Susan Marks

Born out of an advertising campaign for Gold Medal flour, Betty Crocker and the women who portrayed her over the years became a staple in the American household. In the early days, women responding to the radio broadcasts received a wooden recipe box with recipes. When the great depression hit, Betty Crocker helped women economize. During the war years, she showed women how to make the most of their rations. I found myself wanting to ask my deceased mother about her memories of the earlier incarnations of Betty Crocker. While my mom always used Gold Medal flour, I wondered why many of her recipes called for Duncan Hines yellow cake mix rather than Betty Crocker. I remember asking her once why she used Duncan Hines instead of Betty Crocker, but she didn't really have a good answer. Duncan Hines came later than Betty Crocker though. It's still an interesting culinary and social history read, focusing mainly on my mother's era.… (meer)

I loved this book. Suspending disbelief and placing yourself in an era where, of course, Betty Crocker is a real woman is an engaging exercise. Betty was a hero to many a lonely housewife, back when (most) men and women had distinct roles as husband and wife, and Betty empowered women to do more. She shifted American culture by declaring, for example, that it really isn't cheating to use a boxed cake mix. "You'll have more free time ... just cover up the box in the trash can so nosey guests won't see the evidence." It sounds silly nowadays, but shifts like this were the stepping stones to (getting closer) gender equality. A step ahead for women and, really, for men too. Cooking is no longer women's work. I've baked completely from scratch. I've used cake mixes and added dazzle. And I'm with Betty. Go with the cake mix and pretend otherwise.

I must say, though, that the text began to wander toward the end of the book, but instead of boring myself -- and, I admit, I was getting close to boredom then -- I skipped a chapter or two to get closer toward the finale.… (meer)