A post from Kelli–
I don’t know if you’ve realized this yet, but my mom is a WONDERFUL cook! I have had friends over the years talk about how they drove an hour and a half away to go out to eat or they made a special trip to pick something up because they just had to stop at a certain restraunt. I have always thought that this was a bit odd….but then I realized that not everyone had my mom to cook for them. One of the favorite cookbooks of the years was the Betty Crocker cookbook, or as we called it, “the orange cookbook.”
When I was at Goodwill a while ago and saw found a copy, I jumped at the chance to have my own copy. It has wonderful recipes for Baking Powder Biscuits, Pancakes, French Toast, and one of my favorites, Chocolate Chip Cake.
Let me tell you, this cake is wonderful. With the Chocolate Butter frosting, mmmmm, absolutely amazing. I have to say, this is probably one of the best kitchen resources I have. The cookbook is split up into sections by food groups (Meats, Vegetables, Desserts). Each group is then split up by the specific food that will be used as the foundation of the dish (Beef, Pork, Lamb,Seafood). The other nice thing about the cookbook is that it has a general introduction to each type of food. For instance, the meat section includes information on buying meat, storing meat, freezing and defrosting meat, and how to cook the meat in general. Then, in the beef section, it includes information on the different cuts of beef and how to carve it–a great resource for a new cook.
Here is the recipe for my favorite chocolate chip cake–
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup white sugar
3 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 cup shortening
1 1/4 cup milk
3 eggs
1/2 cup chocolate chips (miniature or chopped are best, but whole are just fine too)
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
Heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour pan (I used a bundt pan). Beat all ingredients in a large mixer on low, scraping the sides. Beat on high speed, scraping the bowl occasionally for 3 minutes. Pour into pans.
Bake until a wooden pick inserted in the center comes out clean, approximately 40 to 45 minutes). Cool.
I frosted it with Chocolate Butter Frosting.
1/3 cup butter, softened
2 ounces unsweetened melted chocolate, cooled
2 cups powdered sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons vanila
About 2 tablespoons milk.
Mix margarine and chocolate. Stir in powdered sugar.  Beat in vanilla and milk until frosting is of spreading consistency. Frost.
If you happen to be out and about and find one of these, I would definitely recommend picking it up. You’ll be very glad that you did!
Today, we are hooking up with Colorado Lady to showcase vintage thingys….cause it’s Thursday!
I’m also a Betty Crocker cook. I still have my 1950 Edition of it, without any pictures on the front. I still use it. It has wonderful how to picture illustrations, and a list of substitutions. Of course it doesn’t have modern recipes for pizza, taco’s , etc. etc, and this was before we were concerned about cholestrol. It is organized into sections as yours is.
Had to comment on this, I gave this cookbook to Goodwill years ago and when my son found out he was furious with me! hahaha He went to look for it and it was gone! He couldn’t believe that I would give it away without asking him if he wanted it. I didn’t realize what a treasure this cook book is. It was a shower gift to me in 1979 and I rarely used it. I asked the woman at Goodwill about these books and she said these usually go out the same day that they come in! Keep quilting, love your blog
Cindy
Having a Mother Who Cooks is a mixed blessing. My mom (now 94 with advanced Alzheimer’s disease) was an excellent “scratch” cook who seldom used a cookbook. She made it look so easy that it was sort of intimidating and as a child, I was sure she said she was cooking from “scraps”. Betty’s various cookbooks became my best friends in self-defense.
I have two copies, one being the older version, which is really my go to resource. And we have already lined up for my mom’s edition which is older still.
Your post inspired me to write about MY edition of Betty Crocker. (www.threadandfabric.blospot.com) Such a good book. Glad you found one. These days it’s hard to find cookbooks that feature the basics.
I got one of these cookbooks as a wedding gift 30 years ago. It has been the “go to” book for many family favorite recipes throughout the years.
These are the best of cookbooks. I have one when we got married. Very vintage.
Kelli thats the first cookbook I purchased after I got married. 36 years ago. Its worn out. Its my go to book for what ever I want to cook. Happy cooking for many years to come. Brenda
I have the same cookbook. I don’t use it as much as I probably should but is my go to for pancakes and pies:) After reading the comments, I guess I’m “vintage” like my cookbook.
My mother gave me the Betty Crocker cookbook when I married in 1971. She knew I would need it since I had never been much of a cook. She had used Betty Crocker to learn to cook when she was a young bride, and her old tattered cookbook looked like it had been used a lot. I loved my new pristine cookbook, and, yes, I learned to cook from it. Now my cookbook is old and tattered. When my son married ten years ago, I gave his wife a new pristine Betty Crocker cookbook. I hope she loves hers as much as Mom and I love ours.
I received a Betty Crocker cookbook in 1973, it is my go-to cookbook. A couple of years ago the latest version was printed. It is what I give for bridal showers now, all the brides love it.
I received the orange Betty Crocker cookbook at my wedding shower 33 years ago. Its seen a lot of wear and even got a little burnt when it was too close to the stove! Our daughter just got married, guess what she wanted? The exact cookbook, had to be the same edition. Finally found one for her in an antique and collectable store near us!
I have that edition of the cookbook, but my very favorite is the earlier ˆBetty Crocker’s New Picture Cook Book” (First Edition, First Printing) with a copyright date of 1962. I bought it new in that year. It’s well used, stained, and the binding is in bad shape, but I still use it more than any of the cookbooks I own.
I have that book too. Got it with green stamps I think. My favorite recipe in there is the Sour Cream Coffee Cake. I add chocolate chips to mine with the cinnamon and sugar. We all just love it. One of my sisters has our Mom’s older version. Wish life was a simple and easy and the Betty Crocker recipes.
Best pancake, biscuit, and waffle recipes ever are in this cookbook! And the bran raisin muffins are good, too.
I also have that same cookbook, all stained and lots of loose pages. I wa marrid in 1973 and got it as a shower gift. I still refer to the chile recipe when I make it. Great book.
I’ve had this cookbook for 30 years, also, and love the chocolate chip cake! The broiled frostings are yummy, too. There’s also a quick breadstick recipe. And I’ve made the peanut brittle for Christmas many times. When I was first married, I remembered referring to the book for how long to bake a potato! Love your blog; your mom seems like a real sweetheart.
I’m glad that you realize that your mother is a good cook. My siblings and I were discussing this quite a few years ago. When we grew up, we assumed that everyone’s mother cooked like ours did. We didn’t understand that she was an excellent cook until we moved away from home. My youngest brother was especially shocked to find out just how good he had it growing up with good food at every meal.
In our famly, the “go to” cookbook is the checkered Better Homes and Gardens cookbook, but I have a paperback copy of Betty Crocker that is well used too.
I have quite a few Betty Crocker cookbooks. Started with the 50’s cookbook in my home ec class. Now I am showing my age.lol Have the one you pictured too. Those cookbooks are so easy to follow. When my son moved across country to his first job after college, one of the first things he bought was a Betty Crocker cookbook. He was used to using the one I have.
Would anyone mind sharing the Beef Pot Pie recipe out of the 50’s edition. I have a friend that is looking for the recipe her mom used to follow and the newer recipes call for frozen veggies. Thanks in advance!