cathy of california

garden supper casserole, 1971

i was raised on casseroles. cooking was not really my mom's strong suit (but she could out-craft just about anybody) so anything that was quick and easy was actually a really big relief for her. but the funny thing is that making a casserole uses alot of the same skills as making crafts.

in my "old school" column in the latest issue of craft: magazine i recreate the food of my youth and give it a little bit of a modern update. it was very easy to research, all i had to do was go to my kitchen and open up my mom's 1971 betty crocker recipe card library where i found recipes for no less than 27 casseroles.

well it's almost dinner time. i think i'll go preheat my oven to 350 degrees. then mix up some bread crumbs, cheese and butter. then i'll get the peas out of the freezer, chop up some onions, take the leftover meat from last night out of the tupperware and measure out a cup + a half of milk. then throw it all in my greased 1 quart casserole dish. i'll probably want to add a little salt and pepper, arrange my tomato slices on top and bake for 25 minutes.

(recipe card for "garden supper casserole" from the betty crocker recipe library 1971)

dansk for dinner, 1967

here i go again. instead of making dinner i'm flipping through the pages of betty crocker's hostess cookbook featuring more than 400 guest-tested recipes. how much do i love this place setting!

wanna try this at home? head to ebay for the candle holder and the "fluted flamestone" pattern dinner plate. on my first sweep i couldn't find the flatware or glass but with some more digging i'm sure it's all there.

now i think i'll go decide what to eat.

(from betty crocker's hostess cookbook featuring more than 400 guest-tested recipes 1967)

good housekeeping illustrations, 1961

today instead of actually cleaning my own house i decided to sit down and thumb through good housekeeping's guide to successful homemaking, a recent thrift store find. if you follow my blog you know that i go just nuts over vintage cookbook illustration. well it's time to add vintage housekeeping book illustration to that list. no credit was given to the wonderful illustrator who was most likely on the staff of good housekeeping.

(from good housekeeping's guide to successful homemaking revised edition, compiled by the editors of good housekeeping magazine, 1961)

multi-stripe delight, late 60s

i'm a sucker for vintage cookbooks. i could look at them all day and never cease to be delighted. but sometimes the recipes can be pretty improbable and the photography downright hysterical (and i mean this in a good way) especially when it comes to jell-o. from chocolate to shrimp it seems like they would toss just about anything into jell-o to create a new recipe.  and then the presentation would be so over the top making it something you probably would never even want to eat.

but how about this clean and modern approach to jell-o?

(from joys of jell-o brand gelatin dessert, general foods corporation, late 60s)

pickle snowman, 1963

yep, that's 2 cheeseballs decorated with dill pickles that form the hat, arms, face and buttons. this makes me very happy.

(from today's woman christmas ideas 1963)

happy thanksgiving!

hope you have a fun + relaxing day with your family + friends.

(thanksgiving dinner image from "cutco cook book - world's finest cutlery" published by wear-ever aluminum, 1972)

what if you asked alexander girard to make the dessert for your kid's party?

(from "the betty crocker recipe card library" 1971)

"when ghosts come a-knocking, greet them with handouts like these!", 1963

who dosen't love popcorn balls? here we have "chief jellybean", "good witch curlilocks", "peter pumpkin eater" and "thomas candy cat". i can't get over how cleverly decorated they all are! and here's a really good tip: all of the candy is stuck to the popcorn balls with "marshmallow stickum" (melted marshmallows and shortening) so it's all completely edible - well except the paper cup part.

and how about those catherine holm-esque bowls?

(from "better homes and gardens birthdays and family celebrations, dozens of delightful ideas and recipes for family red-letter days...birthdays, holidays, anniversaries" 1963)

kraft cookbook illustrations, 1963

i know i kind of lost control with this post, but i just had to show you as much as i could from this wonderful little cookbook that belonged to my mom. these illustrations are just delightful and i am madly in love with the lime green, hot pink and yellow ochre color combo. pay close attention to all of the special little details in each drawing. my favorite is that nutcracker in the first drawing! sadly the artist was not given credit anywhere in the book for his or her amazing work.

("all star TV recipes from the kraft kitchens" 1963)

betty crocker's new picture cook book, 1961

yesterday's post got me thinking about how much i love kitchen and cooking related graphics & illustrations.