Every Recipe Tested

Welcome!  Today we are visiting vintage again.  My Better Homes And Gardens Cook Book to be precise.  This particular copy is the sixteenth printing, from August 1936.  76 years ago…wow!  The front of the books touts  “Every Recipe Tested In The Better Homes And Gardens Tasting-Test Kitchen”.  It’s binding is broken, edges tattered, pages yellowed and splattered but it conveys love.  Love from a long time ago, love for food, recipes and making wholesome meals for a family.  In Chapter I, it lists a Summary of Vitamins, Nutrition Facts, Menu planning for the entire Family Group, and an entire Week of Menus for Each Season.  

Today is Friday, let’s take a look at a sample menu for a Friday in Late Spring according to the My BH&G Cook Book.

Friday Breakfast                                                                Lunch Fresh Berries, Cream   Prepared Cereal           Creamed Dried Beef on Toast Bacon   Marmalade   Toast                                             Lettuce Salad Coffee                    Milk                                          Prune Whip          Saltines Tea                Milk

Dinner Cream of Fresh Asparagus Soup Fried Fish Fillets               Peas and Carrots Hot Potato Salad Chocolate Pudding, Thin Cream Coffee                Milk

What do you think of that? Prune Whip surely is a recipes that will never resurface.  I’m thinking I won’t give that one a try as I’m pretty sure I couldn’t bribe my adoring hubby or “Miss T” to take even one bite.

I chose a “Fruit Salad” from My BH&G Cook Book.  There are a total of 5 Fruit Salad recipes in the book.  I selected Pear-Macaroon Salad.

It seemed so old-fashioned to me.  I try to stay away from canned fruit but it seems that back in the day using canned fruit, veggies and gelatin played a large roll in salad recipes. I can imagine it will be tasty and possibly a bit like a dessert.  Don’t tell my man, Dan but we’re having it as our salad with this evenings dinner of grilled chicken and roasted asparagus, sweet potato, peppers, mushrooms and local fresh yellow squash.  After you look over the recipe I’m guessing you’ll know just what this is going to taste like.  I admit I kind of like canned pears.  Don’t tell…..

Enjoy!