March 27, 2008

Canadian Spuds

I have quite a few advertising cookbooks of Canadian origin in my collection. One of them is Ontario Potato - Potato Recipes (undated, 36 pages) that was published by the Ontario Potato Growers Marketing Board. This organization was formed in 1976 and is similar to the various industry marketing groups we have here in the U.S.


The Foodland Ontario symbol you see on the front cover in the lower right corner is used to help consumers identify Ontario foods. I've noticed a similar logo on Texas produce lately.

The cookbook contains thirty recipes divided into the three sections you see on the cover: Quick 'n Easy, Diet and Gourmet. Each section has ten recipes. The beginning of each section is a page that shows small photos of each of the ten dishes in that section.


Some of the interesting things about this booklet are the props used in the photos. Pyrex and Corningware appear to be as popular in Canada as they are in the U.S.


Some of the things used as props are noticeably worn. Shown in the photo for the Potato Scramble recipe are several books. One has quite a rippled dust jacket and a view of the page edges of another book shows some staining and dirt. The wooden handle on the skillet shown in the Lamb Jardinière shows quite a bit of wear too, as does the wooden chopping block in the Pommes Dauphinoise and the Farmer's Omelette.

I had quite forgotten that Gordon Lightfoot was Canadian until I noticed his Did She Mention My Name? 33-1/2 rpm record and its very worn album cover shown beside Potato and Ham Casserole.

This recipe for Hawaiian Chocolate Cake doesn't really have anything to do with Hawaii as far as I can tell, other than some pineapple slices used garnish. It does contain mashed potatoes though. This recipe is from the Diet section, hence the use of diet margarine, skim milk and the sugar substitute.

HAWAIIAN CHOCOLATE CAKE

1/3 cup diet margarine
1 cup sugar
12 packets granulated sugar substitute (equivalent to 1/2 cup sugar)
4 eggs
1 cup mashed potatoes, made with skim milk
1/2 cup skim milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups cake flour
6 tablespoons cocoa
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon salt

In large bowl, with electric mixer at medium-high speed, cream together margarine, sugar and sugar substitute.

Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in potatoes.

Add remaining ingredients; beat two minutes.

Line 2 - 8 or 9 inch round cake pans with waxed paper cut to fit the bottoms. Pour half of batter in each pan.

Bake at 350° for 45 minutes or until cake tester inserted in centre comes out clean.

Cool cakes in pans 15 minutes, then invert onto wire racks to cool completely. Decorate with pineapple and whipped cream.


You can go to the Ontario Potato Board website to find more "Spudstitutions" like the one in the cake above (click on the their recipes tab to find the link).

2 Comments:

At 6:08 PM CDT, Blogger T.W. Barritt at Culinary Types said...

Wow, that's some cake! I have read about potatoes used to create texture in cakes, and I once read that there was an era when anything that contained pineapple was dubbed Hawaiian.

 
At 9:56 PM CDT, Blogger Maliengus said...

Hello! I stumbled upon your blog while searching for an old Waldorf Salad recipe that used Dream Whip as part of the dressing.

If it's convenient for you I sure would love to have that recipe again. I noticed you have a Dream Whip recipe brochure!

My Granny used to make it for us in the 70s and it was a real favorite with the kids.

My e-mail is : vivamaliengus@aol.com

Love the unusual idea for your blog. I have a shoebox full of old company brochures too. They're fun to go thru and some of my best recipes have come from these brochures.

Thanks for your time!

 

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