los angeles california cookbook

I picked up a used copy of The Los Angeles Times California Cookbook, published in 1990. This book has some flaws, like the dismal photographs, and some real treasures, like an amazing variety of salad dressings, and very nice line drawings. There are recipes for abalone, which I grew up eating but is now on the endangered species list, and shark, the oh so tasty thresher shark I used to use to make fish tacos is also on that list.

The title says California Cookbook, but it is really Southern California focused. The sections that cover soups and salads are much larger than the ones that cover meat, in keeping with the way most southern californians eat. There is a chapter of preserves, but the techniques listed are not even close to safe by today's standards. As you might imagine, my favorite section is the last one and it covers cocktails. Cocktails with names like Scorpion, Pink Palace, and Sundowner. Cocktails I can not imagine ever actually drinking, but love knowing that I could. There is even a recipe for homemade Galliano which I am definitely going to make.

I am looking forward to trying a good number of the salad dressing recipes, and imagine at least a couple will make it into the permanent file. For just a few dollars it has provided a fun trip down memory lane.

 

 

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Comments

[kate]

I can remember my Dad actually harvesting abalone when he snorkelled on our summer vacations camping, but like you haven't had it in decades!
I like the cookbooks from the 80s and 90s, they were packed with information and recipes!