From my reference library - Two Canadian apple cookbooks

Summer is almost over, Autumn is almost upon us and that means apple season is here. I have picked buckets of apples from our trees. My wife and I have made some apple sauce, more will be on the way. I will also be making chutney. As a nod to apple season I thought that I would show you these two apple recipe booklets that I came across years ago while doing my rounds at the Salvation Army and Goodwill. I have scanned both recipe booklets front to back instead of just showing design highlights, so if you find a recipe there that you'd like to try, go ahead, let me know how it turned out.

 Just to set things straight, I do not collect recipe books but I do collect interesting design and colour combinations not just for future reference but because they are an enjoyable glimpse into the past.

I have been in the studio creating  some small rattles for Hallowe'en. I will give you a glimpse in my next post. They will be available in the upcoming EHAG sale at the end of the month.

The cover of this recipe booklet features British Columbia, the western province of Canada. The large island is Vancouver Island. Down at the very bottom is Victoria where I live.

I love the clean stylized graphics and the way that the outside soft cover is larger than the pages of this 1931 Depression era cookbook, it creates the impression that this is a "book" not just a little booklet.

Here is another Canadian apple recipe booklet from the 1940s. The book is die-cut in the shape of an apple; probably not the most sensible shape for the book shelf but definitely memorable.

The back and front covers as well as the reverse interior side are printed in full colour. The rest of the book is in black and white with a red border framing each page.

Here is Lovey of Lovey's Tea Room holding two pies that have been inspired by my small collection of recipe books. Go to my Etsy shop to purchase this giant "Portrait Rattle".

Resting on a shelf in this large sculpture is a homemade berry pie and a loaf of bread fresh out of the oven. Go to my Etsy shop to purchase "The Man-in-the-Moon Will be Having a Party".

Have fun baking up an apple storm or use them for inspiration like I do when making my sculptures.

Cakes and Pastries - Inspiration Results

Those pictures of the cakes and pastries that I showed you in this last post I do use for inspiration. Here are some of the results. I like realism with the accessories that I produce and the situations that the figures are involved in.

My collections that I have amassed over the years include vintage tart pans that mimic life size pie pans. These three pies, two berry pies and a rather reddish brown pumpkin pie, are molded in three of these tart tins. The tins that are not visible are left on as part of the finished pie. The pumpkin pie is about 3 1/2" across.

Here are three more berry pies all about 3" across. All of the berry pies have "granulated sugar" dusted on top of the pies. I ground some clear glass glitter in a mortar and pestle, instant granulated sugar.

I love making bread. Artisan breads are so beautiful to look at and are very inspiring as well. This loaf is hot out of the oven. That cake rack is from the Church of the Advent Garage Sale, I decided to use them in the kitchen.

Six very small loaves of bread in a basket. The long loaves are about 3" long. They are handmade from composition, then painted with acrylics.

Here is a sneak peek at some accessories for my latest piece for the EHAG Emporium Sale coming up at the end of the month. The desserts include a berry pie, a pumpkin pie, and a walnut cake with chocolate icing.

Go over to the EHAG Emporium blog and enter the contest that we have going on right now until the end of the month. All you have to do is guess the number of jellybeans in the jar and the person who comes closest will win the jellybeans and a prize package as well.