Slopply Joe's (or Sloppy Joe's)

Today's Recipe: "Slopply Joe's". Pulled this one from an old tin recipe box we picked up at a sale or auction years back.

1/4 pound ground beef
1 medium onion
1/4 can tomato soup

Dice and brown onion in a skillet. Add ground beef, break up with fork and brown. Add soup, cook until thick.

With a mere 1/4 lb. of ground beef, I'm not exactly sure how many people this was supposed to feed. (Click picture for full size image) – Dan Taylor

Dan Taylor is the editor of The Hungover Gourmet. He grew up on Sloppy Joe's, but not like this or that other bullshit North Jersey kind.

TACO TUESDAY: Nutty Taco Salad (Date Unknown)

TACO TUESDAY: Microwave Week Continues! Are you one of the “many people” who bought a microwave oven just to have an “expensive toy”? For shame! The microwave is an “asset” to your kitchen! In fact, the fine folks at the Oklahoma Peanut Commission thought so highly of the marvelous microwave that they produced ‘Microwave Magic’ (date unknown), a 32-page recipe booklet of nothing but microwave recipes featuring—you guessed it—peanuts. From Chicken Peanut Casserole and Peanut Tea Ring to Peanut Surprise and Aunt Jean’s Poppycock, if it has peanuts in it and you can microwave it, well, it’s probably in here. But since today is Taco Tuesday, I figured I’d share Nutty Taco Salad, which features microwaved ground beef and taco seasoning mixed with peanut butter and topped with lettuce, tomatoes and cheddar cheese. Click picture for full-size image.

#tacotuesday #microwaveweek #microwaverecipes #recipes #peanutrecipes #tacosalad #vintagecookbooks #vintagerecipes #peanuts #peanutbutter

Egg and Green Onion Mold from Eggs in Family Meals (1969)

Egg-specting guests over the holidays? Well, nothing says “I’m an egg-cellent host” like the Egg and Green Onion Mold from ‘Eggs in Family Meals: A Guide for Consumers’ (1969) from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. This low-cal beauty has “just the right piquancy” and makes six ½ cup servings. Have cherry pie for dessert. Now, get out. According to the credits, this booklet was “Revised December 1967” and “Slightly revised March 1969”. Click image for full size picture. – Dan Taylor

#eggs #eggrecipes #vintage #vintagerecipes #vintagecookbooks

Cheeza Corned Beef from A Treasury of Bake Off Favorites (1969)

Who doesn't love to unwind on a Friday night with a nice glass of wine and a pizza? Then you'll love this "delightful mixture of sweet and piquant" featuring pickle relish mayonnaise (?), corned beef, and (checks notes) sour cream. From 'A Treasury of Bake Off Favorites' (Pillsbury, 1969). Might I suggest a nice Beaujolais, or if you're in the mood for a white wine, a dry Riesling. Click image for full size picture. — Dan Taylor

#pizza #pizzarecipe #vintage #vintagerecipes #vintagecookbooks

Ham Cornucopias from Treasured Recipes of the Old South (1941)

Gosh darn-it, Mrs. Marie Kimball. I know you’re “an authority on early American documents, architecture, glass and Colonial furniture,” but why do you always have to take things too far? Your recipe for Ham Cornucopias starts off so well. We’ve got your thinly sliced deli ham (though it looks a tad thick), we’ve got your small pickles—representing the spike of the lily, of course—and then you have to ruin it by throwing in the gelatin mold featuring mayo and vegetable salad, not to mention the dang aspic jelly cubes as garnish. I’m nothing if not a gallant gentleman, but can’t we just have some deli ham slathered in cream cheese wrapped around a hunk of dill? To say ‘Treasured Recipes of the Old South’ (John Morrell & Co., 1941) is problematic is an understatement. And I'll leave it at that. Click picture for full size image. — Dan Taylor

#vintagecookbooks #southernrecipes #vintagerecipes #recipeoftheday

Frankfurters Go "High Hat" in Economy Salad from PET Milk Company (1939)

Mary Lee Taylor of the Pet Milk Experimental Kitchen makes a return appearance ... for a couple reasons. First, the holidays are coming up and we could all use a few extra pennies in our pockets. Second, I’m almost finished reading ‘Raw Dog’ by Jamie Loftus, so I’ve got frankfurters, wieners, and hot dogs dancing through my head. Granted, it was tough to pass up the “most unusual and delicious sauce” touted in the Salmon Casserole recipe, but when you introduce the Economy Salad recipe by saying “Frankfurters go ‘high hat’…”, I’m like putty in your hands. Click image for full size picture. (‘Delicious Wholesome Meals for 2 or 4 or 6’, Pet Milk Company, 1939). — Dan Taylor

#vintage #vintagerecipes #hotdogs #frankfurters #vintagecookbooks

Meat Loaf from Fun to Cook Book (1967)

Today’s vintage recipe comes to us from nepotism baby Margie Blake. You’re probably familiar with the work of her mother, Mary Blake, cookbook pamphlet face of Carnation Evaporated Milk and author of such classics as ‘Teen-Time Cooking’ and ‘Right Eating Keeps You Swingin’’. Well, little Margie told her mom that some cookbooks had “too many words” while others were “too babyish” and were filled with “play recipes”. So poor Mary—already worn down from trying to come up with a Carnation Evaporated Milk-based cream sauce for Sardine and Liver Sausage Aspic Surprise—had to ignore poor Mr. Blake (first name unknown) and write ‘Fun to Cook Book’ (1967) so little Margie could pass it off as her own. Here's Margie’s recipe (wink, wink) for Meat Loaf. Thought I’m not sure why the illustrator decided to make it look like Margie had dropped it on the floor where it got covered in hair. Click image for full size picture. (‘Fun to Cook Book’, Carnation Company, 1967) – Dan Taylor

#meatloafmonday #meatloaf #vintagerecipes #vintagecookbooks

Happy Veterans Day! Fried Liver Fingers (1966)

My uncles—Mike, Charlie, and Dan—are veterans of WWII and all made it home to live long lives. To them, and all who served, I say, “thank you for your service” and wish a Happy Veterans Day. (Insert awkward transition) That said, here’s some treats from ‘Dare to Excel in Cooking: Award Winning Group Recipes of USS Semmes (DDG-18)’. The Semmes, a Charles F. Adams-class destroyer which entered service in 1962, was the winner of the 1966 Ney Award for the “outstanding small mess afloat”. I’m not sure if the Fried Liver Fingers or Oysters Jambalaya helped secure the award, but here they are for the next time you have 20+ of your closest friends headed over. Oh, and the wonderful illustrations around the edges are courtesy of the Navy-Marine Corps Recipe Service and can be found throughout ‘Dare to Excel in Cooking’ (by Darrell Miles [LT, (SC), USN] and William Bigley [CS1, USN], 1966). Finally, a few words about the recipes contained in the cookbook from David F. Emerson, Commanding Officer of the USS SEMMES (whom I picture looks like Tom Atkins in LETHAL WEAPON): “Please note that the recipes are for food for strong young Americans who work in the open air; there are no dainty items here to divert a Continental palate”. (Click image for full size picture)— Dan Taylor

#vintage #recipes #cookbooks #neyaward #usssemmes #vintagerecipes #armedforces #vintagecookbooks

Spicy Wieners 'n Rice (1963)

Oscar Mayer might be “Specialists in sausage and smoked meats since 1883” but they’re also one of the titans of the recipe pamphlet. Our collection seemingly includes as many varieties of cookbooks and pamphlets from the “wurstmachers” at Oscar Mayer (now owned by Kraft Heinz) as the offerings from these sausage wizards. And this 1963 booklet celebrating their 80th anniversary is a fine example. Touting “80 recipes and suggestions, developed in the Oscar Meyer test kitchens”, this 48-pager features full-color photos and stylish illustrations highlighting everything from Wiener Spinach Casserole and Liver Sausage Peanut Buns to Liver Sausage Pickle Dip and Pumpkin-Hollow Dip (shhhh, the secret ingredient is liver sausage). Admittedly, it was hard to choose something to highlight but I know how you folks like to add a little spice to your life, so here’s something called Spicy Wieners ‘n Rice with a bonus recipe for Wiener Mashed Potato Pie. Click image for full size picture. (’80 Favorites’, Oscar Mayer, 1963) — Dan Taylor

#vintagerecipes #vintagecookbooks #oscarmayer #hotdogrecipes #retrorecipes

Pickled Fresh Tongue (1973)

Laissez les bon temps rouler! I know that when I think "New Orleans cookery" the first thing that comes to mind is Pickled Fresh Tongue and/or whatever the hell that is on the cover. From 'The New Orleans Cookbook' published by the Culinary Arts Institute, 1973. Click picture for full size image. – Dan Taylor

#cookbook #vintage #vintagerecipes #neworleans #vintagecookbook #recipes #retro

Pungent Liver and Frosted Braunschweiger Roll (1958)

Apparently 10 p.m. was the time for snacks in 1958. I couldn't decide between Frosted Braunschweiger Roll and Pungent Liver, so why not share 'em both along with a few more from 'Ten P.M. Cook Book' (Good Housekeeping, 1958). Click picture for full size image. – Dan Taylor

#retro #vintage #recipes #cookbook #vintagerecipes #retroappetizers

Roast Suckling Pig from 100 of the World's Greatest Recipes (1976)

1976. Our nation's bicentennial celebration was in full swing. People pondered the potential of presidential candidates like Gerry Ford, Ronald Reagan, Jimmy Carter, Jerry Brown, Mo Udall, and George Wallace. And it was perfectly normal for a cigarette manufacturer to pay a noted restaurant critic, food editor and author to put his name on an advertising cookbook. Which is how we got 'Benson & Hedges 100's Presents 100 of the World's Greatest Recipes' by Craig Claiborne (Philip Morris/New York Times, 1976). And let me tell you, cigarette money can pay for some nice printing. This is no hastily thrown together advertising pamphlet. This sucker is a hardcover, ring bound beauty with dainty line drawings, full color photos that don't resemble surgery photos, and even a handy appendix with details on how you can mail order those crazy foreign ingredients. Click picture for full size image. – Dan Taylor

#recipes #vintagerecipes #sucklingpig #craigcaliborne #advertising #vintage #recipeoftheday

Last Minute Supper from Cooking with Soup (1972)

I get it. The holidays are over. The kids are back in school and activities have started to ramp back up. What's a harried homemaker to do? Well, if you have a can of condensed soup "you have much of the work already done for you", according to 'Cooking with Soup' (Campbell Soup Company, from my birthplace of Camden, NJ!, 1972). I'm thinking that like my father's attempt at making roast beef sandwiches one night when my mom was sick in bed, Last Minute Supper will send the kids scurrying to the internet for recipes and cooking lessons faster than you can say "until flavors are blended". FYI, get used to seeing this cookbook in your feed. A casual perusal yielded tons of material. Click picture for full size image. – Dan Taylor

#vintage #vintagerecipes #soup #condensedsoup #lunchmeat #campbellssoup #recipeoftheday

Peach Melba Metropolitan from The Complete Cheese Cookbook (1971)

Happy National Peach Melba Day! I'm going to be honest, I had to look up what the heck Peach Melba even is. Apparently it was invented by Auguste Escoffier at London's Savoy Hotel in honor of Nellie Melba, an Australian soprano. Leave it up to the fine folks at Kraft to figure out a way to get some whipped cream cheese into your peach melba in order to create Peach Melba Metropolitan (from 'The Complete Cheese Cookbook', Kraft Foods, 1971). What ingredients would be in a dish that would bear your name? Click picture for full size image. – Dan Taylor

#nationalpeachmelbaday #peach #peaches #peachmelba #peachrecipes #vintage #vintagerecipes #creamcheese #desserts #recipeoftheday

Happy National Curried Chicken Day!

Happy National Curried Chicken Day! It will come as no surprise that curry was not a spice mix that was found in my household. Our chicken came fried, roasted, boiled or in cacciatore, which my Mom considered "spicy" because it had green peppers and oregano in it. Luckily, the contributors to 'Favorite Recipes of Home Economics Teachers Blue Ribbon Poultry Cookbook' (Favorite Recipes Press, 1974) were a bit more adventurous, as this tome includes seven (!) recipes featuring the ingredient. Click picture for full size image. – Dan Taylor

#curry #nationalcurriedchickenday #curryrecipes #chickencurry #vintage #vintagerecipes #vintagecookbooks #homeeconomics #recipeoftheday

Orange Glazed Canadian Bacon from Go Creative with Minute Maid (1971)

I love to sit down with a stack of vintage advertising pamphlets and recipe booklets. Admire the design and layout. Put a sticky note or two on recipes that don't include gelatin or prunes. Scan spot illustrations to sprinkle into an upcoming issue of The Hungover Gourmet (New issue coming in spring 2023!). And then there are just the eyesores. The booklets that definitely arrived in my office as part of a lot purchased long ago. I'm looking at you 'Go Creative with Minute Maid' (Coca Cola Company, 1971). With your three pound slab of Canadian Bacon and black type on purple and orange stained glass. Get the hell out of here. Click picture for full size image. – Dan Taylor 

Dan Taylor is the editor/publisher of The Hungover Gourmet. He is also employed as a graphic designer and would never use black type like that.

#vintage #vintagerecipes #minutemaid #frozenorangejuice #vintagecookbooks #recipeoftheday

Crabmeat Rolls from Salads and Snacks with Miracle Whip Salad Dressing (date unknown)

Mayo-based dishes were a big thing in my house growing up. My Mom would combine a box of elbow macaroni, a bit of magical Florida celery (the best kind!), some tuna (or chicken, or shrimp, or hard boiled egg) and a few heaping spoonfuls of mayo and we'd have an old Country Crock tub full of goodness. Many a night I'd roll in from a late night movie or closing down a local bar or Philly rock club and park myself at the kitchen table, desperate to get something in my stomach to ward off the bad stuff. 'Salads and Snacks with Miracle Whip Dressing' (Kraft, date unknown) is a great little foldout with recipes for festive occasions or informal "snacking", whatever the hell that means. Crappy black and white photo aside, I'd totally eat those Crabmeat Rolls. Click picture for full size image. – Dan Taylor

Dan Taylor is the editor/publisher of The Hungover Gourmet and previously wrote about Tuna Macaroni Salad back in the summer of 2008. Be sure to check out the recently revived Hungover Gourmet website for info about contributions, the upcoming print edition, how to purchase copies of back issues, and more.

#mayo #mayonnaise #mayorecipes #salads #snacks #vintage #vintagerecipes #vintagecookbooks #recipeoftheday

Florida Celery Fingers from The Magic of Florida Celery (date unknown)

As I've mentioned, I have a collection of thousands of advertising recipe pamphlets dating back to the early 1900s (and even a handful of older ones). For some of the folks tasked with putting these together–I'm looking at you Pillsbury and Betty Crocker–it had to have been like shooting fish in a barrel. But pity the poor folks who had to create 'The Magic of Florida Celery' (Florida Celery Industry, Orlando, Florida, date unknown). It's a lovely 20-page piece with full-color photos and fun facts/tips about nature's toothbrush ("Use a celery stalk for scraping the sides of your blender."), but no amount of Oriental lanterns, chopsticks, decorative tea sets and horseshoes can disguise the fact that the main ingredient of all these dishes is, well, celery. But enough of my yapping, you're going to need to rush to the store if you're going to whip up some Florida Celery Fingers and Florida Celery Pinwheels for tonight's National Championship Game. Click picture for full size image. – Dan Taylor

#celery #celeryrecipes #vintage #vintagerecipes #cookbooks #vintagecookbooks #recipeoftheday