Wonderful World of Cooking

Ruth Conrad Bateman authored several cookbooks published during the 1960's and 1970's: "Fifty Great Buffet Parties", "I Love to Cook Book", "Serve it Cold! A Cookbook of Delicious Cold Dishes", and "The Zucchini and Carrot Cookbook."

Some of her recipes from the "I Love to Cook Book" were used in a series of promotional cookbooks during the 1960's called the "Wonderful World of Cooking."


Harwood & Tjaden published the first series in 1965. In the front of the first booklet it states that there were to be four booklets: Volume 1 was French Specialties, Volume II would be Italian Recipes, Volume III would be USA, and Volume 4 would be recipes for cuisine from Middle Europe. So far, I can only find that Volumes I and II were published. These books are illustrated with small drawings.

Jump to 1967, same series, slightly different name. The series is now called the "Wonderful World of Cooking and Homemaking." Ruth is still the author; some of the recipes are still reprinted from her cookbook. Different publisher though, these are published by Phillip Weil, Inc. and it says that they are published four times a year.

Then it gets more confusing, French Recipes is noted as Volume 1 (no date) and Italian Recipes is also called Volume I (this one is dated May 1967). I haven't yet found any other booklets in the series. These booklets have color photography of the prepared dishes inside as well as photography on the front covers.

The food company advertisements are different in each series, and there are some cute 5-cent to 10-cent manufacturer coupons in all of them.

In the French Recipes booklet of 1967 there is also a one-page advertisement for a 4-volume paperback cookbook set in a slipcase, also titled "The Wonderful World of Cooking." These are edited by William I. Kaufman and were published by Dell. Although the books in this set aren't advertising cookbooks, I'll go ahead and name them, in case you're interested:

Volume 1 - Far East and Near East
Volume 2 - Italy, France and Spain
Volume 3 - Northern Europe and British Isles
Volume 4 - Caribbean and Latin America

Does anyone know if the other booklets in the promotional series actually exist?