Over a century ago, food suppliers such as Pillsbury and Jell-O introduced a new marketing tool: The Recipe Pamphlet. These pamphlets were popular from the late 1800's through the 1970's. Many of them focused primarily on dessert and were often included in food packages or could be sent away for.
These pamphlets evolved over the years; as kitchen appliances went from wood or coal burning stoves to gas and electric stoves. The ice box gave way to electric refrigerators and freezers. As the appliances changed, so did the recipe pamphlets.
In the late 1800's recipe pamphlets were born during a time when most people had ice boxes and coal burning stoves. These written recipe "pamphlets" were once called "receipts." They tended to focus on desserts that used inexpensive products.
1900's: Recipe pamphlets are geared toward multi-layered cakes and "frozen dainties." Most of the recipes were purely aspirational, since most Americans lacked modern appliances such as the refrigerator.
1900's: Recipe pamphlets are geared toward multi-layered cakes and "frozen dainties." Most of the recipes were purely aspirational, since most Americans lacked modern appliances such as the refrigerator.
1920's: The pamphlets become more colorful and contain more beautiful images. Most of the recipes are an array of wild desserts and marshmallow recipes are everywhere. General Mills invents a fictional woman that all women could aspire to be; her name is Betty Crocker.
1930's: Die cut recipe pamphlets are made in the shape of the product and the recipe emphasis shifts toward making do with less.
1940's: As the war requires food rationing and women return to the work force, now recipes become simpler and quick to make.
1950's: Nearly every household had a refrigerator and freezer and the pamphlets reflected it. Many recipes were written for "freezing food at home." This era is also the heyday of the homemaker, many illustrations are seen with the "perfect" mom standing proudly over the birthday cake.
1960's and 1970's: This era is the dawn of convenience. Americans rely on more premade foods and spend less time in the kitchen, the recipe pamphlet era comes to a close and companies put less money into them, resulting in many with fewer pages and interior illustrations.
1940's: As the war requires food rationing and women return to the work force, now recipes become simpler and quick to make.
1950's: Nearly every household had a refrigerator and freezer and the pamphlets reflected it. Many recipes were written for "freezing food at home." This era is also the heyday of the homemaker, many illustrations are seen with the "perfect" mom standing proudly over the birthday cake.
1960's and 1970's: This era is the dawn of convenience. Americans rely on more premade foods and spend less time in the kitchen, the recipe pamphlet era comes to a close and companies put less money into them, resulting in many with fewer pages and interior illustrations.
No comments:
Post a Comment