|
I recently got a hold of a September, 1965 Better Homes and Gardens magazine.
The subtitles were interesting: "Decorating: The absolutely fool-proof one-colour book (fabulous if you are into avocado green and burnt orange)"; "Safety Features: What to look for in a new car."
But the kicker was an article entitled "The World's Best Convenience Food Ideas!" (why is it our American neighbours feel they have cornered the market on "the best", "biggest", "grandest"? But that's another article.)
I pulled out some of my circa '60s cookbooks, and I did indeed see a trend in those lists of must-have ingredients: a tin of soup here, and a can of lunch meat there, and four full-page advertisements for cake mixes (I saw none in a current issue).
Here's a sample:
Smoked Beef Luncheon
1 10 oz. package frozen patty shells, baked
1 envelope cram of leek soup mix
1 6 oz. can evaporated milk
3 drops bottled hot sauce
1 3 1/2 oz. bag smoked, sliced beef
2 tbsp cut canned pimento
Prepare soup using 1-1/4 cups water and the milk. Stir in remaining ingredients. Fill patty shells.
We've come a long way, baby.
Back in the '90s, we're lucky not to have to depend on tin foods, especially here in the Richmond area. I pity the poor souls in North Vancouver who have to drive over the ocean and river twice each to get to one of our green grocers on Steveston Highway.
These days, I stop at Save-On for dairy, baking goods and perhaps some meat, then I head over I go to one of the great green grocers in our city.
Convenience? I'll give you convenience: B.C. potatoes, onions, turnips, parsnips, beets, tomatoes, and a whole lot of stuff in between, and we haven't even started on our berries and fruit.
The best foods don't need to be expensive, and our fresh stuff is definitely not pricey. Another reason to give thanks this season!
|
