In the mid 1970s, Bicentennial fever swept the nation which celebrated the 200th anniversary of the United States becoming an independent nation. There were special quarters, half dollars and dollar coins minted between 1975 and 1976. Cities around the country had celebrations and fireworks. Museums such as the Smithsonian had special exhibits. Even Queen Elizabeth … Continue reading McCall’s Great American Recipe Collection
"Remember - You can be sure...if it's Westinghouse!" Betty Furness The Betty Furness Westinghouse Cook Book was published in 1954. Depending on when you were born you might remember Betty Furness as an actress for her small parts in RKO films, a spokesperson for the Westinghouse brand in the 1950s, a consumer advocate, first with … Continue reading The Betty Furness Westinghouse Cook Book
I started doing this blog seriously in January of last year. I am still amazed that there are people willing to come and read my nerdy little posts about the history of popular recipe, my love of vintage food ads, my random posts about movies, celebrity recipes and my weird personal quest into the gelatin … Continue reading Aunt Sammy Revisited
There are no shortage of vintage Better Homes and Gardens cookbooks out there. They put out A LOT in the mid century. Besides the classic New Cook Book, the editors worked on many other volumes on a variety of topic such as The Dessert Cookbook, The Meat Cookbook, Cooking with Cheese, The Holiday Cookbook or … Continue reading Better Homes and Gardens Creative Cooking Library
In Peg Bracken's Appendix to The I Hate To Cook Book, there is a dessert recipe simply titled "The Cake". No descriptors or cute names just The Cake. It sat there in the back of my mind wondering about this cake recipe. It uses a box cake mix that she doctors up with some instant … Continue reading Peg Bracken’s The Cake
"Some women, it is said, like to cook. This book is not for them." Peg Bracken Peg Bracken was a writer most known for The I Hate to Cook Book which made her a celebrity in the 1960s. During the height of her popularity she was a spokesperson for Birds Eye frozen foods while also … Continue reading Peg Bracken and The I Hate To Cook Book
Dione Lucas, who I wrote about here, had strong opinions on a lot of things. Her opinion on the ever comedic and lighthearted Galloping Gourmet was that "there is no need to introduce buffoonery into cooking". She once called commercial mayonnaise a "hi-jinx on the American public". Also, she stated that it is "better to … Continue reading Dione Lucas’ Omelets
