BETTER HOMES & GARDEN
WHEN FATHER COOKS the DINNER
I realize that more ladies probably read this blog than do men, but being one of the latter class, I felt that I had to do something about that. Today’s blog is dedicated to the man who likes to cook. The magazine Better Homes and Gardens published a small cookbook in 1930 consisting of favorite recipes from men.
In 1967 Sunset Magazine published a very successful cookbook for men – Cooking Bold and Fearless: A Cook Book for Men…
Sunset Magazine, 1967
Now, onward with “When Father Cooks the Dinner” from Better Homes and Gardens.
Foreward
“That the man of the house very often chooses the meal is a quite generally accepted fact. Men and women both admit that it is “he” who guides the cooking program by his likes and his dislikes, his suggestions, and his approbation.
“But, that the man of the family actually cooks – that has been a moot question. However, after reading the hundreds of recipes submitted in the men’s cooking contest conducted by Better Homes and Gardens, we have positive proof that he not only can cook but that he excels in it. It may look like a grand gesture when
he takes hold of the cooking spoon, but when he turns out a hash – the most lowly of dishes – to taste as superb as does the hash submitted by the first-prize winner, then we must agree that he is good.
Better Homes and Gardens, 1930
“The following must be admitted in order to give the man cook full credit: He is an excellent meat cook. The quality of his seasoning is high, whenever seasoning is required. Whether he cooks by rule or by inspiration, he uses only the best of ingredients. He is a generous cook and gauges his quantities according to healthy appetites. He is experimental – in other words, he uses his head and figures out new combinations and new methods; and whenever there is a mixing job to be done that requires thoroughness you may be sure that he will do the best possible job of mixing.
“We hope these recipes will serve as a guide to all men who feel the urge to cook; and that women – here, again, a word to the wise should be sufficient – will take our word for it that these are excellent recipes.”
BETTER HOMES and GARDENS
Elmer J. Peterson, Editor
When A Man Cooks by One Who Does
“Now, when it comes to the organization of a cake, or any other contraption that requires sweetening, I’ll give my wife the credit – she can bake it. Or, for that matter, when it is a question of taking a nicely fattened spring chicken and doing this and that with it to bring it out of the frying pan brown, and – well, almost fluffy – and altogether delicious – again, my wife’s there.
“But when the question is of turning the ordinary boiled potato of commerce into feathery, properly seasoned and altogether exuberant mashed potatoes, I’m the one who wields the masher.
Better Homes and Gardens, 1930
“Of course my wife has things all her own way, is the stellar performer, even, when it comes to preparing desserts, soups, salads, and such. I wouldn’t even think of arguing the point with her, but —
“When the consensus of the household is that slum shall be provided, hand me the apron and a flock of clean dishes, and she grants it. There is another point at which I shine supreme, according to my wife, but from my own standpoint, it is a moot point. She claims that I’m the county champion dish-dirtier, and sometimes even is willing to suggest a district championship. And I’ll be frank; I do manage to use an extraordinary line-up of dishes in my culinary wanderings.
“But don’t get the idea that I come galumping home from work, night after night, to hurry out of my coat and into an apron. It’s every so often that at the office I think of
Better Homes and Gardens, 1930
something that would taste very, very good, and I sell myself on the idea that I’m the only one who can do the job, so I call home and say, “Don’t worry about dinner; I’ll get it if you’ll order the groceries.” The voice at the other end of the wire usually says “Hurrah!”
“Or the gang has gone out some Saturday to make it tough on rabbits, and we come trooping in at night, pretty cold and ravenous, and I’m glad I can put a rabbit and corn pone thru the process so that the result is perfect fried rabbit and corn pone.
“No, there is no note of defense or apology in this. Being able to do a good job of cooking, to my notion, is just as creditable as being able to hit a target, plow a straight furrow, or write a good story. William Allen White makes an excellent salad and knows exactly how to pan-broil a steak. Will James is an expert on
Better Homes and Gardens, 1930
pancakes. Dr. Harvey Wiley is the originator of a delicious salad dressing. H. C. Witmer and Dr. Frank Crane gained fame for cookery exploits as well as for writing in diverse fields. C. C. Moore, former governor of Nevada, has an excellent recipe for corn bread. The list of famous men who are good cooks might be multiplied indefinitely.
“And so, summing up: When I get behind a very large, and at times, a very white apron and start fussing with food, I have a very stupendous time. I get pretty much of a wallop out of my cookery!”
He-Man’s Cake Frosting
“I like cheese with cake. Now, when one asks for cheese with cake he is apt to need the services of Sherlock Holmes and S. S. Van Dine to find the cheese. So at our house we have cake with cheese prepared as follows: In the first place my wife makes a cake. I don’t care what kind of cake it is so long as it is a cake, and then I prepare the frosting. I take 1 cupful of powdered sugar, 5 tablespoonfuls – yes, level! – of nippy cream cheese (it must have a bite to it), 1 tablespoonful of butter, 2 teaspoonfuls of water, and I stir them all up together. Then I add a half cupful of seedless raisins that have been stewed in water for a few minutes and chopped. Add a little salt. Then spread the frosting on the cake. Raisins are the affinity of cheese and take away a little of its harshness.
“I like this best on a pound cake. this is one recipe that I can claim all the credit for when served at a party without fear of having any whispered remarks when I am out in the kitchen getting a second helping.”
–Frank Romy, Nebraska
Better Homes and Gardens, 1930
“When Father Cooks the Dinner” is a 47-page, softbound cookbook from Better Homes and Gardens. Published in 1930 by Meredith Publishing Company of Des Moines, Iowa. The inside pages are a nice quality white gloss paper. Sketches are by an artist named Strothmann. Estimated value is $9-$12.
Well folks, that’s all for today. Thanks for stopping by. Be sure that you leave your name and email address so that I can keep you informed of future postings.
Tim
Tags: Better Homes And Gardens, cook book, cookbook, cookbook for men, Cooks, Favorite Recipes, Prize Winner, recipes, Sunset Magazine, vintage cookbook, vintage graphics
