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nanascookbooks.bsky.social
Nana's CookBooks
@nanascookbooks.bsky.social
3.5K followers 340 following 1.3K posts
Recipes and menus from my Nana's Cookbooks and other older cookbooks, sometimes pictures are included.
🌎SW Michigan
📚The Modern Family Cookbook 1943
📚 Betty Crocker's Picture Cook Book, 1950
📚The Fannie Farmer Cookbook, 1965
📚Joy of Cooking, 1975
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nanascookbooks.bsky.social
Nana's CookBooks @nanascookbooks.bsky.social · Jan 1
Welcome to my little side dish of a project exploring past cookbooks. I aim to look at recipes, meal plans, & menus from the 1900s to the 1970s. You can see what books I’m using in my profile. 
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nanascookbooks.bsky.social
Here's another #Cookieparty consideration for you. Great Aunt Flora's Vinegar Cookies. If memory serves me, you roll the dough into 1" balls before baking. What do you say, would you give these a try? 🍽️ 🍜 #FoodSky #Cooking #Recipes #RecipeOfTheDay
Aunt Flora's Vinegar Cookies Cream together: ¾ cup of Sugar 2 sticks oleo ( butter) ½ tsp Vinegar Add: 1 ½ Cups Flour 1 tsp Soda (baking soda) Bake 350 for 10-12 minutes.
December 12, 2025 at 1:35 PM
nanascookbooks.bsky.social
Looking for a different drink for your holiday party. Why not switch Eggnog for Molasses Nog? Most recipes online add molasses to their eggnog, but no eggs in this recipe from 1943. What do you think? Should we try a small glass? 🍽️ 🍜 #FoodSky #Cooking #Recipes #RecipeOfTheDay
From 1943, The Modern Family Cookbook by Meta Givens MOLASSES NOG 2 cups evaporated milk 2 cups ice water Few grains salt 2 or 3 tablespoons sorghum or light molasses Dash of nutmeg, ginger or cinnamon Combine milk, water, salt and molasses, stirring well. Pour into glasses and sprinkle a dash of the preferred spice on top. 5 servings.
December 11, 2025 at 1:41 PM
nanascookbooks.bsky.social
Mac & Cheese, 1940s style. No powdered cheese here. We're using cottage cheese and adding in some tomatoes for a little veggie kick. I'm not sure how my kid would have reacted if I tried this when he was younger. What about you? 🍽️ 🍜 #FoodSky #Cooking #Recipes #RecipeOfTheDay
From 1943, The Modern Family Cookbook by Meta Givens BAKED MACARONI AND COTTAGE CHEESE 7 or 8 ounces macaroni (1 package) 1 egg, beaten 1 jar cottage cheese (12 ounces) 3 tablespoons butter 6 tablespoons flour Pepper to suit taste 1 No. 2 tin tomatoes 1 teaspoon salt 1 onion, finely chopped Buttered bread crumbs or grated dry cheese Drop macaroni into 2 or 3 quarts rapidly boiling salted water, and cook until tender (about 20 minutes). Drain, rinse with hot or cold water, and turn into buttered casserole. Meanwhile melt butter in saucepan and blend in flour; cook over low heat until mixture is brown. Remove from heat and stir in remaining ingredients, except crumbs or grated cheese. Pour over macaroni, stirring slightly to distribute, and sprinkle with bread crumbs or cheese. Bake in a moderate oven (350° F.) for 45 minutes. Serve immediately. 5 servings
December 10, 2025 at 1:41 PM
nanascookbooks.bsky.social
Handwritten recipes carry something extra with them. This is 1 of my family's favorite cookies. Old Dutch Sand Cookies. It's been years since I've had this, but it was 1 of Grandma's classic cookie recipes. What do you think of this family favorite? 🍽️ 🍜 #FoodSky #Cooking #Recipes #RecipeOfTheDay
A handwritten recipe for "Old Dutch Sand Cookies" 3 sticks butter or Oleo 1 ½ Cup Sugar 3 Cups Flour 1 tsp Baking Soda 1 ½ tsp Vanilla Cream butter and sugar. Mix in remaining ingredients. Shape dough into rolls ( log ) and store in fridge. Slice to bake at 350 for 12 min 4 dozen
December 9, 2025 at 1:47 PM
nanascookbooks.bsky.social
It's time for another Christmas cookie for your #CookieParty trays. I found this in my Grandma's recipe notecards. I don't have a date, but it's a cookie that's been around for decades. What do you think, would you add this to your plate of cookies? 🍽️ 🍜 #FoodSky #Cooking #Recipes #RecipeOfTheDay
Ingredient list for Santa's Whiskers cookies 1 cup butter or margarine, softened 1 cup sugar 2 tablespoons milk 1 teaspoon vanilla or rum flavoring 2½ cups all-purpose flour ¾ cup finely chopped red or green candied cherries ½ cup finely chopped pecans ¾ cup flaked coconut Directions to make Santa's Whiskers cookies In mixing bowl cream together butter or margarine and sugar; blend in milk and vanilla or rum flavoring. Stir in flour, chopped candied cherries, and chopped pecans. Form dough into two 8-inch rolls. Roll in flaked coconut to coat outside. Wrap in waxed paper or clear plastic wrap; chill thoroughly. Cut into ¼-inch slices. Place on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 375° till edges are golden, about 12 minutes. Makes about 60.
December 8, 2025 at 1:48 PM
nanascookbooks.bsky.social
Christmas is just over 2 weeks away & I'm starting to think about that big meal. 1975 @joyofcooking.bsky.social has this menu for an option. I wouldn't be mad if this were the meal I sat down to on Christmas Day. What about you? 🍽️ 🍜 #FoodSky #Cooking #Recipes #RecipeOfTheDay #Menuoftheday
December 7, 2025 at 1:42 PM
nanascookbooks.bsky.social
When you're trying to get a picture of a dinner you just plated, but your husband wants to start eating. Ocean Perch dinner for the hubby tonight. I'm not a have of fish, but let me know if you like fish below. 🍽️ 🍜 #FoodSky
A dinner plate with 2 piece of ocean perch, zucchini, carrots, and green beans. 2 hands hold a fork and knife ready to consume the meal.
December 6, 2025 at 11:26 PM
nanascookbooks.bsky.social
Instead the the usual Saturday meal plan, how about another cookie recipe? This 1943 recipe provides 3 options for ginger cookies. Don't you think we should try all 3 options and compare? 🍽️ 🍜 #FoodSky #Cooking #Recipes #RecipeOfTheDay
From 1943, The Modern Family Meal Plan by Meta Givens THREE-WAY GINGER COOKIES 2 cups all-purpose flour 1 cup sugar ½ teaspoon salt I egg, beaten 1 teaspoon soda ¼ cup dark molasses 11 teaspoons ground ginger 1 tablespoon vinegar ⅓ Cup butter or other shortening Sift flour, measure, and resift twice with salt, soda and ginger. Cream shortening until soft and smooth, and add the sugar gradually, creaming thoroughly. Add egg and beat until smooth and fuffy. Add molasses beat hard, and then stir in vinegar. Add four mixture and mix thor-oughly. Drop by half-teaspoonfuls or teaspoonfuls onto lightly greased cookie sheets, and bake in a moderate oven (350° F.) for about 15 minutes, or until delicately browned. Remove to cake racks to cool. Makes about 5 dozen of the larger-sized cookies. Variation 1. Shape teaspoonfuls of the dough quickly into balls by rolling them lightly between buttered palms of hands. Drop balls into ½ cup chopped nuts spread out on waxed paper or a plate. Transfer to greased cookie sheets, nut side up, and bake as above. Variation 2. Make balls of the dough and drop onto a mixture of 3 tablespoons granulated sugar blended with 1 tablespoon grated orange rind. Transfer to cookie sheets, sugar side up, and bake as above.
December 6, 2025 at 1:53 PM
nanascookbooks.bsky.social
We need some good waffles to start the weekend. These Banana Waffles from 1943 should be a quick and easy breakfast for any day of the week. Can Nana interest you in some waffles this morning? 🍽️ 🍜 #FoodSky #Cooking #Recipes #RecipeOfTheDay
From 1943, The Modern Family Cookbook by Meta Givens BANANA WAFFLES 2 cups all-purpose flour 3 teaspoons tartrate or calcium-phosphate baking powder, or 2¼ teaspoons S.A.S.-phosphate baking powder 2 tablespoons sugar ¾ teaspoon salt 3 eggs 1½ cups milk or ½ cup evaporated milk and 1 cup water 3 tablespoons shortening 1 cup mashed bananas Sift four, measure and resift twice with the other dry ingredients. Beat eggs, add liquid, and stir in sifted dry ingredients, melted shortening, and mashed banana. Continue beating all together with a rotary beater until the batter is free from lumps. Bake on hot waffle iron until golden brown. Serve with syrup. 6 servings.
December 5, 2025 at 1:14 PM
nanascookbooks.bsky.social
Today seems like a good day for a cookie recipe. I'm not sure if #cookieparties are still a thing, but I think this would be a fine addition to anyone's tray. What do you think, shall we warm up the ovens? 🍽️ 🍜 #FoodSky #Cooking #Recipes #RecipeOfTheDay
From 1943, The Modern Family Cookbook by Meta Givens PECAN CRESCENT COOKIES ½ cup butter ¼ teaspoon almond extract ¼ cup unsifted XXXX sugar 1¼ cups sifted cake flour ¼ teaspoon vanilla ¾ cup coarsely chopped pecans Cream butter until soft and smooth, add sugar and flavorings, and blend until smooth. Stir in flour gradually; finally stir in nuts. Shape in small crescent-shaped rolls, using about 1 teaspoon for each one. Place on a buttered cookie sheet and bake in a moderate oven (350° F.) for about 20 minutes. While still warm, roll in XXXX sugar. Makes about 3½ dozen.
December 4, 2025 at 1:43 PM
nanascookbooks.bsky.social
Tonight's scheduled dinner in Nana's cookbook is this Beef & Veggie pie. This hearty dish should satisfy the whole household. The only question I have for you is: Pie crust or biscuit crust?? I think biscuit, what about you? 🍽️ 🍜 #FoodSky #Cooking #Recipes #RecipeOfTheDay
From 1943, The Modern Familiy Cookbook by Meta Givens BEEF AND VEGETABLE PIE 1½Ibs. beef chuck or rump 1 medium onion 4 medium potatoes 5 medium carrots 2 tablespoons bacon drippings Salt and pepper to suit taste 1 teaspoon salt Plain pastry for single crust or biscuit dough Cut beef in 1-inch dice, brown in bacon drippings and cover with boiling water; add salt and simmer, covered, for 30 to 40 minutes, until almost done. (Or have meat ground, brown in bacon drippings, add water and salt and cook 15 to 20 minutes.) Wash, peel, and dice potatoes; scrape and slice carrots, and peel and slice onion; add to meat (with more boiling water if needed) and simmer until all are tender. To thicken the gravy, stir in flour and water paste (1125) to give the desired thickness. Add salt and pepper to suit taste. Bring to boil and pour into a buttered casserole. Cover with pastry (631), which has been rolled thin and gashed in several places to allow escape of steam, or arrange biscuits over the top. Bake in a moderately hot oven (425° F.) about 15 minutes, or until golden brown. 5 servings.
December 3, 2025 at 1:44 PM
nanascookbooks.bsky.social
If, for some reason, you still have turkey leftovers from Thanksgiving yet, now's the time for Turkey soup. Another simple recipe from 1965 Fannie Farmer looks like a good base to build on. What would you be adding to this? Let me know below. 🍽️ 🍜 #FoodSky #Cooking #Recipes #RecipeOfTheDay
December 2, 2025 at 1:03 PM
nanascookbooks.bsky.social
I awoke to a temperature of 22℉ ( aka -5℃), & my mind went immediately to soup. Specifically, this Lobster/Crab Bisque from Fannie Farmer's Cookbook (1965). While it's a bit of a splurge, it's simple and warming. What do you think? Would you like a cup or a bowl today?🍽️ 🍜 #FoodSky #RecipeOfTheDay
From 1965, The Fannie Farmer Cookbook Lobster or Crab Bisque Put in a pan 2 tablespoons butter 1 teaspoon chopped onion Sprig of parsley Cook slowly until the onion is yellow. Add 1½ cups finely chopped lobster or crab meat (fresh-cooked, canned or frozen) Cook and stir 5 minutes. Stir in 2 tablespoons flour 1 tablespoon tomato paste (for color, but omit it if you wish) Add 2 cups Chicken Stock (p. 72) or canned chicken broth Simmer 20 minutes. Remove the parsley. Add 2 cups thin cream or milk (not icy cold) Heat but do not boil. Season with Salt and cayenne Serves 6.
December 1, 2025 at 2:09 PM
nanascookbooks.bsky.social
It's a good day to visit Nana's if you can for Lunch. 1 of my favorites, Pot Roast, is the main dish for our big meal. Plus, cocoa for all tonight. What do you say? Who's stopping by with me? 🍽️ 🍜 #FoodSky #Cooking #Recipes #RecipeOfTheDay #Menuoftheday
From 1943, The Modern Family Cookbook by Meta Givens A meal plan for: SUNDAY Breakfast- Tomato juice Hot cracked wheat cereal Toast with butter, jelly Coffee for adults.. milk for children Dinner Beef pot roast and gravy Mashed potatoes Buttered broccoli Bread and butter Sunshine salad Steamed fruit pudding with Orange sauce Coffee for adults. milk for children Supper Egg and bacon sandwiches Bananas with top milk Cocoa for all 4 Insist on your grocer refrigerating eggs always—50° F. or below
November 30, 2025 at 1:14 PM
nanascookbooks.bsky.social
Not from Nana's Cookbook post:
I'm living under a Winter Storm Warning tonight. According to the rules I made up myself, Beef Stew was called for. 1 thing I did differently with this stew is I roasted the baby potatoes separately and added them to the stew before serving. 😋 🍽️ 🍜 #FoodSky
A bowl of freshly made beef stew with green beans, carrots, peas, corn, and roasted baby potatoes. Made in the Instant Pot. To taste, Salt & pepper beef stew meat. Then sear on all sides with olive oil in a hot skillet. Add beef bone broth and 1 cup of water to the Instant Pot bowl. (My broth was in frozen cubes I had made.) Add seared stew meat. Seal the lid of the Instant Pot and select the Meat/Stew button on low for 45min. Meanwhile, spray baby potatoes with olive oil, Salt & pepper to taste. Roast in oven for 30-45 minutes. Once IP time has completed, quick-release pressure and add 1 bag of frozen mixed vegetables. Mix up a small slurry of Arrowroot powder and water. Mix and add to pot while stirring. Set the Instant Pot to the Saute feature and let frozen veggies cook. Once veggies are cooked through, serve the stew hot.
November 30, 2025 at 12:43 AM
nanascookbooks.bsky.social
Nana's up early to get a start on the day, but not before she gets a good, solid breakfast. We'll finish the day off with a nice ham casserole. Which is a good b/c lunch looks a little light. What do you think of this 1943 meal plan for Saturday? 🍽️ 🍜 #FoodSky #Cooking #Recipes #Menuoftheday
From 1943, The Modern Family Cookbook by Meta Givens SATURDAY Breakfast- Freshly sliced oranges. Hot rolled oats 168 with top milk Toast with butter, marmalade Coffee for adults.. milk for children Luncheon- French-fried parsnips Creamed green beans Whole wheat bread and butter Peaches Tea for adults.. milk for children Dinner- Ham and sweet potato casserole Buttered cabbage Bread and butter Applecot sauce Coffee for adults. . milk for children
November 29, 2025 at 12:06 PM
nanascookbooks.bsky.social
I was wondering what the modern version of 1 of my cookbooks looks like. Thanks to my local library, I now know the difference between 1975 & 2019 @joyofcooking.bsky.social. I'm not saying you should put it on your Christmas wish list, but I wouldn't mind finding it under my Christmas tree.
2 copies of the Joy of Cooking books stacked on top of one another. The bottom one is from 2019, and the top one is from 1975.
November 28, 2025 at 8:12 PM
nanascookbooks.bsky.social
After yesterday's big meal, we need a little roughage to clean up our acts. 1950s Betty Crocker arrived with several salad options. Just start with a bed of your favorite greens and build away. Which would you choose? Let me know below. 🍽️ 🍜 #FoodSky #Cooking #Recipes #RecipeOfTheDay
6 large bowls of salad are shown in 1950, The Betty Crocker Picture Cook Book. From 1950, The Betty Crocker Cookbook Asparagus tips sprinkled with grated cheese on thick tomato slices. Raw cauliflowerets, shredded raw carrots, toasted almonds Thin slices of cooked beets sprinkled with finely cut fresh mint leaves, julienne strips of celery. Sprigs of young spinach leaves sprinkled with bits of crisp bacon, sieved hard-cooked egg. Grated raw carrots mixed with seedless raisins in lettuce cups. Overlapping beet and cucumber and raw onion slices. Halves of peeled chilled tomatoes sprinkled with chopped parsley or chives. Basil in the dressing. Chopped mixture of diced cucumber, to-mato, and celery, with minced onion and green pepper. Cut-up cooked asparagus and sliced hard-cooked eggs in tomato aspic. Small tomatoes stuffed with cottage cheese and chives or toasted almonds. Shredded carrots and diced celery sprinkled with lemon juice, chopped nuts, and mayonnaise ... mixed. Tomato slices topped with egg salad (cut-up hard-cooked eggs, diced celery, grated onion, mayonnaise). Parsley garnish.
November 28, 2025 at 1:13 PM
nanascookbooks.bsky.social
🍽️ 🍜 #FoodSky
nanascookbooks.bsky.social Nana's CookBooks @nanascookbooks.bsky.social · 15d
Happy Thanksgiving from Nana's table to yours.
From 1943, The Modern Family Cookbook by Meta Givens A holiday feast is shown featuring a roast Turkey, Corn on the cob, rolls, tarts, and other select dishes in glassware.
November 27, 2025 at 2:19 PM
nanascookbooks.bsky.social
Happy Thanksgiving from Nana's table to yours.
From 1943, The Modern Family Cookbook by Meta Givens A holiday feast is shown featuring a roast Turkey, Corn on the cob, rolls, tarts, and other select dishes in glassware.
November 27, 2025 at 1:14 PM
nanascookbooks.bsky.social
Taking center tomorrow, no not 🦃, PUMPKIN PIE!! 🥧 Nana’s cookbook has 3 recipes for this pie and I thought that this 3rd one was interesting enough to share. What do you think of version of the classic Thanksgiving dessert. 🍽️ 🍜 #FoodSky #Cooking #Recipes #RecipeOfTheDay
From 1943, The Modern Family Cookbook by Meta Givens PUMPKIN PIE No. 3 1 No. 2 tin pumpkin 4 eggs, beaten 2 cup orange marmalade 1/4 cups cream or evaporated milk 1 cup light brown sugar, firmly packed 1 teaspoon cinnamon 1 teaspoon ginger 2 tablespoons boiling water ¾ teaspoon salt 2 unbaked 8-inch pastry shells Choose good-flavored pumpkin. It may be used as it comes from the can, or may be put into a saucepan and stirred over direct heat until slightly caramelized. Combine pumpkin with beaten eggs, marmalade, cream or evaporated milk, and brown sugar; add the spices which have been mixed to a smooth paste with the boiling water, and the salt. Turn the mixture into unbaked pie shells. Bake in a hot oven (450° F.) for 15 minutes; then reduce heat to 300° F. (slow) for about 45 minutes longer. Cool before cutting. 2 pies—12 servings
November 26, 2025 at 2:10 PM
nanascookbooks.bsky.social
1 of the Thanksgiving menus I posted listed this recipe as a dessert. Nut Pie lets the cook choose the nut that will be suspended in a sweet, gooey concoction. Who wouldn't want to try a slice? Would you?? Let me know below. 🍽️ 🍜 #FoodSky #Cooking #Recipes #RecipeOfTheDay
From 1943, The Modern Family Cookbook by Meta Givens NUT PIE 1 cup brown sugar, firmly ½ teaspoon vanilla packed ½ cup nutmeats (pecans, 6 tablespoons flour hickory nuts, walnuts, etc.) 2 cups milk, scalded Cooled baked 8-inch pie shell 2 tablespoons butter (631) ¼ teaspoon salt ¼ cup granulated sugar 2 eggs, separated Pinch of salt Mix together brown sugar and flour; add scalded milk, butter, and salt. Bring to a boil and cook slowly over direct heat 5 minutes longer, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and slowly stir into the well-beaten egg yolks. Return to pan and cook 2 minutes longer, stirring constantly. Add vanilla and stir well; then add nuts and stir enough to distribute. Cool. Turn into a cooled baked pie shell. Beat egg whites until stiff. Then beat in granulated sugar and salt. Pipe this over surface of pie filling or spread it on so it touches the sides of the crust all around. Place in a moderate oven (350° F.) for 12 to 15 minutes, or until meringue is nicely toasted. Cool before serving. 5 to 6 servings.
November 25, 2025 at 1:59 PM
nanascookbooks.bsky.social
Well, @joyofcooking.bsky.social of 1975 couldn't be left out of the holiday menus. I stumbled across this Holiday menu of theirs and thought you should see it too. This menu elevates the gathering in my opinion, but tell me what you think.🍽️ 🍜 #FoodSky #Cooking #Recipes #RecipeOfTheDay #Menuoftheday
From 1975, Joy of Cooking A Holiday menu: Oysters Rockefeller Roast Stuffed Turkey with Chestnut Dressing Glazed Onions, Brussels sprouts with Hollandaise Sauce Filled Pimientos or Christmas Salad, on watercress Mince Pie,
November 24, 2025 at 1:39 PM
nanascookbooks.bsky.social
With Thanksgiving just five days away, now is a good time to post the third menu from 1943. As menus are finalized and ingredients are being bought, what do you think of this menu option? Let me know your thoughts below. 🍽️ 🍜 #FoodSky #Cooking #Recipes #RecipeOfTheDay
From 1943, The Modern Family Cookbook by Meta Givens A menu suggeston for: THANKSGIVING DINNER No. 3 Chilled Orange Juice Celery Olives Roast Turkey with Bread Dressing Creamed Potatoes Buttered Chayote Hot Corn Sticks with Butter and Guava Jelly Avocado, Apple, Lime, and Fresh Cocoanut Salad * Coffee Mints Nuts * Quartered avocado filled with diced red apples and grated fresh coconut, served with French Dressing made with lime juice instead of vinegar or lemon juice.
November 23, 2025 at 1:30 PM
nanascookbooks.bsky.social
Nana's Saturday meal plan is ready for your thoughts. With an interesting start to the morning, it gets better as the day goes on. Gingersnaps at lunch and a warm soup for dinner. Let me know your thoughts below. 🍽️ 🍜 #FoodSky #Cooking #Recipes #RecipeOfTheDay #Menuoftheday
From 1943, The Modern Family Cookbook by Meta Givens a meal plan for: SATURDAY Breakfast Puffed raisins on hot rolled oats with top milk Toast with butter, jelly Coffee for adults.. milk for children Luncheon Escalloped cabbage with broiled bacon Orange Waldorf salad Gingersnaps Tea for adults. . milk for children Dinner Chicken rice soup Croutons Pea and potato casserole Carrot and cabbage salad Bread and butter Lemon chiffon pudding Coffee for adults. milk for children
November 22, 2025 at 2:17 PM