Saturday Surfing

I love finding old cookbooks at thrift shops. The one pictured is the Rumford Complete Cookbook from 1943. Cost was, as I recall, one dollar but the value is priceless. I love paging through and reading the recipe notes penciled in so carefully by someone long ago.

I love the red covers of these World War II cookbooks. The designers were obviously trying to be cheery in a stressful and difficult time. I have many of these, from the Better Homes and Garden 1940 edition (I think), to the Ida Baily Allen’s Cookbook which tells you how to cook delicious meals on rations. I have some older, but it seems to be the books that were published during the war years that I love the best.

Anyway, I thought I would give you a look at some of my favorite things. If you check out Kettle & Cup at some point today I will have a picture of my Buffalo China Teacup from 1911. It is great.

This original copy is posted at baking delights.  http://bakingdelights.com -if you are reading it anywhere else it is stolen content.

So..on to the surfing. I have some cool links for you to check out today.

I found the link to A Daily Painter’s Gallery when I was checking my link-backs in my stats. This is not a blog that I would normally tell you about except for two things. One, the artwork is incredible. Two it is food related. And three, (yeah I know I said two but you knew I didn’t mean it) I used to paint years ago and I love seeing really good work. You will too.

Pixie has done some magical looking Mincemeat swirls at A Sweetart. Apparently warm, gooey, and sweet breakfast rolls were on both of our minds this week!
You know that as much as I love old cookbooks and vintage recipes I check Baking History regularly! You have to check out the recipe for Lincoln Cake, created in honor of Abraham Lincoln. It looks to be a very fine crumbed lemony pound cake. I can’t wait to try it!

You have to see this birthday cake. Just go. Now. I’ll wait.

Check out the flourless Chocolate Pear Torte at Curiously Ravenous. Not only is it beautiful, the idea of it is intriguing..and now I wondering what it would be like done in white chocolate. The very best recipes, to me, are the ones that get you thinking.

Anj at Gulf Coast Gram has pralines on the menu..but the cool thing is that she has displayed them in a vintage dish that I also have!

Tartelette, otherwise known as Helene, is not only exceptional blogger, she is an impressive photographer. These Strawberry Lime Tartelettes are awesome!

Coco from Ambrosia has this Oreo Cream Pie….mmmm.

i think that Kevin just needs to bring his cooking out of the closet because everything I have seen on his blog is incredible. Looking at the Crab Quesadillas just makes my mouth water.

Tanna has a Royal Crown Tortano that is really a work of art. She has photographed all the steps and the finished, magnificent bread that resulted. Well done!

At the Caked Crusader, Samantha made this fantastic Plum, Almond and Ricotta cake.

Kimberly Ann at Nostalgic Homemaking is another of the bloggers I like to read. There are always good recipes on her blog but most often I go there for her thoughts because they are good too.

O.k..that’s it for today. Monday is the UNVEILING of the DARING BAKERS CHALLENGE for the month..you don’t want to miss it!