Wednesday, December 04, 2019

Best Loved Foods of Christmas


Today's post is hopelessly nostalgic.  During my childhood, this little cookbook made an appearance every year when my mother began her Christmas baking.  When I saw this cookbook on the counter, or stacked atop her Christmas notebook, I knew that the baking was about to commence.  So I was understandably thrilled, a number of years ago, to find a copy of it at a thrift store!

Isn't the front cover mouth-watering?  Starting at top left, the goodies pictured are Norwegian Holiday Bread, Rich Dark Fruitcake, Christmas Pudding, and Eight-Trick Butter Cookies.

Yes, in addition to cookie recipes, this versatile little book also contains recipes for frostings, cakes, yeast breads, quick breads, holiday pies, and festive desserts.

The Land O'Lakes butter ad is on the back cover of my copy of this cookbook.  I have seen another copy of this booklet, apparently from a different year, which has different copy on the back cover, featuring a Holiday Buffet.

This sweet cookbook was put out by Pillsbury.   I can't find a copyright date on it anywhere but it is either from the late 1950s or the early 1960s.  You can click on the photos to enlarge them.  At left above is a very newsy, friendly note from Ann Pillsbury welcoming readers to this booklet.  At right is a color photo of some of the goodies that recipes are provided for.  I love the fun little graphic below the diagram!
  There is a whole page of helpful instructions on freezing cookies.  This advice is still sound today.
The Merry Mincemeaters above are a bar cookie that my mother often made.   I was happy to find this recipe again!  I'm not a huge fan of mincemeat, but these bars are festive and truly delicious.

Hope you've enjoyed this look into a truly vintage cookbook that is still well worth bringing out and baking from every Christmas season!  I wouldn't be a bit surprised if you could find one of these on Etsy or eBay.

6 comments:

  1. I love hopelessly nostalgic posts. What a God wink for you to find the very booklet that your mother used for her holiday baking. My mother pulled her big red cookbook from the shelf or her overflowing recipe box. I still have both. I am going to make a button for this blog on my Friend’s Page so I don’t miss your December posts. (I keep forgetting how to get here. 🙃)

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    1. I know, isn't it so neat how I found that very booklet! Since then, of course, I have found another -- the very one my mother pulled out each year. I sent that one to Angela at Tea with Friends, as she is writing a book about vintage Christmas baking.

      So fun that you still have your mother's big red cookbook and overflowing recipe box. I found several recipe boxes in my mother's kitchen, and I think she used them all at one time or another through the years.

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  2. What a treasure!
    By the way, I just popped my first batch of cookies into the freezer following your instructions. I'm so excited to see how they are in a couple of weeks. Thanks again for your help!

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    1. It is a treasure indeed! Now I'm waiting to hear how things worked out with the cookies that you froze!

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  3. I enjoy cookbooks, especially finding vintage Christmas ones! This season also brings many wonderful memories for me, especially in the kitchen.
    Thank you for sharing.
    Blessings,
    Sue

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    1. Yes, the same is so true for me, so many wonderful Christmas memories from the kitchen!

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