1950s vintage photo of a family cooking a turkey

Updated February 2023

I own a slew of vintage cookbooks from the 1940s-1960s of which I mostly open to just transport into another era (my cooking skills are poor). They are truly fantastic pieces of history and the recipes are quite fun and sometimes very interesting.

Today post is going to be a peak into vintage cookbooks from the 1940s-1960s with a few recipes that you can try out at home. Super for anyone looking to try something different for dinner tonight. AND if you love them that much, at the time of posting this blog the books were all for sale on Etsy.

Note: Make sure you check out my Etsy collection that I update once a month with vintage cookbooks from the 1900s to 1960s avail for sale on Etsy.

Disclosure: Some of the links on my blog from Etsy are Affiliate Links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.

Note: If the item you clicked on is no longer available, just do a search for like items. There are loads of vintage items being added to Etsy daily!

Enjoy!

Cooking Class, 1935. Vintage Photo featuring a group of young woman learning to cook.

The Vintage Cookbooks

What Shall I Cook Today? Very good question friends, but thankfully ‘Spry – Pure Vegetable Shortening’ has 124 healthful recipes for us. Circa 1940s.

LOVE the eye catching cover.

What Shall I Cook Today - Vintage Spry Recipes - 1940s Cookbook - 1940s Recipes

Source: Etsy

1940s Vintage cookbook recipes-How to make Bread

Source: Etsy

A vintage cookbook entitled Quick Dishes for the Woman in a Hurry -- 332 Recipes in 30 Minutes or Less.

Copyright 1955. Published by the Culinary Arts Institute.

1950s cookbook featuring 1950s recipes for sauces for your vintage recipes.

Source: Etsy

Cooking also includes Baking! 1953 Cake Secrets Cookbook by General Foods. What a fun cover! (avail HERE as of Feb 24th, 2022).

Cooking also includes Baking! 1953 Cake Secrets Cookbook by General Foods. 1950s Vintage Cookbook

Who wants to make a Happy Day Cake? Looks delish and perfect for Easter (or anytime).

Happy Day Cake-A butter cake recipe for a 1950s vintage cookbook.

Swans Down Sponge Cake! I could eat this delish dessert all day long. YUM!

1950s sponge cake recipe as seen in a 1950s vintage cookbook

Source: Etsy

Food Fashion for 1957 by Canadian Brand (now gone), Silverwood Dairies.

The names on these book are making me laugh! Hey you have to get someones attention, somehow.

1950's Vintage Cookbook Silverwood Dairies

Source: Etsy

1950s Vintage Cook Book Recipe for Whipping Cream

Source: Etsy

“A Guide to Royal Success in Baking:” Royal Cream of Tarter Baking Powder circa 1940s.

Vintage 1940s Guide to Royal Success in Baking - Cream of Tartar Baking Powder Cookbook vintage cookbook

Source: Etsy

1940s Vintage Cookbook baking powder cookbook

Source: Etsy

Vintage 1948-1949 The Homemakers Meat Recipe Book cookbook from the National Live Stock and Meat Board.

Source: Etsy

Vintage 1948-1949 The Homemakers Meat Recipe Book cookbook

Source: Etsy

Vintage Metropolitan Life Insurance cookbook from September 1955. These handy booklets were originally given as premiums to their policyholders.

Vintage Metropolitan Life Cookbook 1955 Cook Book Insurance Premium Recipes vintage cookbook

Source: Etsy

Vintage Metropolitan Life Cookbook 1955 Cook Book Insurance Premium Recipes

Source: Etsy

“Fun to Cook Book”. Adorable kids’ cookbook, put out by Carnation Company in 1955. By Margie Blake.

Source: Etsy

Mmmm 5 Minute Fudge recipe and Meat Loaf (NOT my favorite dish). Have fun kids cooking!

1950s vintage recipes for fudge and for meat loaf from a vintage cookbook

Source: Etsy

Sour Cream The Gourmet Touch to Everyday Cooking 1950’s Paperback Brochure / Mini Cookbook.

Sour Cream The Gourmet Touch to Everyday Cooking 1950's Paperback Brochure vintage cookbook

Source: Etsy

Sour Cream The Gourmet Touch to Everyday Cooking 1950's Paperback Brochure vintage cookbook recipes

Source: Etsy

1950s vegetarian cookbook titled “Florida’s Favorite Foods: Fruits and Vegetables in the Family Menu”. Copyright 1959 by the Florida Department of Agriculture. Tallahassee (Love the outfit on the cover)

Sample recipes:
* Scalloped Onions and Peanuts
* Persimmon Ice and MORE (See/ Purchase the cookbook HERE)

Salad anyone? Luncheon Salad ideas (Endive with Bacon Dressing, Vegetable Salad Combos).

vintage 1950 salad recipes as seen in a 1950s cookbook from Florida.

Source: Etsy

1950’s Cookbook titled The Greystone Everyday Cookbook by Agnes Murphy. (Avail as of Oct 22nd, 2021 HERE).

Source: Etsy

Stork Goes Continental From The Stork Cookery Service 1950s.

Stork Goes Continental From The Stork Cookery Service Vintage Cook Booklet 1950s

Source: Etsy

1950s vintage cookbook inside featuring the almond merangues and cream buns and other vintage desserts you can make.

Source: Etsy

Portal to Good Cooking – Women’s American ORT – 1950’s Cookbook.

Source: Etsy

Vintage 1950s Recipe for Crescents as seen in a 1950s vintage cookbook

Source: Etsy

1950s ‘Definitely Different‘ The Daily Telegraph Recipe Book. The book was not super clear about what made it “definitely different” but it’s bright and cheerful cover caught my attention.

1950s 'Definitely Different' The Daily Telegraph Recipe Book vintage cookbook

Source: Etsy

That’s it for this week friends! Happy cooking.

Question time: Do you own a vintage cookbook or 2? And if so, do you use it? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.

FURTHER READING:

Liz

I was recently watching season 2 of “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” and there is one episode where they go bowling. The scene is set in the late 1950s at a resort in the Catskills so needless to say the bowling lane was pretty primitive but OH SO COOL! I just loved it and actually re-watched it a couple of times because it was so fun.

Marvelous Mrs Maisel season 2 bowling alley scene

So for today’s post, I would like to share various vintage advertising from the 1940s-1960s that features bowling in their images. All inspired from Mrs. Maisel.

So friends…….

Let’s Go Bowling! Vintage Advertising 1940s-1960s

Gift Certificates were popular even in the 1940s & 1950s.

Vintage 1941 bowling advertisement for a Brunswick bowl gift certificate.

1951 Brunswick Bowling gift certificate ad.

1951 Brunswick Bowling original vintage advertisement

Source: Adclassix.com

Paul Prescott’s Bowling Dresses order form from the late 1940s.

Source: What I Found Blog

“Does this bowling ball feel heavier than it did a few minutes ago? Drink a 7-Up”. 1963 Vintage Ad for 7up.

7-UP Bowling Alley Original 1963 Vintage Print Ad Color Illustration Seven Up vintage bowling advertising

Not a 7-up fan? How about a light refreshment from Pepsi? 1950s Pepsi Ad featuring a couple on a date at the bowling alley.

1950s Pepsi Vintage Advertising featuring bowling

Source: Vintage ad browser

No strike? No worries! Corby’s Whiskey will make it better -June 1954 ad

Source: Flickr

Winnie Fitch Dial Ad – 1950s

Barbasol Shaving Cream – 1949 featuring an illustration of a young woman touching her dates face at the bowling alley.

Barbasol Shaving Cream Pin-Up Girl Bowling 1949 vintage bowling ad

Source: Mad Men Art

Brunswick Tips for Bowling circa 1950’s.

Brunswick Tips for Bowling, 1950's vintage bowling advertising

Source: Flickr

Bowling in comfort in the 1940s. Kotex Tampon 1940s ad.

1941 vintage advertising for kotex tampons vintage bowling

1940s Bowlers Victory Legion playing card.

Source: Flickr

1965 Bowling Calendar so you never forget to…bowl (and change your shoes)!

1960s vintage bowling lane calendar featuring a 1960s woman tieing up her bowling shoes at the bowling alley.

Want more images and ads? Then check out my past post “1940s & 1950s Bowling Fun!” & my archived blog posts on ‘Vintage Advertising 1920s-1960s‘.

Question time: Are you a bowler? 5 pin or 10 pin? Share your experiences and skill level in the comments below!

Liz

Tag: vintage blog

Let’s Get Cooking: Vintage Cookbooks 1940s & 1950s

The Vintage Cookbooks

Vintage Bowling Advertising

Let’s Go Bowling! Vintage Advertising 1940s-1960s