Cookbookaholic

Next Chapter Sale

I’ve got to tell you about this sale from earlier this year. There was an estate sale company that, sadly, is no longer in business. But, they were really interesting in that you had to email them for your slot in line.

In some of their sales I’ve been third; I’ve been ninth. For today’s sale, I was thirteenth. But I’m okay with that because I looked at the pictures from this sale. They’ve got fancy ties, cool concert tees and a small selection of cookbooks.  

The pre-sale talk by the gentlemen running the sale involves a backstory of the family holding the sale. He asks for a moment of silence to uplift them during their time of need. It’s very nice but then it’s on to business.

He begins calling names on the list. I’m guessing about 7 people haven’t shown up because I’m called up and briskly walking down the driveway in no time flat. I quickly get into the garage and find the cookbooks up on a shelf. The prices are rather hefty for cookbooks. I’m used to $1 - $2 but these are $5?!

The load I’m carrying is pretty heavy and as I begin to walk around, I see the fancy ties. They’re really nice and I’m thinking my oldest son would appreciate a few of these.

Now, I’m worried about my bill. I’m not sure I’ll have enough cash to cover all of it. So I decide to do the unthinkable…I put back about half of the cookbooks. I’m thinking that the fancy ties for my son are a little more important than a few cookbooks.

I get in line for checkout and then see something marvelous….they’re taking credit cards. What?! That’s awesome, I turn around and head back to the garage and take back the cookbooks and spot another one or two to add to the pile.

When I get to checkout, I’m very lucky in that the gentleman running the sale gives me a bulk discount. And the tiny cookbook gets thrown in for free. Nice!

See the yellow one with the goose wearing the hat in the large cauldron? That’s an early cookbook from the Junior League of Charlotte (NC) from 1964.

Not sure what this cookbook with the Bob Timberlake prints is all about? It’s called “The Figure Eight Island Collection.” A quick search on the web tells me Figure Eight Island is a barrier island and an exclusive, private community located near Wilmington and only accessible by boat or a guarded,  private bridge. I wonder if this family owned a home on the island?

Hominy Grill…didn’t that recently close down in Charleston, SC? I may need to give this one a good long look and see what’s featured. It’s autographed by Chef Robert Stehling on the cover!

Did I Get a Cookbook at Work?

I very rarely get anything in the mail at the office. 99.9% of my correspondence is done through email. So, it was a surprise to find a large envelope on my desk the other afternoon. 

The return address is in Charlotte. Who would be mailing me something from Charlotte?

I looked a little closer and recognized the address as a recent stop during a Saturday yard sale. In fact, I was just at that house. It was part of that wonderful, amazing morning when I found the two Betty’s in the Enchanted Forest.

This was the sale where I found some real gems in the midst of a ton of WWII and nice travel books. The gentleman running the sale turned out to be the cook and wasn’t ready to purge his collection just yet. I totally understood and left my business card with him.

The envelope, while large, was thin. What could be in there?

I opened it up and found a note and a cute cookbook pamphlet.

There was also a note that said, “I met you at my yard sale and you’re interested in cookbooks. The enclosed is from my parent’s home in Texas and a great example of “country cooking.”—Dale

The pamphlet is titled “Soups Salads & Sayings” from the 3 Score (more or less) Ladies Group of Country Bible Church in Kaufman, Texas.

Texas? I’m thinking I’ll find some spicy chili? At least something with a good Southwest flavor to it.

And I’m not disappointed. Within the first few pages, I find recipes for “Santa Fe Chicken Tortilla Soup” and “Cilantro/Jalapeno Cream Soup.”

Didn’t he mention this is his parent’s church? What a very thoughtful cookbook to send my way. Thanks Dale!!!

Two Tiny Bettys

Remember when I lost out on the Holy Grail eBay battle? While still on the site, I did a search for Betty Feezor items. I came across two auctions for small, thin pamphlets. During her more than two decades on television, all of Betty’s recipes were available to the public through mimeographed copies as well as her self-published cookbooks. Tucked in the middle of the daily show and the new cookbooks that would come out every few years, station advertising clients would sponsor and distribute small pamphlets with a collection of her recipes.

These were limited runs and are now very hard to find. When they do go up for auction on eBay, they can get out of hand for a 12- to 15-page publication. I should know, I’ve bid on a few!

There was only one bid on one pamphlet and no bid on the second one. I put bids on both and was the highest bidder. A few extra bids did come in and bumped the prices up quite a bit—but in the end, I got both of them!

So, a few days later and here they are:

The white one is “Betty Feezor Southern Biscuit Recipes” lots of recipes for cookies, cakes, fritters and dumplings. This one was published and distributed by Midstate Mills (Newton, NC) and Mooresville Flour Mills (Mooresville, NC).  The brown one is called “Country Cookin’ goes Modern.” It reminded me of Betty’s early beginnings as a home demonstrator. She’d go out to the less-developed areas and show them more modern cooking techniques for preparing meals. This one is published by Piedmont Natural Gas, Carolina Natural Gas Corp. and Public Service Company of N.C.

And they’re both is pristine condition, these were either forgotten on a shelf or very carefully cared for by a fan. Or, maybe both?