tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-130256202012-01-31T06:11:49.484-06:00Random thoughts and meanderings that occur to me as I update my advertising cookbooks database.Kathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17081054677103110884noreply@blogger.comBlogger3201100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13025620.post-89097542550056039942012-01-24T22:41:00.006-06:002012-01-25T08:39:55.099-06:00

By now, you all know of my fondness for the photos and renditions of the various manufacturing plants that are sometimes shown in the vintage advertising cookbooks.The one shown today is from the booklet Tested Recipes with Blue Ribbon Malt Extract (1928, 32 pp.). This prohibition era recipe booklet is filled with recipes for cakes and pies and puddings and vegetables, and so on and so forth.

Kathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17081054677103110884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13025620.post-26583528388720799512012-01-19T21:35:00.013-06:002012-01-20T00:56:18.321-06:00

I didn't make any New Year resolutions, but I have promised myself that from now on I will religiously back up my computer on a regular basis. It was done somewhat haphazardly in the past and I've been extremely fortunate in that I've never lost anything important. It was a close call this time and I had to pay someone to retrieve the information I thought was lost.The computer itself was pretty

Kathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17081054677103110884noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13025620.post-88114349677014753612011-09-07T06:50:00.000-05:002011-09-07T06:51:08.498-05:00

The decluttering of the library (my whole house is a library) continues.I used to buy a ton of magazines every month. Then I subscribed to them because it was less expensive. Then the sheer number of pharmaceudical advertisements in each issue became too annoying, so, one by one, I let my subscriptions expire without renewing.I've never been one to simply purchase a magazine, read it, and then

Kathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17081054677103110884noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13025620.post-6355544347114607962011-08-31T07:45:00.000-05:002011-08-31T07:46:41.751-05:00

I learned to love books and reading from my mother, for which I am forever grateful. For a long time, I used to keep all of my books, but they've been culled and carefully weeded out over the years. There is no fiction in my house now right now other than what I'm currently reading. Limited shelf space holds no place for hardcover fiction which was banished long ago, creating more room for

Kathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17081054677103110884noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13025620.post-46408298845638550042011-08-27T07:50:00.004-05:002011-08-27T08:01:06.376-05:00

This Spanish language recipe magazine from Kraft Foods is still regularly delivered to my mailbox every 3 months or so. Kraft now charges $13.98 for a one year subscription to the English language version, Food & Family, which was formerly free of charge. I use this magazine to practice reading Spanish.

Kathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17081054677103110884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13025620.post-77709072299258779762011-08-25T08:05:00.006-05:002011-08-25T08:59:15.774-05:00

My extremely hardworking mailman, Leroy, brought me an envelope full of recipes a while back and I'm just now getting around to posting about it. Bless his heart, I don't know how he makes it through these 100°+ temperatures we've been having every day. He walks about half of his route and it's hot out there! He tells me that he eats citrus fruit during the day which helps keep him cool. The

Kathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17081054677103110884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13025620.post-42428905366398295742011-07-25T05:18:00.005-05:002011-07-26T08:50:00.545-05:00

Houston doesn't have much of a Chinatown compared to New York or San Francisco, but I'm grateful for what's there. I was recently killing time in the area while waiting for the Japanese dollar store to open--for some reason they don't open for business until 11 a.m. I became addicted to the Ichiban Kan and Daiso while in San Francisco so I was thrilled when this store opened in Houston even if

Kathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17081054677103110884noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13025620.post-79195546363640252052011-06-17T00:01:00.004-05:002011-06-17T00:03:58.143-05:00

Here's one more small piece of paper that takes up a bit of space in my house. Multiply this leaflet by hundreds (seems like thousands) and it's no wonder I'm running out of room.This little tri-fold recipe leaflet, Discover New Crisco Oil (not dated) was published by Procter & Gamble sometime in the early 1960s. (I actually think it's around 1962 since there's the small numbers 8-62S in tiny

Kathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17081054677103110884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13025620.post-27460168048903853492011-06-16T08:53:00.000-05:002011-06-16T08:53:25.920-05:00

My last post was about an older advertising booklet from General Foods Corporation that was published back in 1970. Today's booklet, Home Meal Planner, is also from General Foods (1961, 3rd Edition, 2nd Printing, 32 pp), but was published about ten years earlier. It's not nearly so pretty and cheerful to the eye as was the prior booklet. See how that appealing to the consumer's senses thing works

Kathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17081054677103110884noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13025620.post-20746143976764914862011-06-09T18:07:00.009-05:002011-06-10T07:43:08.181-05:00

Popping back in again after another long absence. It's hard to get back into the swing of things, but I'm trying. I still read all of your daily blogs that I always have in the past, although I haven't commented. I've just been in kind of a quiet mood. And truth be told, sometimes there's so much stuff stacked up on top of the scanner, it simply requires too much effort to remove it in order to

Kathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17081054677103110884noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13025620.post-62532512880259524582011-02-10T06:30:00.005-06:002011-02-10T08:02:20.363-06:00

As a rule, if something's edible, you'll likely find a specific cookbook using that particular ingredient. However, I never thought I'd see a promotional cookbook for those fluffy little pastel-colored mints that one commonly finds at restaurants and in party favors at wedding receptions and baby showers.I was wrong.The Touch of Mint Recipe Book (not dated, 24 pages) was published by the Thos. D.

Kathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17081054677103110884noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13025620.post-70261603823496894282011-02-05T08:26:00.009-06:002011-02-05T10:47:58.195-06:00

I'm busy trying to add more of my cookbooks to my database. There's always something about each book that catches my eye.This one, A New Way Every Day to Enjoy Iron (1943, 24 pages) was published by Grandma's Old Fashioned Molasses. I thought the black and white photo of the children laid against the bright yellow color of the cover was interesting. There's something about the girl that looks a

Kathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17081054677103110884noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13025620.post-23679606724905282642011-01-11T09:21:00.016-06:002011-01-11T20:50:23.469-06:00

I've often complained that household goods found in auctions or estate sales here in Texas just aren't as interesting or plentiful as those found in the northern states at the same type of venues. There are a dozen different reasons for that, but in the end, it means that it's slim pickings in the advertising cookbooks department for me.This is a box of recipe books that I bought at an estate

Kathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17081054677103110884noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13025620.post-68395355725296226772011-01-05T19:44:00.000-06:002011-01-05T19:44:29.341-06:00

In my perfect world, my grandmother's old McCoy cookie jar on the kitchen counter would be filled with homemade cookies at all times.I do manage to stock it with Chocolate Chip Pecan cookies and Snickerdoodles occasionally, but not nearly as much as I'd like.Sometimes we resort to freezing the cookies in Ziplock bags to keep ourselves from eating them all at once. This works as a mild deterrent;

Kathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17081054677103110884noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13025620.post-18855707786501952302011-01-04T09:32:00.000-06:002011-01-04T09:35:30.091-06:00

Nature's Own Way to Make Your Food Tastier (1955, 24 pages) is a small booklet that was published to promote Ac'cent flavor enhancer. At the time of publication, Ac'cent was the most widely available brand of monosodium glutamate (MSG) sold in the United States.Although I don't wish to embark on a debate about the evils of MSG, or lack thereof, the current controversey concerning it's impact on

Kathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17081054677103110884noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13025620.post-80923558460822499232010-12-31T08:52:00.001-06:002010-12-31T08:53:02.085-06:00

Tempting Appetizers and Sandwiches from the Kraft Kitchens (not dated, 12 pages) is a small fold-out recipe leaflet published by the Kraft Foods Company, probably sometime in the 1960s.I'm guessing on this time period based upon my perusal of old magazine advertisements and also by the "look" of the leaflet itself as well as it's contents. The product packaging was slightly different during the

Kathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17081054677103110884noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13025620.post-59848336215536226342010-12-29T07:48:00.001-06:002010-12-29T07:49:29.412-06:00

This is the last Christmas cookbook for 2010. I promise!As you know, I occasionally get calls from people who run across my websites and are looking for old recipes or have questions about a particular product.A couple of days before Christmas, my phone rang in the morning and the caller ID showed an unfamiliar-to-me phone number. I had just turned off my computer and was getting ready to shower

Kathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17081054677103110884noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13025620.post-5604656146622885642010-12-27T17:38:00.006-06:002010-12-27T18:02:26.305-06:00

This booklet, Fleischmann's Mixer's Manual (Fleischmann Distilling Corp., not dated, 20 pp.), came in the mail today along with several other small advertising pamphlets and leaflets. Now that Christmas is past, it's on to New Year's Eve, where it's all about the drinking. I thought this recipe booklet was an appropriate choice for the upcoming celebration.I don't really have a lot to say about

Kathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17081054677103110884noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13025620.post-934875104665405892010-12-24T08:09:00.000-06:002010-12-24T08:09:15.197-06:00

I came across this recipe booklet from the local utility company, which continues the theme of those little gifts of appreciation to consumers from retailers.Treasury of Christmas Ideas (Houston Lighting & Power Company, not dated, 32 pp.) was probably sent out through the mail to Houston area electric customers sometime during the 1960s. As I was only in elementary school at the time, I probably

Kathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17081054677103110884noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13025620.post-82599918963486733232010-12-21T09:30:00.000-06:002010-12-21T09:30:27.251-06:00

Before the May Department Stores Company bought up all of the regional department store chains there were a lot of locally owned stores all over the country. Foley's was the largest one in Houston. They had a nice downtown store which is now a Macy's.I miss Foley's. They gave me my first credit card when I initially joined the workforce with a full time job. I still remember my first purchase

Kathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17081054677103110884noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13025620.post-21635662369174815412010-12-19T18:34:00.000-06:002010-12-19T18:35:15.950-06:00

I've written about this Swiss Colony - Fortieth Anniversary catalog (Swiss Colony, 1965, 40 pp.) before in reference to some Culinary Art Institute Cookbooks that could be ordered as part of one of the gifts found inside.The catalog caught my eye on the shelves again this year and I found myself flipping through and studying its contents much as I did many years ago.I thought someone else might

Kathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17081054677103110884noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13025620.post-11368668906050425492010-12-16T18:05:00.016-06:002010-12-16T19:58:51.958-06:00

The festive cover of today's booklet caught my eye as I perused my bookshelves. It fits in perfectly with the holiday season.Best Loved Foods of Christmas (Pillsbury, not dated (circa 1959), 65 pp.) is one in a series of Pillsbury-sponsored booklets that feature Pillsbury's BEST flours in the recipe ingredient lists. Some of the other brand name ingredients used in the recipes are French's spices

Kathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17081054677103110884noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13025620.post-29437693339408505932010-05-22T10:36:00.004-05:002010-05-22T11:19:44.397-05:00

This little booklet, Meat Recipes and Menus (1949-1950, 40 pp.), was published by the Home Economics Department of the National Live Stock and Meat Board. The "Meat Board" was established in 1922 with the goal of promoting beef, lamb and pork through education, research and information.This particular copy was given away during the holidays by Marron's Meat Market in Oakland, California.The

Kathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17081054677103110884noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13025620.post-45309409025861554182010-05-12T04:29:00.000-05:002010-05-12T04:30:39.323-05:00

Remember when cooking Chinese food at home meant La Choy or Chun King? These were the brands most commonly found on the shelves of your grocery store aisle.A young man from Minnesota named Jeno Paulucci started the company called Chun King in 1947. According to this article, the name Chun King "was his idea of a Chinese-sounding city". His initial $2,500 investment made him a fortune when he sold

Kathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17081054677103110884noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13025620.post-49639146732869299312010-01-18T01:12:00.007-06:002010-01-18T03:04:14.780-06:00

I was looking for a chili recipe and remembered that I had a copy of 50 Winning Chili Recipes (2002, 108 pp.) on my bookshelf. This cookbook was published by Philip Morris Inc. and was one of the many tobacco premiums that they "gave away" throughout the years. One could obtain the cookbook, or any number of other items, by sending in UPC's from Marlboro brand cigarettes. Someone probably had to

Kathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17081054677103110884noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13025620.post-35478234077509304032009-12-16T08:46:00.009-06:002009-12-16T09:23:22.489-06:00

I'm one of those people who waits until the last minute to make my Christmas cookies. I don't have any particular recipes that I use year after year. I'm more impulsive, making what sounds good a day or so before I get ready to start baking. Many times I'm more interested in how I might creatively package the cookies than I am in the actual cookie itself.I came across Party Best Butter Cookies (

Kathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17081054677103110884noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13025620.post-45634947533482911242009-12-10T19:33:00.006-06:002009-12-11T08:18:29.248-06:00

There are a couple of standard comfort food meals around my house that revolve primarily around processed foods. I wrote about one of them here. The other meal consists of Campbell's Tomato Soup and grilled cheese sandwiches. The cheese on the sandwich may occasionally change, the bread may change, but the soup never does. My previous attempts at serving a nice homemade, fresh tomato soup have

Kathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17081054677103110884noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13025620.post-88639349580044900742009-12-07T08:29:00.000-06:002009-12-07T11:40:08.226-06:00

I'm in a blogging slump. For instance, I started this post back when fresh peaches were in season. How long ago was that? Even though cranberries are the fruit of interest at the moment, I somehow have to get past this peaches booklet in order to move on. Heaven knows I have a mountain of other material I'd like to write about.Peaches were only one of the many fruits being canned by early

Kathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17081054677103110884noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13025620.post-52483300333807250132009-08-05T08:32:00.000-05:002009-08-05T08:33:09.722-05:00

I've been eating Fritos corn chips all my life. I usually eat them plain--straight-out-of-the-bag along with a sandwich, occasionally with the bean dip that Frito-Lay so conveniently sells as a go along, or in Frito Pie. I've never used them in a recipe.Louise at Months of Edible Celebrations already did a nice piece on the history of Fritos during Snack Food Month back in February, so I won't go

Kathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17081054677103110884noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13025620.post-1721491794203942522009-08-03T06:08:00.001-05:002009-08-03T06:27:21.199-05:00

Today's booklet was published by Capital City Products Co. out of Columbus, Ohio. You might remember them from a previous post on Dixie Margarine. The Dixie Book -- 159 Short Cuts to Better Meals and Easier Housework (not dated, 24 pp.) is a simple, straightforward booklet with few illustrations but contains pages and pages of tips and shortcuts.Two full pages are specifically devoted to product

Kathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17081054677103110884noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13025620.post-80062671502700275502009-07-23T10:07:00.008-05:002009-07-24T09:15:39.706-05:00

I can't believe I've not posted anything for almost three months! I've never gone that long without posting something. I am fine, by the way, for those who those who have so kindly wondered where I've been. I'm amazed that anybody out there in cyberspace even wondered at all. I've been around, dealing with life, and my computer work kind of went by the wayside. (Having two different emails on

Kathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17081054677103110884noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13025620.post-27631935768546287732009-04-22T05:59:00.001-05:002009-04-22T06:13:24.399-05:00

I don't recall eating very many Tater Tots when I was a child. Perhaps I've just blocked the memory. Or, perhaps my Mom didn't have a copy of the Ore-Ida Generation Gap Gourmet (not dated, 16 pages) recipe booklet. This booklet looks like it may have been published in the 1970s, so it's also possible I was already in charge of my own meal planning, (in which Tater Tots played no part).This is a

Kathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17081054677103110884noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13025620.post-29662841488209423632009-04-19T09:23:00.007-05:002009-04-19T10:03:45.732-05:00

I've received several booklets from trade associations in the mail this past week.This offer from The American Lamb Council says it's for a single booklet called Eating Well with American Lamb. However, when I received my offer in the mail, it actually had five different brochures and booklets in the envelope.I really liked the spiral bound booklet, For the Love of Lamb, with recipes by Chef Tim

Kathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17081054677103110884noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13025620.post-34268918810749714972009-04-12T12:25:00.004-05:002009-04-12T12:39:16.682-05:00

I came across this old Wilton's Wonderland of Cake Decorating Supplies 1961-1962 catalog this morning while I was looking for a cookbook with an Easter theme. In light of the fact that I'm supposed to be getting ready to head out the door any minute, I stopped my search right there.The catalog's all in black and white except for the cover:If one were looking for ideas for decorating cakes or

Kathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17081054677103110884noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13025620.post-77293448469545841632009-04-04T10:56:00.011-05:002009-04-05T06:46:33.254-05:00

The last time I bought pistachios was just before Christmas when I was making batches of Cranberry Pistachio Biscotti as gifts for friends and neighbors. Then, last week, I was cruising the aisles of the grocery late one afternoon looking for a snack. Wouldn't you know it, I chose pistachios.Over morning coffee a few days later I read about the pistachio recall in the newspaper. As the story grew

Kathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17081054677103110884noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13025620.post-21663827144791271022009-03-30T07:43:00.006-05:002009-03-30T09:43:15.189-05:00

If you've ever been a regular reader of women's magazines, you'll know that occasionally some issues contain a recipe insert from one food company or another. I used to see them in Womans Day, Family Circle, McCalls, Redbook, Better Homes and Gardens and others of that ilk all the time.This particular insert, The Bisquick "No Time to Cook" summer recipe book (1978, 8 pages) came from a Good

Kathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17081054677103110884noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13025620.post-64331895974179758382009-03-27T12:01:00.007-05:002009-03-27T20:21:55.156-05:00

Well, let's see if I remember how to post as it's been awhile. I've been on some new medication that's just about done me in. So much for me being the only one I know who's not taking some kind of pill for something. And if this is my new normal, then I'm in trouble! My apologies to those who've commented and I've not responded like I normally would.Today's item of interest is a small catalog

Kathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17081054677103110884noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13025620.post-14128102896512778562009-03-04T07:44:00.020-06:002009-03-04T12:36:46.741-06:00

Today's recipe booklet is a bit of a fluke, mainly because I found it at a thrift store in the nearby suburbs. This is only the second or third time I have ever found a recipe booklet with a publication date as early as this one in a thrift store here in the nation's fourth largest city.Although it's really not that old at all, Old Gloucester Sea Food Recipes (1936, 32 pages) is way older than

Kathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17081054677103110884noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13025620.post-48560563620144784582009-02-04T06:19:00.004-06:002009-02-04T06:44:12.070-06:00

If I've seemed unresponsive to your comments and you've noticed there's not many posts lately, it's because I'm still under the weather a bit. It is so unusual for me not to be at my computer all the time. I have read and enjoyed your comments, though I'm still way behind in everything computer-wise.The other day I was wondering what to do with all those sets of recipe cards I have sitting around

Kathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17081054677103110884noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13025620.post-14229029911688540912009-01-26T07:18:00.006-06:002009-01-26T07:55:45.089-06:00

Introducing Cottage Cheese (1977, 32 pages), published by Borden Inc., was one of the booklets in their New Idea Book series.Like some of the other booklets in the series, it cost 50 cents and had the five pre-punched holes in the left edge for insertion into a special binder.While I like the look of the cover, with the four food dishes in sharp contrast to the white background and pretty blue

Kathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17081054677103110884noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13025620.post-12703892076873841172009-01-23T14:53:00.011-06:002009-01-24T06:52:16.308-06:00

Because I was under the weather for the last couple of weeks, I missed the first two days of the CSA workshare that I signed up for. I finally made it out there this week, not really knowing whether or not I was actually up for it since I didn't know what they'd have me doing. I figured I'd either keel over in the field, or not. Fortunately, I'm still here to write about it. I really didn't want

Kathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17081054677103110884noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13025620.post-58241606449948567352009-01-22T04:02:00.008-06:002009-01-22T05:44:52.758-06:00

This particular copy of All About Home Baking (1940, 144 pages) is the fourth edition of the cookbook which was originally published in 1933 by the Consumer Service Department of General Foods Corporation. While editions from previous years were published in a hardcover format, this is a softcover edition.The cookbook is divided into seven sections:It's a Wise Woman Who Knows Her Baking

Kathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17081054677103110884noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13025620.post-44710596703635283822009-01-20T04:46:00.013-06:002009-01-20T08:39:27.275-06:00

This booklet, Revere's Guide to Better Cooking (1941, 32 pages), probably came with the purchase of a set of Revere Ware pots and pans. The publication date is only a couple of years after the cookware's introduction at the 1939 Chicago Housewares Show.The covers and the interior pages of the booklet all are printed with the patriotic color scheme of red, white and blue.Revere Copper and Brass

Kathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17081054677103110884noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13025620.post-86586113462645796542009-01-07T05:30:00.010-06:002009-01-07T08:42:45.997-06:00

I know I'm not the only one guilty of saving recipe clippings from magazines and newspapers. Rochelle, for one, admits to having a box full.My own collection of clippings falls into two categories. Those I have personally saved and those that once belonged to someone else. We'll discuss those that belonged to perfect strangers and why they're now taking up space in my home some other time.Over

Kathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17081054677103110884noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13025620.post-53028985710123193702009-01-06T09:29:00.009-06:002009-01-06T11:34:08.414-06:00

Here it is January 6 and I've yet to post anything for the new year. This is mainly because I can't seem to focus on any one cookbook, or any cookbook at all, for that matter. My mind still seems to be cluttered with things from the old year.Perhaps a post about some of the random things I've been doing or thinking about will get me motivated and I can get back on track.First of all, although

Kathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17081054677103110884noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13025620.post-20240112937876584002008-12-30T08:08:00.024-06:002008-12-30T10:33:58.606-06:00

At this time of year, like many other people, I find myself taking stock of my little space in the world. This transitional period at the end of the old year and on the brink of the new always begins with a promise to myself that this is the year I'll somehow become an organized person again.As I sit here in front of my computer (that's part of the problem, right there), making a preliminary list

Kathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17081054677103110884noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13025620.post-9137928304333852762008-12-29T06:53:00.016-06:002008-12-29T08:03:54.273-06:00

I don't remember if I ever had my own Easy-Bake Oven, but I remember that someone, probably my cousin, got one for Christmas in the 1960s. It was the turquoise model, with the flat, metal cut-out burners.It probably had a cookbook like this one, Kenner's Easy-Bake Cook Book (undated, 8 pages), although I don't remember ever seeing or actually using it. We made the cakes from little packets of

Kathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17081054677103110884noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13025620.post-72680298626174300672008-12-25T06:39:00.003-06:002008-12-25T06:45:37.275-06:00

Holiday Recipe Ideas Featuring Knudsen Dairy Products (1965, 20 pages)

Kathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17081054677103110884noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13025620.post-41952827923363087872008-12-15T08:46:00.008-06:002008-12-15T10:00:14.573-06:00

Gift Box Butter Cookies (undated, 32 pages) is one of my very favorite holiday booklets because it combines baking and crafts.The crease down the center of the booklet indicates to me that it probably came packaged in a bag of Pillsbury flour during the holidays.I believe the booklet was probably published around 1963 because of the two mail-in cookbook offers found inside.One offer was for a

Kathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17081054677103110884noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13025620.post-40595127996161746972008-12-04T14:44:00.007-06:002008-12-05T23:01:18.827-06:00

I've been in a quandry about my holiday baking, having difficulty in deciding exactly what to bake, but the Months of Edible Celebrations post on Christmas Cookies provided me with the motivation I needed to move forward. It was there I found out about The Twelve Days of Cookies Gourmet Cookie Extravaganza currently going on over at Coco Cooks and where I was led to this fabulous online article

Kathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17081054677103110884noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13025620.post-47538794187117140872008-11-28T19:09:00.005-06:002008-11-28T19:50:41.803-06:00

By this time, everyone might be stuffed full of turkey and not want to think about it anymore. I couldn't let the opportunity slip by, however, without showing you two Turkey Store cookbooks which always remind me that turkey is available in several convenient forms all year round.I'm not sure if The Turkey Store Cookbook (1983, 84 pages) is the same booklet that was in the 1983 mail-in offer on

Kathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17081054677103110884noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13025620.post-86369402766741441182008-11-27T09:24:00.005-06:002008-11-27T09:40:49.175-06:00

This lovely 1960s Thanksgiving table is from the Better Homes and Gardens New Cook Book (1963, 400 pages).Have a Great Thanksgiving Day!

Kathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17081054677103110884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13025620.post-57597716907594161002008-11-26T09:36:00.003-06:002008-11-26T10:09:10.034-06:00

Just when I think I've exhausted my supply of turkey-related advertising cookbooks, I manage to ferret out another one.The stained, browning pages and numerous edge tears on the cover bear testimony to the fact that this copy of Collectors' File of Delectable California Turkey Recipes for Every Occasion (not dated, 14 pages) was once well-used in someone's kitchen come turkey time.The booklet was

Kathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17081054677103110884noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13025620.post-10995547418311905002008-11-25T08:50:00.006-06:002008-11-25T09:26:54.638-06:00

It seems as if I've been away from this blog for quite a while. While I was off exploring San Francisco again, the days of November seemed to slip by altogether too quickly. Here it is Thanksgiving week already.My brief visits into the supermarkets out there for water and coffee yielded only one small recipe booklet, one published by Reynolds Wrap Aluminum Foil: Signature Family Recipes (2008, 12

Kathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17081054677103110884noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13025620.post-33427395311512916632008-11-05T05:27:00.006-06:002008-11-05T06:00:38.832-06:00

Today's featured booklet, Calorie Saving Recipes with Sucaryl (undated, 32 pages) was chosen primarily because it includes illustrations of the product on the rear cover.Regular readers of this blog already know that I have an unusual (and somewhat useless) preoccupation with documenting the food packaging of the past. I mean, if you can't find a picture of an old cheese package on the internet,

Kathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17081054677103110884noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13025620.post-67476889601954484202008-10-30T09:54:00.009-05:002008-10-30T10:42:06.261-05:00

Doubly Delicious Desserts (not dated, 48 pages) was one of several recipe booklets published by the Joseph Burnett Company of Boston, Massachusetts. Although the booklet is not dated, magazine and other periodical advertisements from the late 1920s and early 1930s contain mail-in offers for this title.The color illustrations, all signed by a Mary Briggs, are similar to many other illustrations

Kathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17081054677103110884noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13025620.post-71044115801386202742008-10-20T17:41:00.005-05:002008-10-20T18:02:32.145-05:00

Another Karo cookbook again today. No, I promise this isn't turning into the Karo Syrup blog. It's just a coincidence.It's getting close to the holidays again. That means lots of cookbook and recipe inquiries for Karo Syrup and Eagle Brand Sweetened Condensed Milk. Sometimes I think those must be the two most popular holiday cooking ingredients besides turkey.I promised a lady on the telephone

Kathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17081054677103110884noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13025620.post-78947511529603721392008-10-16T10:30:00.008-05:002008-10-16T13:53:20.010-05:00

No matter what I'm doing, I always have a book or two going. Usually one is fiction and the other non-fiction. My interest in product cookbooks and food companies in general have led to some really interesting reading. There are more books about individual food companies than I ever knew.While out at Round-Top earlier in the month, I naturally carried a book with me. I didn't expect to get much

Kathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17081054677103110884noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13025620.post-86049383487570753312008-10-13T08:16:00.005-05:002008-10-13T09:11:38.153-05:00

Sometimes a recipe booklet appears in my pile that's advertising a brand I've never heard of and can't find very much information on. Such is the case with Shefford Cheese Recipes (1935, 32 pages).The first page shows the booklet to be authored by one Alberta Winthrop. Was Alberta a real person? Or was she one of those invented spokespersons who mysteriously head up the Home Economic Departments

Kathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17081054677103110884noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13025620.post-29285876786913263052008-10-06T13:23:00.007-05:002008-10-06T21:13:24.764-05:00

I'm finally released from my sales duties in the Texas countryside where the lack of an internet conection for the major portion of each day has left me way behind in the goings-on in the blog world, not to mention all the breaking news that I now must read about after the fact. (I'm a bit of a news junkie.)The show was fun although the traffic was bit light this Fall. Whether or not the smaller

Kathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17081054677103110884noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13025620.post-87926918781025206962008-09-25T06:23:00.009-05:002008-09-25T07:43:55.693-05:00

Still examining the Corn Products Cook Book from the other day, I finally get as far as inside the front cover.There I find an endorsement for Karo Syrup by Marion Harland, a pseudonym used by household advice and cookbook author Mary Virginia Terhune. An excellent post on this woman can be found over at Months of Edible Celebrations. No doubt her popularity with housewives was the reason the

Kathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17081054677103110884noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13025620.post-59945180216931963732008-09-22T06:32:00.009-05:002008-09-22T07:18:43.934-05:00

I started my semiannual stint as an antiques salesperson at the Round Top-Warrenton antique show yesterday. This means that for thirteen straight days I won't be having a lot of time to look at cookbooks or do much of anything else except drive there and back and peddle somebody else's antiques in between. If I want to finish my fall planting in the garden, I'm going to have to do it with a

Kathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17081054677103110884noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13025620.post-37995951982920411152008-09-16T20:55:00.011-05:002008-09-18T07:57:18.097-05:00

Where has the time gone--it's hard to believe that it's been almost a month since my last post. Part of the time was spent catching up on things after being out of town for a while and then I was sick for almost two weeks. Once I started catching up again after that then here came Hurricane Ike.We survived the hurricane quite nicely in my small town just west of Houston--we were much more

Kathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17081054677103110884noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13025620.post-1267029787423444052008-08-22T18:54:00.003-05:002008-08-22T19:26:27.191-05:00

Will my fig tree ever produce anything that looks even remotely as nice as these I saw at a farmer's market in San Francisco?Or the ones shown in these brochures from the California Fig Advisory Board?I can only hope.Although I don't normally like to mess with the flavor of fresh, unadorned oysters on the half shell, this recipe sounds tempting and looks even better in the brochure photo.OYSTERS

Kathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17081054677103110884noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13025620.post-52932407729476988392008-08-16T08:51:00.004-05:002008-08-16T09:13:15.133-05:00

It's been almost a year since we last looked at a cookbook that was associated with a vintage children's toy.Betty Crocker's Junior Baking Book (1953, 16 pages) is a small softcover cookbook that came with the Betty Crocker Junior Baking Kit. There were several Betty Crocker Junior Baking Kits produced and I believe this was the first one. You can see pictures of the different kits here (you have

Kathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17081054677103110884noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13025620.post-90064360849634739872008-08-15T14:33:00.008-05:002008-08-15T15:09:34.489-05:00

I opened the mail the other day and found this little cookbook I had ordered from the Pork Checkoff website.The cover of Grill Power: A Girl's Guide to Grilling (2005, 16 pages) looks suspiciously similar to all the covers on those chick lit books currently overpopulating the shelves at the bookstores and libraries.I've tried to like that genre, I really have. I've made my way through several

Kathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17081054677103110884noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13025620.post-38954671460809077592008-07-23T18:08:00.004-05:002008-11-13T06:43:09.278-06:00

Every once in a while I come across some food photography that I really, really like. Sometimes I find it in recipe booklets or on recipe cards and other times it might be in a magazine or catalog. There's an awful lot of good stuff on the web too.Somehow I've managed to miss seeing these very clever print ads from the Beef Checkoff people in the magazines. Their Beefscapes advertising campaign

Kathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17081054677103110884noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13025620.post-65667164445793127052008-07-22T08:04:00.004-05:002008-11-13T06:43:09.978-06:00

I haven't updated you on the progress of my vegetable garden lately, mainly because it's been a somewhat less-than-optimal garden season. Who wants to look at pictures of or read about a wilted, pitiful garden?There are a couple of reasons why it's turned out badly.It's been warm outside. Hot, actually. Get-back-inside-the-air-conditioning-by-9:15-am hot. The dog days of August hot since the

Kathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17081054677103110884noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13025620.post-90470627176085277772008-07-16T22:46:00.004-05:002008-11-13T06:43:10.902-06:00

While packing for a trip last week, I ran across this little gem in the flat pocket of my suitcase. According to the accompanying receipt, it had evidently been there for several years. Too bad there weren't any forgotten hundred-dollar bills instead--they certainly would've come in handy.Rare Recipes (undated, 16 pages) is a tiny pamphlet that was published by Walker's Austex Chile Co. of Austin

Kathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17081054677103110884noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13025620.post-72901921404994215832008-07-14T21:13:00.006-05:002008-11-13T06:43:12.276-06:00

I was trying to remember what kind of advertising premiums or giveaways I'd ever received from my bank. A cheap plastic pen. A paper calendar that fit up along the top edge of my computer monitor (that I asked for after I saw one on an employee's desk). A coffee cup. That's about it. Maybe larger depositors get larger gifts. If I ever received anything as interesting (or useful) as a recipe

Kathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17081054677103110884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13025620.post-50787724018151879592008-07-05T15:28:00.006-05:002008-11-13T06:43:13.219-06:00

There are industry trade groups associated with just about every food type you can think of. Beans, olives, milk, fruit, nuts, beef, chicken, wine--you name it, there's probably an international, national or regional group representing it. These associations usually aren't promoting a particular brand name, but like the food companies, they too, often publish promotional recipe pamphlets as part

Kathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17081054677103110884noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13025620.post-31370238291268200552008-07-04T06:36:00.007-05:002008-11-13T06:43:14.816-06:00

I'm always curious about food products from the past and my collection of advertising cookbooks provides me with a great deal of information on the subject. Had I the resources and the space, I would probably be collecting vintage product packaging along with the cookbooks.Sometimes the illustrations in these old cookbooks and recipe booklets provide me with a glimpse of the actual products and

Kathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17081054677103110884noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13025620.post-44310072668080051892008-07-02T12:23:00.005-05:002008-11-13T06:43:15.290-06:00

I use Prego Spaghetti Sauce because that's what the person I cook for prefers. It wasn't the pasta sauce of his childhood because he was well past his youth by the time Prego was introduced in 1981. Besides, his mother cooked everything from scratch (although it appears from her old recipes and his sister's cooking that Velveeta cheese and evaporated milk may have been the exception to that rule)

Kathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17081054677103110884noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13025620.post-12681319707559667312008-06-28T08:22:00.005-05:002008-11-13T06:43:15.826-06:00

This little pamphlet caught my eye last night, from its place on the shelf, peeking out from the other side of the ironing board.The neat, clean, orange and white graphics on the cover are appealing to me. I like how everything is arranged in the tidy little cubbyholes. It's a funny thing about the color orange and how I feel about it. It's my father's favorite color and given the choice, he

Kathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17081054677103110884noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13025620.post-55162652094415333932008-06-24T10:35:00.019-05:002008-11-13T06:43:18.550-06:00

I love to look at pictures of old kitchens, especially those from the 1930s. I found some illustrations of what the most up-to-date modern kitchens might look like during that time period in The New Art of Buying, Preserving and Preparing Foods (1933, 112 pages).This cookbook was published by the General Electric Kitchen Institute. The G-E Kitchen Institute was located in Cleveland, Ohio in Nela

Kathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17081054677103110884noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13025620.post-29933490611368560132008-06-23T06:28:00.005-05:002008-11-13T06:43:19.579-06:00

After I did the luau post, I came across another little recipe booklet on the shelf quite near the original one. Taking into consideration how I bring home, store, and process these cookbooks, it's likely that Exotic Libations (undated, 12 pages) also originally belonged to the same person who owned yesterday's book. Most of the time I can remember exactly where I got which books, but the origins

Kathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17081054677103110884noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13025620.post-76697801352395205302008-06-21T19:22:00.013-05:002008-11-13T06:43:20.883-06:00

With the daily escalating cost of air travel, I'm probably not going to be attending a Polynesian party in Hawaii anytime in the near future.Were I so inclined, I could throw a party in my own steamy, mosquito-populated backyard. There are plenty of books on the subject. There's no shortage of decorations and supplies either.Before there was Amazon, with multiple books available on every subject,

Kathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17081054677103110884noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13025620.post-2137203346005798982008-06-16T08:19:00.008-05:002008-11-13T06:43:21.133-06:00

"Do you know the signs of aging?"No, this post isn't about botox or cosmetic surgery. It's about spices.I thought this 2007 advertisement from McCormick was both clever and informative. If I'm not mistaken, I tore it out of one of those pesky cooking magazine subscription solicitations that all-too-frequently used to arrive in my mailbox. (While I truly appreciated the gift subscription that I

Kathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17081054677103110884noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13025620.post-38881909899734195382008-06-07T15:17:00.005-05:002008-11-13T06:43:21.663-06:00

I've got another vintage foodservice cookbook going out the door today. Chiffon Cakes - Including Lovelight Cakes and Icings (undated, 32 pages) was published by the Hunt Wesson Sales Company in Fullerton, California.These recipes are all for Chiffon cakes and Lovelight cakes and they use Wesson Oil in the cake batter rather than melted butter or shortening. The recipe yields are meant for

Kathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17081054677103110884noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13025620.post-41436300417812263702008-06-05T07:00:00.006-05:002008-11-13T06:43:22.081-06:00

Many people are allergic to peanuts. I'm fortunate because I'm not one of them. Hopefully you're not either, because today's booklet is filled with recipes for this tasty legume.It's Easy to be a Gourmet with Peanuts... (undated, 30 pages) was published by the Oklahoma Peanut Commission sometime in the mid-1960s. (The chart inside displaying nutritive values of protein foods comes from a 1963

Kathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17081054677103110884noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13025620.post-10267051462686172492008-05-28T19:12:00.007-05:002008-11-13T06:43:22.432-06:00

Everyone knows about the Pillsbury Bake-Off, but many may not be familiar with another cooking contest that's been going on for almost the same length of time.The National Chicken Cooking Contest began as a smaller regional competition back in 1949, just one of many events found at a local festival promoting the Delmarva Peninsula. A poultry-cooking contest was logical for this area, which is

Kathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17081054677103110884noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13025620.post-61879166346993889042008-05-20T17:01:00.010-05:002008-11-13T06:43:23.113-06:00

Way back in the 7th grade I was required to take a Home Economics class. I had the choice of either Sewing or Cooking. I chose Sewing. Why, I don't know, as I had already been making my own Barbie clothes, halter tops and other things for quite a while. My mom was a pretty good teacher. I remember making this dreadfully boring A-line skirt in the class. I threw it away at the end of the

Kathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17081054677103110884noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13025620.post-78792221957806875302008-05-19T07:17:00.015-05:002008-11-13T06:43:25.172-06:00

The text below is from the first page of the Birds Eye Cook Book (1941, 64 pages). When I first read it, I thought it would have made good material for an infomercial, if there had been infomercials back then.A Miracle Comes to the KitchenYou've dreamed of it! (Of course!) You've hoped for it! (Who hasn't?) And maybe you thought the day would never come!But here it is...a glorious fact today, for

Kathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17081054677103110884noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13025620.post-82918322937995652412008-05-16T08:08:00.008-05:002008-11-13T06:43:25.911-06:00

If I toil in my garden long enough and if the bugs, weeds and heat don't do it in, perhaps I'll eventually need this book (or the more recent version):The Ball Blue Book of Canning and Preserving Recipes (1943, 56 pages) is a standard reference for both novice and experienced home canners. This particular edition is Edition V and was published during World War II, a time when home canning was an

Kathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17081054677103110884noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13025620.post-45308835946911230142008-05-05T07:14:00.009-05:002008-11-13T06:43:27.268-06:00

Sometimes I feel a little awkward responding to other blogger's posts about cooking with fresh foods and "going green," particularly in the kitchen. After all, I do spend a great deal of time posting about processed food cookbooks.Culinary Types asks "What have you done to green up your kitchen?" Well, quite a bit, actually.One of the things is that I've finally planted a vegetable garden again

Kathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17081054677103110884noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13025620.post-30902776065014088562008-04-24T07:26:00.009-05:002008-11-13T06:43:28.122-06:00

Stop reading right now if you're looking for news about rice and whether or not you'll be limited in your purchases of 25-pound bags at Sam's Club or Costco. This post is about American-grown rice, Texas rice in particular. The booklet today was published by the Texas Rice Promotion Association, a rice marketing organization located in Houston.Although there's no shortage of American-grown or

Kathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17081054677103110884noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13025620.post-33547474668670154962008-04-21T08:33:00.010-05:002008-11-13T06:43:28.856-06:00

Even back in the 1950s, housewives had an abundance of electric kitchen appliances at their disposal. Cooks were looking for shortcuts back then too, and appliances such as these made it easy to prepare large main dishes and all-in-one meals.This Nesco CookRyte Electric Sauce-Pan Instructions and Recipes for Carefree Cooking (1954, foldout) brochure shows a nice illustration of their

Kathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17081054677103110884noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13025620.post-31602932183014167612008-04-18T08:31:00.002-05:002008-11-13T06:43:29.015-06:00

I've a small pile of recipe cards sitting here next to my computer that I got from the grocery store a few months ago. The store was having a shrimp promotion in the seafood department one Saturday with several recipe samples and all these nice glossy recipe cards scattered about. I couldn't resist bringing home both the cards and several pounds of shrimp.I think the cards are just beautiful,

Kathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17081054677103110884noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13025620.post-1520997644569974212008-04-16T06:11:00.006-05:002008-11-13T06:43:29.545-06:00

I'm not quite sure what to make of this Kraft Food & Family Simple Shortcuts (2008, 34 pages) recipe magazine that I received in the mail last month. This new magazine was sent instead of the regular Food & Family Spring 2008 issue.It's for "time-challenged" people who want to get "food on the table fast" (using Kraft brands, of course).The magazine features "easy directions and pictures."That

Kathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17081054677103110884noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13025620.post-11998830797338418342008-04-10T23:16:00.006-05:002008-11-13T06:43:29.794-06:00

I've been absent from this blog for a couple of weeks because of the Spring antique show at Round Top. It's over now and I'm glad to be back rummaging through my cookbooks.On top of the pile this morning was 22 ways to serve Del Monte Asparagus (undated, foldout). I did a post a couple of years ago on a booklet featuring New Jersey asparagus.Del Monte used California asparagus when this brochure

Kathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17081054677103110884noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13025620.post-78838268904463164732008-03-27T07:23:00.007-05:002008-11-13T06:43:30.478-06:00

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

Kathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17081054677103110884noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13025620.post-88213862373121561182008-03-24T07:23:00.009-05:002008-11-13T06:43:31.578-06:00

Frigidaire Frozen Delights (1929, 48 pages) is interesting in that it appears to be, for some reason, aimed at apartment dwellers. The subtitle of this small cookbook is "Especially Prepared for Apartments with Frigidaire."In 1925 the cost of a Frigidaire household refrigerator was about $500, the price significantly reduced by about 50 percent from what it was a mere five years earlier. By the

Kathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17081054677103110884noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13025620.post-66136136687099734562008-03-12T08:45:00.004-05:002008-11-13T06:43:32.214-06:00

This small brochure is for an oleomargarine product whose brand name is unfamiliar to me. Dixie Recipes That Bring Smiles of Pleasure (undated, foldout) was published by The Capital City Products Co. of Columbus, Ohio and is advertising Dixie Vegetable Oleomargarine. It looks like the 1940s era to me.Although their "new flavor discovery" is mentioned several times, it doesn't go into any detail

Kathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17081054677103110884noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13025620.post-24670863497219072722008-02-26T04:40:00.010-06:002008-11-13T06:43:33.727-06:00

The 17th Edition of The Vital Question Cook Book (1902, 112 pages) was published by The Natural Foods Company of Niagara Falls, New York. This company was the maker of Shredded Wheat Biscuits.This cookbook has several interesting aspects, so we'll just look at one portion today, that which tells about their first plant in the Niagara Falls area. There would eventually be two more factories built

Kathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17081054677103110884noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13025620.post-24977879958773115582008-02-21T06:05:00.007-06:002008-11-13T06:43:34.704-06:00

I'm not really a marshmallow person, that is to say, I like them, but don't eat them all that frequently. They're an ingredient in the Rice Krispie Treats, Jell-O salads and Candied Sweet Potatoes that I sample occasionally in pot luck situations, but I'm not going out of my way to buy a bag or make my own.This little pamphlet, Kraft Miniature Marshmallows: Recipes for Cooking-Salads-Desserts (

Kathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17081054677103110884noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13025620.post-56638972957322347242008-02-18T16:10:00.009-06:002008-11-13T06:43:36.040-06:00

The Pearl Milling Company introduced the Aunt Jemima brand in 1889. Aunt Jemima Pancake Flour was another early convenience mix available to consumers. All that was needed was the addition of water (or milk) to the prepackaged mix.When Quaker Oats purchased Aunt Jemima in 1926, the product line consisted of Aunt Jemima Pancake Flour and Aunt Jemima Prepared Buckwheat Flour.Forty-three years later

Kathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17081054677103110884noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13025620.post-38112973351653081962008-02-12T21:46:00.000-06:002008-11-13T06:43:37.237-06:00

We've looked at this banana recipe pamphlet before, as well as others from the United Fruit Company. We've even looked at one on plantains.I was drawn to A Study of the Banana again today. It has several interesting illustrations that I didn't show previously.This photo shows a stem of bananas still on the plant. It's a little dark, but you get the idea.Here's what the booklet has to say about

Kathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17081054677103110884noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13025620.post-91375003193534115642008-02-11T06:45:00.000-06:002008-11-13T06:43:38.402-06:00

Pepperidge Farm Presents: Some Highly Interesting Sandwich Recipes (not dated, 14 pages) was the first cookbooklet in the company's history devoted solely to the art of sandwich making. I find that curious considering that bread was their primary product line. What is bread for, if not sandwiches?The introductory page, like those found in many booklets of this type, features the standard

Kathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17081054677103110884noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13025620.post-70057123082280507982008-02-09T23:48:00.000-06:002008-07-05T16:24:42.647-05:00

People can say what they will about the evils of processed foods, but sometimes they serve a very good purpose.A case in point is sauerkraut. I usually get the Boar's Head brand, which comes in a nice little refrigerated bag.One year, after a bountiful cabbage harvest, I considered making my own homemade sauerkraut. Sadly, I never got past looking at the directions in the cookbook because I

Kathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17081054677103110884noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13025620.post-67213670248289287122008-02-08T14:10:00.000-06:002008-11-13T06:43:39.157-06:00

Jenny Wren Recipes (1926, 16 pages) is a cute little pamphlet with recipes for biscuits, shortcake, dumplings, pancakes and waffles, quick breads, doughnuts, pies and cakes, cookies and other desserts.Here are a couple of the color illustrations from inside. The first is for biscuits.This one is for griddle cakes.These illustrations look sort of familiar to me. Have I seen them somewhere before?

Kathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17081054677103110884noreply@blogger.com3