Did you know that Seattle City Light (SCL) used to employ a team of home economists? Led by chief home economist Mary Norris during the 1950s into the 1970s, they presented at regional home shows and to city employees, schools, and community groups on topics like canning, freezing, and holiday food preparation. Mary Norris even had her own program on KIRO TV! In addition to cooking tips, they promoted the use of electric appliances as time-saving devices for the homemaker.
SCL employee newsletters during this time regularly feature recipes from Mary and her team, especially during the holidays. Some of the vintage recipes caught our eye and we couldn’t help wondering what they’d taste like. So, we decided to give a few a try! Each of us in the archives picked a recipe (or two) and recently brought the results to share with our colleagues in the Legislative Department.
“Recipes from the Vault” focused on sweet dishes: Butterscotch Squares, Carmel Pecan Pumpkin Pie, Christmas Rocks, Finnish Butter Strips, Jello Cake, Krisp Klusters, Lemon Squares, and Mystery Casserole Dessert. We all enjoyed tasting the vintage creations and look forward to our next history-inspired test kitchen! Maybe then we’ll tackle some of the recipes we found a little more intimidating, like Blender Beet Salad (with gelatin), Mac-Snax (deep fried macaroni), and Sour Cream Pilaff.
If you’re looking for holiday cooking inspiration, take a browse through Let’s Cook, a circa 1980 cookbook produced by Seattle City Light filled with vintage recipes and handy home cooking tips, like how to properly measure ingredients, what it means to fold, knead, and sauté, and the importance of leaving the kitchen “neat as a pin.”
Bon Appétit!