Lots of pie

The ad man that thought up this 60's ad really got a lot of bang for their clients budget. Ten recipe suggestions in one ad! The variety of colors really draws your eye to the ad too.

The ideas aren't very inspired but there sure are a lot of them. The fruit cocktail slice description is: "Put drained fruit cocktail in it, glaze with thickened syrup and it's Fruit Salad Pie." No thanks.

I didn't realize that ready made crumb pie crusts had been around for so long. The recipe I like to use with one is this:

Pina Colada Pie

2 containers (8 oz. each) pina colada yogurt

1 container (8 oz.) Cool Whip whipped topping, thawed

1 large can crushed pineapple, well drained

1 9-inch graham cracker crumb crust

Fold yogurt into whipped topping, blending well; fold in pineapple. Spoon into crust. Freeze until firm, 4 hours or overnight. Remove from freezer 30 minutes before serving and keep chilled in refrigerator.

Pie Plate Salad

This is another ad from the 1952 Better Living. I am sure it is not a tasty as yesterdays cake. This is a recipe for a 50's favorite, the gelatin salad. "Enjoy this new, different salad, made like a pie in your regular pie pan!. So quick and easy! Veg-All Mixed Vegetables- seven delicious salad vegetables all ready to use- bring you a nutritional combination that's vitamin and mineral-rich, perfect for salads." I don't know how they can call just putting some canned veggies in lemon gelatin a salad- no seasonings or added ingredients. Gee how creative.

1. Dissolve one package lemon gelatin in 1 cup hot water. Stir until thoroughly dissolved. Add 1/2 cup cold water.
2. Add 1 can drained Veg-All. Rinse 8-inch pie pan with cold water. Pour in mixture. Chill until firm.
3. Unmold on flat plate. Garnish with tartar sauce or salad dressing, pimiento lettuce. Serve in pie cuts.

I can not imagine anything as unappealing to me as canned mixed vegetable in lemon jello. This is in part because of my own traumatic 50's canned mixed vegetable experience. I can remember very clearly the night my Mom opened a can of mixed vegetables to serve for dinner and there right on top of the veggies was a very well canned fly! I would not touch canned mixed vegetables from that day on.

For Those on a Budget- Mock Steak

Here is a retro idea for those of us who can no longer afford a steak dinner. Just fake it with hamburger! This idea cracks me up. I am sure anyone who actually tried it didn't have it come out looking anything like the one in the ad. I bet it would fall apart when you tried to turn it to broil the other side. Basically it just sounds like a glorified broiled meatloaf.

Mock Steak (serves 8)

Mix 2 lbs. ground round, 1/2 lb. lean pork, 1 env. dry onion soup mix, 2 Tbs. Lea & Perrins, 2 cups stuffing mix, 1 -1/2 cups tomato juice. Form into steak shape 1 inch thick. Wrap 2 strips thick bacon at outer edge to resemble fat. During broiling brush with mixture of 1/2 cup melted butter, 2 Tbs. Lea & Perrins, 3 Tbs. catsup. Broil 10 minutes each side. Use carrot strip to make bone.
From a 1968 Family Circle