Betty Crocker's Good and Easy Cookbook

by Betty Crocker, Lori Fox (Editor)

A resource for delicious, easy-to-prepare dishes contains more than 350 recipes, including scallops in cream sauce, turkey ratatouille, and caesar salad, along with complete nutritional information and preparation times. Lit Guild & Doubleday Alt.

Genres: Cookbooks, Cooking, Food, Reference, Nonfiction, Food and Drink

432 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1954

Reviews

[Ivonne Rovira · Rating 3 out of 5]

When I bought this cookbook, not updated since its release in 1954, I expected it to be more of a historical look at how mid-century housewives cooked than a how-to guide that I would embrace. Sure, the recipes rely heavily on Bisquick baking mix, canned soups, and items you simply can’t get today: salted mackerel, turtle soup, and onion juice. The cookbook does have its share of recipes that are far out of favor — perfection salad, cooked salad dressing, Molded Chicken-Almond Salad, overcooked meat, Beet Horseradish Mold, gelatin-shrimp salads, Spanish Hash, faux Chinese food, dried beef casseroles. However, the vast majority of recipes were real keepers.

And the cookbook, in keeping with that more frugal era, contains quite a few recipes using leftovers — a real plus with me. Readers will find this cookbook more than a glimpse at a different era and a reminder that their mothers had something going on in the kitchen, after all.

[Penmouse · Rating 4 out of 5]

I should have paid closer attention as the Skyhorse Publishing reprint of the 1954 Betty Crocker Good and Easy Cook Book is a 8 1/2-inch by 5 1/2-inch paperback. It is not spiral bound. The original 1954 Good and Easy Cook Book was sold as a spiral bound cookbook. I’ve never seen a hard back edition of this cook book, but I suspect there was one. For ease of cooking you will need to use a cookbook holder to read the Skyhorse Publishing reprint edition. The paperback will NOT lay flat.

The 2017 reprint seems to contain all the original recipes and photos found in the original cookbook. Food writer Amy Sherman writes a forward for the 2017 telling about the creation of Betty Crocker the and virtues of this cookbook.

Some of the recipes you’ll find in The Good and Easy Cookbook include:

Salmon Loaf
Shrimp de Jonghe (very tasty and loved recipe)
Pork Chops and Apples
Lazy Daisy Meat Balls
Everyday Pot Roast
Oven-Fried Chicken and Biscuits (a very good TNT recipe)
Chicken a la King (another recipe we’ve tried)
Chili with Corn Chips
Yankee Chicken Hash
Fresh Spinach Salad
Cole Slaw
Pressure Creamed Potatoes (uses a pressure cooker to prepare the potatoes)
Numerous ways to prepare vegetables found on pages 137 to 145
Cream Sauce with variations (White Sauce is another name for Cream Sauce)
Mushroom Sauce
Puff Pancakes
Doughnuts
Bacon Waffles
Apple Pie with variations (Makes an 8-inch pie which I like)
Creamy Pumpkin Pie
Quick Eggnog Pie
Hot Water Sponge Cake
One-Egg Cake (another TNT recipe)
Hidden Chocolate Cookies
Honey Drops
Stir-N-Drop Sugar Cookies

You will find a section called Dinner Leftovers which gives ideas on how to use up ingredients. Some of the ideas include:

Ham: Use in:

Macaroni Cups
Creamed Ham and Eggs

Beef: Use in:

Ruth’s Hash
Sandwich fillings

The Good and Easy cookbook is a keeper as there are many easy and useful recipes included. I’ve used this cookbook for many years and love it. The only reason why I gave this cook book a 4 star rating is the binding. The cook book reprint would have been so much better if it was published as a spiral bound book.

Recommend.

[victoria pistone · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is definitely a cookbook for true beginners. It even tells you not to butter toast before putting it into the toaster lol!!

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bought this in the mid 1990's.

I really liked the little paperback one I had from the 1970's. I didn't think these recipes were as good, plus the paper is very thin and rips easily. I've still made some good stuff from this, though.

[Rhonda Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very Good Beginner's Cookbook

This book is not for the experienced and savvy cook. It has fairly basic recipes, and given the era it was written, mid 1950's, the recipes take advantage of boxed mixes and cereals and the like. But it also has some scratch recipes, and very good instructions for cooking basic items, like all kinds of eggs. It has useful items too, like how to make honey butter. I mention that because a while back it took me a while to find a honey butter recipe. The cookbook is also heavy on presentation of foods, with pictures to demonstrate a pleasing plate or fun kid garnishes. I liked the book. But again, if you are looking for complex cuisine, this is not the book for you.

[John Shrek Walters · Rating 5 out of 5]

It s a cookbook for Pete s sakes: you know full of recipes, ideas for what can go together and what s the worst idea imaginable, full of simple/quick meals. In this case four meals per day (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner/Supper, and a Bonus) meal. It even has desserts which a lot of cookbooks today seem to have forgotten.

This is an older cookbook published in a time when people ate food and enjoyed it as well. I m sure that the ones who insist on knowing the exact break down of carbs, calories, percentages and the like will be disappointed.

If you re like me and get nostalgic for how food used to be prepared, then dive on into a cookbook from the past, feast, sit back and ENJOY!

[LAMONT D · Rating 3 out of 5]

EVEN THOUGH THIS BOOK IS OVER 45 YEARS OLD, IT IS IN GREAT CONDITION BECAUSE OF IT BEING SPIRAL BOUND. IT CONTAINS PLENTY OF COOKING TIPS ESPECIALLY AS IT RELATES TO TIMETABLES FOR MEATS (INCLUDING TEMPS). BUT YOU ALSO GET TIPS FOR DIFFERENT SALAD DRESSINGS, VEGETABLES BUTTERS AND FROSTINGS FOR CAKES AMONG OTHERS. AT THE END OF THE BOOK ARE FACTS ABOUT FREEZING FOOD. SEVERAL RECIPES I FOUND INTERESTING (i.e. COCONUT TAFFEE BARS), BUT ALSO A TIP ABOUT FRIED EGGS THAT I HAVE NEVER TRIED. ALWAYS WORTH A LOOK WHEN YOU HAVE BETTY CROCKER'S NAME ON IT.

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's amazing how nearly everything has gelatin, Bisquick, salad dressing & American cheese in it! This cookbook was a definite step back into the 1960s and my grandparents made some of these recipes. Not many of the recipes would hold up today, though... except maybe the meat dishes. I don't think I'll be making anything from this book, but it's more of an interesting look into the role of women at that time and how they were expected to entertain guests and feed their families with what they had on hand.

[Kristina Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good beginning cookbook

I have had several of Betty Crocker s books and one that I had I also gave away was also the best. If I had known I would never s one again I would have held on tight. This one was more of what to do with everything the easiest way possible. Was a good and easy cookbook.

[Donna Hutt Stapfer Bell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Resource!

This was one of my mother's books that I used learning to cook before I was ten. Clever and amusing by half, but with some twists that still make good sense. (Breakfast in bed using a new muffin pan? Super!)

[Jan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book

Great recipes I can't wait to make. Pictures are included. All seem very very easy to make would recommend. Thanks

[LUKE · Rating 1 out of 5]

Betty crocker killed my family.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I came across a spiral-bound first edition of this cookbook and fell in love. Words cannot express how darling the 1950's blue and pink illustrations are, and there are old-timey photographs as well. Only The Winnie-the-Pooh Cookbook could beat it for cuteness, and I am pretty determined to never let either of them go.
Although my copy's spiral binding is kind of falling apart, this cookbook was clearly meant to be practical. The recipes mostly consist of traditional American dishes for family-style meals. None of the dishes are too outlandish or complicated. The way it's slightly outdated is endearing more than inconvenient. It seems to capture the era just before premade foods came into vogue. Everything is made from scratch, and the most artificial ingredient it calls for is packets of gelatin. There's even an index to help you whip up that malted milkshake as quickly as possible!

[Absurd Book Nerd · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love cookbooks and am always looking at something new. Problem is, I never have time to try the recipes. Well, this book proved different. The recipes are so simple and quick, I tried it out the very first night. I couldn't believe my kids actually ate something that looked so exotic (& easy at the same time). Usually I'm lucky if I can get them to eat mashed potatoes. The recipes vary from simple meals like salads and sandwiches, too more complicated (at least that is the impression I want my husband to have) meals that you could serve to guests (they would never guess it only took you 20 minutes). They even have a prepare ahead section, for those days when you know you will barely have time to breath, let alone cook! I would recommend this cookbook to anyone, especially those Moms, like me, who are busy with soccer pratice, PTA, and other kid related projects.

[Vanessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This little cookbook has some easy recipes that taste actually good (sometimes older recipes just don't work for our tastes today). It's interesting to read how things were different back in 1954 such as Quick Eggnog Pie requiring 'commercially prepared eggnog available at milk dealers' but not all is outdated.

Some things she mentions are being done again such as how to pack a good school (or work) lunch that is more than just a sandwich. We have come full circle and are making lunches more often these days and this old cookbook has some great ideas that we can use today. I enjoy reading old cookbooks anyway and I consider it a bonus when I can actually make use of some of the ideas and recipes.

[Andrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am finding I love reading historical cookbooks, even if I may not try out many of the recipes. This is definitely “of a place and time” and so much about it just makes me chuckle – like the entire section on jazzing up condensed canned soup. On the other hand, some of the simpler recipes (like sliced onion topped with minimal seasoning and little “hats” of corned beef hash), were a good reminder that everyone needs to “barely a recipe, more assembly instructions” meals in their back pocket. Every day does not require a ton of ingredients and steps – sometimes, “good and easy” is more than good enough for quick and tasty meals on the plate. I probably copied out four or five recipes or ideas from this book and I am excited to give them a try!

[Ahemx · Rating 2 out of 5]

The recipes are very easy and many of the recipes required ready-made ingredients (rice mixes, flavored noodles, etc). Most recipes are 4 steps or less, and though I don't really consider this way of food preparation actual cooking, this book held a place in my shelf when I was living in a small flat with limited kitchen space. A good book for people who really don't like complicated recipes and just want to put things together.
Be aware that many of the ready-made packaged ingredients required for these recipes have a high sodium content.

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nothing particularly special or interesting in the recipes. Anything slightly complicated (beyond what you don't really need a recipe for) can be found on other cookbooks on my shelf.

[Galen Varon · Rating 2 out of 5]

Without question the worse cookbook I've ever owned. Seriously recipes are like add one bag of frozen vegetables and one can of soup = dinner. What a joke!

[Sheila Read · Rating 5 out of 5]

would love to get another one if Betty crocker was a goodreads.com member.

[Fredrick Danysh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Despite the small sized type used there are many easy and delicious dishes in this recipe collection. Variations for many of the dishes are suggested.

[Penney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great!