BOOK REVIEW
RETRO BARBECUE
Tasty Recipes for the Grillin' Guy
Linda Everett
(Collectors Press - 2002)
 Nostalgic
for a glimpse of the backyard barbecue of the 1950s?
Retro
Barbecue, one of the fourteen titles in the Retro Series
of books and cookbooks published by Collectors Press, lets
you revisit the cookouts of the past through the lovely
vintage illustrations on almost every page.
My own recollections of
cookouts during this period centered around the brick
barbecue fireplaces that were prevalent in many suburban
backyards. Other equipment that was used to cook with
were Weber kettles, fancy pits by Sunbeam and other
manufacturers, homemade pits made from steel barrels, and
for the apartment dwellers, small hibachis.
The men were usually in
charge of the barbecue cooking back then, while the women
prepared the side dishes. But don't be deceived about
the woman's place in 1950s outdoor cooking. I was well
into adulthood when I finally found out that those barbecued
ribs I loved so much were actually made under the
supervision of my mother and not by my father as I had
always assumed.
The cookbook discusses the fire and different fuels that
are so essential for good BBQ. Also discussed are some
of the long-handled cooking tools and accessories that make
grilling and charcoaling foods outdoors a bit easier.
There are plenty of recipes to try, no matter which type
of barbecue pit you use. The cookbook covers
everything from sauces and marinades to the different types
of meats: ribs, steaks, chicken, ham, burgers, fish and hot
dogs. Go-alongs include vegetables, salads, breads,
relishes and pickles, desserts and thirst quenchers.
The ingredients and steps to follow in the recipes are
easy and not complicated at all.
The recipes don't use brand name ingredients, but in the
vintage advertisements you'll see many familiar products for
both foods and barbecue equipment.
If you like mixing the old with the new, you'll enjoy
this book.
Add
Retro Barbecue to your
cookbook collection.
You will find reviews of both new books and out-of-print
books.
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