Betty Crocker Cookbook for Boys and Girls
The book was published in 1957. My sister and I had already prepared many of the recipes in this book by the time my youngest brother was born.. and that was in 1962. This cookbook was used so often (and still is!) and is now stored in a plastic bag (a no-no for vintage items) because it is in pieces.
I love to look at the page where my mother had made a list of meals and the order of preparation for my sister and me so that when my mother was in the hospital having my brother, our family would still have meals on the table.
Heaven forbid that we have to eat out. In my childhood eating out was a rarity.
I still use the gingerbread recipe in this book and my brothers and even my sons all consider Saucy Hamburger Crumble to be the ultimate in comfort food.
Time passes... and life goes on... Sunday, October 23rd I had my parents on my mind. It had been three years since my father had passed away and my mother just four months before him.
I was with my friend, Sherry, and we were having so much fun shopping in Wimberly, Texas. We wandered through Kiss the Cook, a fabulous store loaded with cooking all sorts of cooking utensils and cookbooks. So much fun!!
paraphernalia
It had been laying heavy on my heart that I had not received a "sign" from my parents in some time. On that particular day it was actually nagging at me. Some little something that would only be understood by my parents and me.
As I enjoyed looking through the cookbooks I looked up and suddenly saw THE cookbook. It was the Betty Crocker Cookbook for Boys and Girls! One single copy and on a little stand. No way to miss it. It's been republished.. is that a word??
It was the sign!!
My new cookbook!!
I whipped that cookbook off the shelf and there could not be any purchase that I will make for a very long time that will hold a candle to this cookbook.
... and, yes, that is a picture of my parents in my collage.
Gingerbread
"Little girls in hoop skirts and boys in ruffled collars ate gingerbread, too."
Heat oven to 325 degrees
Grease and flour a 9-inch square pan.
Mix thoroughly:
1/2 cup soft shortening
2 tablespoons sugar
1 egg
Blend in:
1 cup dark molasses
1 cup boiling water
Stir in:
2 1/4 cups sifted Gold Medal Flour
1 teaspoon soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ginger
1 teaspoon cinnamon
Beat until smooth. Pour into prepared pan. Bake 45 to 50 minutes.
Saucy Hamburger Crumble
Melt in frying pan:
1 tablespoon fat
Add and brown lightly:
1 small onion, chopped
Then add and brown:
1 pound ground beef
Break the meat into small pieces.
Stir in:
1/4 cup Gold Medal Flour
Then stir in:
2 cups water or milk (I use milk)
Heat until gravy bubbles. Serve over mashed potatoes. 4 servings
I am linking to:
Show and Tell Friday at My Romantic Home
