A few months ago, an area museum debuted a wonderful exhibit of a World War II era kitchen and dining room. I had to take a screenshot of this news article because I recognized a couple of the cookbooks on display and because I knew that Betty Crocker's Picture Cook Book wasn't released until 1950. Does that really matter? Not in the least, but it did make me realize that my cookbook obsession may be a teensy bit out of control.
Blog Archive
Friday, March 22, 2024
Friday, March 15, 2024
Betty Crocker's 101 Delicious Bisquick Creations (1933)
Bisquick, introduced in 1931, was still a new product when this booklet was published. General Mills claimed that this "sensational" product was faster, more efficient, and highly cost-effective and should be readily embraced by the most discerning housewives in America.
While I am intrigued by many of the recipes, I was most tickled by this:
Bisquick Method - 83.75% Faster - Saves 45.5 Steps - Costs 1/7 c More
* These Figures Were Certified to by Theodore Stark, Certified Public Accountant, 715 New York Life Building, Minneapolis, Minnesota, October 3, 1934, as Representing Results Obtained in Average Kitchen. Investigation covered kitchens of various shapes and sizes, some having gas ranges; some, coal; some, wood; and others with electric ovens. Costs of the products were average costs as you yourself would pay at your own grocer's.
Also figured in was the cost of fuel and of your labor. A department of the United States Government estimates the value of the average housewife's time as being 35c an hour. That is the figure we used, although we think it is too little.
Adjusted for inflation, 35 cents is about $8.00 in 2024, and I agree that it is far too little of a sum.
Friday, March 8, 2024
120 Wartime Meat Recipes from American Meat Institute
Friday, March 1, 2024
Cauchois' Caterer's Companion (1915)
Source: Cauchois' Coffee Company, N. York. (1915). Cauchois' caterer's companion: contains over two thousand English definitions of French culinary terms, usually found on bills of fare, and over 100 banquet, reception and private dinner menus according to season ... New York: Cauchois' Coffee Company.
Full Book @ https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=chi.087315274&fbclid=IwAR3gnHPEHM-BF0HijLy2g51-clLyEDfpiBc5eVIHk7xJwDS3GIiHiC6gXHY&seq=5
Friday, February 23, 2024
The Work Basket - July 1950
I'm not sure which of these luscious dessert recipes sounds better! An Orange Refrigerator Torte, Chocolate Sundae Pudding, Quick Coffee Cake, Pineapple Sherbet, and Heavenly Salad all sound delightful.
Friday, February 16, 2024
The Work Basket - June 1950
I'm looking forward to trying this Rhubarb Pudding recipe from the June 1950 issue of The Work Basket this spring.
Friday, February 9, 2024
Friday, February 2, 2024
The Work Basket - February 1950
Friday, January 26, 2024
Smackin' Good News! Minute Tapioca Is Back!
I found this recipe clipping in one of my vintage cookbooks and, while I'm not a huge tapioca fan, I'm adding this to my "must-try" list.
Also, I love the Kohler ad on the back (see below).
Friday, January 19, 2024
Friday, January 12, 2024
Orr's Famous 1001 Recipes (1930)

Fattigmands Bakkelse
1 cup sugar
1/4 cup cream
1/2 cup melted butter
1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla
3-1/2 cups sifted all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
About 3 pounds fat for deep frying
Confectioners' sugar
Beat eggs at medium speed of electric mixer until very light and fluffy. Add sugar gradually. Beat well. Add cream, butter and vanilla. Sift flour three times with salt and baking powder. Turn to a low speed. Add dry ingredients to egg mixture. Blend. Chill several hours or overnight.
Roll small portions of dough one-sixteenth inch thick on well floured canvas. The crispness of the bakkel depends on the thinness of the dough. Cut with pastry wheel or knife into small diamond shapes. Cut a three-fourths inch lengthwise slash in center of diamond. Pull one end of the diamond through the slash.
Fry at 365 degrees until delicately browned. Drain on absorbent paper. Sprinkle with confectioners' sugar. Makes about nine dozen depending on size of diamond.
Friday, January 5, 2024
Thrift Recipes by Patricia Powell for National Macaroni Manufacturers Association (1931)
Friday, December 29, 2023
Flavory Dishes Made With Foulds (1927)
From a quick internet search, I learned that The Foulds Company began as a milling company in Cincinnati in 1885 and moved to Libertyville, Illinois around 1905, where the company produced various pasta products until ending operations in 2014.














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