Mother had a green, about three or four inches thick, with lighter yellow or off white end binding, cookbook she had in home ed, from early forties possible a few years older.One, of my Sisters or Brothers got it I'm sure got the book.It was printed on rag paper and never did turn brown.It had cooking instructions from scratch, measures dry and liquid, egg sizing, and everything a young Lady needed to know and reference.It included selecting meats, dressing chickens and more.I got to thinking about as wife is making pear preserves right now. neither one of us remember the original and best receipt.I thought it was the original Betty Crocker Cookbook but looking on the Internet it is described as red and has a pattern in it.Any of you Ladies or Gentelmen recognize the book, please post a title or if you know where one is for sale.It also had receipts from scratch on making sausage and any kind of American food I can think of in it. Scratch made cakes, pies and just about anything. Thanks

Some of the Meta Given cookbooks from the 40's had green covers. You might try Googling her.(I have her red "Modern Family" cookbook)

I will take mega bets that what you want is The Joy of Cooking by Irma Rombauer, either in the original 1931 edition or the 1943/46 edition.BUT there is a 2006 edition that has more about ingredients, measures, etc. and more about types of food, especially animals. Early editions leaned heavily animals came from the farm. The latest edition tells about animals we can get today. Named contributors are: original author, daughter, grandson. It is: Joy of Cooking: Joy of Cooking. by Ethan Becker, Irma S. Rombauer, Marion Rombauer Becker. Scribner | October 31, 2006 | Hardcover There is a nice write up at: Chapters.Indigo book companyThere is a FAMILY run website that shows all this and more: http://www.thejoykitchen.com/all-about-joy/all-about-joyGo visit a bookstore and you'll see what I mean and why this is one of the world's best selling books.:C

You're probably right - Joy of Cooking. There was also "The American Woman's Cookbook(s)" by Ruth Berolzheimer (sp).

The Joy of Cooking was my first thought, too. It is still my "go to" when I can't find something somewhere else.

I have a garage sale Joy of Cooking that is old but not that old. If you want it I can send it to you but I love the new one I got.Both of mine came from garage sales.Mine is light green with Black print on the cover. I buy cookbooks at garage sales and just gave away a box with about 30 in. Would not give up the old Joy even tho I had a new one and set of paperbacks that I take camping. I really do not need to keep the extra.The first Joys came out before WW II.

Looking for an old Cookbook | Good Sam Community

down_home
Explorer II
Sep 05, 2015
Opie431 wrote:
I have a garage sale Joy of Cooking that is old but not that old. If you want it I can send it to you but I love the new one I got.Both of mine came from garage sales.

Mine is light green with Black print on the cover. I buy cookbooks at garage sales and just gave away a box with about 30 in. Would not give up the old Joy even tho I had a new one and set of paperbacks that I take camping. I really do not need to keep the extra.

The first Joys came out before WW II.

Good deal. Sure.
NYCgrrl
Explorer
Sep 04, 2015
GMandJM wrote:
Wow - That's pricey!

Thanks for letting us know which one it was.

Antique cookbooks are a vigorously growing subsection of book auctions. A '30's version of JOC is not a true antique but still desirable. The oldest cookbook in my book collection (I don't count it as an in use cookbook.. more like a reference book) is a first printing of Fannie Framer's "Boston Cooking~School Cookbook" ; paid a pretty penny for it back in the '80's and am leaving it to the Princess, my granddaughter. She can figure out it's then monetary worth when I'm gone but hope she reads it first.
NYCgrrl
Explorer
Sep 04, 2015
I own 3 different editions of JOC: 2 from the 1970's and one from the...late '90's/early 21st century. The most recent edition has an enlarged fish chapter. The baked bean Cockgaine recipe is different in each of the 3 editions taking into account changes in how we eat.

What hasn't been discarded is the "Know your Ingredients" section. In fact it has been expanded.

If you need a pear canning method give a "holler" and I'm sure it can be printed here.
Little_Kopit
Explorer
Sep 04, 2015
I can't say as I'm surprised. It is such a world best seller these days.

Some thoughts:
- Go into a library and look in current Joy of Cooking for the recipes you want. Of course, you should be able to borrow the book if recipes you want are there.

- Buy current edition. Great investment that is.

- Check the websight I gave above. Ask they who run the sight your recipe questions.

Other books with long term recipes and many food how-tos.

1. Stocking Up III, or Stocking Up II or original Stocking Up. Recipes in each vary. Stocking Up III has the most how-to info on the greatest number of foods. Carol Hupping is author.

2. Putting Food By by Hertzberg, Greene et al. It has input from US Dept of Agriculture. & is the best book I've seen by far on what is needed to preserve foods.

:C
GMandJM
Explorer
Sep 04, 2015
Wow - That's pricey!

Thanks for letting us know which one it was.
down_home
Explorer II
Sep 04, 2015
I found out what it is. It is a joy of Cooking 1931 edition with blue or bluish colored covers. It has a apple pear and grapes on cover in corner.
Don't think I'll be buying one. Over 500.00 to collectors.
Opie431
Explorer
Sep 03, 2015
The older one I have seems to have the kind of recipes you want. Do not buy the new one unless you look it over well. If you want my old one let me know.
MaverickBBD
Explorer
Sep 03, 2015
Try Googling The American Woman's Cook Book by Ruth Berolzheimer.
GMandJM
Explorer
Sep 03, 2015
Wow - that's alot of green cookbooks!
Merrykalia
Explorer
Sep 03, 2015
Take a look at this google search:

Google search

Forum Discussion

Looking for an old Cookbook

About Chefs on the Road

Related Content

Your favorite camping cookbook?

Looking for information

Looking to buy!

Looking for advice

looking for comparison