Encyclopedia Repulsica, vol. 5 (Egg-Lan)

The Sun-Gold Egg Mold is 'a diadem of hard-cooked eggs, sparkling under a gelatin glaze.' Hovering o'er a halo of cuke slices! In actuality, the 'diadem' looks like a gruesome scientific experiment.


Probably the most frightening interpretation of the Swedish Smorgasbord yet. Includes Salmon in Aspic and.. other stuff in aspic.


Cornucopia Ham Glacé is one showy star on your Easter table!


These hotdogs seem to be wrapped in some sort of meat and sprinkled with some onions. I was trying to determine which recipe this was, but, after perusing all the 'Hotdog Happenings' in the book, including the Hotdog Hoedown, the Frankfurter Fiesta, the Hotdog Winders, and even the Hotdog Saucies (not to mention the Pickle Pups and the Trade-Winds Treasure Dogs), I couldn't find mention of a non-bacon meat wrapped round a frank. It is surely a glorious idea, though.


The Weiner Tiara Bake - A traditional dish served at the annual Miss America inaugural luncheon (and, allegedly, the tiara that the contestants actually want!)


Ah, 'The Joy Of Cooking For Others'! But it's hard not to be discouraged when others are calling your 'super-rich thick' milkshakes 'Awful Awfuls'.. Of all the concoctions I see in these cookbooks, a normal milkshake seems the least awful Awful of all! This scene is, by the way, a birthday party, and the Rocket Cones are pretty neat!

Encyclopedia Repulsica, vol. 4 (Des-Eas)

We're still trudging through the alphabetical world of the Family Circle Illustrated Library of Cooking series. Today, we're taking on portions of two letters in Volume 7: Des-Eas.

'Ever thought to use an orange as a vase?' Luckily, the elusive 'Family Circle' has, and this is just one more brilliant idea from their collective!


Spinach Mousse and Ladyfingers


From the 'Dinners in a Dish and/or a Dash' section: Poulet Marengo. All over the floor of the post office in Leytonstone. I'm sorry, I saw the name of this dish, and I couldn't help making a comment related to the brilliant Garth Marenghi's Darkplace that is neither funny nor relevant (the comment, not the show).


'Arroz Con Cerdo is that 'something different' dish.' That does sound promising!


'Bologna is available in single pieces as well as cold cuts. Try this unique recipe for Baked Bologna Jubilee.' I suspect this would make a splendid Easter dinner!


Great tip: 'When making Twin Meat Pie, simmer enough extra veal and pork to be able to make showy Jellied Meat Loaf.'

Encyclopedia Repulsica, vol. 3 (Coo-Cou)

Here are some highlights from volume 6, Coo-Cou, of the Family Circle Illustrated Library of Cooking. The most ridiculous part of this volume is that it covers: Cooking for a Crowd, Cooking for Just Two, Cooking on Location, Cooking over the Coals, and Countdown on Calories. There's really no logic to the organization of this series!

The post-modern Smorgasbord. Why, the beet and onion plate even resembles the Sunburst clock! Some Smorgasbord highlights include: Salmon Mousse in Aspic, Fish Balls with Parsley Sauce (described as 'steaming and savory'), and Ligonberry Torte.


Melrose Place starring Steak au Poivre



'Every dieter's best friends: tall, quivery, shimmering gelatin molds made with slimming low-calorie gelatins.'

Encyclopedia Repulsica, vol. 2 (Cak-Coo)

From volume 4 of the Family Circle Illustrated Library of Cooking, here is the cake section:

The Buttercream Cake is unimportant. The ultracool 70s background clashing with the gaudy decor is the only reason to give this picture a second look. And, it's gorgeous!


'The birthday child will flip over this fairytale ice cream-and-cake castle turreted with pastel peppermints.' - This feat of architecture is pretty impressive even though it looks like it's about to cave in on itself.


Volume 5 (Chi-Coo) has absolutely no chicken in its pages. It does, however, have this mindblower under the 'Cool Cooking' heading. The caption says, 'As sparkly as a mini-mountain of topazes, cooling Jellied Madrilene Seville made with a cola drink.' This might be something good to make for Valentine's Day if you forgot to get a gift. When your loved one gives you an appropriately negative look, you can insist that it's like a mountain of jewels!


Not Another Smorgasbord! This one has an interesting twist: a spinal column garnish in the lemonade pitcher!


Happy Valentine's Day from Curly Wurly (and Family Circle Illustrated Library of Cooking, vol. 4)!! Celebrate the most romantic of holidays with tarts, cakes, embalmed hotdogs, and mucilage!

Encyclopedia Repulsica (A-Buy)

Perusing our vast collection of women's magazine cooking encyclopedias, I discovered quite a few images that were probably meant to be cosmopolitan and exciting in the 1970s. Most of the recipes, of course, seem fairly innocuous, but there are some dishes that just seem to question their own edibility. For the next week or two, I'll be posting the highlights from the various volumes. First up is the Family Circle Illustrated Library of Cooking series dating from 1972. Volume 1 comprises 'A - Bev.'

Maryland Moldy Ham


'A luscious lineup of milk and fruit based coolers' - I was entranced by the face in the top-middle beverage.

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Volume 3 of the series is charmingly titled 'Bur-Buy.' The theme of this volume is 'How not to serve your hamburger.' Case in point:


Do not attempt to shape your hamburgers like this. It is best to stick to recognizable geometric shapes.


Beans are an acceptable side dish, but do not top the other bun with beans.


Not only should it not top the other bun, but spaghetti doesn't even really go with a burger.

General Foods Kitchens - drawings

The book featured in yesterday's post isn't only filled with charming photos. 1959's General Foods Kitchens Cookbook is packed full of some of the best line drawings that I've seen in any cookbook. While Mary Ronin's technique is very simple, she managed to create vignettes that are at once surreal and disturbing. Which is exactly what you want in cookbook illustrations.

Mother's always harping on about what fruits and vegetables go with which meats and which sized pan you need to use. Why, she even has gigantic posters all over the house!


Hmm.. What's more important: my family or my all-consuming obsession with balanced nutrition and meal planning?


From the section 'How do you market when you have a job?' - But, seriously, it is hard to work with all the produce floating over your head! One false move and that strategically placed cast iron skillet will knock you out cold!


Put 'em up! Annie Oakley picks out her dinner.


Aaaaaahhh!! A huge arm just stretched out from the tossed salad, and it's got me! My only defense is this spoon that's about the size of my leg!


It looks like this woman is holding a gun? Well, no wonder all the dishes sprouted legs to run away!


Stepford Wife and Stepford Daughter. Also includes a very special section (and soon to be an ABC Afterschool Special that should be watched as a family) on the 'most controversial' item in meal planning: between-meal snacking.


The chafing dish might be a glorified double boiler, but it doesn't mean that this one is too good for her beau.


The hostess looks like she's about to collapse under the immense weight of the tray she's barely keeping aloft. Her friends exchange scornful looks behind her back, and when she does inevitably crumple to the ground, they'll probably just laugh and leave her there.


Now all my shish kebab needs is a miniature chef. Ah, here's one!


Show and Tell! The class' assignment was to bring in their most prized possessions. Bobby brought in his life-sized teddy bear. Freddy brought in his gramophone. Suzie brought in her one-legged grandfather, Frank.


O Pepperoni Pizza Tree, how glistening is your mozzarella.


And the most chilling illustration of all: The Unexpected Guest.

General Foods Kitchens - photos

Here are a few photos taken from the phenomenal General Foods Kitchens Cookbook. The book is from 1959, and the photographs are by George Lazarnick.

'Saturday lunchtime finds everybody at home, and a fabulous French toast sandwich meal, hearty enough for Dad.' But not appropriate for Baby.


'Leftovers can be every bit as exciting as the beautiful roasts they started with.' And the identity of the dishes can be every bit as uncertain as the origin of the meats contained within them.


'Let the children cook' - This one's practically giddy at the prospect of preparing dinner. No person looks that happy making dinner. I'm thinking she hates her family, and the 'secret ingredient' in the sauce is arsenic.


'The seated buffet' - The bun has spent three weeks on its makeshift tomato raft, slowly moving across the sea of... well, the sea. Its destination: the Great Chocolate Sponge Mold.


This is what they call a 'Midwest pitch-in party.' It's a neighborhood affair where everyone brings a specialty! The highlight is the 'Leg' Roast, though so much about the 'Leg' Roast goes unexplained..


In the 1950s and 60s, the second most popular dinner (after anything aspic) was the Danish smorgasbord, or smørrebrød, as this book insists. 'It's a sandwich feast with beauties like these,' and, as we've seen in the past, one page is devoted to the smorgasbord in pretty much every cookbook of the era.


Another humiliating birthday party. First of all, I asked for a real clown. It's just as well since no one actually showed up...


More proof that a hardy sandwich is the epitome of romance.


This food doesn't want to be eaten. Their defensive mechanisms include retractable spikes and toxic secretions.


'The prettiest party of the season' - The main dish is 'today's catch.' They're just not sure what they caught.


'They're engaged!' - But, if the menu here is any indication, Sue and Bob didn't last.


This looks like the opening scene of a slasher flick.


A cake so good they had to make four!


Prepare a 'first-day dinner' for new neighbors. Great if you want to appear welcoming but really aim to scare them right out of the neighborhood.