We have been trying to do some massive decluttering because it looks like we will be watching Emma when my daughter goes back to work. What a horrendous task. I can just kick myself for ever having bought so many books. It seems that we just have millions of them. Boxes and boxes everywhere. All types, cookbooks, fiction, science, self help you name it we have it. It hurts to have to donate things that you paid good money for. I am thinking about having a massive book sale and just selling hardcovers for 1.00 and paperbacks for 50 cents. My husbands eBay business just doesn't sell them fast enough.
Anyway when digging down to a box that hadn't been opened in a long time I found a Southern Living book: Quick & Easy Cookbook- Menus, Recipes & Tips. The book is from 1979 and while flipping through it I realized that it is a perfect example of how tastes have changed. Almost all the recipes would be considered grossly under seasoned by today's standards. When spices and seasonings where listed they only called for maybe 1/2 teaspoon. If made as listed I can imagine a huge outcry that everything was too bland. Here is an example:
Top-Of-The-Stove Casserole
1 pound ground beef
1 small onion, chopped
1 (16 oz.) can tomatoes
1/2 cup uncooked regular rice
1/2 cup water
1 tablespoon sugar (? I don't know about this, to cut the acid of the tomatoes maybe)
1 (16 oz.) can green peas
Salt and pepper to taste
Brown meat and onion in a large skillet; drain. Add tomatoes, rice, water, and sugar. Cover and cook over low heat about 25 minutes or until rice is tender. Add peas and season. Heat slowly until hot. Yield 6 servings.
As unappealing as this sounds I am sure there are plenty of harried women who make a variation of this when they need a super quick dinner. However I am sure they add liberal amounts of Mexican or Italian seasonings to make it better suite today's palates. They probably top it with some shredded cheese too. It seems like every current casserole recipe I see calls for a cheese topping.
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My oven is almost as old as this one.
Welcome to my blog where you can find a variety of recipes from old cookbooks and paper clippings. Please come back and visit soon.
My oven is almost as old as this one.
About Me
- Rochelle R.
- Collecting cookbooks and recipes has been my hobby for over 35 years. I especially like vintage and advertising cookbooks and have over 1,000. I have a degree in Home Economics.
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2 comments:
Millions of books. Boxes of them everywhere. I can so identify with that! Good luck on your decluttering. While most women bring home bags of clothing or housewares, I almost always come home with at least one book. I'm having a hard time with my Southern Living cookbooks--haven't used them in a while, yet I can't seem to part with them just yet. I hadn't noticed about the seasonings. I'll have to take another look.
Boy oh boy so can I relate with you "guys."
I've been moving books to Pennsylvania for what feels like ages. Last time I was there I actually made a boxed pile of "to go" books. I'm afraid they may not make it out the door. I kept the Southern Living although, I'm not quite sure why. Perhaps, as a reminder of days gone by...
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