Status Updates From Betty Crocker's Guide to Ea...

"Here is a recipe for a dip borrowed from Mexico. It is pronounced gwah-ka-mo-lay and should be served with chips or crackers."

If you and your man are both invited to a party but he can't go and you can, you should also not go anyway, because it's "disconcerting" to the hostess!

First edition / first printing! I am currently reading over and over again how it is strictly always the wife's duty to send and respond to any invitations and basically do the whole thing unless for some reason it's difficult to get in touch and time is running short. Then of course the man can go to the trouble of reaching out to the other husband, just to coordinate the wives speaking. 1959

Just finished the Teas section and onto the Brunch section, oh goody! /gen

Do with the sections were organized better with titles paragraphs like "small tea parties" or "arrivals", etc.

Loving the tea section. Gives notes on hosting mostly, but also some on being a guest.

"The heart of hospitality is making people comfortable and happy under your roof. All our rules concerning manners are based on that idea and ideal. It is simpler to follow the long-accepted standards, but it is wiser and kinder to adapt them to suit the moment when common sense dictates a change."

Just learned what a demitasse is. I need a set.

The recipes are unhinged, but so many great tips in here!

Having the two hosts keep a tea cart or side table so that they don't have to leave the table is such a great tip.
It's also interesting because this is all being told from the perspective of an opinionated Betty Crocker, but Betty Crocker actually never existed. So it's interesting to think who is opinions these actually are...

Snagged from a little free library. Love the illustrations and it has great tips already.

"It is attractive and little trouble to set a buffet or Lazy Susan with a choice of several dry cereals, a bowl of berries or sliced fruit, cream (or soft ice cream for a festive touch)" (170) ice cream! At breakfast!

"House part breakfasts are one of the pleasantest meals, to me. This is the time when the inner circle sits around enjoying the special intimacy of food at the beginning of the day" (169). Inner circle + special intimacy = what a party!

"You may take a dim view of the local chamber-music secret, but if tickets have been reserved for their concert, go along as if you would like nothing better. You might be pleasantly surprised. In any case, you can't escape and it is better to give in gracefully" (169).

"In this case, it is entirely proper to seek coffee in a pretty negligee or robe" (169).

"When they are tender to the heart, shuck off the black, charred outside layers with hands protected by asbestos gloves" (164). Haha oh the 50s.

"Salad and dressing should be waiting, in the refrigerator, to be tossed, and vegetables should be ready for the fire" (163). FOR THE FIRE!