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Wednesday, June 21, 2006

The 1950's: Did we really go there?

Someone wrote to me to request a recipe from one of my cookbooks, so I dutifully pulled the book from its shelf and looked for the recipe. I got so amused while looking through the book that I had to share some of it.

This is the recipe I sent. I only just emailed it so I don't know if it's what she is looking for or not. This is from the "How To Get The Most Out Of Your Sunbeam Automatic Mixmaster" cookbooklet from 1950. The cover of my copy is a bit battered, but the inside is still great.
By the way, don't make this recipe now unless it's cooler where you live or you have A/C! Otherwise, I would be going against my own good advice.




Thrifty Cup Cakes
("Short-Cut" Method)

Preparation: Have shortening at room temperature. Assemble all ingredients and utensils needed. Grease 3-inch cup cake pans. Sift flour once before measuring. Preheat oven to baking temperature.
Sift into large bowl of MIXMASTER:
1¼ cups sifted cake flour
2/3 cup sugar
1¾ teaspoons double-acting or (2¼ teaspoons fast-acting) baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
Add:
1/3 cup shortening (soft)
1/2 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
Beat it on No. 3 speed 2 minutes, scraping bowl while beating. Stop mixer. Scrape beaters.
Add:
1 egg, unbeaten
Beat 1 minute longer, scraping sides of bowl while beating. Fill cup cake pans 2/3 full.
Bake: (375° F)-moderately hot oven-about 15 minutes or until golden brown. Turn out of pans. Cool. Ice with Fudge Icing on Page 18. Put a half nut meat on top of each or sprinkle with cocoanut.
Makes: 1 dozen large cup cakes.

Easy Fudge Icing

Combine in top of double boiler:
3 squares (3 oz.) unsweetened chocolate
¼ cup butter or margarine
Melt over hot water.

Put into small bowl of MIXMASTER:
2 cups sifted confectioner's sugar
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/3 cup hot milk or cream
Beat on No. 2 speed until blended. Then beat in chocolate mixture on No. 10 speed. Beat until thick enough to spread. More confectioner's sugar or cream may be added to give desired consistency.
Makes: Enough icing for two 8-inch layers.

These are what I was getting so amused by. I look at these images and mostly think that they're neat. I sometimes wish we could go back to simpler times but these ads are just so funny. Note that almost all of them say something about being "automatic". These are the same appliances that nowadays would cycle endlessly and drain power from elsewhere. I've owned some older appliances in my time and they are also really hefty. I have to say though, on the whole they were made far better than much of the "junk" we buy today.

Have fun looking, and click on the pictures to open them up fully so you can read them!











8 comments:

  1. I am in the advertising field and I love old advertisements.

    I can see why you long for the simplier times, but at the same time these ads remind me how far along we have come. The technology back then just doesn't cut it in todays world.

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  2. When I was in college, on my breaks I would go to the library and look through the old women's magazines. I loved looking at the old ads and articles. And recipes! Why wasn't I smart enough back them to turn my interest in that stuff into a career??

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  3. Me too-me too.

    I wish I could make just ONE of my interests make money!

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  4. Don't we all... oh well, maybe one day our ship will come in. :)

    I have my grandmothers old cook books and love them all- I even have her old waffle iron that weighs 75 lbs. I cant seem to throw anything away-

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  5. I used to have this very old recipe book and I just love looking at those pictures and imagine that I was eating it.

    There is something charming about magazines or old books with their old style illustrations.

    Btw, thanks for dropping by on my blog. Ill be linking you up so I wont forget your blog and also I am building up links on food blogs being a newbie in this area

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  6. I love going through old cookbooks. I just made an orange salad - you know the kind with jello, cottage cheese, pineapple and cool whip. A taste from the past!

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  7. Oh those are so cute, Anne. I really love stuff from the 50s...it just seemed like such an optimistic time!

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  8. Very nice site!
    »

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