Quirky And Fun Vintage Recipe Ads

In the 1950s, food manufacturers printed ads with recipes to help incorporate their products into everyday meals. Here are some fun vintage recipe ads I found!

Vintage Recipe Ads
Vintage Recipe Ads

After World War II ended in 1945, the lives of Americans began to change dramatically and for the better.

These were people who had lived through the Great Depression when they didn’t have money to meet their basic needs followed by a war during which they couldn’t buy what they needed no matter how much money they had.

Now prosperity reigned and a new middle class began to emerge. Food was abundant as rationing ended and supermarkets began to crop up in every neighborhood.

Suburbs popped up everywhere and every kitchen in every new home was equipped with shiny new appliances, the likes of which had never been seen before.

And what else popped up?  Come on now, we’ve talked about this.  That’s right…convenience foods!

Companies that manufactured and sold all these new-fangled foods were more than happy to assist the modern-day housewife in getting the most from this brave new world of modern conveniences.

They began to buy ad space in womens’ magazines and use that space to print recipes that included their products.

I guess some of the recipes must have tasted good but, for humor’s sake, I wanted to present to you a small sampling of the most cringe-worthy vintage recipe ads that I found (in a relatively short time).

The Rise and Fall of Gelatin Molds

The Rise and Fall of Gelatin Molds
The Rise and Fall of Gelatin Molds

Who remembers gelatin molds?

They were so popular there was even a name for it:  Gel Cookery (I kid you not).

I personally remember that my mothers’ specialty was a lime gelatin and grated carrot thing.  I don’t know if there was more to it than that, I just know that I liked the lime gelatin, I could have done without the carrots.

Now the fruity, powdered gelatin products that are available to us today were originally brought into existence back in the mid-1800s but there was one problem.

Once it was mixed with water, it needed refrigeration to make it gel, which was a luxury most homes did not possess.

With refrigerators finally being available to mainstream America in the ’50s, gelatin finally came into its’ own.

It was fun to make, fun to look at and it was a status symbol, of sorts, to show that you had the appliance needed to actually gel up that concoction.

But for every good idea, there is an equally bad idea out there. Here are just a few:

Jellied Bouillon
Jellied Bouillon

Jellied Bouillon combined beef bouillon, hot dogs, hard-boiled eggs and Knox Gelatine with the tagline “Frankfurters take on glamor in the gleaming aspic”.

I would not put the words frankfurters and glamor in the same sentence but I guess you had to be there.

 

Barbecue Salad
Barbecue Salad

Barbecue salad was a mixture of lemon Jell-O and tomato sauce. Adding onion juice and horseradish were optional.

The ad makes no mention of what one may have served this as or with but they did proclaim it to be “Tomato aspic with personality”.

 

Gelatin Mold
Gelatin Mold

This ad is a clever mash-up that totes the many uses of Kraft mini marshmallows and…well…other stuff. 

One includes freezing a mixture of Miracle Whip, Philadelphia Cream Cheese, confectioners sugar, heavy cream, marshmallows and canned pineapple. 

Another is far more simple: marshmallows and (generic) lime gelatin. I guess Jell-O didn’t pay for a spot in this ad.

Anyhoo…both delightful creations are served on a bed of lettuce because lettuce beds are, apparently, where all fancy desserts are presented. Tagline? “Keep glamor handy for salads”.

Tuna Fish Mold
Tuna Fish Mold

Now I know I’m picking on gelatin molds but I gotta include one more recipe card, this one for Tuna Fish Mold.

Here it is paired the “flavor blessing” of A-1 sauce and it claims to be “Real Cool”. Like, for real, who doesn’t want to eat a gelatinous mound of pureed, canned tuna and tomato soup molded to look like a marine animal?

There’s even a coupon to get the fish mold for $1 (a $2.50 value!!)

So…Who Thought This Was A Good Idea?

 

Potato Mor Ring
Potato Mor Ring

This particular ad is a throwback to the late 1940s.  Potato Mor Ring presents Wilson’s Mor, a Spam-like pork product, warmed in cream sauce and served over a molded potato ring.

Mor was toted as being a “highly nutritious and ready-to-eat source of vitamin B”.

 

Spam and Beans
Spam and Beans

Speaking of mystery meat did you know that when you add Spam to your baked beans “a crisp new flavor is added to an old favorite”?

And much like Wilson’s Mor, it claims to be a magical, healthy food made of pure pork and packed with B vitamins!

I would assume those are canned baked beans as well but it doesn’t specifically say.

Wieneroni Casserole
Wieneroni Casserole

Wieneroni Casserole — Hot dogs simmered in Karo and served over pasta.  “Frankly delicious!”

There’s nothing I can even add to this. I’m at a loss for words.

 

 

Jellygrill Sandwich
Jellygrill Sandwich

Jellygrill Sandwich is made with Velveeta Cheese and Kraft Grape Jelly. We’re encouraged to “bite into the taste of natural fruit”.

If we weren’t convinced that grape jelly is a fruit the first time they said it, they had to get it in there once again:  “The good rich taste of natural fruit and smooth, yummy Velveeta”.

If you say it enough times, it must be true.

7-Up and Milk
7-Up and Milk

We can wash all this delightful food down with a yummy glass of 7-Up and milk.

“Mothers know that this is a wholesome combination. The addition of 7-Up gives milk a new flavor appeal that especially pleases children”.

Or not. While you may be feeling shocked that they’re calling this drink “wholesome” we shouldn’t be too surprised.

This is the same company that claimed their soda was “100% natural” in 2006, a claim they had to drop less than a year later after being sued.

And The Trophy  For Best Vintage Recipe Ad Goes To… (Drum Roll, Please!)…

Oscar Meyer Holiday Hostess Tree
Oscar Meyer Holiday Hostess Tree

I know I’m a little late with this one but how could I resist?

The Oscar Meyer Holiday Hostess Tree features not one…not two…but FIVE types of processed meat, all of which appear to be served at room temperature.

Mini weiners, mini smokies, canned ham, Cotto salami and liver sausage all hang merrily from a holiday tree made of parsley sprigs hand stapled on a cone of styrofoam, into which you have rammed a plastic kitchen funnel.

I think we could still get away with this for New Year’s Eve, right?

Now THAT Was Fun!

I could go on and on.  And on. But really, we should stop as I’m sure you have other things to do.  For more information on the history of processed food, click here!

I hope you’ve enjoyed this fun trip into the past and, if you have a minute or two, comment below and let me know what weird (or wonderful!) recipe you remember from your childhood!

All my best,

Cynthia
cynthia@cynthiaeats.com

 

History of Processed Food

We live in a time when easy-to-eat food is everywhere. Did you ever think about how it came to this? Did you ever wonder about the history of processed food?

History of Processed Food
History of Processed Food

We live in a time when easy-to-eat food is everywhere. Yes, every grocery store but also every department store, every dollar store, every gas station.

Heck, you don’t even have to get out of your car.

Did you ever think about how it came to this?  Did you ever wonder about the history of processed foods?

What is the definition of processed foods?

The Definition of Processed Foods
The Definition of Processed Foods

I could go into a long scientific explanation about changing chemical compounds and how that affects your food. The USDA has more than 15 different words to describe all the ways to make that happen. But who wants that?

Not me, for one. I can feel my eyes glazing over just thinking about it.

I’m going to keep it simple. For what we’re talking about today, the definition for processed foods will be any food that has been modified from its original form to make it ready to eat or easier to prepare and/or store.

As a matter of fact, I’m going to define convenience foods the same way. I’m going to lump ‘em all in together and we can use the terms interchangeably.

When did processed food start to appear in our lives?

The Origin of Processed Foods
The Origin of Processed Foods

When did processed food start? Who invented it?

Many minds go to the Industrial Revolution and how it streamlined mass production but I think it’s safe to assume convenience/processed foods have been around since humans have walked the earth.

It’s always been kind of a “thing” to gather food when it’s in season and find a way to preserve it for later use. Think of smoke-drying meat, root cellars, canning fresh produce or burying ice in the spring to keep it for later in the year.

All of that sounds good and actually quite healthy. So just when did processed foods go awry? When did they go afoul of good nutrition?

Modern Day Comforts – The First Convenience Food

Modern Day Convenience
Modern Day Convenience

I’m not pointing fingers but C. A. Swanson & Sons successfully rolled out something they called TV Brand Frozen Dinners in 1957.

While they didn’t invent the concept, the meals were hugely successful and forever changed the landscape of mealtime. They have been considered to be the first convenience food that was widely used in American homes.

There’s some debate as to who, exactly, at the Swanson factory came up with the plan to market these frosty nuggets of ease but I’m willing to let it go. After all, it would be wrong to blame one overachieving employee for starting America’s Health Crisis, right? Like, I AM right, right?

I think it’s no coincidence that the success of these dinners (and other processed foods) coincided with the fact that the number of supermarkets in this country had doubled in the previous decade.

A wide variety of mass-produced, processed food was available in your very own neighborhood. Modern electrical appliances such as stoves and refrigerator/freezer combos were now commonplace and easy to use.

It’s unlikely that the young housewives of the late 50s grew up with such wonderful modern conveniences so you can imagine why they would embrace this shiny new world of easily prepared meals. You can almost hear it, can’t you? “No more chicken plucking for THIS GIRL!!”

Housewives were not the only ones with an eye on the new trends. Manufacturers were quick (and happy I would imagine) to jump on the bandwagon. They were anxious to cash in on this new food craze, to invent and market new lines of food to fill the need, sometimes to ridiculous lengths. Check out a few of their crazy ads here.

What Are The Effects Of Processed Foods?

The Effects of Processed Foods
The Effects of Processed Foods

We are now in the 3rd generation since the fateful introduction of TV dinners. What are the effects of processed foods? What have we learned?

While we are now well aware of the physical effects that processed convenience food causes, I don’t think we take enough time to consider the REAL reason we’re in the mess we’re in. The social aspects of it.

We are, of course, are a product of our upbringing. It’s Complicated. So much so that even we, as individuals, often don’t know why we do the things we do.

There’s one thing that’s certain. Much of what we know (and do) we learned from our parents. And our parents learned from their parents.

Mom grew up eating the Supermarket Food that her mom embraced so enthusiastically. You know, the pre-plucked chickens and store-bought eggs. Maybe the occasional TV dinner when she begged her mom for a treat.

Then Mom raised you and guess what? She had even more exciting and easy-to-make foods available to her. Spaghetti-O’s and Hot Pockets, Hostess Fruit Pies, Kid Cuisine Meals, Campbell’s Chunky Soup and drive-thrus.

Stop. The. Madness.

It’s no wonder, then, that preparing whole foods has become a foreign concept in our culture.

But we’re not doomed! We can take back our lives and consciously decide to make better choices. Just remember to be kind to yourself in the process and keep in mind that the next generation will learn from YOU.

Please feel free to leave a comment below with your thoughts. I look forward to your contributions to this conversation!

 

Cynthia
Cynthia@cynthiaeats.com

 

 

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