New Purchases - Church and Junior League of Mobile

'Pon Top of Edisto - Cookin' 'Tweenst the Rivers, published in 2006. This copy is from the fifth printing (originally published in 1997). Recipes complied by the Trinity Episcopal Church of Edisto Island, South Carolina. Super fancy church cookbook filled with great Southern cooking with an emphasis on seafood. Cute drawings and a few tidbits of information scattered throughout the pages.

Recipe Jubilee - The Junior League of Mobile, Inc., published in 1964. One of the few hardback Junior League cookbooks I have come across. Filled with great recipes with an emphasis on fresh seafood. The book was used often by the previous owner - especially the seafood section.

New Purchases - Betty Crocker Cookies & Baking

Betty Crocker's Cookie Book, published in 1999. A revised edition of Betty Crocker's Ultimate Cookie Book, there are more than 250 recipes of America's best loved cookies. Chapters include easy drop cookies, bars and brownies, fix them with a mix, rolled & pressed cookies and celebration cookies. LOTS of dog eared pages - some of the previous owner's selections include: double peanut cookies, lemon lime cookies, coconut meringue, animal cookies and frosted banana bars.

Baking from the Heart, published in 2004.  The book was a fund raiser to fight hunger for the Share Our Strength organization. Recipes were collected from America's best bakers as part of the Great American Bake sale. There are recipes for homemade Oreos, peppermint patties, a few cheesecakes and pies, cakes, plus scones!

New Purchase - 1922 Crisco Cookbook

A Calendar of Dinners with 615 Recipes, published in 1922. This copy is the 23rd edition (first printing was in 1913) and was originally priced at 50 cents. All recipes in the book utilize Crisco as an ingredient.  The beginning chapter explores the story of Crisco followed by recipes for pastries, cakes, bread, candies (!!), vegetables and main dishes.  The last chapter is the "calendar" with a recipe or two for each day of the year. The menu for my birthday is blue points, brown bread sandwiches, broiled squabs, potato croquettes, asparagus salad, cauliflower Au Gratin (recipe), cheese fingers, Spanish cream and coffee.

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New Purchases - Vintage Cook Booklets - GH, CAI and Kellogg's

Found a few vintage cook booklets while out thrifting - I already own a few titles from both publishers, plus they were priced at 40 cents each!

Good Housekeeping's Appetizer Book, published in 1958. Packed with lots of irresistible canapes, hors d'oeuvres, and nibblers. Best advice - a drink is a must when serving nibblers! 

Kay Kellogg's Creative Cookery, published in 1971. Recipes incorporate Kellogg's products and many first appeared on the back of the box or package. Of course the Rice Crispies Marshmallow Treat is featured as is Our Best Bran Muffin. There is also an Apple Crumble that uses Pop Tarts as one of the ingredients.

 Page from GH Appetizers:

Page from Kellogg's Creative Cookery:

250 Luscious Refrigerator Desserts, published in 1952 by the Culinary Arts Institute. Recipes range from ice cream and sherbets, mousses, marlows and mallobets (marshmallow based), chilled desserts, parfaits, puddings and bombes.

250 Cookie and Small Cakes Recipes - The Cookie Book, published in 1952 by the CAI. All types of cookies are represented from rolled, filled, molded, drop, bars plus a chapter on Christmas selections.

250 Delectable Desserts - Dessert Recipes, published in 1951 by the CAI. Similar to the refrigerator booklet with lots of great dessert recipes, many which require baking.

Page from Luscious Refrigerator Desserts:

Page from Cookie & Small Cakes:

Page from Delectable Desserts:

New Purchases - Regis & Kathie Lee + Virginia!

Entertaining with Regis & Kathie Lee, published in 1994. Picked up this gem for only 60 cents!The recipes are organized by season and were contributed by both Regis & Kathie Lee, staff members  and chef & gourmet stars who appeared on the show. Lot of tips for entertaining and party ideas round out the chapters.


Virginia Celebrates - Recipes and Ideas for Entertaining, published in 1992. Recipes complied by the Council of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. There are over 250 recipes from "the best cooks, hosts and hostesses in the state". Tucked around the recipes are photos of items in the museum's permanent collection (a MAJOR reason I love museum cookbooks!). The book appears to have been a wedding gift in June 1996, based on an inside inscription.

New Purchases - Basic & Essential Cooking

The Essential Cook Book for Everyday Use - The New Cook, published in 2001.  A cookbook written for people who have never learned to cook. (they are out there!!!) The first two chapters start with the basics - nutrition, preparation techniques, cooking methods, utensils/equipment and the pantry. The last chapter has 250 pages of recipes, a few step by step photos of some recipes and great photos each finished dish.

Basic Cooking - All You Need to Cook Well Quickly, published in 2000. Aimed at the teen through early 20's crowd. Same format as the above book with information in the few chapters followed by recipes. The photos are a blend of the Crate & Barrel and  J. Crew catalogs.

New Purchase - Williams Sonoma California

California, published in 2000. Another book from the New American Cooking series - there are a total of six books and so far I own this book and the "The South." Recipes focus on contemporary cuisine with a  California twist. There are only 60 recipes in all, featuring local seafood and fresh produce. The book also features articles on California avocados, Meyers lemons, California wine, olives and olive oil from the region, Dungeness crabs as well as artisan cheeses (I tried a few when I was in Petaluma a few years ago - so amazingly yummy!).

New Purchase - A Three Hour Tour (aka Gilligan's Island)

Check another book off my wish list! I have been searching for this cookbook at a reasonable price for the past couple of months. I always seem to miss the "cheaper" auctions on the 'Bay and can't fathom paying between $15.00 and $75.00(!!) as the auctions are usually priced. My persistence paid off and I scored a copy for $6.00 (including shipping!!) via a GW store in Seattle.

Recipes were contributed by all the cast members ( and yes there is a recipe for Coconut Cream Pie!) and family recipes from Dawn Wells and her mother. Also filled with bios of each character from the show and lots of cast photos.

New Purchases - Rails to Trails & Charleston Receipts

Rails to Trails - Athens-Oconee Junior Woman's Club: Celebrating 50 Years of Service, published in 2005.  Besides recipes the book also highlights various projects undertaken by the members of the club.

Charleston Receipts Repeats, published in 2002. The edition is the 9th printing - the first printing was in 1986. Recipes complied by the Junior League of Charleston, South Carolina. Even more recipes from the League - I also own two other cookbooks from this same group. New sections include recipes for fresh seafood and game, garden-grown vegetables and fruits.

New Purchases - Appetizers and Watt Wiser

Atlanta's Favorite Appetizers, published in 1991. Proceeds from the sales of the cookbook benefited the Cure Childhood Cancer and Leukemia organization. Recipes are "hand written" and range from quick and easy, cheese, meat, seafood and vegetables. There is also a chapter on garnishees.

The Watt Wiser Peak Conditioning Cookbook, published in 1992. Recipes complied by the Electric Membership Corporation of Georgia. Many of the recipes can be prepared early in the day and then reheated via microwave or cooked on the grill.  The book promotes using less electricity in the summer during the hours of 3pm to 9pm.

New Purchase - Vintage Home Economics Teachers - Foreign Foods

Yet another super low priced find (only 39 cents). Still trying to understand the weird pricing strategy of my local thrift store (not that I have a problem with it!).

Foods from Foreign Nations, published in 1977. Another compilation of Favorite Recipes of Home Economics Teachers. Book is filled with recipes from around the world grouped geographically - starting with the British Isles and ending with Yugoslavia! 

New Purchase - Pillsbury Bake Off 3rd Grand National (1951)

Found another vintage bake off booklet. This is from the 3rd annual contest held on December 10, 1951 at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City. The $25,000 grand prize winning recipe was the Starlight Double Delight Cake. The double delight ? - a chocolate cream cheese frosting used for frosting the cake AND also baked in the batter!

New Purchases - A Little Bit of the South (for Your Mouth!)

Found a couple of super cheap cookbooks while out thrifting on Wednesday - both focus on Southern cooking.

Union: Now and Then - A Collection of Cherished Recipes, published in 1998. Recipes compiled by the Christian Women's Fellowship of Union Christian Church in Watkinsville, Georgia. Filled with the best recipes from the ladies of the church from the past to the present. Of course the Desserts chapter is the largest section in the book!

Southern Cooking to Remember, published/re-printed  in 2002. Original publication date was 1977. According the the author - the book is a collection of real Deep South recipes not the commercialized kind advertised by gaudy signs along highways that almost spoiled the reputation of real Southern food.

New Purchases - More Lee Bailey!

Found two more Lee Bailey cookbooks at the church sale!

Lee Bailey's Southern Food & Plantation Houses, published in 1990. Filled with luscious Southern recipes and amazing photos of antebellum homes located in Natchez, Mississippi (home to the Natchez Trace).

Lee Bailey's City Food, published in 1984. Recipes and menu ideas for "City Folk". In other words, a bit more upscale meals slanted towards urban residents. Also filled with gorgeous photos.

New Purchase - The Sopranos

Attended a church yard sale and found LOTS of great cookbooks plus a few other things. This particular church has a big blow-out sale every two years and I was NOT disappointed this time around!

The Sopranos Family Cookbook, published in 2002. In addition to recipes ( all Neapolitan cuisine),there are tidbits from the show, photos, style tips and much more. As noted on the cover - the book was a  #1 NYT bestseller.