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As a wedding present, my Grandmother gave me an authentic reprint of the original 1950 edition Betty Crocker's Picture Cook Book. (I also got a 1976 printed edition of Betty Crocker's Cookbook from my mother-in-law) I am happy to have the book...and I just took the plastic off, and started looking at it. I see now where so many of my grandma's great meals stemmed from.

The whole book is very vintage, and some pages are just really funny. The photo above is from the first page of the section on "Eggs". The photo itself makes me go "huh?" I mean, what's with the egg-person? He looks rather depressed (and shiny?). And are those toast animals??? And why do we need to display a storybook of Humpty-Dumpty with our breakfast? The text below the photo, which is supposed to give an introduction to the "Egg Chapter", is even funnier:

Remember how you used to chant the old "One, Two, Buckle My Shoe" rhyme? Generations of children have learned to count by them. Well, here are some rhymes to learn for egg wisdom:

One, two--they're good for you! Humpty Dumpty (alias The Egg) is a many sided food! Remember--Humpty Dumpty's always on call, bursting with vitamins for us all,--proteins and minerals, too, in his shell, what we all need to help keep us well. *Note the rhyming here...call - all...shell - well. And since when do we eat egg shells to get proteins and minerals?

Three, four--they taste like "more!" Nothing can match the wonderful flavor of fresh eggs properly cooked. For eggs that are delicate (done just so)...cook them over heat that's low! *Again with the rhyming...and someone explain to me exactly how an egg is when it is "delicate"?

Five, six--they're fun to fix! Eggs don't have to be "just eggs." The poached egg on a toasted English muffin with thinly sliced fried ham and hollandaise sauce becomes delicious "Eggs Benedict." Creamed eggs with a bright garnish of sieved hard-cooked egg yolks and parsley bouquets become "Eggs a la Goldenrod." *This picture should say all that needs to be said about "Eggs a la Goldenrod."

Seven, eight--they're mealtime bait! The recipes that follow are sure to lure the family to meals. And the pages will show you by word and picture tested methods to insure superbly cooked eggs and egg dishes in attractive variety for many a meal to come. *I wouldn't be so sure about the "luring" qualities of "creamed eggs."

Nine, ten--here's how and when! There's more than one way to crack an egg...and cook it! There's a BEST way even to cook eggs in the shell. The pages that follow show you how to work egg wonders for many a day. *"egg wonders?"

Eleven, twelve--dig and delve! Delve into the recipes and we feel sure you'll be inspired to try every one of them. *Not Eggs a la Goldenrod.

Labels: just for fun