Vintage Cookbooks: Betty Furness Westinghouse Cook Book

Since a 1954 Westinghouse electric range recently made its way into the Cavalcade studio kitchen - with the kind help of Ralph and Todd - I thought it would be a good time to take a closer look at another 1954 offering from Westinghouse: The Betty Furness Westinghouse Cook Book. While actress Betty Furness was the spokesperson for Westinghouse and featured in advertisements, the book was really composed by Julia Kiene, who was the director of the Westinghouse Home Economics Institute in Mansfield, Ohio.

Julia Kiene was a recognized name to many Westinghouse customers. Her photo and brief introduction was usually found on the first page of owner's manuals for Westinghouse products like refrigerators, ranges, roaster ovens and other small appliances.

The Betty Furness Westinghouse Cook Book is a general cookbook filled with recipes and practical cooking and baking advice and information.

#vintagecookbook #vintage #westinghouse #vintageappliances #vintagestyle #cookbook

[cassbiology]

My mom had this cookbook. It is now mine. As I was perusing through it, I found a couple of written notes by her directing me to fix a particular recipe for dinner. 🥹 It's so priceless to me now that she's gone.

[bambihoyer]

I like how well you research your topic, always informative while interesting and fun.

[salliemorrill]

What a great video. That was a fascinating run on the Westinghouse "family". The way they did their commercials & cookbooks made them feel a part of your family. Really enjoyed this video. Relocation was a excellent idea. Thank you Ralph & Todd for assisting in the stove switch out, & thank Mary Ann for your camera work on the previous video. Good people, good things come to light. God bless.

[lauren]

Kevin your Love and Knowledge is truly amazing, thats why we love you...even from over here XXX

[corinthians-]

This was my mom's favorite cookbook. She had the blue one. So many good recipes. Thanks for sharing.

[RemyBladis]

My Grandfather was an Engineer for Westinghouse and my mother was an office administrator both at the Westinghouse main headquarters in Pittsburgh and both were given copies of the Blueish Green cover cookbooks, both of which I have and cherish to this day.

[jamesstout]

Kevin! Another FANTASTIC video. I have the yellow one.
Thanks for the history. I've seen old Betty Furness commercials. She could sell anything!

[cheryllarue]

My grandmother bought the Westinghouse Stove when my mother was a toddler in the 1950's. She received the yellow cookbook with the purchase. As an adult, my mother purchased a blue copy for her own use because her favorite cookie recipes are in it. My grandmother wouldn't give her yellow copy up. She was still making the cookie recipes for my grandfather. The first cookies I baked by myself were the peanut butter ones from this book. Still my favorite pb cookie recipe.

[jamessheridan]

This cook book (the one with the blue-green cover) was a wedding present to my parents who were married in (drumroll please) 1954! I discovered it in the early 80's; dissatisfied with some of the newer recipes/techniques that were coming along just then. Since then it got lost in a move but I'm so happy that you decided to star it in one of your cook-book videos. I'm also very happy that you talked a bit about Betty Furness who had a consumer report segment on the NBC 5-O'Clock news broadcasts out of NY, also in the 80's. Good stuff!

[wyattphx]

The great Betty Furnes, I always enjoy finding videos of her ads for Westinghouse

[russbear]

I have a copy of the blue/green cover. I picked up a few years ago at a thrift store. My copy was well-loved because it looks like a banged up war artifact. 😅 It's also full of handwritten notes and recipes from the lady who put a million miles on her Westinghouse cookbook.

[Bluehill]

Thank you, Kevin. We learned something new. I remember Betty Furness advertising a refrigerator on TV in the 1950's or 1960's. I had no idea that she was an actress. She was a credible spokesperson. However, my parents didn't have any Westinghouse appliances because my Dad worked for GE. He received a discount on GE appliances. So Mom didn't have the Betty Furness Cookbook. I remember that she was appointed to a government position, but did not know of her connection to Consumer Reports. Betty did a lot for us.

[sunnybelisle]

LOVE YOUR CHANNEL! I GRADUATED FROM HIGH SCHOOL IN 1954! I REMEMBER BETTY FURNESS BUT I DO NOT REMEMBER HER COOKBOOK. I'M NEARLY 88 YEARS OLD NOW AND ACQUIRED QUITE A LARGE COLLECTION OF COOKBOOKS OVER YEARS, BUT THEY DO NOT INCLUDE MS. FURNESS'. HOWEVER, THANKS TO GOOD OL' AMAZON, I'LL HAVE A COPY OF THAT COOKBOOK IN MY HANDS BY JULY 5TH. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR INTRODUCING ME TO ANOTHER GREAT OLD COOKBOOK TO ADD TO MY COLLECTION. WHEN I'VE PASSED THROUGH THE VEIL, I HOPE MY PROGENY WILL ENJOY THEM AS MUCH AS I HAVE. 🥰🥰🥰🥰

[annarussell]

I love your wallpaper so much. I wallpapered the kitchen in my first house when my daughter was a baby. I remember going to a wallpaper store with my baby and toddler to look through their books to pick it out, too.

[debbiegerst]

TY so much for 2 relies! I appreciate it! I’d love to see a picture sometime - but it seems impossible. I have such sweet memories cooking with my mom there at that stove!

[eileensimson]

Thanks for such an informative presentation! I'm going to keep my eyes open for this cookbook! I loved your video on the 1954 Forty Inch Westinghouse Range - especially love the massive oven with the double broiler!😊

[rcdoodles]

Superb video. Thank you for the in-depth look back at the cookbook and Westinghouse history. So enjoyed this - wonderful presentation. Now I’m headed to ebay to find a vintage Westinghouse cookbook!

[jack]

Great video Kevin! My mother had one of the green Betty Furness cookbooks. Unfortunately I gave it away when cleaning out her house. As much as I wanted to keep everything, some things had to go.

[johnrunciman]

Thank you for the video Kevin... Watching it was a very enjoyable accompaniment to my morning cup of tea!

[hydractor]

I remember an article in an appliance trade journal around WWII telling, with photographs, of the Westinghouse Home Economics Institute baking and sending cookies at Christmas to the Westinghouse employees who were members of the armed forces. It was written by Julia Kiene. A friend of mine was Head of our high school's Home Economics Department and she knew Julia Kiene as a friend and a colleague through the American Association of Home Economics and probably through the Georgia Power Company's selling of Westinghouse appliances and their providing them to high school home economics departments. Home EC was dropped from the curriculum in many high schools although it may be making a comeback to help students become more self sufficient.