The Modern Hostess

If you are a scholar or fan of mid-century food and culture in North America or a Mad Men style aficionado, I cannot recommend a visit to the Kirschner Collection enough. Case in point: The Modern Hostess: Entertaining Ideas from Salada Foods Kitchens. There is no date on this small book, but it seems to be from some time around 1960 and was targeted at the Canadian homemaker to help her “not only [with] home and family entertaining, but [with] some of the many public-spirited and charitable responsibilities which are part of modern life.” In addition to many recipes featuring Salada and Shirriff products, the book offers advice on serving tea and getting one’s timing correct when toasting and smoking:

“In Canada, the toast to the Queen is proposed at public luncheons and dinners. It is not correct to smoke until this toast has been proposed. If a prominent representative of another country is present, courtesy requires a toast to the head of his government.”