eat make read

I’ve been meaning to do a post about a handful of vintage cookbooks I picked up on our midwest adventure last month. I just love old cookbooks, especially when they’re filled with fun illustrations like a few of these are, plus they often have some wacky recipes inside.

The first one is made by Cutco Knives and is filled super cute illustrations like that chicken with a beret above the “French Fried Chicken”. Awesome. Another one I picked up is called “Cooking Round the World and At Home”. I think it’s the precursor to Martha Stewart. Not really, but not only does it have recipes from round the world, it also gives helpful hints on how to avoid lumps in gravy (add salt) and how to wipe walls easily (wrap a broom in flannel). I actually don’t know if ever wiped my walls… oops.

My favorite of the bunch is Betty Crocker’s Cooking Calendar. The recipes are broken down into seasonal categories, so for instance, May is filled with recipes that include asparagus and rhubarb, because that’s what’s in season that month. Sound familiar? It’s the locavore movement before it had to be a movement and it was just a way of life.

Each book is delightful to look at and provides inspiration as both a designer and an eater.