Tuesday, February 23, 2010

1944 Cook Book

At an antique store last weekend, I found an interesting Cook Book(let) from January 1944.  Books are one of my favorite things to look for at antique stores, especially ones pertaining to cooking and other household subjects.  They can be such an interesting view into the history of the time and a peek into a housewife's life.

The front cover:
 

"Health For Victory MEAL PLANNING GUIDE" - a booklet with menu plans, recipes and information about creative ways to use food in the most efficient and nutritious manner without waste, and thereby supporting our troops and our country during World War II .  The inside of the front cover shows a woman sitting at a table writing a shopping list with the quotation "I hereby resolve to make war on Waste!"

A few recipes that made me chuckle (and feel very thankful I don't have to serve them!):

Bologna Sandwich Filling:  (to stretch your bologna further!) Mix ground bologna with chopped pickles, mayonnaise, minced onion, pickle juice, 3 hard-boiled eggs, salt, shredded carrot, and chopped celery.  Spread on bread for 15 - 20 sandwiches!

New Ways to Serve Stewed Tomatoes!:  Serve them cold once in a while instead of a salad; add seasonings to personal taste or even chopped vegetables.  And also - "Tomatoes are so versatile it's not surprising they've been called 'the cook's blessing'. From cocktails to the salad course, 'when in doubt, use tomatoes!' "

Fried Parsnips:  Boil sliced parsnips, then fry slices in heated drippings in skillet.

The back cover:

There are plenty of tasty sounding recipes as well.  One of them just might end up on our table someday soon! 

3 comments:

Mom said...

This book is so cool! I remember my mom (Nana) having one very similar to this. And I also remember grinding up bologna to make sandwiches, although I don't think we put quite as much in as this recipe does. Brings back memories! We didn't have fried parsnips though...thankfully. Of course, things then were fried in bacon grease (yum!) or lard.
Love, Mom XO

Anonymous said...

Oh, also, I bet you paid more than 15 cents for this book! :)

I also just saw that it is from Mansfield OH. We moved to Ohio in 1946 or '47. Maybe she did have this particular book! We will have to check sometime when you are here.... :)

Love, Mom, again!

Chris said...

Mom - I only paid $1.00 for it; great price, I thought!

I wondered if Nana may have had something like this. I can't believe you had ground bologna (and lived to tell about it!) :)