Tuesday, November 22, 2011

My Cookbook

My Cookbook is almost 42 years old.  We got two of them as wedding gifts.  One was hard bound and one was in a five ring binder.  One of them was from one of Far Guys X girlfriends.  I was insulted. ( I think my lip may have quivered..people that know me well will run for cover at the first sign of a quiver.) After all I could make a real tasty grilled cheese sandwich complete with warmed up tomato soup out of a can and I could scramble an egg, sometimes even without burning it!

As it happened..she (the X) got married the next weekend.  We attended the fancy smancy wedding with candelabras on every pew and violin music.  I re-gifted her the hardbound Betty Crocker cookbook..and I kept the one in the five ring binder for myself.  I wonder if she still has it..I know she doesn’t have the husband. ( Ha! I still have mine!)

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There are parts of this cookbook that are all worn out.  The cookie sections have notes and recipes written in the margins.

single sheets

Pathetic looking isn’t it?  Perhaps I should invest in some of those circle thingys to reinforce the holes.

Some are single sheets..well loved recipes..proof that once upon a time I made cookies for my girls.  A long time ago they were each encouraged to choose two kinds of Christmas Cookies..and they would help me bake.  Far Guy always chose the Ginger Snaps with that improved recipe written in red ink.  That other recipe in the center of the page is for a soft molasses raisin cookie that gets topped with a powdered sugar frosting..yummy.  That was my favorite!  I know it doesn’t say anything about raisins or a frosting..but believe me..that is a good cookie. IMG_7772

One confusing recipe is written on the front cover.  I know I was talking to my Grandma Drewes on the phone when I wrote it down.  It was her recipe for my favorite Russian Dill Pickles.  Hopefully I have the real recipe written down someplace else.

I have almost worn this book out and I still cannot cook. I watch all kinds of cooking shows and collect recipe books to read..not sure it has ever done a lick of good. 

The back of the well used cookbook 

42 years ago this cookbook had a front and a back cover..I still have the back cover..for old times sake.  I suppose I should look for a new index..everything beyond half of R is missing:)

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29 comments:

Muffy's Marks said...

You made my day, when you wrote you re-gifted the cookbook. I'm still chuckling!! (Sassy) To me your cookbook is like the Velveteen Rabbit, with its fur loved off. You know, I think the disasters are more memorable than the perfect meals... I know they are at my house.

rkbsnana said...

I too would have never cooked a thing out of X's cookbook. That made me chuckle.

Country Gal said...

One thing I wouldnt of done and thats gone to any exs wedding to me an ex is for a reason and to stay away from lol You could scan your wonderful cook book and make a new one out of it. But some times old cook books falling apart are the best still to any new one. I laughted at that gave her a re- gifted cook book hahaha ! Have a good day !

patty said...

looks just like mine, except mine is held together with duct tape, my copy is 43 years old, lasted longer than the husband. I still use it as a reference. I don't like to cook either and I also have a huge collection of receipes! I think that I collect them in the hopes that I will someday enjoy to cook.

DJan said...

I have a Moosewood cookbook that I just love, and it's certainly showing its age. But not to the extent that YOURS is. The problem is that if you get a new one, it won't have all the memories. Those little circle things are a good idea. I'd get some right away if I were you. :-)

Nezzy (Cow Patty Surprise) said...

I actually have this exact cookbook handed down from my mother and it's about in the same shape.

I had to crack up on the 're-gifted' statement girl!!! Heeehehehe!

God bless ya sweetie, you, Far Guy and Chance have a beautiful Thanksgiving!!! :o)

Laura said...

I got a chuckle out of your re-gifting story!
I was given a Betty Crocker cookbook for a wedding gift for my first wedding. I actually threw it away after we split up. It just held so many unhappy memories. Isn't that an odd thing? I bought myself a new one. Sometimes I wish I would have held onto that old one. Happy memories have done a very good job of drowning out those unhappy ones. I love that your cookbook is so well used and holds those memories for you!

linda m said...

I have that very same Betty Crocker cookbook. I received it in 1967. Mine is a little worn but I still use it.

Leilani Schuck Weatherington said...

I love this post. I got a Betty Crocker cookbook very similar to yours when I was married in 1971 and it eventually fell apart. I ended up buying a a replacement in a used-book store for no doubt quite a bit more than the original cookbook cost. Loved the story about the "x". Wonderful!

Rita said...

Mine is a Better Homes & Gardens Cook Book from 1971. Sadly mine looks almost brand new except for the pages getting a little yellow. Shows you how much I used it--LOL!

Loved the re-gifting, but I never would have been at the ex's wedding and don't understand why FarGuy would go--unless it was to make sure she tied the knot with somebody else. ;)

Harriet said...

Oh too funny....regift. Your cookbook looks like mine. My sister gave me a Pillsbury cookbook for Christmas one year. My Betty Crocker--I have no idea. My favorite is Joy of Cooking...hard bound and held together with tons of tape. Good memories.

Rae said...

You are wicked and I love it. The old X deserved the re-gift.
I have a similar cookbook that is well worn. The edges are held together with tape and there are stains on the pages. I have many cookbooks now, but it is still my favorite.

Lanny said...

Old cook books are my favorite! I have my mom's old Joy of Cooking (one of the very few things my older sisters didn't get their hands on first) And her "cookie cookbook" she pulled out of a magazine, it is in a manila folder and I'm afraid to touch it. But I have a box of plastic sheet covers and I might just load the whole thing page by page into the plastic sheets.

EBet said...

We have a few cook books that look like that.....The apple pie recipe looks like it was used as a plate to eat apple pie off of. I had a friend that called me Betty Crocker!

LindaG said...

You are very lucky to still have such a wonderful cookbook.
Happy Thanksgiving!

Just Stuff From a Boomer said...

These comments are so funny. Seems alot of us have that cookbook. Mine was repaired with duct tape too! It now lives with one of my daughter's homes. Grease spots, loose pages and all. It is still the best.

Nancy said...

I have the hardbound book and have written notes and other recipes all over it, too. It is really hard to beat these old Betty Crocker cookbooks.

Judy said...

It's funny how they used to give cookbooks back then...I also got the ring binder Betty Crocker cookbook with the red plaid cover as a wedding gift...still use it...My Granddaughter just got married...don't think she got a cookbook...well the holiday is coming...

Red said...

Quite a story for one cookbook!
I like the idea you had with your kids that they would choose two kinds of cookies and help you bake them.
I really like the comments on exes!
Now I challenge people to come up with good stories on exes??? Just roiling the water!

Karmyn R said...

My mother-n-law uses her cookbooks like a journal.

Whenever she makes something from one of them - she writes down the date and whatever the reason she is cooking.

She's handed me down some of her older cookbooks, and I enjoy opening them up to find little things like "Made this cake for Dave's 5th birthday, Dec.24th, 1970" It warms my heart.

Linda said...

I have the same book (mines a little younger) but its not beat up quite as bad....on the other hand my Farm Women's cookbook and old Fanny Farmer's cookbook are probably in worse shape. You are a sassy one getting back like that;)))

Leenie said...

Yes, the Velveteen Rabbit of cookbooks, nothing like something that survives the challenges of time and becomes REAL.

Nancy/BLissed-Out Grandma said...

My mom used her Betty Crocker cookbook regularly for years, so when I got my own place she gave me hers and she got a new one. It was like a rite of passage. I still use it for several old favorite recipes, but I stopped cooking for many years so my book is still in pretty good condition.

Anonymous said...

You made me laugh when you regifted the cookbook. Mine was given as a gift in 1959 (gasp.!) The marriage lasted 10 years still using the cookbook. Mine looks alot like yours need those circle thingys too Have a blessed and happy Thanksgiving. Mary

Ann said...

I couldn't believe it. No cookbook for a shower or wedding gift. The first year we were married I help a lady and she gave me a cookbook. The same and only one my mom had. I grew up cooking out of Searchlight Recipe Book (Household Magazine). Copyright 1931. My sister has found a bought one for the rest of siblings. I would go to the library for cookbooks and recipes. I love reading cookbooks.

Stacey K. said...

I actually think I have this cookbook!! It was left in Woodrow's house when Zach moved in and I asked for it......pretty sure I have the EXACT one! COOL!!

Leah said...

Great post! Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!

Anonymous said...

That cookbook is a family heirloom!

I made scrambled eggs the other day - followed a recipe faithfully - but by golly, don't know what went wrong but it took almost 45 minutes before it was ready!

Pamela said...

seems we both cook enough to GITTER DONE.