1. Toasters That Stopped Popping When a toaster stopped popping up in the middle of breakfast, people didn’t toss it in the trash. Someone in the house usually flipped it upside down, shook out the crumbs and tried to figure […]
1. Creamed Chipped Beef on Toast Often nicknamed “SOS” by soldiers later on, creamed chipped beef on toast was already a familiar Depression-era meal in many homes. It used dried beef, which kept well without refrigeration and could be bought
1. Knocking on Wood Most people still knock on wood after saying something hopeful, like “I haven’t gotten sick all year.” The quick tap feels like a small insurance policy against tempting fate. The belief traces back to ancient pagan
1. The Disappearance of Amelia Earhart In July 1937, aviation pioneer Amelia Earhart set out to complete a daring attempt to fly around the world. She and navigator Fred Noonan disappeared somewhere over the Pacific Ocean while approaching Howland Island.
1. Kick the Can Kick the Can was the kind of game that usually started with one kid holding an old soup can and a group of others arguing over the rules. One person became “it,” guarding the can while
1. Gene Hackman Became a Novelist After decades as one of Hollywood’s most respected actors, Gene Hackman surprised many people by stepping away from acting in the early 2000s. The Oscar winner, known for films like The French Connection and
1. Salisbury Steak with Gravy For a lot of kids, Salisbury steak day was a big deal in the cafeteria line. The patty usually came swimming in thick brown gravy and was served alongside a scoop of mashed potatoes that
