Holiday Bitz – Vintage “Kitschen”: Newburyport Art Association Cookbook

Vintage “Kitschen”: Newburyport Art Association Cookbook

Community cookbooks are time capsules in print, capturing eras, locations, and sometimes even subcultures. They also can make you giggle. A great example from the Merrimack Valley is the “Artists Directory & Cookbook,” published in 1971 by the Newburyport Art Association. Each page is dedicated to a local artist and includes a picture of the virtuoso, a sample of their work and a recipe. It’s fascinating to see how the hairstyles and clothing of the day connect with the highly stylized artwork of that era. Browsing through the book is like going on an art gallery tour with the Brady Bunch, complete with snacks. As a bonus, many of the recipes sound delicious. 

Here’s an example. The highlighted artist is Janine A. Faucher, who worked out of a home studio in Haverhill at the time. The text reads: “Pets ’n People Portraits in pastels are her forte, but Janine feels at home in any media. She is so compelled to paint an experience, that you will find a personality in all her work, whether it be an old house, vase, animals, people, or mountains.” (Judging by the picture, this also seems to apply to her hairdos.)

Here is Janine’s recipe, just in time for your holiday baking.

Kringle

Mix: (large bowl) 2 cups sour cream, 2 teaspoons (baking) soda

Blend: 1 cup whipping cream (unwhipped)
1 1/3 cup sugar1 teaspoon vanilla
3 teaspoons baking powder1 teaspoon salt

Add: About 4 cups flour until dough is stiff, but slightly sticky for shaping with floured hands. Pinch off and roll into wreaths, bows, pretzels. Sprinkle with colored sugars, nuts, etc. Brown lightly at 450 degrees 4 to 5 min. Wrap in plastic. Refrigerate.