Soeur Berthe Recipe's

I had a great weekend and I sure hope you had one too!

Saturday I went thrifting with my Dad. It was the best! he got me this book at Value Village.

I had heard of Soeur Berthe (let's face it I think everybody in their forties in the province of Quebec has heard of her). I had never made one of her recipes, I don't know if I will make some. What fascinated me was the pictures. What else?

Ok check out her hair! This book was published in 1974 so what's up with the bouffant do? Who would do that to a middle aged nun? Every time I see this picture I crack up I can't help it!

Something else that comes to mind is...Why everything is so elaborate? It's a picture of a picnic!

She brought serving dishes at a picnic! And the stuffed bread with the antennas....that spells: One of the kids will put an eye out with those!

Unfortunately this book doesn't have a lot of pictures. The previous owner actually crossed out recipes that failed or she didn't like...which is kinda weird because Soeur Berthe was Culinary Arts Director at a big chichi school....ok well! Maybe not enough testing in the kitchen.

I could not resist the last pic because...I'm sure you saw it...In the top left corner a plethora of Spring Blossom Green Pyrex (5 casseroles and 1 bowl).

Check out the de-boned stuffed chickens in the middle, talk about elaborate! Who had time to make that???

If I would make it the chicken would have time to reach the best before date before I could finish de-boning it! You don't learn that technique anywhere, you have to go to cooking school for that!

What about that big plate of sardines...LOL!

Don't worry there's plenty of retro stuff where that came from so join me tomorrow for more on Retro Tuesday!

Retro Tuesday: Salads....

Just what is a salad?

Here's what I found on the Webster online dictionnay: any of various usually cold dishes; small pieces of food mixed with dressing;OR SET IN GELATIN!!!

Which explains a LOT! I already spoke of my Jell-O mold aversion. My mother's family would do them all time and of course this being the 60's and 70's I had NO CHOICE, I had to eat those giggly pucky things!

So today I bring you the Salad Cook Book from the Better Cooking Library.

Printed in 1964....right smack in the Jell-O mold heyday!

I found this book at the Salvation army of course and I could not resist it....Unfortunately the pics are black and white....but still quite explicit.

Beets and Cucumbers in Jell-O....I rest my case! And perfect for Xmas too!

ok now what is this??? Frosted vegetable loaf...I laughed sooo hard I just scanned the picture and didn't bother with reading the recipe!

Do you entertain with Jell-O molds? Jiggly salads? Frosted food? Please leave a comment to tell me how! It will be fascinating!

Have a great day and for more retro fun stop by www.suburbanmom.com !

Retro Tuesday on a Wednesday Better Homes and Gardens Cookbook

I'm one day late for Retro Tuesday becase yesterday I installed all the Xmas lights outside and I was too tired to blog!

It's beautiful! Not quite Griswold-esque but a good show nevertheless! Speaking of the Griswold's AMC was showing Xmas Vacation last nite and tonite. Definitely one of my all time fave Xmas movies! Everytime I cook a turkey I think of them!

But I digress! I have a confession to make...I'm totally addicted to the Better Homes & Gardens cookbook collection. I love their size, the pictures, the colors....hum cookbook....

I only made one recipe from that collection, very good apple betty. But I use those books more like novels or picture books...I read the recipes and look at the pics and daydream of having a 1963 kitchen. I wouldn't want Betty Draper's kitchen I found it quite drab!

Look at the cover! It all looks so glossy and perfect (and green). This book is designed to save time to homemakers. I didn't realize that it was a preoccupation in the 60's. This books relies heavily on canned and frozen foods (not that there's anything wrong with that)

Check out the ingredients for the Shrimp Almond Sauce....Frozen shrimp soup...eeeeewwww!

Look at the last pic...with it's little sandwiches around the mustard pot...and those meaty blobs with mashed potatoes and a toato wedge on top...Mystery meat...

Even if I find some ingredients gross I can't help buying those books when I see one...Help! LOL

If you haven't please check out the creator of Retro Tuesday's blog at www.crazysuburbanmom.com . It's always fun!

Retro Tuesday on a friday....THE cookbook!

I decided to participate in Retro Tuesday to encourage my bloggy friend Tracy the Crazy Suburban Mom who's hosting a Retro Tuesday week. Check it out! www.crazysuburbanmom.com


When I was growing up this book was a MUST in every household. It was THE bible of all things happening in the kitchen and more.

I think that every question in life could be answered by that book. Of course that was way before Douglas Adams informed us that the answer to every question in the universe was 42*, but I digress....


Jehanne Benoit was Quebec's Martha Stewart!

This however is not my mom's copy. My mom's copy was so tatered that my dad had it re-binded and repaired by nuns.


I don't know where this one came ( a thrift shop?) but my mom gave it to me when I flew the coop. That was nearly 24 years ago.

Oh sorry about the crookedness of the pics....I'm still a junior scanner!
I have tried a couple of recipes from that book with mixed results...really mixed!LOL

However 2 of my favorite mains come from that book! One is stuffed peppers and the other is deviled pork chops.....HUM pork chops!


It had been a while since I leafed through it and when i did last night (trying to find something good for Retro Tuesday) I was really surprised to find Corning ware and Pyrex!

The big casserole with the hearts is called Golden Hearts and was a promotional item issued in 1958.This book was published in 1963. Sorry but I don't know anything about Corning ware! Cornflower blue, that's it!lol

I remember seeing some Flameware as well (the transparent ones with a bluish tone) but couldn't find it. This is one of my projects today....Busy girl!

It was such a shame that none of the pics are in color!

The last pic is probably one of my favorites...Assorted appetizers...YUM!

Now that the holidays are fast approaching...I will look up the recipes for sure (or cheat and buy some president's choice frozen appetizers!)

Have a fantastic weekend my faithful readers! Have fun!


* I'm referring to Douglas Adams book: The Hitchiker's guide to the Galaxy