Tag: entertaining

Parties Mother Never Gave cover

Parties Mother Never Gave

You Ate What? 5 comments

Parties Mother Never Gave
Drill
1991

Submitter: I found this gem while weeding our cookbook collection. The entire book is not only outdated, but every recipe is a pun or a “fun” play on words. The pictures are all washed out yellow tones, making every meal look completely unappetizing. The book focuses more on ridiculous menus with a list of adjective filled names of dishes than actually detailing the recipes well enough to cook! And then there’s the title..it almost seems like the author has a few family issues that are coming out in their writing.

Holly: I love cookbooks, and I can actually read them cover to cover like a novel and be thoroughly engrossed. My deal breaker for cookbooks is lack of (or bad) photos. The cover is colorful and fun, but is that the last photo in the book? I like the idea of menus, planning and timing tips, and shortcuts, but it needs pictures! And, yeah, odd title.

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holiday season cookbook

Holiday Recipes of the Doomed

Holiday Collection, You Ate What? 14 comments

Holiday Season Cookbook
Favorite Recipes Press
1981

As we start head into the holiday season, you will obviously need to step up your cooking game. This book is here to lead the way. This book contains all those lovely recipes from your favorite Home Ec teachers from high school. From what I can remember, I am not sure I would trust my home ec teacher to have something to contribute. After reading these recipes, I think we can assume that most of the home ec teachers aren’t necessarily going to win any cooking prizes.

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holiday cookbook front cover

Holiday Party Menus

Holiday Collection, You Ate What? 18 comments

Better Homes and Gardens
Holiday Cook Book
1967

Just in time for your holiday cooking! All your special occasion dinners are here. Aside from the standard Thanksgiving and Christmas choices, we have those special foods for simple gatherings, like fancy sandwiches for the entire group. Again, the same loaf, cake-like sandwiches that have appeared on this site more than once or twice. God forbid you make a mistake and think you are biting into a loaf cake.

But wait, there’s more! Try a fruitcake for your next Christmas dinner. My late father was convinced there were only a handful of actual fruitcakes out there. Since no one likes it, it just gets re-gifted into eternity. I don’t think I have even seen a fruitcake since the early 1980s. I remember trying it as a kid because, cake, but nearly choking on the awful taste.

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hostess cookbook cover

Hostess Helps and Recipes

You Ate What? 16 comments

Betty Crocker’s Hostess Cookbook
General Mills
1973

I know that COVID-19 puts a damper on any kind of entertaining, but just in case you are preparing for that day when we are all healthy, Betty Crocker has you covered. This book truly has some retro recipes I am sure you can’t wait to get started. A couple of my favorites: Olive Surprise Roast, Jellied Watercress Soup, Tomato Aspic Mold, the list just goes on and on.
Bonus! Just in time for Valentine’s Day, you can feast on all things pink. Your loved one will surely appreciate the effort.

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let's party

Party On!

Home and Garden 7 comments

Let’s Give a Party
Creative Invitations, Decorations, Recipes, and Games for Very Special Occasions
Purdy
1976

I can’t decide if this book is written for adults or children. It could go either way. The illustrations (so much pink!) and crafts are geared to children, but the text is long in places and there are detailed instructions for some of the activities. (Does anyone need detailed instructions for tag?)

The librarian part of me believes there isn’t anything particularly wrong with this book, its just dated. My civilian self believes this book is giving me way too much work to do for a party.

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