The Gallery of Regrettable Food

[japple]

"When James Lileks unearthed an old recipe pamphlet from the back of his Mom's closet and viewed the culinary nightmares within, he made it his life's work to discover other such cookbooks and food company ads from the 40s, 50s, and 60s. The results of his tireless research are now brought together for your amusement and indigestion in "The Gallery of Regrettable Food."

http://www.lileks.com

also see amazon.com for reviews and previews of this hilarios book.

[Stinky The Clown]

1. Sparkly's sister gave us a copy for Christmas last year ..... or maybe the

year before.

You're right. It is absolutely hilarious. The hell of it is, we both remember getting fed that stuff as kids .... when our Moms were in June Cleaver mode. Fortunately, that wasn't often.

(Sidenote to OLL .... did you ever meet Beaver Cleaver?)

[OldLeftieLawyer]

3. heh heh heh

Why do you think he's called "The Beaver"?

heh heh heh

[Warpy]

2. There was a full selection of the books on that site

in a local thrift shop a couple of years ago. I've always regretted not getting those and putting them together as gag gifts for serious foodies on my list. Now, they're vintage, and they've been moved to a fancier and pricier store.

The illustrations were just as awful as the featured ones on the site.

It's too bad he took down the really funny 70s interior desecration section.

On edit: please visit The Gobbler. All of it, every ghastly room.

[swimboy]

4. Sparkling Beet Cups, anyone? Anyone?

:rofl:

[wildeyed]

21. Where did you see the beet cups?

We have a retro food showdown brewing and we need the recipe :)

[swimboy]

22. It was in a cookbook with a red and white tablecloth-colored

cover. Maybe Better Homes and Gardens. There was a section on how to make different colored mayonnaise :shudder: and the Sparkling Beet Cups (easier to type than to say because I always burst out laughing before I can get it out) list of ingredients includes beets, lemon jello, and worcestershire sauce. And they sparkle! I never made them.

I have won White Trash Party food prize twice for Bar-B-Cups (line muffin tin with canned biscuits, fill cup with canned barbecued pork or beef, grate cheese on top and bake 'em up!) and the Jello Champagne Fruit Cocktail, replete with miniature umbrella.

I hope you can find the recipe and I hope they sparkle! :toast:

[wildeyed]

23. You should enter the Fabulous Food Showdown!

Sounds like you are already a pro! It is me and EmpofAll so far. I think AzDem is going to do a chiffon/jello mold thingy. We do not have a definite time yet, prolly next week.

Are you in? :D

[swimboy]

24. How does it work? n/t

[wildeyed]

25. I dunno yet.

Maybe we will all make Fabulous Food, then post pics and descriptions of our creations, then do a poll to figure out who made the Most Fabulous Food of All? Could be fun for a theme New Year's party.

The trick, really, is making something truly fab that is also edible. I have a recipe for frozen pineapple, creme de menthe and olive salad that couldn't be anything but disgusting. Beets, jello and Worcestershire sauce sounds dubious, too. On the other hand, some of the jello salad recipes are actually quite edible. Can never figure out if they are dessert or salad, but my kids will eat them and that is good.

I will post a thread about it later tonight and see if there is any interest/suggestions.

[wildeyed]

5. I secretly like those old cookbooks.

I buy them occasionally on eBay. I collect modernist dishes, mainly from the 40's and 50's and I like to cook food that matches them once in a while. Also, sometime the books have great shots of the old dishes. The food (and dishes)look ordered, simple, hopeful, happy and naive. OK, so it doesn't taste so great, but that only detracts slightly from its charm. I love the molds and everything was cooked in cute single servings.

I am distraught because I just went to look for my favorite book, and it is gone. It had a great football buffet that included a meatloaf shaped like a football which I swear I will duplicate if the Panther's go to the Super Bowl again. Also, there was a spread on Eva Zeisel's Castleton line. I looked everywhere and couldn't find it :( Can't even remember what it was called. I think it was an old Better Homes and Gardens pamphlet. Oh well, maybe it will surface someday :(

One of the reasons the food looks so awful in those old photos is color photography was not a completely developed technology. I don't think they had the dyes quite right yet.

[Stinky The Clown]

6. In that case, you prolly think this is the cat's jammies!

:hi:



http://www.foodtv.ca/recipes/recipedetails/recipe_4729....

[Warpy]

7. Bad link

Thank goodness. I'm not sure I want to know that that is. It might put me off broccoli for the rest of my life.

[Stinky The Clown]

15. Hmmm ..... it seems they took the page down with the recipe for

this little gem.

I can't blame 'em! :rofl:

[wildeyed]

10. I should make that for my son's next birthday.

Can you see the look on all the little faces after they bite into that and find out what it is? :cry:

[spindrifter]

27. Is that cake made of cat food?

Kind of looks Purina-ish.

[NMDemDist2]

8. i have one wild complete with pics of aspic molds

it's the "Ladies Home Journal" cookbook and in the back it talks about how to set up your kitchen

the pics have turquoise cabinets and one is all PINK!

it's pretty darn funny but the recipes are wonderful!

[wildeyed]

11. I found mine!

Table Settings, Better Homes and Gardens, 1947. Phew, I was getting worried that I lost it permanently!

[NMDemDist2]

12. then i'll quit looking...

:rofl:

[NMDemDist2]

9. here's your football

Football Meatloaf

Ingredients:

1-1/2 lbs. ground turkey (or beef)
1/4 cup bread crumbs
1 envelope dry onion soup mix
6-oz. can evaporated milk
1 egg, slightly beaten
1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
1/2 tsp. pepper
1 white onion
4 cups shredded lettuce

Preparation:

Mix all ingredients together, blending thoroughly. Place meat on a greased pan and form into a football shape. Bake for an hour at 375 degrees. Use raw white onion to make the stitching. Place on a bed of chopped lettuce to simulate a football field.

[wildeyed]

13. The one I have is actually large football shaped meat balls

with a mound of spaghetti in the center of the platter. How I wish that I had a scanner so I could share it with you in all its full glory.

Here is the caption:
This is an "After the Game Supper" with a flower decked football helmet for decoration. The cloth and napkins are ivory and green (make that black and turquoise, Go Panthers!), with footballs, players, field and yells appliqued or stitched in brown on the linen.
:rofl:

The "yells" are "Hold That Line!" and "Block That Kick!" :love it love it love it: And, no shit, there is a football helmet with flowers stuck all over it in the middle of the table.
:rofl:

[Stinky The Clown]

16. Okay .... now its time for a shameless self-promoting plug ........

Sparkly wrote this book. Similar to your interests, she has at least a Brazillian old books on beauty, charm, etiquette, love, marriage, etc. She compiled a 'best of' and published it. You can get them on Amazon or direct from her. From her, you get an autographed copy! ;)

http://www.hatpinpress.com/

[wildeyed]

17. That looks great!

I think my mom would like it too. I will order her a copy for Mother's Day.

Sparkly and I could probably have a day! I will bring my weird old cookbooks and then we can cook and do hair :crazy:

[babylonsister]

28. Waah! This book would have made great

Christmas gifts!
"Unbelieveable Tips for Becoming the Perfect Woman"
I know a few friends/sisters who would enjoy 'boning up' on this! :rofl:

[wildeyed]

14. Oh. My. God.

I pulled out another of the vintage cookbooks (form the 30s) I have and was browsing it. Here is a gem:

Frozen Fruit and Cheese Salad

2 cream cheeses
1 c. mayo
1 cup red cherries
2 rings creme de menthe pineapple
4 rings sliced pineapple
1 c. whipped cream
Spanish (green) stuffed olives

Mix everything together except the olives. Pack in individual molds (yeah!). Freeze. Garnish with stuffed olives.

Now is it just me, or does creme de menthe pineapple rings and green olives in the same dish seem like a dubious proposition? :crazy:

On edit:
And here is Spinach Ring Filled With Mushroom. It is a bilious green ring with creamed mushroom in the center and sliced hard boiled eggs and pimento decorating the exterior. I may make it just to see the look on my kids faces.
:rofl:

[Warpy]

18. I know what my dad would say, two sentences in rapid

succession:

"Should I or did I?"

Let's go out to dinner!"

[japple]

19. You just caused me to have a serious accident.

Have you ever suffered from Guinness-through-the-nose with a cat on your lap? Well, that's what just about happened. The cat bolted and I got the Guinness going back down my throat instead of up my nose.

I just love old books and magazines from the 30's-90's. The crafts books from the 70's and 80's are real finds, too. Love the macaroni and dried bean/corn wall hangings! Every now and then you can find directions for straw and/or wheat Christmas tree ornaments, which I think are exquisite.

[wildeyed]

20. I just posted my experiment with Fabulous Food

that includes a picture of the Spinach Ring here http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=236x15716#top

I didn't actually MAKE the spinach ring. Too scary :scared:

[spindrifter]

26. What's missing is just some julienned

beets--roasted would probably have a more mellow flavor that would meld with the olives and creme de menthe pineapple rings. I think I would probably serve this ringed with chopped macadamia nuts.

[XanaDUer]

29. One of my favorite books, ever.

:toast: