Betty Crocker

[maytagmike]

I must be way behind the times. I just found out two weeks ago that Betty Crocker is a fictional character. I have the first cookbook that was ever done. A great move by General Mills. Is there any other club members out there that didn't know this. My mom had a collection of Betty Crocker cook books.

 

[joeekaitis]

The last face of Betty Crocker was concocted by computer in 1996 from the faces of over 800 women of all ethnicities. Some say you can see traces of all the major races (Asian, African, Caucasian, Australoid) if you look at her, uh, it long enough.

 

[ilovewindex]

I'd rather know Mr. Crocker...

 

[rp2813]

Betty has plenty of company, like Aunt Jemima, Uncle Ben, and all of the made-up homemaker specialists associated with major retailers and home product manufacturers.

 

One exception that comes to mind is Duncan Hines.  He was a real person.

 

[ilovewindex]

I know some one who was named after Duncan Hines... His mom loved cake...

I also knew of a guy growing up named Ken Moore Sears....

Also knew a guy who used the nick name GE... I dunno why but he did

 

[vacerator]

How about

Mr. GE wanted to be Haier than Whirlpool?

 

[easy]

Betty Crocker

If you want to learn everything there is to know about Betty Crocker, you have to get your hands on a copy of "Finding Betty Crocker, The Secret Life of America's First Lady of Food" by Susan Marks.

The history of the creation of Betty Crocker and her outstanding "career" is a fascinating read of Americana. There are some recipes and great photos of vintage kitchens.

If you pine for the America of old (as most of us do), you will LOVE this book.

David

 

[tomturbomatic]

I was most familiar with the BC of the 50s. I don't look at those products anymore so was not familiar with the changes through the decades other than through the news stories. When I was a kid and had to accompany mom to the grocery store, I used to read packages and smell the detergent boxes as I read them. I loved the aroma of the coffee grinder. Being allowed to hold the bag as the coffee was ground into it was a big treat as was looking at the pictures of the vacuum brewers on the grind selector. Vacuum packed ground coffee came in squat 1 lb. cans with the key attached to the side for opening them by catching the tab and winding the ribbon from between the lid and the can and I loved seeking out the cans of "fine" grind to read the vacuum brewing instructions.

I have an apron from the 70s that says, "I don't care if your name IS Betty Cracker, get your buns off my table."

 

[ea56]

And Tom remember how when you first twisted the key on those coffee cans and the first hiss came out of them how wonderful the coffee smelled! Now when you open a new can of coffee you barely smell anything. And the coffee inside of those cans always tasted better than what is sold now.
Eddie

 

[vacerator]

Pricier coffee

still smells good when you pop the vacuum seal. Dunkin Donuts brand is delicious coffee.