You'll want to make the most of an upcoming holiday. Even just a special dessert makes the simplest meal an occasion. (From the Introduction)

{HISTORY}

With it's jaunty red and yellow cover you might first suspect that this mid-century Better Homes and Gardens Holiday Cook Book is just all about the Christmas holiday and the myriad of ways in which to present it. But while there is a big section devoted to those sparkly end of the year festivities, this cookbook actually encompasses seven of the biggest food party celebrations of the year plus two more patriotic ones.

Starting with New Year's in January, it covers Valentines Day, Washington's Birthday and Lincoln's Birthday in February, St, Pat's Day and Easter in Spring, Halloween and Thanksgiving in Autumn and then wraps up with Christmas in December. Mixed between those official holidays are a bevy of additional party suggestions to commemorate personal milestones including birthdays, anniversaries, special occasion dinners and punch parties. 

If there was any one decade dedicated to making food fun it would be the 1950's, when culinary creativity in the decorating department was at an exhilarating all time high. Joie de vivre was the emphasis in those years, with a certain sense of gaiety and whimsicality especially when it came to desserts, party drinks and food presentation. This cookbook highlights a most interesting assortment of selections by breaking down each holiday/occasion into three parts - food, crafts and table decorations - in so that each element helps carry a specific universal party theme and a cohesive style. It's a fascinating look at not only what people were eating in the 1950's but also how they were decorating and celebrating with friends and family. Anyone who loves a good theme dinner will appreciate the level of detail this cookbook encompasses - all with quirky enthusiasm and retro flair. 

{SPECIAL FEATURES} 

- 1959 edition

- 160 pages including index

- Recipes range from classics (mile-high chocolate cake, banana nut bread, brownies etc) to more fanciful creations (Neiman-Marcus Fresh Flowerpots, Ice-Cream Lollipops, Kumquat Posies, Orange Bubble Loaf, and Holly Hermits)

- Crafts include how to make a paper Viking ship centerpiece, how to make Halloween funny faces using various fruits and vegetables, how to make a Valentine ribbon tree, how to make card- themed party cutouts for your next Bridge or poker party, etc

- Illustrated throughout with black and white photos, color photos and whimsical drawings

{CONDITION}

In beautiful vintage condition. Clean cover boards. Lightly tanned interior pages due to age. There is one small rip  (about an 1" inch long) on page 151. This does not affect reading the page in anyway. Spine is tight and all pages are intact. Previous owner's name stamped on the inside left cover. 

{SIZE}

Measures 8.25" inches (width) x 11" inches (length) x .5" inches (thickness)

{FOR THE COLLECTOR}

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