Breaking Post! Best Thrifty Finds of the Year So Far..........

After digging through 15+ boxes of newly donated books at a local thrift store, I hit the MOTHER LODE!  I bought only a dozen books and left many more - most were duplicates.  Someone donated a few boxes of vintage cookbooks, some of the titles were on my wish list and the rest were happy surprises. The best of the lot is by the Duchess of Windsor ~ "Some Favorite Southern Recipes". I have been looking for a copy for the past few years at a reasonable price and my persistence finally paid off....plus I love the thrill of the hunt versus buying a book outright on-line!

Entries for this lot will probably appear in December as I am running about 2 months behind in my posting versus my buying!  That's AFTER I took a mini-vacation in August to plow through 50+ books that had piled up....of course I haven't stopped buying more books...it's a vicious cycle :)

Amazon Shopping #2 ~ Spies, Black Ties and Mango Pies

Spies, Black Ties and Mango Pies: Stories & Recipes from CIA Families All Over the World, published in 1997. Just spent several hours reading this fascinating book. The stories from former and possibly current agents and their spouses about culinary mishaps, triumphs, and memorable dining experiences while posted overseas are riveting. There are darker themes explored at the end of a few chapters that expose the somber side of the agency. Julia Child, who worked for the OSS (the predecessor to the CIA) during the 1940's, shares tidbits of her time in service and offers a few tips to newcomers on what to bring to new postings overseas. The agent narratives span the period from the late 1940's through the late 1980's.

Before each recipe(s) are the aforementioned tales from agents who are never identified per agency policy.  The recipes run the usual : appetizers, desserts, soups, vegetables and entrees, both American or local to each country or region. Each chapter focuses on various posting areas around the globe ~ Africa, Asia and the South Pacific, Central & South America, Europe, The Mid-East and a few from the United States - a couple which explain how the agents explain their "real" job to their children.

The former owner bookmarked a few recipes, Scamp Flambe, Chicken Curry Casserole and Fettuccine with Smoked Salmon Sauce.

Amazon Shopping #1 - United Cakes of America and The Cake Club

The United Cakes of America, published in 2010. Not limited to just "cakes", there are also recipes for pancakes, cupcakes, trifles, cobblers, plus a cheesecake (New York, of course!), a few pies, a scone or two and one Kolache and a Kuchen. There are 1-2 recipes for each state. The recipes representing the three states in which I have lived are: Georgia ~ Coca Cola Cake, Hawaii ~ Coconut Cupcake and Louisiana ~  King Cake and a Sweet Potato Cake.

The Cake Club, published in 2004. Recipes plus reminiscences of the person behind the dish. The author grew up in Charleston, West Virginia and shares recipes from her mother's Cake Club which met once a month at her house (the family home had the largest living room among the ladies) for a luncheon and to decorate cakes. Lots of cake recipes, with a few pies, candy and other desserts, There is a slim chapter on "Lady Food' served at the meetings (aspic and chicken salad).

September Thrifty Finds Week#2 ~ Betty Crocker Baking for Today and The Toll House Heritage Cookbook

Betty Crocker - Baking for Today, published in 2005.  Published to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Gold Medal flour, the book is filled with lots of yummy recipes for cookies, cakes, pies and other desserts. There are also recipes for bread, entrees and one chapter devoted to baking with kids.

The opening chapter gives lots of great tips on basic baking. The previous owner loved the recipe for Baking Powder Biscuits since it  appears to be the most "used" page in the book.

Toll House Heritage Cookbook, published in 1980. Lots of delicious chocolate recipes including the famous Toll House Cookie - which I make using the pan method. There is also a recipe I may utilize in the future - Toll House Refrigerator cookies - similar to the product sold in grocery stores.

The book was published to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Toll House cookie, and other recipes include candies, cakes, cookies, breads, desserts and sauces.

September Thrifty Finds Week#2 ~ Vintage Pamphlet: Timeless Recipes with Minute Rice

Timeless Recipes with Minute Rice, published in 1965. Lots of dishes using Minute Rice as an ingredient or an accompaniment. For a small promotional booklet, there is a broad range of recipes for soups, entrees, vegetables, salads, desserts and even breakfast. Surprisingly, there are two recipes from the Philippines (shout out to my relatives!) including one for a coconut rice dessert that I remember eating at family gatherings.

I prefer REAL rice to instant and will probably substitute it when making any recipes from this booklet.

Page from Timeless Recipes (Cottage Cheese Rice Bake and Paella):

Labor Day Thrifty #2 ~ More Rachel Ray and the Book Club Cook Book

Express Lane Meals, published in 2006. Yet another 30 minute meal cookbook from Rachel, this book focuses on entrees only. Comprised of only three chapters ~ Exhausted, Not Too Tired and Bring It On ~ each recipe is based on staples on hand to make dinner time less stressful.  Rachel employes the same grocery shopping strategy I have used for years, one BIG shop every two weeks (I try to do one large shop a month since I usually visit three or four stores in one day)  then a quick shop every two weeks for a handful of replacement items (hence the "express lane" title). Pasta and chicken make up a lot of the entrees.

As for staples, Ms Ray keeps 70 items on hand at all times including spices, canned goods and fridge and freezer foods.  The previous owner marked a few recipes, Cowboy Spaghetti and Wafflewiches - a Monte Cristo sandwich made with waffles instead of bread.

The Book Club Cook Book, published in 2004. Super large book with 496 pages of recipes representing 90+ books.  Each chapter is based on a book read by club members from around the United States, followed by a dish or two to match each title. The book titles range from contemporary fiction and non-fiction to classics with the oldest book being "Middlemarch" by George Eliot (1871).

A book club is profiled near the end of each chapter and I was pleasantly surprised to find an entry  from my hometown of Waipahu, Hawaii. The book club met at the Barnes & Noble store, which has since closed. Also noted at the end of each chapter  is a "food for thought" notation which expands on food  ideas and suggestions from other book clubs.

Labor Day Thrifty#1 ~ Vintage Cookbooks: Farm Journal Country Fair and Modern Approach to Everyday Cooking

Country Fair Cookbook, published in 1975. There are 300 Blue Ribbon winning recipes culled from country fairs around the United States ranging from breads, muffins, cakes, pies and cookies. Also included are tips on bread baking and quite a few pound cake recipes.  One recipe that caught my eye was  the Fluffy White Coconut Cake - I love a good coconut cake and most Southern cookbooks always contain at least one (if not more more) recipe. The book was a Christmas gift to the former owner from her mother and the only dog eared pages were for Apple Pie and Pecan Pie recipes.

Modern Approach to Everyday Cooking, published in 1966. The American Dairy Association produced this cookbook filled with 500 recipes which promise to add new flavor twists to favorite dishes. Short cuts using convenience foods, resulting in fewer ingredients, are some of the tips to add variety to everyday meals. There are also recipes to simplify meal preparation by using your freezer. The recipes run the gamut from appetizers, entrees and desserts.

One interesting notable feature is the cookware required for each dish is listed at the top of each recipe. The last chapter is an in-depth treatise on dairy products.

Out of Town Thrifty #4 ~ The Way to Cook (Julia Child)

The Way to Cook, published in 1989. Another over-sized cookbook with 490 pages of recipes and great cooking advice from Julia Child. Mrs. Child advocates moderation and variety when preparing meals and the book is one of her most creative and instructive cookbooks. The book was written solely by Julia and based on her six VCR program of the same name. The recipes reflect both French and American cuisine, blending classic techniques with American free-style cooking , resulting in dishes that are simple to prepare, lighter and fresher.

Besides the recipes which range from soups to desserts, there are photos of numerous cooking and baking techniques along with a few step by step instructional shots. Most chapters contain several master recipes (dough, stock, etc.) that can be expanded upon to produce various dishes. One of my favorite techniques discussed is the removal of aspic from a mold - a blowtorch is involved!

A few recipes I noted were for a Beef Brisket (I have always wanted to make a brisket!), several varieties of mayonnaise (herbed, green and Pimento) plus a luscious dessert - The Cambridge Cake. It's a yellow cake made with rum, chocolate and a decadent butter cream frosting, I drooled over the photo!

Out of Town Thrifty #2 ~ The Bosler Cookbook and Cooking with Flavor

The Bolser Cookbook - Hors d'Oeuvres and Other Savory Recipes, published in 1988. Another large community cookbook filled with 353 pages of recipes and menus for entertaining. The book was sold as a fundraiser for the Bosler Free Library (now the Bosler Memorial Library) located in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. The featured menu is from the Host & Hostess Benefit Dinner held in 1983 and features an Italian dinner. A few other themed menus include a New Orleans brunch, a Mid-East buffet and a Taste of Ireland. I found an easy recipe for Kim chi that I plan on testing out.

McCormick Cooking with Flavors - Spice Up Your Everyday Favorites, published in 2007. Beautifully photographed over sized cookbook touting McCormick spices and extracts in all the recipes. The dishes include appetizers, breakfast/brunch, entrees sides and desserts. The recipes require few ingredients as the spices or extracts are intended to highlight the finished product. The last chapter is an "Enspicelopedia", a massive listing of spices with a photo and small nugget of  info.

Out of Town Thrifty #3 ~ The Teddy Bear Cookbook

The Teddy Bear Cookbook, published in 1986. The only reason I bought this book was the price - 50 cents! Obviously it was written for children and the recipes are easy to prepare with limited adult supervision. There are "action" photos of teddy bears in various outfits (I did not know this was a thing) throughout the book as well as cute illustrations.

Page from Teddy Bear Cookbook: