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Home Economics

Six Words: behave, session, inspire, act, laundry, sink

(a true story)

When I was in eighth grade, among the classes that I took was Home Economics. It must have been an option, because most of the students in the class were girls. I may even have been the only boy. The things that I do remember about the class were learning to sew, and learning to use measuring cups and measuring spoons. I do not know what the girls sewed, but I sewed a tool belt – not that I needed one as a 13 year old boy living in an apartment.

In one session we each made a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. We’ve all done it, but I’ll bet you never made one like the way we did it that day. Let me tell you how, in case it inspires you to try this approach too. Since I don’t remember the teacher’s name, I think it’s OK for me to share this bit of dirty laundry.

  1. Use a measuring spoon and get some peanut butter out of the jar.
  2. Scrape the peanut butter into a small mixing bowl.
  3. Use a different measuring spoon to get some jelly out of a jar.
  4. Scrape the jelly into the mixing bowl.
  5. Use a spatula or spoon to mix the peanut butter and jelly together.

Don’t get grossed out by the appearance. As eighth graders, we all tried to behave ourselves and tried to act like this is a normal way to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.

  1. Use a spatula and spread the mixture onto a slice of bread.
  2. Place another piece of bread atop the first one.
  3. Cut the sandwich in half, either into two rectangles or two triangles.
  4. Take all of the equipment to the sink, wash them and dry them.

I don’t know what happened to the tool belt, I’ve never made a PB&J sandwich like that again, and I don’t think I learned anything in that class, but I did get a story to tell.