Mable Hoffman's Crockery Cookery, Revised Edition: A Cookbook

by Mable Hoffman

This cookbook invites culinary creativity. The reader is encouraged to use these recipes only as a foundation, adding a pinch of his own ingenuity to the pot.

Genres: Cookbooks, Cooking, Reference, Food, Nonfiction

239 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1975

Reviews

[raccoon reader · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love older cookbooks (this was a 1975 edition with a slightly different cover than the one above). I didn't find the recipes particularly enticing or appealing so I donated it on to someone else who might benefit more than I.

[S. Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Back in the seventies, long before the reign of the InstaPot, there was CROCKERY COOKERY! That's right, before Americans became obsessive about cooking things fast in microwave ovens, they were obsessed with cooking things slow in crock pots, and Crockery Cookery was their slow-cooking bible! The first third of Crockery Cookery, nearly a hundred pages, is dedicated to how crock pots work, along with specifications for over thirty different brands of electric slow-cook crockery options on the market at the time. But after that, it's nothing but net with recipes for everything from lumps of meat, to liquids containing lumps of meat, to... you get the idea. If you're in the mood to spend 14 hours cooking a pot roast, and only have access to Dominion Crock-A-Dial Model II, then this is the cook book for you!

[Erica Frazier · Rating 3 out of 5]

This cookbook has a really interesting section at the beginning that compares the different styles and brands of slow cookers that were available at the time of publishing. There were quite a few variations compared to today, but I imagine that’s because the style we are used to today is probably the best and most consistent performer over time.

The recipes include some interesting ingredients I don’t see in a lot of modern recipes, like pimientos and chili sauce. I don’t see myself trying many of these recipes, but I appreciate the varied styles and ingredients and the fact that slow cooking was a newly popular concept at the time.

[Eric · Rating 5 out of 5]

If I can find one tasty recipe in a cookbook, I am happy, especially when the dish is not a common one. There are a number of delicious recipes in this cookbook, but the recipe for Swedish Cabbage Rolls is delectable, the best stuffed cabbage I have eaten since my Jewish grandmother made them for me in the 1980’s. We substitute cauliflower rice for regular rice to make them very low carb, without giving up any of the wonderful flavor.

[Pj · Rating 5 out of 5]

My Mom gave me this book in 1992 and I have cooked many of the recipes. Love my Mom's crock pot still! The first 96 pages are a consumer guide to slow pots, so unless you have an older one it's out-of-date. I once bought a newer slow cooker and it never cooked the way my Mom's crock pot does, so I'm extra careful with it!

[Kym · Rating 3 out of 5]

An oldie, but goodie. All of the early crockpot favorites are here, many including condensed soups and processed cheese. However, there are a surprising number of real food recipes and some interesting ideas.

[Ikayuro · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is hands-down my favorite cookbook; when I moved out, I found myself longing for it and ended up getting my own copy. On more than one occasion has this little book saved my life when I had no idea what to do with the bits and ends in my fridge, or surprise potlucks at work! Highly recommend!

[Nancie Lafferty]

Written when electric croc pots became the fashion. Information about the various pots and recipes to get you started.

[Patricia Kaniasty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oldie but a goodie. Great recipes that are easy to follow. Gotta love the pictures too.

[Donna Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got this when I was married in 1979. I had no idea how to cook anything besides toast and boiled eggs, and there were no microwave ovens or good frozen meals yet. I was a student still, and way too broke to eat restaurant food all the time. I didn't have a car to drive through anywhere. And my betrothed didn't know how to cook either.

I was in a state of food emergency.

This nifty little volume has stood me in good stead. I have received, and broken, at least half a dozen crock pots since then, but the cassoulet with black-eyed peas and the leg of lamb are both wonderful enough to bring my grown children to moans and pleas when they hit my front door.

I don't use it as often as I used to because I've sworn (mostly) off meat, and I don't go to work anymore, so my cooking schedule is more flexible. But for those of you who rush out early in the morning and come home nine or ten hours later, there are some things you can toss together in half an hour the night before; put on "warm" before you throw on your coat in the morning; and have ready for you and yours, with maybe a salad and some bread or such to go with it, when you get back home.

I have cook books I never use, and I gave away a lot more that were worthless. This one is cheap, and it is a time saving way to go to work and have home made dinner, too.

[Lizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

We have been eating several meals over and over out of this book! Wonderful recipes and they don't taste like mush like some crockpot cookbooks. VERY budget-friendly. We're very happy with it! No strange ingredients, just basic, good food.

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I stole this book from my Mom sometime I the last few years and have made a few recipes with it. I would give the book four stars but since it's really old, the style of cooking is sort of outdated for the way I cook. The split pea soup is definitely 5 star though!

[Diana · Rating 3 out of 5]

This poor book is so very dated. The pictures...yeah. Dated. But there are actually some pretty good recipes and tips in here, so don'y dismiss it out of hand. In fact, if this were re-released after some work with a food stylist, I'd probably buy a copy!

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

Probably would have rated it higher, but I rarely use my crockpot.

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good source for pot roast and beef stew recipes, though I don't use my crock pot much these days now that I'm retired.

[Stephen · Rating 4 out of 5]

carniverous

[Seph Harrison · Rating 4 out of 5]

My go to cookbook. Sure the recipes are often rather basic, but they're a great starting point for your own creativity, just what your main cookbook should be.

[Helen Fleischer · Rating 3 out of 5]

The tips and techniques introducing the chapters are interesting and helpful, but I think I need a book aimed specifically at my smaller cooker and vegetarian recipes.

[Kai Palchikoff]

Crockery

[Ruhegeist · Rating 4 out of 5]

Simple classic and tasty. So far all the recipes I've made have turned out very good.