Is there anyone who doesn't treasure their old cookbooks?
I have quite a few special books, but these are my
most favorite (old) cookbooks.
One of the reasons they're so treasured is because all of them
belonged to someone I love before they came to me, with two exceptions.
There's something special about making a dish that you know was made
by one of your ancestors. It joins generations together through food.
My old copy of the Betty Crocker's Picture Cook Book was printed in 1950
and belonged to Mum before she gave it to me a number of years ago.
It's still my #1, Go-To cookbook if I'm looking for a traditional recipe.
Have you ever made your own tartar sauce? It's so much better than store-bought!
These are probably my oldest books.
Everyday Desserts and Farmhouse Fare were gifts from
my British Aunt Annette (Uncle Johnny's wife).
Everyday Desserts is copyrighted 1911.
There are pages and pages of tasty desserts.
"Nantucket Pudding: Heat a quart of canned fruit and
add two tablespoonfuls each of flour and sugar.
Simmer until smooth and thick, turn into a serving dish,
and cover with whipped cream."
Farmhouse Fare has the subtitle
"Recipes from country housewives collected by Farmer's Weekly."
It was first published in 1935, but my copy is dated 1973.
Within its covers you'll find recipes for Rhubarb Chutney,
Macaroni and Onion Fritters, Blackberry and Sloe Jelly,
Afternoon Tea Cakes, and many other interesting dishes.
There is even a chapter titled, "For Your Corner Cupboard"
featuring farmer's remedies for myriad ailments.
I don't think I'll make An Ancient Barley Drink or Nettle Syrup, but
I might be tempted to try Farmhouse Herb Salve or the Three-in-One Cleaner.
The Boston Cooking School Cook Book used to belong to Handsome's paternal
grandmother and was passed to his aunt before it came to us when she died.
Aunt Eula wrote on the first page:
"Mama's ol' cookbook-
(Look at the ads!)
- Eula
3/24/86"
The copyright in this cookbook is 1906.
Two of these cookbooks belonged to my mother-in-law, Evelyn.
Choice Family Recipes was compiled for her good friend, Ellen Stolz
in Elm Grove, Wisconsin. It was printed in 1956.
The Settlement Cook Book was published in 1956, and Evelyn kept
recipe clippings from the newspaper between its covers, too.
I found this cookbook when I traveled to Hayward, Wisconsin for one of my
Wisconsin Conservation Congresss obligations. I managed to find time to slip
into an antique shop while there and came away with the
Culinary Arts Institute Encyclopedic Cookbook, dated 1948.
The last two cookbooks really make me smile.
One is the Signature Recipes presented by The Elm Grove Woman's Club.
Copyright 1962.
Evelyn contributed four recipes to this one, including a family favorite...
Chocolate Applesauce Cake. Both our daughters-in-law now make it for
family holidays so I can create other family favorites when we're together.
And then there is my own Stitches Needleworker's Cookbook
which I copyrighted in 1992.
The dedication includes a photograph of me with the beautiful women
who worked with me in the shop at the time the cookbook was printed...
l-r back row: Beverly Risser and Marie Hausinger
l-r front: Lori Pain, me and my dear, long-time friend, Laura (Puddy) Ignera.
Some of my fondest memories were created with these beautiful women.
The cookbook includs recipes submitted by customers and
fellow designers (I was designing as Brynwood Needleworks then, too).
There are also cross stitch tips and designs shared by those same talented women.
Although I don't have more copies of this cookbook, I have been
considering reprinting it under my Brynwood label.
What do you think? Should I do it?
Well, I think this is officially my longest Memory Lane Monday post!
I hope you enjoyed it.
If you have a memory you'd like to share, please write about it
on your blog and then link back here so everyone can read it.
(The link will remain open until Sunday, August 5, 2012.)
(The link will remain open until Sunday, August 5, 2012.)
Thank you for strolling down Memory Lane with me again.
Hey sweet friend, this is a wonderful post. You are so fortunate to have these beauties ... some of those old recipes are still wonderful to try. Don't you love the old graphics? Priceless!
ReplyDeleteI wish I had Mother's cookbooks, but her recipe cards are all mine, in her beautiful handwriting. I so remember leafing thru her cookbooks looking for yummy recipes to make as a child.
Have a beautiful week ~
Hugs & love,
TTFN ~
Marydon
I think that cookbooks are also a source of social history. The foods and recipes that were popular at any given time. Also a sign of the types of foods that were available or becoming available as time moved on.
ReplyDeleteGreat memories! It's funny how a certain meal, dish, recipe can bring back memories of gatherings of friends and families. I have my favorite Betty Crocker cook book too. It's the orange one though I can't recall which edition. It also has family "secret" recipes tucked between the pages. My favorite go-to recipe in the betty crocker book is the cream puff recipe... drizzle a little chocolate on them for some extra yum! Reprinting your cookbook sounds like fun. I think we're all looking for good tested recipes...
ReplyDeleteThere was one cookbook someone gave to me at least thirty-something years ago. I don't know what happened to it. It was my all-time favorite.
ReplyDeleteBrenda
Cookbooks are timeless treasures and I love it when they are handed down from generation to generation as they tell such a story of life. Your cookbooks are wonderful. This is a fabulous walk down memory lane. Thank you for sharing such little books of history and delicious recipes. Blessings...
ReplyDeleteI love cookbooks too and am always tempted by them in the shops, whether they are new or old. My mum has a great collection of nigh-on encyclopaedic sized books that are full of interesting and sometimes amusing tips and tricks. Maybe they will be mine one day.
ReplyDelete