With my birthday coming up soon, here are five things on my birthday wish list! My goal recently in life is to read one book a month, and so far, I am accomplishing my goal. 🙂
Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure- Criterion Collection. This was one of the movies I had on repeat growing up. I always wanted to live in a dinosaur.
Cannibal Error: Anti-Film Propaganda and the Video Nasties Panic of the 1980s by David Kerekes and David Slater. Most of my favorite movies are actually on the cover of this book. I am interested in digging deeper into the era of the Video Nasties list of the 1980s.
Le Puzz Puzzles 1000 Piece Puzzle- Y2K. I am a huge puzzle nerd, and this is one of my favorite puzzle brands. This has been on my wish list since it was released. Update a friend got me this 🙂
This month’s contributor spotlight features Anna Bucholz, also known as _cookingthebooks_ on Instagram.
“I’ve been collecting vintage cookbooks for over 30 years, and it all started with Betty Crocker’s Cooky Book.
This classic cookbook is beloved by many. Although it was published in 1963, The Cooky Book is so popular that facsimile copies of the original are still being sold . With its shiny red cover, charming sketches, and festive photographs, this book reminds me of Christmas (even though it’s not technically tied to the holidays). Growing up I would flip through my mom’s copy page by page, plotting which cookie to try next. The possibilities for fun seemed endless.
In 2021 my cookbook collection led me to start my YouTube channel, Cooking the Books. I wanted to try recipes from my collection on a more regular basis and thought other cookbook lovers might be interested in my experience. Fast forward to today, and I’ve published over 300 videos. Currently I try 3 recipes per week and share a new video every Sunday. I collect books from all decades, but when it comes to actually trying out recipes my sweet spot is between 1940 and 1990.
Here are a few lessons I’ve learned after trying hundreds of vintage recipes.
There are really good vintage recipes out there!
Not all foods from the past were encased in gelatin even if those are the images you see most frequently. People love to focus on the wild, weird, and ‘gross’ recipes in older cookbooks. In reality, much of the time you’ll find familiar dishes you’ve eaten before. Think meatloaf, casseroles, baked goods, and other comfort foods. It’s true that cuisines and tastes change over time, but there are so many classic recipes that still hold up today.
Read recipes THOROUGHLY and be on the lookout for hidden ingredients
Have you ever planned to try a new recipe, carefully gathering the listed ingredients, only to find out the recipe instructions include even more ingredients? I have! I find this to be more common in books where the recipes are crowd sourced, such as community or fundraiser cookbooks. The way recipes are written and formatted has changed over time. Be sure to read through new-to-you recipes and make note of any added ingredients included in the directions before you proceed.
Watch your package sizes
Over time, the available sizes of many canned goods, cake mixes, and packaged goods have changed in size. Canned vegetables that used to be sold in 1 pound cans are now 14.5 ounces. A recipe may call for a package of cream cheese…does that mean a 3oz package (commonly available in the past) or an 8oz package (the most common package size today)? Some vintage recipes will indicate package sizes in the ingredients list, but others won’t. You may need to do a little internet sleuthing and research similar recipes to find the right size.
Your Grandmother’s secret cookie recipe is from Betty Crocker’s Cooky Book.
Ok, so maybe this isn’t true for everyone. However, many of my viewers have told me they were surprised to find out later in life their treasured family recipes really came from popular cookbooks, magazine ads, or product packaging. Food can evoke powerful memories of happy times and special people. It doesn’t really matter where the recipes come from.
Sometimes, simple is best.
I love being surprised by recipes, and some of the most surprising dishes have come from recipes that don’t seem to have a lot to them. Minimal ingredients and simple seasonings can equate to unexpectedly delicious results. You don’t always need a lot to make something that tastes incredible.
Vintage cookbooks have a lot to offer – not just in the way of food and recipes, but as a way to get a glimpse of the past. We may have access to countless recipes online, but physical cookbooks will always have a place on my shelves.
Anna Buchholz is a home cook, vintage cookbook and housewares collector, and content creator. She publishes weekly videos about food, vintage cookbooks, and retro recipes on her YouTube channel, Cooking the Books.
Banned Book Week starts from October 5-11, 2025. What is Banned Book Week? It is a yearly event that began in 1982, prompted by an alarming number of books being challenged or pulled from the shelves of public libraries and schools.
This event draws public attention to the right of people to access information that others have attempted to prohibit by limiting access. The list of banned books continues to grow larger every year. Banned Book Week highlights the need to reduce censorship in what readers choose to read and to encourage the importance of reading. I am a big believer that knowledge is power and having an openness to read out of one’s comfort zone. Here are some books that have been consistently challenged for various reasons, along with some new additions to the list. Many of these books are among my favorites.
All Boys Aren’t Blue by George M. Johnson (2020) is due to its sexual nature and LGBT content.
Carrie by Stephen King (1974) due to its graphic, violent nature. sexual nature and being against religion.
“Crazy Lady” by Jane Leslie Conly (1993) is not suitable due to its foul language.
Curses, Hexes, and Spells by Daniel Cohen (1974). Due to its occult ideals and uses, the Bible was a resource.
The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank (1947). It was added to the list because of the reference to growing up as a teenager and sexuality.
Guess What? by Mem Fox (1988) is a picture book aimed at kids, and it was added to the list because it discusses themes of the occult and references to punk rock.
Julie of the Wolves by Jean Craighead George (1972). This book was added because it was not suitable for the recommended age reading group and has references to violence.
Ordinary People by Judith Guest (1976). On the list due to foul language and sexual nature.
Something Happened in Our Town by Jennifer Zivoin (2018). It was banned due to its language, which was used to entice readers to be against the police.
The Upstairs Room by Johanna Reiss (1972). It was put on the list due to its profanity and discussions regarding the Holocaust.
And those are just some of the books that are on the ever-massive and growing list of books.
If you want more information about Banned Book Week. Here are some references:
ladycultblog 