Sunday, August 16, 2009

~WOMAN'S HOME COMPANION COOKBOOK - Apples Muffins At Their Finest~

WOMAN'S HOME COMPANION COOKBOOK
CIRCA 1955

When I was a bitty girl my Mother baked and cooked recipes directly from this wonderful old Woman's Home Companion Cookbook. She married my father in November of 1955 and for as long as I can remember this was the ONLY cooking book she ever used.

Several years ago she found several copies of the Cookbook and purchased one for each of her girls. They fetch a pretty penny now! I've seen them go as high as $80 on eBay! In all my years of junking and slumming (that would include antiquing), I've only seen one and it was being carried around in the arms of SOME OTHER WOMAN...err...

SPICY APPLE MUFFINS
(Do you SIFT? Well, I certainly do!)

Recently I had the JOY of making (for the umpteenth time) one of my favorite TREATS from the Book! The recipe is for the BEST "Spicy Apple Muffins" I have ever, ever had! I promised our Miss K that we would whip up a batch to welcome her beloved Papa when he arrives back home tomorrow... so that is exactly what we did! We baked!

WHISK TOGETHER DRY INGREDIENTS
(Includes cinnamon and nutmeg! Yum!)

Now my entire house has a lingering aroma of Fall and other spicy Autumn scents!

Here's a recap! If you'd like the Full Recipe I've included it below!

FOLD WET INTO DRY
(By hand please...no MIXER!)

ADD ONE CORED & CHOPPED APPLE

(I leave mine in BIG CHUNKS!)


LOOKS YUMMY!
(It is!!!)


APPLE WEDGE ON TOP
(Dipped in Cinnamon & Sugar, of course!)

The recipe calls for these fabulous apple wedges on the top dipped into cinnamon and sugar. This was a step my Momma never missed, sooo~this is the way I do it, too!

MAKES 12 PERFECT MUFFINS
(Bake at 400 degrees for 15 minutes)

ABSOLUTELY DREAMY!
(Simply fabulous served warm with butter!)

I'm tellin' you peeps...you DON'T need Panara Bread when you have recipes like this!

FABULOUS WITH A CUPPA JOE
(or your FAVORITE Tea...mine is Raspberry!)

I am sorry to say that back in 1955 the calorie and fat/sugar content in recipes was NOT available.
NOTHING LEFT BUT THE CRUMBS
(Maybe I'll have another!)

Thank you, Mom, for passing down the love of baking to me! Just the smell of the muffins baking today reminded me of living on Sigman Street...back when you were so young and I was sooo little.

Blessings to you as you BAKE MEMORIES with those you love...Rebecca

25 comments:

Coralie Cederna Johnson said...

Oh, Rebecca, I can just smell those muffins and feel your love of your mom and her gift of baking! Isn't it interesting how aromas (especially of baked goods) bring us back to wonderful memories of the past! My mom also loved to cook and bake and I often think of the sweet treats she prepared for us. Thanks for the lovely thoughts today!

Shannon said...

Lovely!! I am a food historian and I found this story very interesting! I think I'll be looking for this book on EBAY... And I'll definitely be trying this muffin recipe soon!! Thanks a million!

Anonymous said...

I don't want you to get me wrong with this statement but... "I hate to cook!" I am a good cook & I make elaborate family dinners but I never "felt" the passion for it like most women do.
I always said I rather pay someone to cook & I would gladly do all the ironing & cleaning!!
Wierd, huh????
Hugs,
Marilyn
xxoo

Lisa said...

OMGoodness! Those look delicious! I can almost smell them.:)

Tanza said...

Ooohh ~r~,
My little sniffer is in the air..I can really smell these yummy muffins..gosh, who needs Mimis ?! These look fab..no need to ramble on..I'll be right over !! Start the tea sweet friend..And than, we'll run shopping..kay.. Be back by the time sweet hubby arrives home..Promise!! Hugs to you dear friend, as you make sweet memories with your sweet Miss K..Have a happy waitin' for hubby kinda day..
huggers ~tea~xo

Amy@TheLemonCottage said...

Oh yum... I'm going to try this recipe in a few weeks. Our trees are loaded with apples this year. (Thank goodness, we've had such a strange summer)
Looking forward to trying this recipe, thanks for sharing!
~Amy

Anonymous said...

YUM-MEE! THANK YOU FOR SHARING SUCH A NEAT RECIPE. I CAN'T WAIT TO MAKE THESE WITH TORI. THANK YOU ALSO FRIEND FOR YOUR ENCOURAGING WORDS. LIKE MR. FOSTER TOLD ME ONE DAY, IT WAS NO ACCIDENT THAT WE MOVED NEXT DOOR TO HIM AND HIS WIFE. THEY ARE TRULY THE BEST NEIGHBORS EVER. I MISS THEM ALREADY! SORT OF IRONIC, AS MY HUBBY SITS AND HAS COFFEE WITH ME IN BED, HE IS READING A SCRIPTURE BOOK SOMEONE GAVE HIM WHEN HE WAS OUT BIDDING WORK... FROM NON BELIEVER TO SEEKER OF TRUTH, THANK YOU LORD!

Martha's Favorites said...

Good morning my friend: I just love to come visit your blog. It always seems to lift me up. I am going through some hard things right now and I want you to know your little pictures and says always give me encouragement. Thanks for being there. Martha

Martha's Favorites said...

Rebecca: You made me cry! That was so nice of you. Blessings, Martha

Beach House 27 said...

I'm makin your Muffins today! It's a bit cold right now, a little breezy - I'll pack them up for our mini day trip today.

I'm amazed at how much fun I'm having cutting back and trying not to spend money.

Muffins are perfect - thanks for the inspiration!

Marsha

Country Wings in Phoenix said...

Rebecca:
Come to my blog honey. There is a story there you need to read. Amy is a fighter. I love you, Sherry

Sue @ Not the Good Scissors! said...

Oh Fall is right around the corner. I can almost smell your muffins. I loved your post because I have been gathering information for a post about my mother's cookbook. I think we all have our tried and true cookbooks. I know I do and the poor thing looks like it has seen many meals. I call them character marks! LOL
Love Sue

Julie Marie said...

Oh Rebecca, what happy, beautiful memories of your mama's baking... how lucky you are to have her with you now too... My mama always used "The Joy of Cooking" and I still use it to this day... I almost wish we didn't have the fat and calorie content these days... old~fashioned baking tastes sooo much better... I cannot wait to try your muffin recipe, I love apples baking too, such an "Autumn" aroma...thank you for sharing not just a yummy recipe but beautiful thoughts about your sweet mama... Julie Marie

Unknown said...

can't wait to try the apple recipe!! Looks sooo goode!
Lynn
alittlebluesky.blogspot.com

Vicki said...

Thanks, Rebecca,
I am going to give them a try. There is nothing I like better than a muffin with a cup of hot coffee for breakfast. Have a good week. Vicki

Unknown said...

Hi Rebecca,
Thanks for stopping by my blog! You have such a nice one; and you're very talented. I've enjoyed reading and looking around! Enjoy the rest of your day...

Nancy

June said...

Hi sweet Rebecca,
My grandmother cooked from one of those books too. I wonder what ever happened to it. I hope it stayed in the family. Those certainly do sound yummy.
Hugs,
June

Anonymous said...

Becky--
What a surprise I received today. My favorite cookbook was displayed. Your grandmother used this book (It was put out by Collier)and it was handed down to me. You brought back many found memories -- and I am in the mood for baking again...
Thank you for sharing a wonderful, wonderful memory.
Love you-- Mom

BECKY said...

Hi Rebecca! I just love the charm of how you write! I'm thinking I may need that little book! I'll see if I can find a bargain!

This recipe looks great and yeah...forget Panera!! Fresh baked with loving hands...the real deal with the HUGE flavor!!

All this talk of fall...hope it hits Florida early and cool!!

Have a joyful week, friend.
Thank you for the beauty you add to my days!
HUGS,
Becky

The Feathered Nest said...

Yummmmmm, Rebecca, these sounds so delicious!!! What a sweet thing for your mom to give you each a copy of the cookbook too ~ Thank you so very much for my precious painted heart, it's absolutely beautiful!!! I will hang it in my studio for inspiration sweet friend and treasure it always ~ xxoo, Dawn

blushing rose said...

G'morn, Rebecca ~

I was told that batch of muffins you so generously made the other day was greatly appreciated & dee-lish!! That was soooo sweet of you.

Well, this recipe is going into my coifers, LMTU. TY for sharing.

We usually stick to blueberry muffins year round, then smother with melted butter ... yum! BUT these are going to be tried for breakfast soon ... I think Joshua will enjoy them, also.

And, Mr. AGPMan is home safely, right? Enjoy your day, my friend.

Hugs & love, TTFN ~ Marydon

Mary said...

You have such a beautiful blog, Rebecca...I feel like I'm being wrapped in a soft, pink blanket when I visit...just so sweet and welcoming! I'm pretty sure I have the 2006 copies of Romantic Homes...I'm going to look up the pictures of your home and pillows. Hope your week is wonderful, just like you!
xoxoxoxox to you. Mary

Auntie sezzzzzz... said...

Dear Rebecca, Thank you for finding my blog and for your sweet words.
"Honest with charming humor." Thank you much.

And you happening by 'The Attic,' allowed me to find your charming [and pink!] on-line-journaling place. What a lovely one it is!!!

Gentle hugs,
'Aunt Amelia'

TheMuffinMan said...

And thank YOU Mother for passing down the love of cooking given to you by your Mother to your SON! :)

If I had not ended up being a "techie" I would have ended up being a "foodie" and probably gone to culinary school... all because of you! :)

(@commenters)
To this day I cook almost 99% of the meals for my wife and family... It is something I have always found a joy to do every since helping my Mom in the kitchen when I was just a small boy.


Thanks again Mom! :)

A Southern Rose said...

These sound delicious! I can almost smell the aroma! I will make them when it gets a little cooler.
Hugs,
Lee Laurie

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