Mother Lode of Cookbooks #1 ~ Helen Corbitt's Potluck and James Beard Hors D'Oeuvres & Canapes

Helen Corbitt's Potluck, published in 1962. Miss Corbitt was the Director of Restaurants for the Neiman-Marcus Department store in Dallas, Texas from 1955 to 1969 and many of  her recipes are still used today. Some of the dishes in the book were served at the Zebra Room restaurant located in the Dallas store. The recipes in the book are easily prepared with a minimum amount of time and ingredients. The dishes run the usual gamut and also include suggestions for side dishes and desserts to serve with each meal.

Hors D'oeuvres & Canapes, published in 1953. This copy is the 9th edition with the original printing dating from 1940. Subtitled "with a key to the Cocktail Party", this gem of a book focuses on appetizers or "outside the meal" tidbits per the French translation of the title. The introductory chapter discusses the history of the appetizer and even provides a couple of appellations for the dish ranging from Swedish ~ smorgasbord, Russian ~ Zakuska and Italian ~ Antipasto. There is a chapter on bar and kitchen equipment and even a few drink recipes.

The food chapters number four in total - with the recipes arranged by category. Up first are cold appetizers which include cheese-balls, caviar (mais ouis!), seafood, eggs and one or two recipes involving tongue (beef). Secondary chapters include canapes (toast points, pastries, butter and spreads) and cocktail sandwiches - fillings and small burgers. Of course to complement the cold dishes are the recipes for hot snacks: croquettes tarts, tartlets and fritters.