Making Discoveries
These little vintage cookbooks are fun. I found them on my last thrift outing, along with the hand-embroidered linen tea cloth. The stitching on this is beautiful, not a single spot on it either. The delicate flowers and leaf sprigs remind me of chamomile, and send my mind drifting to the summer herb garden. Well, when I saw this I knew it would be the perfect compliment to the soft blue toile print in the bedroom and decided to make a little pillow out of it for the chaise. A nice weekend project perhaps.
Anyway, these ABC cookbooks were published in the 1950's-60's by Peter Pauper Press, a third generation family publisher that's been around for over 70 years. I found the three entitled, "The ABC of Jiffy Cooking", "The ABC of Casseroles", and "The ABC of Wine Cookery". (There were two of the latter and I'd be happy to pass one along to the first person in the U.S. who leaves a comment here that wants to claim it.) As luck would have it, or maybe because these are on my radar now, I ran
across another one, "The ABC of Salads". I don't know how many there are in the series, but when I did an online search I found one for canapes and another for desserts. I'll be on the look-out for those now that I seem to have a collection starting here. They seem to be geared toward young brides and new homemakers and have practical simple recipes from A-Z, which was funny to me when I realized this because of the A-Z quiche challenge I'm doing. And if I get stumped, I can just thumb through these and see what's cooking for a particular letter. There are cute "decorations" throughout by Ruth McCrea, with her quirky quips like, "There's grit in the salad, and way too much salt, the cook is in love, so it isn't her fault." What a great excuse when things go awry in the kitchen! (I'll have to remember that one the next time I burn something and set off the smoke alarm.) Oh, another treasure I found, Betty Crocker's Party Book (1960). Such a tasty treat. Almost as delicious as my cornbread.
Love the towel it is too cute, I have not found anything that cute in my thrifting adventures.
Posted by: kate | March 03, 2007 at 04:21 AM
Looks like you had a great time thrifting. Thank you for sharing your finds with us. I wanted to let you know how talented I think you are. I looked at your "Blanket Statement" page with all of the beauties you made. I'm in awe of your abilities. I loved everything you made!
Posted by: Allie from Minneapolis | March 03, 2007 at 07:23 AM
Love your thrifted tea towel. It looks to be so soft. Lucky you!!!
Posted by: Eren | March 03, 2007 at 09:32 AM
i WOULD LOVE TO HAVE THE ABC OF WINE COOKING!
Posted by: Judy Grubbs | March 03, 2007 at 12:00 PM
Terrific finds!!
Posted by: JudyC | March 03, 2007 at 02:21 PM
Such great finds! I adore that quote. I think I'll be using it, too. ;-)
Posted by: Dannielle | March 03, 2007 at 02:53 PM
What great finds you have there!!!
Posted by: Gypsy Purple-Chamara | March 03, 2007 at 07:41 PM
What great finds you have there!!!
Posted by: Gypsy Purple-Chamara | March 03, 2007 at 07:41 PM
Has anyone claimed the ABC Casserole book yet? I'd love to add it to my collection. Also, I was just searching through eBay and found someone selling a set of six. Other titles were Barbecue, Salads, Cocktails, Gourmet Cooking, and Chafing Dish Cookery. LOVE those vintage cookbooks!
Posted by: Ann | March 04, 2007 at 08:08 AM
We had cornbread last night too! my niece loves it so much she tried to make off with a hunk of it in her pocket!
i, too, am thinking garden thoughts these days...lovely weather we're having!
Posted by: victoria | March 04, 2007 at 10:24 AM
The teatowel is beautiful isn't it. That simple combination of blue and white or red and white does it every time. I found some similar cookbook at Christmas time and gave them as presents.
Posted by: little jenny wren | March 04, 2007 at 01:50 PM
i love thrift shopping! some of my favorite things around the house are thrift shop finds! not to mention my jones of ny soft leather blazer in a barn red color! many of my holiday decorations are thrift finds too! i've found some of the best times to go are right after the weekends on mondays and for christmas finds, right after thanksgiving!
Posted by: GardeningJo | March 05, 2007 at 08:31 PM
I love you creations and the buttons were exactly the right touch.
I am a Mother of Pearl vintage button lover also (well all vintage buttons but mostly the mother of pearl variety). My grandma had a BIG button tin that I loved to play with when I was little. Now the button tin is my own and I use them for little treasures on my creations.
Posted by: Angie Grimm | March 06, 2007 at 07:25 AM
the pillow came out great! i love vintage cookbooks too...i have waaay too many cookbooks! and yet i still buy them!
Posted by: cindy | March 06, 2007 at 04:37 PM
Oh my goodness! I saw the ABC of Cheese yesterday at the thrift store. I will try to go back today and get it for you. I didn't buy it because I was just looking for local cookbooks put out by the nice church ladies. They sell really well in my antique booth. I will let you know later if I get it for you!!
Posted by: ShabbychicShar | March 08, 2007 at 04:21 AM