I had so much fun looking through the 133 vintage recipe cards, cookbooks and finished treats from the Labor Day weekend uploader. The recipe box above belonged to reader Tut‘s mother, who used it for decades — and took mighty fine care of it I might add — it looks to be in pristine condition. The lively illustrations, fanciful type and sentimental value make this a family treasure for sure.
Cooking can be humorous
I noticed a definite recurring theme in reader submissions — humor. Again and again I found myself confronted with clever titles, humorous photos or illustrations and references that are laugh-inducing. The illustrated recipe card above, submitted by Louisa, reminded me of some of my own family’s cooking blunders. My Nana — who loved to give dinner parties, but did not love to cook — was known to serve exploded peas as the vegetable at many a gathering. I like to think she was having too much fun at her own party to patrol the peas. My mother’s issues were in the baking department. She has managed to burn and make lop-sided the store-bought, frozen Mrs. Smith’s pumpkin pie every year on Thanksgiving — which has now become a tradition. I admit, I’ve had my own hilarious cooking blunders over the years — and I’m sure there is some truth to laughter being the best medicine, followed by a healthy portion of home cookin’.
The 1949 cookbook above — which features 112 pages of recipes all using healthy “digestible” Crisco — is wonderful for so many reasons. I’m in love with the vintage wallpaper, the stove — and is that a Revere Ware pot on the stove? What I love most though, is the ridiculously joyful expressions on everyone’s faces — especially the kids — who appear to be on sugar overload already.
Above: Who wouldn’t want to attend a party powered by meat? That is one big ham. That’s Meat Power!
Above: Speaking of meat, I don’t know what would posses Alice to hug a heaping pile of raw chicken and beef (I think?) — maybe she’s on her way to the meat power party? Weren’t the hippies all vegetarians? I hope she’s going to change first.
Above: We have reader Bungalow Bill to thank for submitting this delicious meat dish, which he claims is “actually pretty awesome.” Apparently the bacon craze of today has been going strong for years.
Above and right: This excerpt from reader Hannah‘s retro Good Housekeeping 10pm Cookbook, has a special section for when your late night dinner crowd will be “strictly stag.” The spread they suggest: A sausage fest. I’m in disbelief that the publisher gave the okay for that hot dog and bean arrangement.
Above: As long as our minds are in the gutter, why not try cooking something from one of these cookbooks — guaranteed to have a plentiful serving of Schmecks Appeal?
Above: Thanks to reader LarsErik for submitting this interesting cookbook cover — featuring dozens of professional chefs sitting around and smoking while they admire the buffet of food they have just created.
Above: This cookbook cover nearly blew me out of my computer chair with its bold and succinct title — I’ll give the cover designer credit for simulating the hangover that will surely occur after using this book.
Above: Yes this cookbook will show you how to serve food attractively — but what is that? Artichokes filled with jello?
Vintage cookbooks with great illustrations
All comedy aside now, there were several wonderfully illustrated examples of vintage cookbooks. The cookbook above is so cool — because of the mid century house on the cover — that two of our readers uploaded photos of it. The photo above is courtesy of reader Hannah. Reader Ima Pam also owns this book.
Above: I love the graphics on this collection of mini cookbooks — from reader Mary — featuring different ethic styles of cooking.
Above: Here’s another brightly colored cookbook with great graphics. The cover makes it look like cooking these great dishes is as easy as opening a bottle of wine.
Above: If you aren’t the cookbook type, there are always great vintage recipe tiles that can be built right into your backsplash. The tile looks good — not sure about the cream dressing recipe.
Above: If all this talk of cooking is making you tired — you can always lay down on your kitchen floor — a remedy advised by this Betty Crocker Picture Cookbook, submitted by reader Betsy . If that doesn’t sound appealing, take Betsy’s advice, “…leave the floor dirty and head out for drinks with {your} friends.”
Thanks to everyone for all your photos, they were great!
Oh, Do I! In 1972, right after we got married, I decided to attempt to cook a duckling, my husband’s favorite. He went fishing with a friend who was coming over for dinner. I popped it in the oven and half an hour later, my little apartment was full of smoke! I opened all the windows and decided to run down to my mother’s house to finish it in her oven because I had suspected our ancient little 20″ gas range’s oven had no temperature control at all. Phil had gone fishing with a friend and took the car, so I had borrowed my father’s Chevy van with the sliding door in back. It was a delivery van so the back was totally empty, and the floor was bare metal with no rug or mat. I took duckling, hot pan and all, and stuck it in the back on the floor. As I sped to my mother’s house, I rounded a curve and the pan with duckling slid across the back of the van and flipped over right into the dirty step down at the sliding side door, grease everywhere! Needless to say, I cleaned up the mess in the van and went home disgusted with my grit coated duckling carcass, only to find the landlady, my husband and his friend frantically trying to figure out where all the smoke was coming from and what was burning. I tried to explain the oven overheated and the duck grease spatter smoked up the house, but they just thought I was a dumb new bride who didn’t know how to cook. I was sniffling at the table while we ate hamburg and gravy, as they kept trying to stifle their occasional giggling fits with a hand at the mouth. I was mortified and never attempted to cook a duck since.
oh you poor thing!!
Oh, my, I hear you about that duck. I learned when my mom tried to cook a goose. Grease everywhere! When I cooked a goose, I parboiled it first and got a whole lot of nice white goose grease.
My first big meal for new hubby was pot roast. I worked with Peg Bracken’s recipe, Sweep Steak, I think it was called. She said to add the potatoes half an hour before the roast is done. I did that, and am still trying to live down the rock potatoes. Still mad at Peg!
Knowing how Peg Bracken felt about cooking in general (she did publish the ‘I Hate to Cook’ book) I wouldn’t be surprised if you were supposed to use canned potatoes, and that ‘canned’ got left out in editing.
ok, i lost it at sausage fest. hahhahaha!
the bacon/pancake thing does look pretty tasty though. i usually try to eat them in the same bite anyway if i’m having them together.
Kate, life has changed in so many ways. Cooking today, thanks to the Food Network and the affluence of consumers, has improved so much. My guess is that the “jello” in the artichokes is tomato aspic. Gelled dishes were very popular in the 60′s and 70′s. We can buy fresh raspberries at the stores year round–I remember waiting for the season to start and picking the berries! I would freeze them if I wanted some the rest of the year. We are very fortunate to have so much available in the culinary world.
Lynda, you’re right! The cookbook says “artichokes, halved, filled with jellied madrilene and topped with a slim slice of lemon are beautiful to look at and wonderful to eat.”
I then had to look up madrilene and learned that it is a consomme flavored with tomato, often served jellied and chilled.
The author provided no details on making artichoke candle holders or wall art. I guess she figured that we are all crafty.
I do not remember ever hearing the word madrilene. Learn something new every day! I do remember consommé being a popular soup to start a meal. We learned to make it in Home Economics in the 60′s. I also remember consommé being gelled too.
Jello actually marketed a meat-flavored jello for use in savory dishes. I’m definitely a carnivore, but even though I love savory aspics, the thought of ‘meat jello’ makes me shudder.
“Meat Power” and the weenie/beanie arrangement are totally cracking me up this morning.
Wow, won’t my Mom be surprised to see her recipe box at the top of the article! I chose between that or a recipe that appeared in my hometown’s centennial cookbook:
Polish Dressing, by Vi Romine
4 cups dry bread crumbs
4 eggs
1/2 cup celery
1 envelope Lipton onion soup
1 cup uncooked popcorn
Mix ingredients, stuff turkey. Bake at 375° for 3 hours. When the 3 hours are up, get the hell out of the kitchen, because that stuffin’ is going to blow the turkey’s rear-end right out of the oven.
you made me LOL. thank you!
I’m cracking up too! I can just picture this………LOL
I believe the cover illustration on the Betty Crocker “Hostess” book is by Charley Harper.
The book says illustrator was Deirdre Stanforth. Just did a Google image search and lots of period cookbooks come up.
I forgot to mention that my Mom sketched all the illustrations for the section dividers in that centennial cookbook, except for one, which my brother did. So that book is definitely a keeper.
Thanks for the inspiration, Tut! I keep planning on reorganizing my recipe cards and I love that little box.
Kate, the “jello” looks like roe (fish eggs) to me.
Good call Lauryn…my husband actually said the same thing. I’m still not sure that is a “normal” combination! Still looks like Jello to me!
Wieners laying horizontally on your plate? 9pm Cookbook. Wieners standing vertically? That’s a 10pm Cookbook.
ROFL, ROFL, ROFL!
The recipe card holder is cute. It looks like a J. Chein!
The “sausage fest” 10 PM cookbook is included in “The Gallery of Regrettable Food,” a graphic-heavy, hilarious tour of these kinds of vintage cookbooks (http://www.amazon.com/Gallery-Regrettable-Food-James-Lileks/dp/0609607820). It is the funniest book I’ve ever seen. I literally thought I was going to have to go to the hospital from laughing so hard. There’s also “Gastroanomalies,” a sequel, plus “Interior Desecrations” (on decor) and “Mommy Knows Worst” “(vintage parenting tips).
Hi Brian -
The Gallery of Regrettable Foods (which I think I found about 6 years ago) is what MADE ME HAVE TO HAVE the 10 PM Cookbook. I still visit that site semi-regularly and I STILL laugh my self silly.
Have you ever seen his piece on The Gobbler Motel?
http://www.lileks.com/institute/motel/
Glad everyone is enjoying my “When It’s Strictly Stag” entry. One does have to wonder Kate….but I think they knew darn well what they were doing.
Oh Hannah! I laughed through the whole thing about the Gobbler Motel. I think I’m now hoarse! Thanks for that!!!!!
Holy Moly! I have just spent, what, 2 hours laughing at James Lilek’s humor!!!! I HAD to click off his site, otherwise I would sit here laughing like a fool at my computer screen all day and night!!!!!
(But I’m happy I found him-thanks!!)
Hi Sandie -
I think structures like The Gobbler, should not fade into oblivion. Even though it (seems to) only live on through Jame’s site, it’s still a gem to behold. Just for the wild decor we thought was ‘the best!” back then.
Glad you had a day of laughter. I can’t count how many people I’ve turned on to this site, the guy is FUNNY. I really need to break down and buy one of his books.
Omg…..I laughed so hard at the Gobbler Motel! Whoever made that website is a freakin genius. I can’t believe someone purposally designed a motel to look like that. Especially the crazy pink and purple dining room.
Um, Kate, uploading recipe books and such, you did mean the weekend of Labor Day not Memorial Day?! I knew the summer flew by but not that fast!
Gah! Yes! I did mean Labor Day!
You’re right, the summer was fast, but not THAT fast!
All fixed!
Thanks for posting my recipe accent tile! There are several in the kitchen. Never tried any of the actual recipes (the clam dip is particularly scary), but they’re super fun to look at.
Clam dip! Yikes!
At least the tiles are cool, even if the recipes are iffy…
What? Clam dip was awesome! It’s the ONLY seafood I ate back in the 70s! Mom would make a batch for the upcoming weekend cocktail party. Good combo, heh? Whiskey, vodka, rum, wine, and CLAM DIP! lol
The first recipe card illustration “Another Surprise from the Kitchen” would have been perfect for me and my mother! We also, at times, refer to “Dinner is served when the smoke alarm goes off”
Exploded peas became the default veggie at family gatherings. LOL We have had LOTS of laughter at my baking adventures, especially the pumpkin pie at Thanksgiving! Side note: I recently found out that no one in the family ever liked pumpkin pie anyway.??? Now they tell me! Loved all the vintage cookbooks and recipes. Fun!
Yes we have a lot of fun kitchen blunders in our family!
I always have (and still do!) like pumpkin pie…I just sometimes find it hard to eat the really burnt parts…that’s what they make cool whip for I guess!
We need a *like* button for this post.
Oh Kate!!! I’ve been laughing to tears at your comments on the crazy cookbooks!!! Meat Power! The beans and sausages! Artichokes and jello!!! I had to wipe the tears off the keyboard! LOL Thanks for the laughs!!!
Thanks RetroSandie! I did the exact same thing when I was looking through all those cookbook photos and trying to pick which ones to use for the story!
This is really funny because I have that 10 PM cookbook (along with many of the other Good Housekeeping books) and my boyfriend and I were just laughing over that beans and weenie picture! Vintage cookbooks are awesome if not for the odd recipes, for the pictures and cartoons.
Doggone you guys. I’m dying here, trying not to laugh out loud in my cubicle! More pics!
Okay, maybe Kate will have to do Wave 2!
Aspic, and any other jello-containing vegetable dishes from the sixties seemed like such a rip-off. Such a trick to play on someone: “Hey look, it’s jello with some fruit in it.” And then, “Yuck, it’s a salty dish with asparagas and green beans or something inside.” What a rip.
Long day at work, but just read about the duck and the car and the grease, which reminded me of another surprise. My mom was having a lunch to introduce the new minister, and I was bringing gazpacho. It was in a large covered bowl on the floor of the back seat of the car. My parents’ house is on the top of the highest ridge in a hilly town, and as I drove up the steep road to their house, I could hear the soup pouring out onto the floor of the car, and indeed as the road leveled, the soup rolled into the front of the car. My sister was with me, so we drove up a hill so the soup would puddle in the back. We scooped the soup back into the bowl, and lunch was served.
oh no…. gritty soup… my fav!
I’m so sorry I missed this! I have some really fun cook books, but my best is my great-grandmother’s that has a home remedy for asthma – ball up a cob web and swallow it.
Does anyone have the book that pokes fun at all of the horrible photos in 50′s cook books? I’ve seen the book twice, but can’t remember the title for the life of me…
Michelle, the links to that site are towards the top of the thread…you can scroll up or just do a Google search on Gallery of Regrettable Foods – it’ll come right up.
OH! Thanks! I didn’t realize that that was the name of the book I was looking for.
kate
did you notice that the “booze” recipe book has been colored on? mistake? probably not!!!!!
I live in Rochester, near where Jell-o was invented. The Jell-O Museum, in LeRoy is a riot. Some of the recipes are a little… unsettling.
this is one of my favorite vintage food-related sites. The first time I found it, I spend half an hour laughing so hard, tears were pouring down my face. I still giggle just thinking about it:
http://www.candyboots.com/wwcards.html
This is my blog of vintage recipes!