So serve up your food joyfully and generously, serene in the knowledge that the most important person at a feast - seen or unseen - is the Cook! (from the Introduction)

{HISTORY}

Fun from the front cover to the back, this vintage 1950s holiday cookbook features collected recipes from around the globe fit for year-round partying and merrymaking.

Compiled by Edna Beilenson (1909-1981), a co-owner of Peter Pauper Press alongside her husband, this petite cookbook combines the life-long creative talents of two book publishing dynamos. Enda was an award-winning book designer, typographer, typesetter, bookkeeper, writer, artist, and small press publisher focused throughout her life on drawing attention to women in the book printing industry and also on creating artistically dynamic books at affordable prices. Vee Gutherie (1920-2012) who illustrated this and many other Peter Pauper Press titles, was a well-known illustrator in the book world - a beloved favorite of both children and adults.

The whole point of these two women collaborating on a holiday cookbook together was to add some excitement to the kitchen.  Food is fun, they both agreed. And so, Edna collected international recipes that were real crowd-pleasers - guaranteed to be sentimental, sweet, succulent, and sensational. Then Vee set pen to paper and illustrated colorful scenes for the start of each chapter complete with jaunty and jolly characters.

Focused on holiday cooking throughout the year, recipes included here are an interesting mix between traditional, reliable midcentury favorites (refrigerator rolls, potato soup, broiled grapefruit, brioche, mushroom canapes, etc) and more unique food pairings (sweet potato muffins, gooseberry rice pudding, meringue stars, oxtail ragout, cornflake omelets, etc). 

A gorgeous example of midcentury small press book publishing as well as a creative culinary adventure, this book is a delight in presentation inside and out.  A gift inscription on the front endpaper dated 1952 adds a touch of vintage nostalgia and good cheer.

{SPECIAL FEATURES}

- 1951 Edition 

- 125 pages

- A clear mylar wrapper protects the decorated coverboards 

{CONDITION}

In lovely vintage condition. The pages are clean and bright and free of cooking spots and stains. The front end paper is pulling away from the binding at the seam but the pages are securely attached to the book and the spine. Please see photo.

{SIZE}

Measures 5.5" inches (width) x 7.5" inches (length) x .75" inches (thickness) and weighs 12 oz.