The “Silent Hostess” Treasure Book
General Electric
1931
I love finding these old cookbooks. This particular example is a publication from General Electric touting the exciting “new” features in the refrigerator. Best part are the color pictures featuring….wait for it: Surprise Loaf. (4th picture below) The aptly named Surprise Loaf contains raw cabbage, mayo, cream cheese, pimento and a few other ingredients. I believe the surprise comes from the ability to keep from throwing up after consuming.
Not only recipes, but this little cookbook offers up nutrition advice, hostessing tips, and a bit of food safety. There are even a few paragraphs devoted to the problems of hostessing when you don’t have a maid.
Cookbooks are an exciting subject for study, and I want to encourage everyone to visit Mid-Century Menu and Retro Recipe. These brave folks are taking one for the team by actually cooking and tasting many these culinary delights. For those looking for serious research and archive, hop on over to Michigan State University’s special collection on Cookery and Food, and check out Feeding America, which has highlights from this collection. The food nerd in you will love this!
Mary
Awful Library Books 