Oh Those Sweet Old Cookbooks!!

Vintage cookbooks are one of my favorite things to find and browse through!  You always find

the recipes all marked up and notations made as to what was good and what was not.  Those thin little pamphlet style cookbooks, and cookbooks in general, have become a hot collectible.  Not just to own an "old" cookbook, but to actually use the recipes they contain.  Until the 1800's, most cookbooks were written by chefs to be used by chefs.  The first all American cookbook published was written by Amelia Simmons and was titled "American Cookery".  This one contained recipes for ingredients that were common to America.  Up until that time, cookbooks were written and published in England.  The recipes contained "a pinch" of that or a "sprinkle" of that until Fanny Farmer standardized measurements.  In the 1800's, these cookbooks also contained information about how to keep your house, set the table, how to make soap and home remedies, how to clean and skin wild game, etc.  I think I love the little pamphlet style and spiral bound cookbooks best.  They tend to have wonderful graphics on the front!  There are the ones that were printed specifically for a certain ingredient such as those pictured below for Eagle Brand Condensed Milk, Baker's Chocolate and Blue Ribbon Malt Extract.  Now I can see me using the Eagle Brand or Baker's chocolate cookbooks, but I had to look up what Malt Extract was.  Apparently it is a heavy syrup used in both baking and beer making.  The lady on the front of this cookbook made some amazing looking biscuits with it!  Notice how sweet and proficient they made her look with her hair all pinned up and a perky outfit topped with an apron. Again, the graphics really caught my eye.

Cookbooks from extension services, fraternal organizations, church's, schools, etc., began to pop up.  These were usually a compilation of recipes that were the "favorite" of those members of that particular organization.  They were used as fund raisers so were sold to the general public.  These really are treasure trove's of favorite recipes and are great collectibles to have on hand and to use.  

Take some time to browse through the cookbook sections in antique mall's.  You will find a terrific selection of these great old cookbooks that can still be used and enjoyed for both their recipes and their artwork.