In the American mind, a casserole is a decorative dish in which food is baked in the oven and then served at the table... (from the Introduction)

{HISTORY} 

In the 1950s, if you wanted to prepare something easy yet gourmet for your friends and family but didn't want to fuss around in the kitchen all day, you reached for Marian Tracy's cookbooks on your kitchen shelf. 

Known as a casserole queen, American cookbook author and food writer, Marian Tracy stepped into the cookbook publishing world with her debut book Casserole Cookery in 1941. It was such a big hit, she followed it up with a second book, More Casserole Cookery ten years later. By that point, midcentury American home cooks couldn't get enough of the casserole concept. They were compact, quick to prepare, cooked all in one dish, required less cleaning up, and were easily transportable to other places like picnics, potlucks and BBQs.

Marian dived into the whole realm of possibility when it came to casserole cooking. Including dishes that went beyond just traditional dinner fare, she also shared recipes for breakfast casseroles, party Foods, desserts and hot lunch options. A casserole for every occasion or every time of day. 

Over 200,000 copies of her previous casserole books sold before Marian published her third volume  Casserole Cookery Complete, in 1956. Combining both her previous books into this one spiral sound edition, this new cookbook could stand up on a counter for ease of use and reference. The recipes were updated to include new food products, taste trends and kitchen equipment gadgets that made cooking easier and more convenient in the 1950s than it was in the 1940s. 

All of the recipes here contain whole ingredients and are prepared in a from-scratch manner. Serving suggestions and additional accompaniments, reheating and freezing tips, and fun facts about some meals are included. 

Interesting recipes include Saltimboca Florentine, Cassoulet - Naturalized Version, Canadian Bacon with Cranberries, Pepperidge Farm Turket Pudding, Filet of Sole East Indian, Mushrooms and Mussels in a Wine sauce, Seafood Binge in a Curry Sauce, Green Noodles with Spour Cream and Pot Cheese, Hungarian Green Beans Baked in Sweet Cream, Stuffed Onions, Cheese with Tomatoes and Okra, Bacon and Sweet Potato Souffle, and Egyptian Rice. 

Photo of Marian courtesy of The Baltimore Evening Sun, July 1st, 1963

{SPECIAL FEATURES}

- 1956 spiral bound edition with stand-up design 

- Includes 350 recipes

- Detailed index laid out in the front of the book

{CONDITION}

In lovely vintage condition. There is some light staining along the interior coverboards at the top and bottom edge. The spiral binding is strong and secure. The pages are easy to flip and the book stands up on its own as intended.  All interior recipe pages are clean and bight. There is a small errant pen mark on the inside title page as well as a 10-cent price mark from decades ago. Otherwise, this book is free of notations. 

{SIZE}

Measures measures 8.75" inches (length) x 5.5" inches (width) x .75" inches (thickness) and weighs 12 oz. 

{A NATURAL COMPANION}

Mid-century mealtime magic is waiting just for you. Pair this cookbook with a vintage casserole dish or two.