A cookbook can be many things...

{HISTORY}

Comfort cooking looks no further than the classic books of the 1950s and 1960s. That's when our moms and grandmas were preparing meals that would ultimately turn into requested family favorites meal after meal decade after decade. Their culinary endeavors were inspired by books like this, The New Good Housekeeping Cookbook a runaway best seller published in 1963. It was called "new" because there was a Good Housekeeping cookbook that came before it in the 1950s, but this relaunch contained updated information for modern midcentury kitchens and included participation by all members of the family, instead of just mom heading up the making and menu planning each night.

This 1960s version included a section led by Susan, a teenage cook who whipped up quick, easy-to-prepare meals for friends and family. It also included recipes for dads and husbands who enjoyed practicing their culinary skills at the grill, and it included all the details necessary for entertaining friends whether it was a drop-by dinner for four or an elaborate planned party for a crowd. 

Selling over a million copies and now considered a classic American cooking bible, the New GHC contains everything you need to know about the cooking process from market shopping to meat carving. It includes graphs and diagrams explaining how to prepare every common vegetable, how to freeze food properly, how to can fruit,  and how to organize your table. Then come the recipes featuring every meal of the day from breakfast to lunch to dinner to dessert and to snacks in between. A very whimsical section of suggested menus is especially fun to peruse just for the sheer variety of engaging menu themes which hint at festivities enjoyed during the mid-20th century. 

All the familiar comfort foods are here along with a bevy of interesting lesser-known recipes including Rabbit Scramble, Fan Tan Loaf, Squash Chiffon Pie, Coconut Oatmeal Refrigerator Cookies, Apple Cheese Pie, Horse-Radish Apple Pear Salad. Polenta with Tomato Sauce, Old-French Style Lobster, Spiced Baked Bass, Georgia Country Captain, Ham & Mushroom Puff, Cranberry Beef Patties, Chilled Curry Avocado Soup and Christmas Pie. A favorite of the previous owner was Italian-Style Flank Steak which was the only recipe in the book hand-marked with stars. 

{SPECIAL FEATURES}

- 1963 edition, 2nd printing

- 805 pages

- Decorated endpapers

- Illustrated throughout with line drawings by Bill Goldsmith and color photographs by James Viles and Paul D'Ome

- Contains over 3500 recipes

{CONDITION}

In lovely vintage condition. This cookbook is very clean, inside and out. The name of the previous owner is written in pen on the inside cover and there are a few pencil mark notations on just a couple of recipes. 

{SIZE}

Measures 10.25" inches (length) x 7.25" inches Width) x 1.75" inches (thickness) and weighs 3.6lbs

{FOR THE MIDCENTURY KITCHEN LOVER}

Find more 1960s-era kitchenware here.