size Speaker Heatab Cookit, "used extensively by America's armed forces."

"Mom, don't try it," my son told me.

So cute and self-contained

Condition = used

Mysterious tablets

2 1/2 to 4 hours total heat in this box

What is this miracle fuel?

Singeing hair is an industrial use, really???

J. W. Speaker Corporation was founded in 1935. In the early 1940s the company developed the Heatab® miniature portable stove and the "P38" can opener for GIs.

Yes, Mike, I tried it at home.

The mysterious tablet burned about four minutes without smoke, and only a little odor. I forgot to open the can of beans. No genie appeared.

What does this have to do with a hearty breakfast? Not much, and no oatmeal EVER! Dad called oatmeal, "kippered fish eyes". He said it reminded him of being seasick on his Army trips across the Atlantic. So I had never eaten hot oatmeal when I got to college. I have issues with the lumps and raisins, and I wasn't even in WWII. I didn't find any reference to "kippered fish eyes" on Army slang websites. To kipper is to split, salt, and smoke according to my old red dictionary.

To be fair and balanced, here is the 4-H recipe for oatmeal cookies from "You Learn To Bake", circa 1966:

(Makes 3 1/2 dozen)

1 c sifted all-purpose flour
1/2 t baking powder
1/2 t soda
1/2 t salt
1/2 c fat
1/2 c brown sugar, firmly packed
1/2 c granulated sugar
1 egg, unbeaten
1 T water
1/2 t vanilla
1 1/2 c regular or quick oatmeal

4H--head, heart, hands, health

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Grease cookie sheets lightly.
Sift flour once, then measure.
Sift together flour, baking powder, soda, and salt into large mixing bowl.
Add soft fat, sugars, egg, water, and vanilla.
Beat until smooth.
Stir in oatmeal.
Drop by spoonfuls onto cookie sheet. Leave 2" between cookies.
Bake 12-15 min.
Take cookies out of the oven. Use hot pads because the cookie sheet is hot.



© 2013 Nancy L. Ruder