When we read books of various kinds, if the author is a good
one, feelings are evoked. I don’t think I have felt quite so warm and snugly
while reading a book as I did while reading this one. Betty
Crocker Found Recipes (scheduled for publication
November 26th, so plan ahead) is an absolute delight for anyone who
remembers her early cookbooks, magazine advertisements, and other bits of
ephemera that would feature recipes of one kind or other. Paging through, I
remembered meals that my grandmother used to make employing the use these old
recipes. Seeing them all in this book, with beautiful photographs to accompany
them, made me feel so loved. I know that sounds strange when talking about a
cookbook, but that is how I felt.
From beginning to end, this cookbook is an absolute
delight. It is a collection of “found” recipes from the past. They have been
re-created with modern kitchens in mind, and all placed into this one book. In
addition to re-creating lost recipes, consumers who helped participate in the
making of this book described favorite dishes they remembered from their past
but for which they had no recipe, and using that descriptive information, Betty
Crocker created replicas. I guarantee that you will find many old friends while
paging through this book. I was amazed at how many memories came to mind while
looking at these recipes. Suddenly, I was transported decades into the past
sitting beside family members, now gone, enjoying Sunday dinner at grandma’s
table.
The book is divided into five sections:
Holiday Celebrations
Memorable Main Dishes
Warm from the Oven Breads
Irresistible Cookies and Bars
Better than Desserts
The origins of the recipes are mentioned in a blurb
proceeding each one, something I found as fascinating as the recipes
themselves. The old advertisements peppered throughout the book were both a
visual and nostalgic delight. Also included are individual cook’s (fan's) memories
of the recipes that they had requested be included in the book.
If anything is lacking, it’s the absence of
vegetable recipes. I happen to like vegetables a great deal, so was
disappointed not to see any vegetable recipes contained within.
This cookbook is unique, a joy to page through, and no doubt pure delight to
cook from. I cannot recommend this highly enough. Young people will appreciate
the recipes for their ease, variety, and failing to employee ingredients that
are hard to find. Older people are going to love looking back to when they
themselves made these recipes, and enjoyed sharing the results with their
families.
Many thanks to NetGalley, publisher Harvest
Books, and Betty Crocker for providing me with an advanced digital copy in
exchange for an honest review.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
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