Easy Perfection Salad, 1967

In this "salad", pimento detritus and canned sauerkraut are magically suspended in lemon jello. This is very reminiscent of a swarm of mosquitos I once saw trapped in amber.

From: Better Homes and Gardens Jiffy Cooking, 1967

Confetti Meatball Supper, 1974

Yikes! Talk about a hot mess. This recipe suggests shaping the rice into a ring mold and spooning the gravied meatballs in the middle "for extra eye appeal", but I am getting extra eye disdain.
PS: In case you were curious, this dish is composed of a can of condensed cheddar cheese soup, 1/4 cup "catsup", a large can of meatballs with gravy, precooked rice and instant minced onion. Apparently this recipe creator was the anti-Alice Waters.

From: Better Homes and Gardens After Work Cookbook, 1974

Decorated Chilled Ham, 1963

Nothing says abundant like a ham platter shaped like a Viking burial barge. The caption for said ham platter reads "Glamour for a few pennies!". I guess in 1963, chilled canned ham was cheap thrills.

From: Better Homes and Gardens Meals with Foreign Flair, 1963

Fillets of Cod with Caper Sauce, 1985

I know it's futile, but I feel compelled to throw the little fellas in the middle a life preserver.

Photo from: Supercookery! 1985

Meat and Vegetable Soup, 1967

This seemingly innocuous picture belies something more unnatural. See recipe below (locovores and slow foodies might want to turn away now):

If I was stuck in a nuclear fallout shelter for 2 years, this would be my go to recipe. At any other time it is an affront to nature.

From: Better Homes and Gardens Jiffy Cooking, 1967

Salmon Trout in Aspic, 1973

Wow. This Trout really got the once-over. I am particularly amused by the jaunty tuft of parsley that sits atop the trouts head, like a bad toupee. Note the tray, heavily besmirched with aspic, encases a happy little floral motif, further mocking the trouts predicament.

Photo from: The gourmet's guide to French Cooking, 1973

Springtime Potatoes

Haiku for Springtime Potatoes:

Food Stylist using

Elmer's glue as sour cream sauce

Radish stays in place

Photo From: Better Homes and Gardens Fix It Fast Cook Book, 1979