{"product_id":"vintage-1954-betty-furness-westinghouse-cook-book-yellow-cover","title":"Vintage 1954 Betty Furness Westinghouse Cook Book - Yellow Cover","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"MuiBox-root mui-xxdqwu\"\u003e\n\u003ch3 dir=\"auto\"\u003eFrom One Kitchen to Another: A Cookbook with a Story\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp data-pm-slice=\"1 1 []\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eA charming piece of mid-century American culinary history, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Betty Furness Westinghouse Cook Book\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, published in 1954 by Simon and Schuster and prepared under the direction of Julia Kiene, captures the recipes, cooking traditions, and kitchen culture of 1950s America. The dedication page reads, \"\u003cem\u003eThis book is dedicated to YOU, a busy homemaker who gladly prepares three meals a day for your family, and who delights in doing it.\" \u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis first edition vintage hardcover features the distinctive \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eyellow cover\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e and is in good vintage condition. The cookbook was marketed to have over 1,000 pre-tested, easy-to-follow recipes, thoroughly tested at the famed Westinghouse Home Economics Institute. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhat makes this copy especially appealing is the collection of handwritten recipes, newspaper clippings, and family inscriptions tucked and preserved within its pages—little pieces of everyday history that offer a glimpse into kitchens of generations past, when favorite dishes were discovered in newspapers, magazines, and advertisements, then carefully saved for future use. All \u003cstrong\u003efour original recipe pieces\u003c\/strong\u003e will remain with the cookbook, preserving their connection to its history.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHandwritten Christmas Dessert Recipe:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e A handwritten, untitled recipe for the widely circulated 1957 Betty Crocker “Mystery Fruitcake,” made from crumbled Honey Spice Cake, candied pineapple and cherries, raisins, dates, nuts, and Betty Crocker Fluffy White Frosting Mix. Written on notepad paper from \u003cem\u003eCarl Henderson’s Service Station\u003c\/em\u003e in Columbus, Georgia.\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e1966 Nestlé Scotch Treats Recipe:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e A vintage magazine-style clipping featuring Scotch Treats made with Rice Krispies. The reverse retains part of a McCormick Gravy Color advertisement.\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMrs. Cushing's Peanut Butter Cookies:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e A clipped newspaper recipe attributed to Mrs. Cushing.\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePeanut Butter Snacks:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e A fragile, partially torn newspaper-style recipe advertisement featuring Kitchen Craft Flour and Safeway grocery stores.\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"margin: 22px 0 14px 0; padding: 8px 14px 6px 14px; border-left: 3px solid #6A7A8A; background-color: #f4f6f8;\"\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"color: #4a5560; font-size: 15px; letter-spacing: 0.2px; margin: 0 0 6px 0;\"\u003eProvenance \u0026amp; Historical Notes\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"margin: 6px 0 4px 0;\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eInside the cookbook is a handwritten inscription identifying a previous owner as \u003cstrong\u003eAlma Edmunds\u003c\/strong\u003e, followed by what appears to be the affectionate family nickname \u003cstrong\u003e“Mu Dear.”\u003c\/strong\u003e Beneath this is the remaining inscription: \u003cem\u003e“To Jan 5‑11‑1980 – from Gran Mama.”\u003c\/em\u003e The date, \u003cstrong\u003eMay 11, 1980\u003c\/strong\u003e, was Mother’s Day, suggesting the cookbook may have been passed down as a meaningful Mother’s Day gift and family keepsake. Alma’s name also appears again on the Preface page.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"margin: 6px 0 4px 0;\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eResearch into the inscription suggests a possible connection to \u003cstrong\u003eAlma C. Owens Edmunds (1892–1977)\u003c\/strong\u003e of Columbus, Georgia. An intriguing detail supporting this link is the handwritten holiday recipe found inside the book, written on stationery from \u003cstrong\u003eCarl Henderson’s Service Station\u003c\/strong\u003e. A \u003cstrong\u003eCarl W. Henderson\u003c\/strong\u003e is listed among the pallbearers at the \u003cstrong\u003e1966 funeral of Alma’s son, Thomas Turner Edmunds\u003c\/strong\u003e, indicating a likely social or community connection between the Edmunds family and the Hendersons.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"margin: 6px 0 4px 0;\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhile not conclusively established, the evidence suggests a \u003cstrong\u003eplausible and meaningful association\u003c\/strong\u003e between this cookbook and the Edmunds family of Columbus, Georgia — adding depth, locality, and personal history to this copy.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp data-pm-slice=\"1 1 []\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eGood vintage condition, with age-appropriate wear including on the back cover. The only writing identified in the cookbook is the previous owner's name and family gift inscription. The loose recipes show varying degrees of age and wear, including one fragile, partially torn newspaper clipping. Review photos carefully.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"margin: 22px 0 14px 0; padding: 8px 14px 6px 14px; border-left: 3px solid #C1A97B; background-color: #f7f3eb;\"\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"color: #8a6b2f; font-size: 15px; letter-spacing: 0.2px; margin: 0 0 6px 0;\"\u003eA Little Culinary History\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"margin: 6px 0 4px 0;\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eElizabeth Mary \"Betty\" Furness\u003c\/strong\u003e (1916 - 1994) was an American actress who became a familiar face through her television appearances and association with Westinghouse appliances. Although she starred in more than forty films, including \u003cem\u003eSwing Time\u003c\/em\u003e with Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, her name became more closely connected with the modern American kitchen and the growing popularity of convenient home cooking during the postwar years. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"margin: 6px 0 4px 0;\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFurness was strongly independent minded about her appearance and image, changing her stage outfit three times a day, and refused when asked by Westinghouse to adopt a stage name or wear an apron. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eToday, her 1954 cookbook cowritten with Julia Kiene, offers a nostalgic look at the recipes, entertaining traditions, and changing kitchen culture of mid-century\u003c\/span\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-body2 mui-1n5dns5\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"MuiBox-root mui-164r41r\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"tss-1d9xhm0-lineClamp tss-1hquep9-expanded MuiBox-root mui-0\"\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eExplore our collection of\u003cstrong\u003e \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/thetownhouseantiques.com\/collections\/cookbook\" title=\"Vintage Cookbooks\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: rgb(43, 0, 255);\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eVintage Cookbooks ↗\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/thetownhouseantiques.com\/collections\/cookbook\" title=\"Vintage Cookbooks\"\u003e \u003c\/a\u003e\u003ca rel=\"noopener\" class=\"decorated-link cursor-pointer\" data-end=\"1129\" data-start=\"1061\"\u003ef\u003c\/a\u003eor more cookbooks, culinary pamphlets and recipes.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Simon and Schuster","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":67715580985411,"sku":null,"price":42.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0114\/3262\/4186\/files\/Westinghouse_1.jpg?v=1792868059","url":"https:\/\/thetownhouseantiques.com\/products\/vintage-1954-betty-furness-westinghouse-cook-book-yellow-cover","provider":"The Townhouse Antiques \u0026 Vintage","version":"1.0","type":"link"}