From the archives - September 2, 2021
Photo courtesy of Boundary County Museum
It is time for Boundary County students to return to school. We hope you all have a wonderful year!
One of the important jobs in the school is the making and serving of meals for students. Known as the "Lunch Lady," Evelyn Eby cooked at Valley View School for more than 23 years. The children loved her, and thanked her every day for the food she so lovingly created for them.
After her retirement, Evelyn came to the museum in 2008 and donated her Valley View Recipe Box. She hugged that box as she handed it over to Sue, curator. As one of her most treasured items, she was told the museum would be honored to care for the box of loved and well used recipes.
Each recipe is on a standard typed card provided to school districts. Designed to maintain the proper "food chart" diet, the recipes are created showing how many portions are needed for school students. Evelyn, however, had handwritten on many of the cards, variations for the recipes; along with larger amounts of ingredients for bigger portions to be made.
When she made biscuits, she used: 20 quarts flour, 3 3/4 cups dry powdered milk, 2 cups baking powder, 3/4 cup salt, 7 1/2 pounds shortening, and 2 1/2 quarts water to make 300 biscuits.
Her applesauce cake required 20 eggs. The recipe made four cakes. She poured a gallon of the batter onto each of the 18x26 sheet pans. When cutting the four pans, she had 400 pieces of cake.
"Thank you" to Evelyn Eby and all the cooks who have served meals to the youth of Boundary County for more than 130 years.
Your Boundary County Historical Society and Museum, 7229 Main, Bonners Ferry, Idaho sponsors this column.
Visit the museum Thursday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., the website at www.boundarycountymuseum.org or the museum’s Facebook page for historical photos and stories, and to see upcoming events. We can be reached at doyouremember@meadowcrk.com or telephone 208-267-7720. Thank you for your continued support!