Hey, my mom used to make that!

1978 wholegrain topping

The 1970s were not known for being particularly health-conscious. So it's surprising that this 1978 Quaker Oats ad includes a recipe for a wholegrain topping.

Savory Add-a-Crunch

2 cups Quaker Oats (quick or old-fashioned)
1/2 cup butter or margarine, melted
1/3 cup Parmesan cheese
1/3 cup finely chopped nuts, wheat germ or un-processed bran, if desired
1/4 teaspoon onion or garlic salt

Combine all ingredients; mix well. Bake in ungreased large shallow baking pan in moderate oven (350˚F) 15 - 18 minutes. Cool; store in tightly covered container in refrigerator. Makes about 3 cups of topping.

Add-a-Crunch Crescent Dinner Rolls

Separate one 8 oz. pkg. refrigerated crescent dinner rolls into triangles. Brush 1 side of each triangle with melted butter; sprinkle with about 1 tablespoon Savory Add-a-Crunch. Roll up; brush tops with melted butter. Sprinkle tops with Savory Add-a-Crunch. Bake according to crescent dinner roll package directions. Makes 8 rolls.

Click here for another vintage healthful recipe.

Retro Recipe for hatching Easter egg cake

Honestly, I don't think this is a cake for beginners. Or people who aren't slaves to detail.

Applying the dyed coconut exactly where you want it — and not letting it fall where you don't — is a daunting task.

This recipe is from a 1969 ad for Baker's coconut.

Using 1 box of cake mix, bake an 8-inch and a 9-inch layer cake. Cool. Cut 9-inch layer as show in diagram A and 8-inch as shown in diagram B. Split 2 ring sections from diagram B. Arrange pieces as shown in diagram C, placing split rings sections above and below smaller zigzag piece.

Next, make 4 1/2 cups (2-egg white) Seven Minute Frosting; secure cake pieces with frosting. Tint 3 cups frosting pink with red food coloring; frost egg portion of cake. Frost rest of cake with remaining frosting.

Now, using 1 package (7 oz.) Baker's Angel Flake Coconut and food coloring, tint 1/2 cup coconut yellow, 1/3 cup coconut pink and 1 cup coconut green. Sprinkle yellow coconut over head, neck and beak. Sprinkle green coconut over nest, and remaining white coconut around diamonds.

Decorate with string licorice sticks and jelly beans.

Here's a close-up of the diagram.

Click here for a recipe for individual Molten Spiced Chocolate Cabernet Cakes. (They're mush easier to make than it sounds.)

Via one of my other blogs, Found in Mom's Basement

 

ADDENDUM posted 28 March 2013

Am still feeling guilty for discouraging you from trying the above recipe. Hope this makes up for it.

I just came across photos of a super-easy bunny cake idea from 1956. And when I say super-easy, I mean a child could put together this Easter rabbit — which is a good thing because the type is too small to be readable.

Click the image to enlarge it.

Via alsis35

Chef's advice for a perfect turkey

When this 1987 ad ran, Chef Byron J. Brady, creator of Heinz HomeStyle gravies, was one of only 31 Certified Master Chefs in the country. Here are his turkey roasting tips.

1. Start with a good pan. The bird should have plenty of room.

2. Stuff lightly. Never pack stuffing in tight. (Otherwise, the turkey will take longer to cook to the center.)

3. Tent with heavy aluminium foil, or oiled baking paper.

4. One hour before bird is done, remove foil so skin will brown crisply (1/2 hour if using oiled baking paper).

5. Like wine, let it breathe. Before you carve, let turkey stand for about 20 minutes, so juices won't drain and leave the meat dry.

6. Relax. You've done enough. Let Heinz handle the gravy. With all due modesty, we've gone about making our gravies with the same attention to detail you've spent on this meal. Simmering just so long. Seasoning just right. Thickening just so. Stirring until ribbony smooth. We've even stored this marvelous turkey gravy in a jar, instead of a can.

 

 

How to — and why you should — spiral-cut hot dogs before grilling

Click here to watch the 49-second video on spiral-cutting hot dogs.

If you don't have a grill, click here to see my favorite way of cooking hot dogs indoors.

How to frost a cake: step-by-step instructions

Whisk Kid has posted step-by-step instructions for properly frosting a cake. If your grandmother didn't share her icing secrets with you, click here. You won't be sorry.

Turkey roasting 911

Thanks to the folks at Butterball, turkey help is just a toll-free call away.

Of course, I'm refering to the Butterball Turkey Talk-Line.

English- and Spanish-speaking turkey experts are waiting to solve your last-minute turkey thawing, stuffing, roasting and carving questions. Just call 1-800-BUTTERBALL. The pros will be there all day.

Or, if you prefer, email your questions to talkline@butterball.com.

Best wishes to you and your family for a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday!
— Paula

Nice napkin fold for the Thanksgiving table

Go to mychinet.com for a video tutorial or, if you prefer, printable directions, for folding paper napkins into holiday turkeys.

Bunny Wabbits! Napkin folding directions

Found this in today's Boston Globe. (Yes, I still get the Sunday papers delivered. It wouldn't be Sunday without them.)

Chinet has easy-to-follow directions for folding these cute rabbit napkins. Just in time for Easter.

Click here to get directions for folding napkins into rabbits and other delightful shapes.

How to use royal icing to decorate cutout cookies

The New York Times has a neat four-minute video that demonstrates how to make and use royal icing to decorate cutout cookies.

Click here to watch the New York Times cookie decorating video.

Holiday cookie making and giving tips

Here's the cover of a booklet, from the 24 November 1992 issue of Women's Day magazine, titled Best of the Batch Cookie Collection.

The booklet is filled with holiday cookie recipes and tips. Today, I'll share the tips with you.

First, the Secrets to Making Superior Cookies (click any of these images to enlarge them):

Next, How to Separate Eggs:

And last, Mailing Tips for sending your cookies via snail mail:

Over the coming days, I'll post the Best of the Batch cookie recipes. First up tomorrow, refrigerator cookies.