Vintage Cookbook Fun!

By Sarah Brown

Hello, Taste Odysseyans.

I admit I’m a lover of kitchen gadgets, though my lack of storage space necessitates that I keep an eye out for multi-taskers—implements that can do more than one thing to make your cooking life easier. I think it’s even more fun, though, to find those little vintage gems— a sugar bowl or a trivet or some other little kitchen object from days past—to add to my kitchen arsenal. For my money, old cookbooks are the best of these.

I found this fabulous little casserole cookbook while I was home for the holidays in Indiana in 2007. It’s rather hilarious— the poems remind me of those my grandma used to write for special occasions. I also think it’s wonderful that it cost me $1.00, which was exactly what it cost when published in 1956. I have yet to try a recipe from it; I’m still working up the nerve. It’s tiny; about 3 by 5 inches; but packed full of hearty recipes, delightful drawings and bizarre, funny little rhymes.

Peter Pauper Press, the book’s publisher, has this to say on their website: “PETER PAUPER PRESS, founded in 1928, is poised to begin its eighth decade as one of America’s leading publishers of fine gift books, humor books, compact references, travel guides, unique journals, quality stationery, holiday cards, and innovative children’s activity books… [the company] started a cookbook series in the 1950s; she once said it covered everything “from abalone to zabaglione.” (www.peterpauper.com)

Take a look and enjoy…