Many of the recipes in this book came to me in exchange from friends all over the world, and have become part of my own cookery repertoire. When the routine of running house and office becomes irksome, I get out my recipe file and pull out one or more these recipes that I have collected. I have tried in my own cookbook here, to compile one that will help the beginning cook and be of constant inspiration to the woman who must plan and produce three or more meals a day and meals for entertaining. Amy Vanderbilt (from the Introduction)

{HISTORY}

In 1961, Amy Vanderbilt published her Complete Cookbook, an 800-page collection of recipes that followed her wildly successful Complete Book of Etiquette which was published in 1952. Amy is nothing but thorough in her work, and it took all those years between 1952 and 1961 to write this cookbook. 

As a consummate home-entertainer, a world traveler, a wife and a mom,  Amy loved cooking but also understood that it could be a daunting, boring, and tedious task as well. In her cookbook, she set out to create imaginative dishes that would inspire the spirit, nutritious feasts that would fuel the body, and authentic international meals that would spark the curious.

Here you'll find a plethora of interesting recipes for things like Coconut Tea Loaf Bread, Salmon Pie, Baked Fondue, Floating Islands, Batter-Fried Sardines, Paris Bistro Veal Chops, Pumpkin Chiffon Tarts, King of Sweden Soup, Celery Au Gratin, Sweet Potato Souffle, etc, etc, etc. As a world-renowned and beloved etiquette expert, Amy shared thousands of meals with thousands of people from all cultures through her work, so she knew what people liked to eat and how they liked to eat it. In all those adventures of eating and entertaining, she never lost her sense of curiosity for the creative ways that food and flavors could be brought together. This cookbook represents that excitement most, and will appeal to home cooks today who share a similar sense of wonder.

There is also a special visual surprise tucked inside this cookbook as well - the illustrations of Andy Warhol. Before he became the famous pop-culture icon known around the globe, he was just starting out in his career - simply known as Andrew Warhol  - illustrator for hire, when this cookbook was produced. There's no flair for the dramatic in his style -not yet defined. Instead, here there are technical drawings of cake pans and produce, dinner table settings and fruit displays,  cuts of meat and bowls of vegetables. It's not often that vintage cookbooks can be appreciated for both their food content and the early merit of an artist, but this one wonderfully combines both, giving readers a true sense of the midcentury cooking experience.

{SPECIAL FEATURES}

• 1961 Book Club Edition
• 811 pages
•  Illustrated by Andy Warhol (yes, the famous Andy Warhol!) 
• Covers all types of meals from breakfast to dinner, appetizers to desserts, and everything in between
• Suggested menus, cooking terms and measurement tables round out special sections
• Many recipes include little stories as to their origin or particular musings from Amy

{CONDITION}

In lovely vintage condition. This cookbook features it original dust jacket, which has been covered in a permanent clear plastic protector. The interior and exterior are clean and bright throughout with no cooking spots, stains, or notations. The plastic cover has caused yellowing on the interior dust jacket flaps and a bit of staining on the front and back endpapers. The dust jacket is very bright and vibrant in color. The spine is tight and all pages are intact.  

{SIZE}

Measures 5.75" inches (width) x 8.5" inches (length) x 2.25" inches (thick) x 2" inches (thickness) and weighs just a smidge under 2 lbs.