Mid-Century Dairy Cookbook

Borden Company

Borden’s Quick & Easy Dairy Dishes

A classic mid-century promotional cookbook issued by the Borden Company, presenting a range of practical, economical recipes centered on milk, cream, butter, and cheese. Designed for the postwar American kitchen, the booklet reflects the era’s emphasis on convenience, nutrition, and the expanding role of branded food products in everyday cooking.

Illustrated throughout with period food photography and graphic design elements typical of mid-century advertising, the recipes emphasize hearty, family-style dishes—cream soups, scalloped vegetables, dairy-based casseroles, and simple desserts. The integration of Borden’s branded ingredients into nearly every recipe highlights the company’s role in shaping domestic cooking habits through accessible, visually appealing instruction.

DETAILS:
+++ Title: Borden’s Quick & Easy Dairy Dishes
+++ Issued by: Borden Company
+++ Date: [c. 1940s–1950s]
+++ Format: Staple-bound booklet
+++ Size: 5.5 by 8.5 inches
+++ Pagination: 30 pages
+++ Illustration: Black-and-white and color food photography throughout

CONTENT HIGHLIGHTS:
+++ Recipes featuring milk, cream, butter, and cheese as core ingredients
+++ Sections including soups, vegetables, and main dishes
+++ Emphasis on quick preparation and economical meals
+++ Period food styling and presentation reflective of mid-century domestic culture
+++ Branded ingredient integration typical of corporate recipe booklets

CONDITION: Very Good. Bindings are tight and secure. Pages are clean with light, even age-toning. Minimal handling wear; remains bright and fully usable, retaining strong visual appeal.

Historical Context —
The Borden Company was one of the most influential American dairy producers of the 20th century, widely recognized for its consumer-facing marketing and educational materials. Booklets such as this were distributed to promote dairy consumption while reinforcing the role of milk and related products as essential components of the modern American diet.

These publications form part of a broader tradition of mid-century corporate cookbooks, where advertising, nutrition, and domestic science converged. Today they are collected both for their culinary content and as artifacts of American food culture and design.

Subjects: Borden Company, dairy recipes, mid-century cooking, American kitchens, food advertising, corporate cookbooks, domestic science, recipe booklets, Ephemera, Americana, Culinary

Item #21825

Price: $12.00