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Tag: vintage recipes

Vintage Recipes from 1940s & 1950s Carnation Milk Advertisements

If your into vintage advertising like I am, then over the years you would of come across a few Carnation Milk ads with a featured recipe using their product. In fact I know my mother & grandmother has made many a dessert / meal with one of those helpful recipes (and I know I have enjoyed them very much).

I also have a special memory with my Omi (grandmother) who would punch two small holes in each side of the top and then pour the milk into her coffee. That is deeply ingrained in my brain. My parents still do this, and if I drank Carnation, I know I would too.

Anyways! Today’s blog post is not about coffee milk but about 1940s & 1950s vintage recipes that you would of seen on many (if not all) of the Carnation Milk ads from that time. Maybe these recipes will inspire you for your next meal.

Let’s begin!

Carnation Milk vintage poster
Source: Etsy

Disclosure: Some of the links on my blog from Etsy , eBay are Affiliate Links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. 

NOTE: If you click on any of the items featured below and they are not available, don’t fret! Hit the search button and see what else is on the websites. There are 1000’s and 1000’s of items being listed daily.

Vintage Recipes from 1940s & 1950s Carnation Milk Advertisements

The Brief History of Carnation Milk:

Carnation is a brand of food products. The brand was especially known for its evaporated milk product created in 1899, then called Carnation Sterilized Cream and later called Carnation Evaporated Milk.

Elbridge Amos Stuart:

On 6 September 1899, Stuart and a business partner founded the Pacific Coast Condensed Milk Company in Kent, Washington, and he became its first president (a post he held until 1932, then serving as chairman from 1932 to 1944). Its product was based on the relatively new process of commercial evaporation of beverages. Stuart believed that there was value in sanitary milk at a time when fresh milk was neither universally available nor always drinkable, and correctly believed that his product would join other staples on grocers’ shelves.

In 1901, his partner sold out, leaving Stuart the company and $105,000 of debt ($3,420,060 in 2021 dollars. As sales gradually grew, Stuart sought a brand name for the product. Passing a tobacconist’s window in downtown Seattle, Stuart saw a display of cigars around a sign with the name: Carnation. His own firm subsequently adopted the name Carnation Evaporated Milk Company. To keep pace with its burgeoning eastern business, in 1916 it opened an office in Chicago, built a can factory in Oconomowoc, and acquired several condenseries, including two in Canada.

One of the most important things Stuart had learned on his father’s farm was that high-quality milk came from healthy cows; so to ensure premium standards, he distributed pure bred bulls to the farmers supplying the factory, whose offspring were selected for milk productivity. Eventually, Stuart established a breeding farm, named Carnation Farm, where the application of new principles of husbandry continually improved the productivity of the herd. Carnation cows held the world milk production record for 32 consecutive years. One cow in particular, Segis Pietertje Prospect, produced 37,381 pints of milk during 1920, and a statue of the cow was erected to honour this record.

The product is still sold to this day.

Fun Advertising Information: In 1907, the promotional phrase “Carnation Condensed Milk, the milk from contented cows” was introduced. This slogan referred to the higher quality milk from happy cows grazing in the lush Pacific Northwest. Carnation used this slogan for decades, and it spawned a radio variety program entitled “The Contented Hour,” which featured entertainers such as Dinah Shore, Jane Powell and Burns and Allen. The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show, which premiered on CBS television in 1950, was sponsored by Carnation (Source).

1920s vintage ad for Carnation Milk from 1921 as seen in a Newspaper.

The Vintage Recipe Advertisements:

“One for the money, two for the show, They’re comin’ in strong …and straight in a row!” 1940s vintage ad for Carnation milk featuring the “Carnation Cocktail” a cool drink for the summer.

1940s vintage ad for Carnation Milk featuring an illustration of a young mother with her baby and a vintage drink recipe

“The Carnation Cocktail – A c-o-o-l drink for a hot month!”

1940s vintage ad for Carnation milk featuring a drink recipe for carnation cocktail. Carnation milk and fruit juice. Perfect vintage summer drink.

Source: Etsy

1942 Carnation Milk Ad: “Belle of the Ball – eats her milk, too!”

1940s vintage ad for Carnation Milk from 1942 featuring an illustration of a pretty girl being brought dessert from boys. Ad features a vintage dessert recipe

1940s vintage dessert recipe for ‘Peppermint Mousse’. This is the dessert that all the boys are bringing our pretty young lady in pink.

1940s vintage recipe for dessert peppermint mousse. 1940s vintage dessert recipe from carnation milk

Source: Etsy

“Little shavers shoot up fast-when they “eat” their milk, too!” 1943 vintage ad featuring a carnation milk recipe for “Scalloped Rice ‘N Chicken”.

1940s vintage ad for Carnation Milk featuring an illustration of two young men one is shaving and a 1940s recipe for scalloped rice and chicken
1940s vintage recipe as seen in a 1940s vintage ad for Carnation Milk featuring an illustration of two young men one is shaving and a 1940s recipe for scalloped rice and chicken

Source: eBay

1945 advertisement “Expectant Father” featuring a carnation milk vintage recipe for ‘a fluffy Omelet with Asparagus’.

1940s vintage ad: 1945 advertisement "Expectant Father"illustration featuring a carnation milk vintage recipe for 'a fluffy Omelet with Asparagus'.

Recipe for a ‘Fluffy Omelet with Asparagus”. “Eggs and milk are important!”.

1940s vintage ad for carnation milk featuring a vintage recipe for an omelet with asparagus

Source: eBay

1953 vintage ad: “New idea for a one-dish dinner, sure to delight your family. Wonderful news for women who’ve never cooked with carnation”.

1950s vintage ad: 1953 Carnation Evaporated Milk featuring a vintage recipe for a Ham Loaf Ring Vegetables Recipe

The 1953 recipe is for, “Extra tasty Ham Loaf Ring with Creamed Spring Vegetables”

1950s vintage ad: 1953 Carnation Evaporated Milk featuring a vintage recipe for a Ham Loaf Ring Vegetables Recipe

Source: eBay

“Carnation Teams up with Tuna for a Super Summer Supper – Carnation Creamed Tuna”. A 1950s vintage ad.

This ad is from a past blog post entitled Vintage Cooking Recipes as seen in Vintage Ads from the 1930s-1950s“.

1950s vintage ad for Carnation milk and an interesting dinner idea…Creamed Tuna.
1950s vintage food recipe for Carnation Milk Creamed Tuna.

1953 Carnation Milk ad: “This Way To The Best Pumpkin Pie”.

FURTHER READING: Vintage Cake Ideas As Seen Thru 1920s-1950s Ads

1950s vintage ad: 1953 Carnation Milk ad: "This Way To The Best Pumpkin Pie". Featuring a 1950s recipe for pumpkin pie.

Rick, smooth wonderful ‘Carnation Pumpkn Pie’ recipe.

1950s vintage recipe: 'Carnation Pumpkn Pie' as seen in a 1950s vintage ad for Carnation milk. 1950s Dessert inspiration.

Source: eBay

1953 Carnation Milk ad featuring Betty Crocker Frosty Fruit Pies recipe. Those look yummy!

The recipe is a bit fuzzy but I think you can make it out if you wish to make this dessert.

1950s vintage ad for Carnation Milk featuring Betty Crocker Frosty Fruit Pies recipe from 1953.

Source: Flickr

1953 Jello Pudding & Carnation milk ad taken directly from the Star Weekly, May 30, 1953 edition. The recipe featured is for a “Frosted Fondant Pudding”. Yum!

Note: I had previously shared this yummy dessert in a recent blog post entitled “1950s Dessert Ideas for your next Party!“.

1950s Vintage ad for a 1953 Jello Pudding & Carnation milk ad taken directly from the Star Weekly, May 30, 1953 edition. The vintage recipe featured is for a "Frosted Fondant Pudding".
1950s Dessert recipe for a frosted fondant pudding featuring jello pudding and carnation milk

Source: Etsy

1959 ad featuring a recipe for Carnation Bar-B-Burgers. Carnation milk is your new BAR-B-Trick!

1950s vintage recipe for BBQ Burgers featuring Carnation milk as seen in a 1959 Carnation Milk vintage ad.
1950s vintage recipe for BBQ Burgers featuring Carnation milk as seen in a 1959 Carnation Milk vintage ad.

Source: Pinterest

Carnation even put out a few small cookbooks with a collection of their recipes. Here is an example of some of the items I found online.

What a fun find! A 1955 Carnation brand children’s cookbook called ‘Fun to Cook’ with the matching magazine ad (next image). (Avail as of August 2022 HERE)

“For girls 7to 14. 48 pages of fun-full recipes in a child’s own language! Brights pictures! Big, clear print! Spiral boungs! Stands Up! Washable covers!”

 A 1955 Carnation brand children's cookbook called 'Fun to Cook'. "For girls 7to 14. 48 pages of fun-full recipes in a child's own language!
1950s vintage ad for Carnation Milk Cookbook for kids featuring 1950s recipes you could make with your child

Source: Etsy

1947 cookbook by Mary Blake. It is called ‘Carnation Cookbook’ has all kinds of wonderful recipes using carnation products, a lot very representative of the 1940s after war times (avail as of August 30th, 2022 HERE).

1947 cookbook by Mary Blake. It is called 'Carnation Cookbook' has all kinds of wonderful recipes using carnation products, a lot very representative of the 1940s after war times.
1940s Vintage Food as seen in a 1947 Carnation Company - 1940s vintage cookbook.
1947 cookbook by Mary Blake. It is called 'Carnation Cookbook' has all kinds of wonderful recipes using carnation products, a lot very representative of the 1940s after war times.

Source: Etsy

‘The Cook’s Handbook by Mary Blake’, a Carnation advertising booklet with recipes, photos, charts and adorable illustrations! Circa 1951, Home Service Department (avail as of August 30th, 2022 HERE).

1950s Vintage Cookbook featuring 1950s vintage recipes: 'The Cook's Handbook by Mary Blake', a Carnation advertising booklet with recipes, photos, charts and adorable illustrations! Circa 1951, Home Service Department
1950s Vintage Cookbook featuring 1950s vintage recipes: 'The Cook's Handbook by Mary Blake', a Carnation advertising booklet with recipes, photos, charts and adorable illustrations! Circa 1951, Home Service Department

Source: Etsy

Looking for more recipes? Well everything is online now and you can find some super recipes from quiche’s to breakfast muffins on the Carnation milk website, HERE.

Question time: What was your favourite recipe from above? Do you have any memories of a meal or dessert made with Carnation Milk? Share any thoughts in the comments section below.

Further Reading:

Vintage Cooking Recipes as seen in Vintage Ads from the 1930s-1950s

Vintage Cookbooks from the 1940s & 1950s

Thanks for dropping by!

Liz

Vintage Christmas Baking Ideas from the 1950s

This weekend I’m going to make candy cane rice krispies marshmallow “squares”. It’s about the level of baking or cooking I can handle this holiday season because I am just not good at domestic things like that. But I’m going to try because lockdown has me bored, so eating it is!

For today’s post I wanted you to share in the baking fun, so I searched the internet far and wide (well Etsy) to find you some fun vintage Christmas baking ideas from the 1950s that you can bake all holiday season long!

So dear readers, fire up those ovens and let the fun begin!

1950s vintage photo of young women in 1950s fashions baking cookies at Christmas Time.

Disclosure: Some of the links on my blog from Etsy are Affiliate Links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. 

Note: If the item you click on is no longer available, don’t fret! Etsy and eBay have loads of vintage items that might just catch your eye. Just do some searching. Happy shopping!


Vintage Christmas Baking Ideas from the 1950s

1950s ‘Extravagent 8 Christmas Cakes Collection’ of Baking Recipes PDF

Lots to Make! Purchase the recipes HERE.

What’s Inside:

  • Star Tree Christmas Cake
  • Yule Log
  • Parisian Gateaux
  • Snow Peak Christmas Cake
  • Holly Wreath Cake
  • Golden Bauble Christmas Cake
  • Basic Traditional Cake
  • Last-Minute Cake
Vintage 1950s 'Extravagent 8 CHRISTMAS Cakes Collection' of Baking Recipes PDF

Source: Etsy- TheAtticofKitsch

1950s ‘Almond Layer Cake’ and 2 extra FREE Cake Recipes PDF.

The Rich Cake contains folded in ground almonds and cocoa, sandwiched layers of cream butter-almond filling
Iced in pale green (go darker for that vintage Christmas look) and yellow piped stars for the topping.

1950s Vintage recipe for almond cake. Perfect vintage baking recipe for vintage christmas parties or birthdays and more.

Source: Etsy- TheAtticofKitsch

1950s Mirro Fancy Cookies And Pastries 28 Recipe Booklet (next photo is some of the easy cookies you can bake).

Purchase the PDF of the recipes HERE.

1950s Mirro Fancy Cookies And Pastries 28 Recipe Booklet-Vintage Christmas Baking Recipes
Vintage Christmas Baking: 1950s Mirro Fancy Cookies And Pastries 28 Recipe Booklet-Vintage Christmas Cookie Recipes

Source: Etsy

Vintage 1950s Spectacular Reindeer Christmas Cake (Fruit Cake) with Royal Icing Recipe

Purchase the PDF Recipe HERE.

About:

Instructions are given for the making of the Rich Fruit Cake and also directions for Piping the Royal-Icing Decoration.

The Christmas Fruit Cake is Delicious with Mixed Fruit, Dried Pineapple, Glace Cherries, Almonds and Brandy/Rum etc. Very Rich and Dense. An Old-Fashioned Recipe that even has a layer of Almond Paste under the Royal-Icing.

Vintage 1950s CHRISTMAS Cake Recipe with Royal Icing Recipe PDF Spectacular Reindeer Baking

Source: Etsy- TheAtticofKitsch

I am SO IN LOVE WITH THIS COVER! How festive and fun! A “Holiday foods for festive eating”, vintage holiday recipe booklet from the 1950s.

This fun booklet was given out in the 1950’s by the New York State Electric & Gas corporation and includes over 3 dozen recipes (see a couple of those recipes below) along with 4 wonderful holiday lighting ideas too!

Vintage Holiday Recipe Booklet, 1950's Festive Holiday Recipes, Christmas Lights Ideas, New York Utility Give Away, Main Dishes to Desserts

We have for your Christmas baking enjoyment..’BonBon Cookies‘ (I first read it as Bourbon Cookies LOL!), ‘Black Walnut Cookies‘, ‘Chewy Date Bars‘ and ‘Choco-Marshmallow Cookies‘. YUM!

1950s Vintage Christmas Cookie Baking recipes

Source: Etsy

Pillsbury’s Best Butter Cookie Cookbook-1950s vintage recipes. There are 50 wonderful and tasty Pillsbury butter cookie recipes (like the Jitterbugs in the 2nd photo) that will tempt you and your family — and amaze your friends!

Purchase the digital version HERE.

Butter Cookie Cookbook - Pillsbury's Best Cookie Recipes - Late 1950s to Early 1960s Era

I love the name of these cookies because I’m a Lindy Hopper (swing dancer) and in the 1940s the dance was also called “The Jitterbug”.

Jitterbug butter cookie recipe a cookie from sweden.

Source: Etsy

Vintage 1950s Christmas Recipe Swiss Mountain Yule Log Cake Recipe.

Purchase the PDF digital recipe HERE (includes 4 more recipes).

Vintage 1950s Christmas Recipe Swiss Mountain Yule Log Cake Recipe

Source: Etsy- TheAtticofKitsch

What a fun cake! A 1950s Christmas cake featuring a carollers theme.

A very rich traditional cake with all manner of dried fruits including orange marmalade & prunes. Dried peel, cherries, dates, walnuts, currants, raisins & more……
There is also an almond paste & royal-icing in swirls! Plus cute piped ‘Musical Notes’ decorating the edges.

Digital download available HERE.

1950s Christmas Recipe for a 1950s Christmas cake featuring a Christmas carollers theme. Fantastic vintage baking recipe in a PDF format so download today.

Source: Etsy- TheAtticofKitsch

This is WOW! A giant cookie Merry Go Round craft and cookie recipe-1950s. Look at how cute it is with the candy canes, sugar decorations and reindeers that are animal cookies. Love it!

A giant cookie Merry Go Round craft and cookie recipe-1950s.

Source: Etsy

Question Time: Anything catch your eye from the above? Tell me what you would bake (or maybe have baked already). Share in the comments section below.

Now if you end up making any of the baking above, please share in the comments how it went. Love to hear if you are more successful then I will be with my marshmallow things hahaha!

Further Reading: Collection of Vintage Christmas Blog Posts from the 1920s-1960s

Stay Safe and Happy Holidays!

Liz