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 Good Housekeeping Cookbook. First published in the 1930s, it became a runaway best seller popular throughout the 20th century. This edition is the fifth printing of the 1963 version, a few printings before The New Good Housekeeping Cookbook was launched.   

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 the grill, small plate nibbles, and suggested menus for entertaining friends whether it was a drop-by dinner for four or an elaborate planned party for a crowd. 

Selling millions of copies and now considered a classic American cooking bible, the  GHC stable of cookbooks are trusted go-tos for all types of culinary adventures in the kitchen. As the GHC underwent revisions decade by decade, they followed the technological evolution of the "modern kitchen" making each printing, each edition its own little time capsule of the year and the decade in which it was produced. That makes them especially fun for collecting as formats, information and ways of cooking changed slightly with each volume.  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 Cranberry-Glazed Ham Rolls, Six-In-One Cocktail Hash (the 1960s version of Chex Mix), Strawberry Cheese Pie, Polynesian Rice Mingle, Apple-Acorn squash, Creamed Green Peppers, Clara's Special Coffeecake, Banana Tea Bread, Hot Coconut Souffle, Lime Milk, Sherbert, Sherry Christmas Cupcakes and Cashew Caramel Yummies

Photo of Dorothy B. Marsh courtesy of the St. Louis Globe-Democrat - June 7, 1932

{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. There are a few light cooking splatters on a handful of pages in the Best of Susan section which contains recipes geared toward teen cooks. Perhaps that is some insight into the previous owner and the recipes she loved best. 

{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.