Sunday, March 17, 2024

Irish Cocktail from Just Cocktails (1939) by WC Whitfield


Happy St. Patrick's Day! There’s plenty of Irish-themed drink recipes out there. But I did a little digging through the collection and found my copy of ‘Just Cocktails’ (Published by The Three Mountaineers, Inc., 1939, Compiled and Edited by W.C. Whitfield, Decorations by Tad Shell), a wood-bound, hand-stitched collection of drinks published in Asheville, NC. The “Irish” comes from the “Cocktails of the ‘Gay Nineties’” section, which the author proposes “will be of particular interest to the younger set, who are eternally being reminded of the ‘good old days’ before Prohibition.” Now that’s an old recipe book. But “remember, these cocktails were the vogue long before Prohibition, so when a recipe calls for a jigger it means two full ounces.” Enjoy the obligatory cliche Irish illustration of a guy in a bowler smoking a cigar while he impatiently taps his feet. Probably late for a brawl. Click picture for full size image.

#cocktails #cocktailrecipes #whiskey #whiskeyrecipes

Saturday, March 16, 2024

Charcoal Deli (Cockeysville, MD)

With sunny skies and 70-degree temperatures on a Thursday afternoon in March, there was absolutely no reason for the Lunch Bunch to sit around the office and eat sad sandwiches or salads at our cubes or in our offices. 

Instead, we opted to get some fresh air, share a picnic table, and scarf down grub from a Baltimore County staple, Charcoal Deli. Hidden down a side street by a chain pizza joint and the school my daughter attended for nine years, Charcoal Deli is pretty nondescript. There's a handful of picnic tables, an order window, a pickup window and well, that's about it. 

The menu features barbecue, pit beef (a MD staple), burgers, dogs/sausage, and a variety of named sandwiches like the Hillary (smoked turkey grilled with Q, topped with Provolone), Larry (double burger topped with Roma sausage and American cheese), and Scotter (beef/turkey combo with Old Bay and American cheese). I opted for the 1/4 burger topped with a mound of barbecued ham and Tiger Sauce (aka mayo with horseradish), while my pals opted for the Danski (beef with Swiss and Old Bay on a Kaiser roll with Q), Pit Beef, and a Turkey Club. Sides included delicious skin-on fries and so-so mac & cheese that was low on cheese and heavy on oil (booooo!). 

As Lunch Bunch dictates, if the sandwich or eatery you recommend meets with approval, you get to keep going. Thanks to the gang at Charcoal Deli, I'm still up. 

Note: They are building a brand new ALDI across the street from Charcoal Deli. I see a lot of grocery store trips that end with me picking up lunch or dinner across the street. (3.5) — Dan Taylor

Wednesday, March 13, 2024

Wiener Wednesday: Frankfurters from Betty Crocker's New Outdoor Cookbook (1967)


Wiener Wednesday: With the weather warming up (at least for a few days), I couldn’t help but let my thoughts turn to all manner of outdoor cooking—which means a trip through ‘Betty Crocker’s New Outdoor Cookbook’ (Golden Press, 1967, from the collection of The Hungover Gourmet). As Betty herself says in the introduction, “Nothing is more appetizing than the sight and aroma of food grilling over glowing coals. And no meal is more fun to prepare.” Well put, Betty, well put. And I have to tell you, this cookbook is one of the most well-styled and designed cookbooks of its era. First off, it’s spiral bound, which makes it easy to lay flat and reference. Second, the color photography jumps off the page and makes every dish look more mouth-watering than the last. And third, Frank Lacano’s simple yet evocative illustrations make you wish you were fly fishing, camping out, or barbecueing some Fruited Salami Kabobs. But, as we all know, it’s Wiener Wednesday, and Frankfurters must take center stage! So, grab some cantaloupe (?!), make some Meloned Franks, and read on. Click picture for full size image.

#wienerwednesday #frankfurters #hotdogs #hotdogrecipes #vintagerecipes

Tuesday, March 12, 2024

Taco Tuesday: 256 "Souper" Taco Recipes from 'Creative Cooking with Soup' (1985)


TACO TUESDAY: Hold on to your sombreros, amigos. If I’m reading this cookbook’s “How to Use This Book” page correctly (and there’s no guarantee that I am), today’s taco recipe is more like 256 “souper” taco recipes. “How is that possible?” you ask. It appears that the fine folks at the Campbell’s Test Kitchen are allowing, nay, demanding that you get a little crazy. Mix that ground beef with Spanish style vegetable soup and some Cheddar cheese, then top it all off with some chopped green onions. Go wild! (‘Campbell’s Creative Cooking With Soup’, 1985, From the Collection of The Hungover Gourmet) Click picture for full size image.

#tacotuesday #tacos #tacorecipes #cookingwithsoup #vintagerecipes #vintagecookbooks

Monday, March 11, 2024

Thyme Enough Casserole (1979) featuring Rice Chex Cereal


MEATLESS MONDAY: You bought that box of Rice Chex back in December to make Chex Mix for the holiday party and now it just sits in the pantry. Silently mocking you as you debate whether to throw it out or toss the contents in the yard for the birds. Well, no need! The fine folks at Ralston Purina are here to show you how to take that leftover Chex cereal, some celery, canned green beans (blargh), condensed mushroom soup and more and turn them into Thyme Enough Casserole. Thyme Enough for what? Hopefully for somebody to pickup takeout on the way home. ('Chex Cooking The Microwave Way', 1979 from The Collection of The Hungover Gourmet) Click picture for full size image.

#chex #chexcereal #microwave #microwaverecipes #vintagerecipes

Friday, March 08, 2024

Fish Friday: Clam (or Ham) Balls (1958)


FISH FRIDAY: The sun is out and temperatures are warming up nicely. Why not invite some friends over for an afternoon cocktail hour featuring Clam (or Ham) Balls. Concertina optional. From "Good Houskeeping's Appetizer Book" (1958), collection of The Hungover Gourmet. Click picture for full size image.

#fishfriday #clams #appetizers #appetizerrecipe #vintagerecipes

Thursday, March 07, 2024

Thirsty Thursday: Victory Cocktail (Year Unknown)


THIRSTY THURSDAY: I’m not quite sure what the person who jotted this recipe down was celebrating, but after a few Victory Cock-tails, I’m thinking they had to be feeling pretty good. Click image for full size picture.

#thirstythursday #vintagecocktails #vintagerecipes #whiskey #whiskeycocktails