BIG Book Sale (Books for Keeps) Cooking Pamphlets - Silver Palate, TOH Slow Cooker

The Silver Palate Pantry Recipes - Cooking with Condiments, published in 1984. Recipes range from beverages, appetizers, sauces, pasta, entrees, vegetables (including salads) and a few sweets. The condiments used are mainly vinegars, mustard, oils, preserves and nuts. I love my other Silver Palate books and make several recipes - usually appetizers - when entertaining.

Page from Silver Palate:

Taste of Home Slow Cooker Recipe Cards, published in  2003. Booklet full of recipes cards (duh!) with a photo of the completed dish on the front and the recipe on the back. Eventually I may tear apart the cards and just keep the recipes I plan on making in the future. Most of the recipes are for entrees (lots of ground beef and chicken), plus some sides dishes, soups and vegetables.

Page from Taste of Home Slow Cooker:

Thrifty Finds - Last of My July Purchases #2 Community Cookbooks: Georgia Credit Unions, Insurance and Newpapers

Georgia Credit Unions are Cookin', published in 2008. This book is unusually small for a state-wide community cookbook clocking in with only 95 pages of recipes. The recipes were compiled from the 50-60 credit unions throughout the state of Georgia and all proceeds from the sale of the book benefited the Children's Miracle Network. Two entries from the local branch include a Coconut Crumb Cake and a Creamy Cranberry Salad (no greens, but a congealed salad, after all this is the SOUTH!).

For some bizarre reason, Le Ann Rimes is the "star" of the awareness campaign for the credit unions (??) and contributed a recipe - "Le Ann Rimes' Lighter Chicken Pot Pie".

The Not So Frugal Gourmets, published in 1996. Recipes collected by the employees of Southern Insurance Underwriters, Inc. in Atlanta, Georgia. The company is a MGA (Managing General Agent) which specializes in insuring excess and surplus risks for both personal and commercial lines of business. Filled with the usual fare found in most Southern community cookbooks.

**My day job revolves around insurance and I do recognize a contributor name or two on the recipes!**

Sara's Cook Book, no publication date ~ circa 1960's. Small promotional pamphlet (10 pages) from the Columbus (Georgia) Ledger-Enquirer Newspaper. The recipes were selected as reader favorites over a two year period. Lots of basic and money saving recipes for meats, salads, vegetables, breads and desserts. Sara Spano was the food editor of the newspaper for 29 years and 2013 a reprint of "Sara's Recipes Through the Years" cookbook was sold by the paper.

 Pages from Sara's Cook Book:

Thrifty Finds - Last of My July Purchases #1 New York Cookbook

New York Cookbook, published in 1992. From Pelham Bay to Park Avenue, Firehouses to 4-star Restaurants, Neighborhood Gourmets and the Great Chefs, there are over 500 recipes from all five boroughs of New York. The recipes were collected by Molly O'Neill, a food columnist with the New York Times, a position she holds today. The book won both the Julia Child/ICAP and James Beard awards.

Besides the numerous recipes, there are over 700 photos, both vintage and current (at the time) of the many people and places of New York. Each borough is also broken down by neighborhoods with recommendations for food shops in the area, plus little tidbits of history and miscellany.

I took a quick trip to New York in 2007, and totally plan on going back for a longer stay. During my visit I limited myself to one museum (The Frick) and then a day in Chinatown. Another bucket list item of mine is visiting the Chinatown section of each metropolitan city I visit - so far I can check off Honolulu, New York and San Francisco. Anyways, I spent a half day walking around Chinatown, stopping in to eat at one of the many restaurants. The food was delicious and I ended my time there with a few pastries I bought at a Chinese bakery.

Vintage photo of a Nathan's Hotdog stand:

Photo of a Falafel stand:

Library Store Find #2 The Century in Food

The Century in Food, published in 2002.  A cookbook and a history lesson in one book, combining two of my interests! As you can discern from the title, the book is filled with the history of food from 1900 to 1999. Each chapter covers the new trends, changes and technological advances by decade. The first recipe in the first chapter (1900 to 1909) is for Perfection Salad. This salad is STILL going strong, making appearances at church suppers and family reunions - at least here in the South.

Lots of great vintage ad and photos are scattered among the pages. I am taking my time reading this book, so much information to process!

Perfection Salad recipe:

Vintage Life Savers ad:

Vintage Piggly Wiggly store:

Vintage toasters:

Vintage Oreo ad:

Vintage Easy Bake oven (this is very close to the one I had when I was young and most likely led to my love of  cooking, baking and COOKBOOKS!):

Library Store Find #1 Candy The Sweet History

Candy The Sweet History, published in 2003.  While browsing for books at the local library, I was quite happy to see the store open, so I popped in to check out the shelves for any cookbooks to add to my collection. There were no titles that I found interesting, but I did come across two food related books (see the next post for book number 2).

Can I say this book is AMAZING? So many awesome vintage photos of candy through the years. I used to be a candy junkie, but have cut WAY back in recent years. Flipping through the pages brought back so many memories - most of my vivid recollections are usually triggered by music or food.

The book is a homage to the history of candy and includes a confectionery timeline of American candy makers beginning in 1868 when Cadbury introduced the first Valentine's Day box of chocolates. Several candy makers are profiled, including companies that are now defunct.  I was hoping to see a chapter on the chocolate maker located in my dad's hometown of Ponchatoula, Louisiana.  Elmer Chocolate started in 1855 in New Orleans and moved to its current location in 1963. During my college years, I lived the next town over and I was often tasked with procuring Elmer treats to send to my dad overseas. His (and my!) favorites were the Gold Brick egg followed by the Pecan egg then the Heavenly Hash  (all only sold during the Easter season).

Speaking of college, I once took a long bike ride around town and when I was recalling my trip with fellow dorm mates, one of my friends laughingly remarked that he knew that the best part of my journey was finding a new place to buy candy. Apparently, I was most animated and spoke at length about the WALL of candy at some store I stopped in to buy a drink.

Vintage Pay Day ad:

Vending company 1960 annual report (including cigarettes!)

Vintage Dubble Bubble Ad:

Vintage Reese's Cup ad: My candy Kryptonite :)

Squirrel Nut Caramels:

Vintage Charm's Pops ad (LOVED these when I was in middle school!)

Estate Sale - Indigo Drive ~ Church Cookbok: Notes for Good Cooking

Notes for Good Cooking, published in 1975. Recipes compiled by the Youth Choir of the First Baptist Church in Athens, Georgia. This is the first cookbook I have come across from one of the largest churches in my area. The book is filled with yummy, traditional Southern recipes.This particular church is VERY Southern Baptist so I was not surprised to see a few recipes attributed to a woman using her husband's name (i.e. Mrs. John Smith) as late as the mid 1970's.

Estate Sale - Indigo Drive ~ Vintage Cooking Pamphlets: Come & Get It and (Famous!) Florida

Come and Get It! (General Foods), published in 1942. I probably should have looked a little closer at this booklet - I briefly paged though it and saw recipes, so I put it my buy pile. When I got home and started to read it, I realized that the sailor and the BIG pot on the cover represented the theme of the booklet - it's a helpful guide for mess officers, camp dietitians and institutional managers.  Since the booklet was printed during the war years, I thought the cover was just a shout out to the troops! Anyways, if I ever need to make 23 pounds of plain muffins, 4 gallons of chocolate pudding or 8 gallons of vegetable chowder, I am good to go....

Famous Florida Recipes, published in 1954. Recipes from across the state of Florida, reflecting the various cultures and influences of the inhabitants in the area. The chapter on Tarpon Springs has Greek recipes for fish and a salad, while the recipes from Key West have a Spanish/Cuban vibe.

Page from Florida Recipes:

Page from Come & Get It:

Estate Sale - Indigo Drive ~ Vintage Cooking Pamphlets: Peter Pan Peanut Butter & PET (Dry) Milk

The Peter Pan Peanut Butter Cook Book, published in 1963. Peanut butter isn't just for sandwiches! Well, there are few sandwich recipes, but also recipes for appetizers, breads, cakes, cookies and a few sauces. In the quick trick section, under meats, it is suggested that adding peanut butter to a meatloaf will make it bit moister. Or smooth some creamy peanut butter  on chicken or corn when grilling out.

I am a big fan of peanut butter, but have to draw the line. I once made this soup
https://www.flickr.com/photos/44277869@N00/8455322620/in/photolist-9DaHUm-8bjVMk-dTaJQu-a5vL4Z-8S6NRh-8bjSmD-aA2Fq9  , but it was so horrible, I tossed it and started on a SECOND dinner.

New Recipes, Using Instant Pet Nonfat Dry Milk, published in 1955.  PET Milk started in 1885 and is still going strong today. All the recipes, which range from beverages, desserts, salads, vegetables and main dishes use PET milk in one form or another.

I grew up drinking powdered milk and on occasion some type of shelf stable canned milk. Living on an island, most if not all of our food came by tanker. As long as the milk had chilled for a couple of hours it was delicious.

Page from Peter Pan:

Page from PET:

Recipe Interlude - Fruit Cobbler (Southern Style)

This recipe was given to me by several people and is an old Southern standard. It's very simple and the result is delicious!


Fruit Cobbler

1 stick butter
1 cup self-rising flour
1 cup milk
2 cups fresh fruit - chopped if needed
1 cup sugar

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Add stick of butter to ungreased 8x8 square dish and place in heated oven until butter is completely melted. While butter is melting, whisk together flour and milk until smooth. In a separate bowl stir together fruit and sugar until combined. Remove dish from oven, pour flour mixture over melted butter, then add fruit - DO NOT mix. Bake 35-45 minutes or until golden brown. ENJOY!!

Tonight I baked a cobbler with a mixture of mango and blueberries:

Thrifty Finds July (Week 4) #2 French Caribbean Desserts and New Zealand Cafes

Exotic Deserts from the French Caribbean, published in 1999.  Large coffee table size book with  beautiful photographs of many luscious desserts. Classic French patisserie offerings fused with  exotic fruit found in the Caribbean.

So far I have drooled over the Persimmon Cream Pie, the Grapefruit & Pomegranate Tart, the Lemon Passion Meringue, The Chocolate Mandarin Pie,  and the Mango Almond Tart.

The Cafe Cookbook, published in 1996. Small but jam packed with recipes from 12 restaurants in New Zealand reflecting the resurgence of the cafe style restaurant of the 1990's (per the blurb on the back cover). Each restaurant contributed 2-3 recipes. Many of the recipes are either seafood or lamb dishes.