The Brides Book of Recipes and Household Hints- Spiralbound Cookbook #11

This cookbook originated in St. Paul, Minnesota.  I "guesstimate" it's date of publication as sometime during the 40's (based on the styles in the advertisements and illustrations throughout this cool little book...like these):

Here's the "title page" of the cookbook (the cover is long gone):

It was published by the First National Bank of St. Paul, as evidenced by the back cover (which still remains):

In addition to household hints and recipes, the book doubles as a wedding journal, of sorts.  There's a page to write the names of members of the wedding party...a page to write down gifts that were given...an unofficial "marriage record" (complete with a space for the "Officiator" to sign)...and three or four pages on how to set a proper table (following an advertisement from Schunemans & Mannheimers, Sixth at Wabasha, St. Paul).

As far as local advertisers go...this book is a gem!  There's an ad for a "Coolerator"..."The Air Conditioned Refrigerator", offered by Citizens Ice & Fuel Co., Showrooms 600 Selby Ave., Main Office 6 E. 4th Street.  There's an ad for "Fine Art Furs", offered by F. Victor Ekholm "Fine Art Furrier" at 62 E. Sixth St.,  St. Paul (the Fur City).  There's an ad for "Flowers by Holm E. Olson", offered by Holm & Olson, Inc. at 20 West Fifth Street.  To reach them, readers can call "Cedar 7335".

Schoch "Good Things to Eat" (Broadway and 7th, phone "Cedar 6677")(see photo at bottom of page in link) offers "The First Wish of a Married Couple is-

A little health
A little wealth
A little house and freedom
A few good friends
For certain ends
And little cause to need them."...

...and states "The next wish is 'Good Things to Eat' and for this we are here to serve you.  We have been supplying food-stuffs for the tables of St. Paul brides for over 75 years.  Come in or phone your order- our efficient delivery service reaches all parts of the city?

My FAVORITE little touch in this book, however, is that there are SEVERAL pages that have been scribbled on with a purple crayon.  I believe the previous owners of this cookbook ended up having a child or two!

The recipe I've chosen from this cookbook is from the chapter "Pies He's Sure to Like" for  MILLION DOLLAR LEMON PIE.

Million Dollar Lemon Pie

2 lemons (juice and rind)
1 1/2 c. sugar
2 heaping tsp. of flour, unsifted
4 eggs
1 1/2 c. rich milk
Butter, size of walnut
Lard, size of walnut

Put grated rinds, sugar and flour in bowl and add the eggs beaten well.  Beat again then add juice of the lemons, milk, butter and lard.  Cook in a double boiler until thick, stirring to keep it smooth.  When it will dip up on a spoon like cold honey remove from fire and cool.  Pour into a deep pie tin lined with pastry, baked and cooled.  Add whites of two eggs beaten stiff with 3 T. of sugar.  Spread over the top and return to oven to brown slightly.

Enjoy!