The Nancy Drew Cookbook: Clues to Good Cooking

by Carolyn Keene

Mystery-themed recipes and other baffling questions about cooking are answered by the Nancy Drew Cookbook for young readers. This series-specific cookbook mixed in a dash of mystery with a pinch of thematic recipes. Nearly 50% of these special recipes incorporate part of the titles from the first 50 volumes of the classic Nancy Drew mystery series. Examples include "Double Jinx Salad," "Ski Jump Hot Chocolate" and "Haunted Showboat Pralines." Other recipes involve places or characters from the series including "Togo Dogs," "Mrs. Fayne's Famous Rice" and "Hannah's Cheese Puffs." Different recipes incorporate various mystery themed words into their titles: "Coded Steak Rolls," "Mystery Corn Pudding" and "The Case of the Smothered Pork Chops." Some recipes focus on international fare: "Hong Kong Fortune Cookies," "Versailles Au Chocolat" and "English Style Chops with Herbs." Throughout the cookbook, tips from Nancy for a recipe are suggested. The girl sleuth recommends adding a "mysterious taste," a "taste of intrigue," a "mysterious crunch" or "a dash of mystery."

Genres: Cookbooks, Cooking, Nonfiction, Mystery, Childrens, Reference, Middle Grade

160 pages, Spiral-bound

First published January 1, 1973

About the author

Carolyn Keene is a writer pen name that was used by many different people- both men and women- over the years. The company that was the creator of the Nancy Drew series, the Stratemeyer Syndicate, hired a variety of writers. For Nancy Drew, the writers used the pseudonym Carolyn Keene to assure anonymity of the creator.

Edna and Harriet Stratemeyer inherited the company from their father Edward Stratemeyer. Edna contributed 10 plot outlines before passing the reins to her sister Harriet. It was Mildred Benson (aka: Mildred A. Wirt), who breathed such a feisty spirit into Nancy's character. Mildred wrote 23 of the original 30 Nancy Drew Mystery Stories®, including the first three. It was her characterization that helped make Nancy an instant hit. The Stratemeyer Syndicate's devotion to the series over the years under the reins of Harriet Stratemeyer Adams helped to keep the series alive and on store shelves for each succeeding generation of girls and boys. In 1959, Harriet, along with several writers, began a 25-year project to revise the earlier Carolyn Keene novels. The Nancy Drew books were condensed, racial stereotypes were removed, and the language was updated. In a few cases, outdated plots were completely rewritten.

Other writers of Nancy Drew volumes include Harriet herself, she wrote most of the series after Mildred quit writing for the Syndicate and in 1959 began a revision of the first 34 texts. The role of the writer of "Carolyn Keene" passed temporarily to Walter Karig who wrote three novels during the Great Depression. Also contributing to Nancy Drew's prolific existence were Leslie McFarlane, James Duncan Lawrence, Nancy Axelrod, Priscilla Doll, Charles Strong, Alma Sasse, Wilhelmina Rankin, George Waller Jr., and Margaret Scherf.

Reviews

[Miranda Reads (back from hiatus) · Rating 1 out of 5]

**Note: This is for the original cookbook, pub. 1973**

Nancy (along with a few friends and family members) have compiled their favorite recipes for you! She can't wait for you to try a recipe or two in your own kitchen.

Fair warning: this cookbook review is a LONG one (but probably the most thorough analysis of the original 1973 cookbook that you will get).

Normally for book-themed cookbooks, I write down the main sections, then the recipes (explaining the recipes that seem unusual), and end with an analysis of the literary cookbook.

I got halfway through the recipes before I realized what a truly EXHAUSTING compilation was within these covers...sooo...if you don't feel like learning about the recipes in the cookbook, skip to the end for my analysis:

The Recipes:

Votes for a Good Breakfast - in this section, we meet Nancy Drew as she begins her arduous task of testing her recipes for this cookbook. We also see some of the more popular characters in the series (Bess, George, etc).

Time for Breakfast: the first section of recipes include plenty of easy (and delicious) early-morning meals and treats. Most are sweet, but there's at least one savory option!

Recipes Include:
--Hollow Oak Nest Eggs (these are like toad-in-a-hole or egg-in-a-hole)
--Tapping Heels Griddle Cakes (pancakes)
--Chef's McGinnis' Waffles
--99 Steps French Toast (regular French toast, just 3 steps)
--Crumbling Wall Coffee Cake (using pancake mix and topped with flavored breadcrumbs)
--Blackwood Hall Muffins (flavored with blueberries)
--George's "Keep in Shape" Grapefruit (with sugar, cinnamon and maraschino cherries)
--Ski Jump Hot Chocolate

Time for Lunch: moving along to noon-time recipes, there's plenty of soups, sandwiches and salads (though the Bungalow Mystery Salad seems to hardly count as a salad to me). The recipes don't seem too difficult and most can be made rather quickly!

Recipes Include:
--Lilac Inn Consommé (a carrot, onion, parsley and celery soup)
--Detective Burgers (burger with ketchup, mustard, and chili powder)
--Old Album Meatballs (meatballs made with rice)
--Togo Dogs (corndogs)
--Mysterious Letter Chili (with corned beef instead of ground!)
--Tolling Bell Tuna Rolls (basically, a tuna melt on a burger bun)
--A Keene Soup (made with milk, celery salt, and peanut butter)
--Muskoka Salmon Salad (salmon, cucumber, cream, mayo and vinegar)
--Burt's Pizza (using English muffins instead of dough)
--Soufflé Gruen (Cheese soufflé)
--Bungalow Mystery Salad (frozen mashed bananas mixed with various juices and ginger ale)
--Hidden Staircase Biscuits (refrigerator biscuits with sugar lumps dipped in cherry juice)
--Bess's Secret Chocolate Waffles (no secret, just flavored with almond and cinnamon)
--Carson Drew's Cheesecake (simple, baked cheese cake)
--Dancing Puppet Parfait (apricot nectar thickened with melted marshmallows, layered with whipped cream)
--Mapleton Milk Shake (maple flavored milk shake)

Kitchen Mystery - we are surprised with a 2-page mini mystery where Nancy Drew searches for a missing ring in a kitchen. It's rather quick, but a cute adventure!

Time for Dinner: meals are heartier (and larger) than the ones available for lunch. Plenty of stick-to-your-ribs sort of dishes! We also start to get a few more unusual recipes but everything is still edible.

Recipes Include:
--Sleuth Soup (beef broth, tomato juice and heavy whipping cream)
--Coded Steak Rolls (steak wrapped with bacon strips)
--The Case of the Smothered Pork Chop (lemons on top of onions on top of pork chops)
--Ringmaster's Secret Chicken (chicken marinated with seasoned sour cream)
--Ivory Charm Shrimp Curry (condensed cream of shrimp and 1/2 tsp curry powder)
--Dave's Deviled Potatoes (seasoned mashed potatoes, baked in oven)
--Casserole Treasure (frozen string beans, slivered almonds, cream soup and cheese)
--Mystery Corn Pudding (canned cream corn, spices and milk, baked for an hour)
--The Cousin's Special Cauliflower (deep fried cauliflower balls)
--Double Jinx Salad (pears, mayonnaise, cottage cheese and 2 green olives)
--Crooked Banister Corn Bread
--Mrs. Marvin's Magic Muffins (self rising flower, mayonnaise and milk - feels very plain)
--Fire Dragon's Spiced Fruit (many fruits, brown sugar, butter, & 1 tsp curry powder)
--Twisted Candles Peach Crisp
--Old Clock Ice Cream Pie (oreo crust, ice cream and strawberry filling)
--Invisible Intruder's Coconut Custard
--Tea Leaf Message (with lemon juice and mint leaves)
--Lemonade Disguise (cranberry juice, cloves, cinnamon and a bit of lemonade)

Picnic and Patio Get-Togethers: this looks more like handhelds or items you'd eat in a backyard barbecue. The content does seem a little like what we saw for lunch recipes but weirder (ginger sandwich, anyone?).

Recipes Include:
--Mirror Bay Triple Decker (3-layer sandwich, turkey, ham and tomato)
--Larkspur Lane Sandwiches (crystalized ginger and marmalade sandwich)
--Black Key Mystery Patties (ground beef, green olives, cranberry and lemon juice)
--Leaning Chimney Cones (baloney filled with a parsley/radish/pimento/chive/cottage cheese mixture and rolled into a cone)
--Crossword Cipher Chicken (breaded, baked chicken)
--Shadow Ranch Barbecued Beans (canned beans with spices and brown sugar)
--Emerson Cookout Potatoes (sliced potatoes layered with bacon and cheese, baked)
--The Drews' Onion Special (baked onion with bouillon cube inside)
--Diary Chicken Salad (mandarin oranges, grapes, almond, banana, chicken, mayo, and pineapple)
--Moonstone Castle Carrot Salad (baked carrots with onions and tomato soup)
--Miss Hanson's Deviled Eggs
--Wooden Lady Walnut Tidbits (butter-cheese mixture between walnut halves)
--Whistling Bagpipes Crunchies (butterscotch candy, peanut butter, chow mein noodles with mini marshmallows)
--Whispering Statue Sherbet (orange drink, crushed pineapple and condensed milk)
--Scarlet Slipper Raspberry Punch (made with gelatin and frozen lemonade)
--Impostor Tea (apple juice, orange juice, pineapple juice and spices)

Nancy Shares her Holiday Secrets: interestingly, each holiday is accompanied by a menu, often starting with a drink, a main, sides and dessert. Disappointingly, only a handful of recipes are given despite the larger menu.

For example, on New Year's Day we are suggested to serve: Fruit Cup or Juice; Lamb (leg, rolled shoulder or chop); Mrs. Fayne's Famous Rice, Soft Rolls, Apple Butter, Iceberg Lettuce + Dressing, and Hot Plum Pudding or Gingerbread with hard sauce...BUT the only recipe that's included is for the rice. Why bother giving us a full menu if you aren't giving the rest of the recipes?

Recipes Include:
NEW YEAR'S DAY
--Mrs. Fayne's famous Rice (it's...just rice with onions and peppers)
VALENTINE'S DAY
--Broken Locket Meringues (served with strawberries and whipped cream)
WASHINGTON'S BIRTHDAY
--George's Cherry Cobbler (using biscuit mix and canned cherry pie filling)
ST. PATRICK'S DAY
--Moss-Covered Mansion Fruit Gelatin (lime gelatin, mixed fruit and pineapple)
--Haunted Bridge Log (chocolate wafer cookies layered with whipped cream and made in log-shape)
APRIL FOOL'S DAY
--? ? ? ? ? (no recipe)
EASTER
--Spider Sapphire Spiced Cherries (a cherry relish)
--Jewel Box Easter Eggs (chocolate-dipped egg-shaped treats)
MOTHER'S DAY
--Mysterious Mannequin Casserole (beef, macaroni noodles and various canned things)
FATHER'S DAY
--Attorney Shrimp Sauce
--Chocolate Riddle (thin chocolate cake rolled around a filling to make a spiral)
END OF SCHOOL
--Aunt Eloise's Graded Coleslaw (cabbage, carrots, raisins and mayo)
FOURTH OF JULY
--Old Attic Stuffed Tomato (stuffed green peppers but using tomatoes)
--Flag Cake Symbol (Boxed cake decorated with fruit to make a flag)
HALLOWEEN
--Witch Tree Apples (maple-dipped apple, rolled in crushed peanuts)
--Ghostly Popcorn (sweet popcorn balls)
THANKSGIVING
--Effie's Pumpkin Soup (rice, cream, pumpkin, seasonings)
--Cranberry Surprise (cranberry jello mold)
CHRISTMAS
--Pine Hill Punch (apple cider with spices)
--Hidden Window Dessert (layered gelatin dessert - lots of flavored)
NEW YEAR'S EVE
--Mrs. Nickerson's Holiday Cookies (chocolate cookies)

Album of International Recipes: this appears to be a wide variety of recipes from various countries that Nancy Drew (probably) visited (or maybe knew someone who came from that country)?

Recipes Include:
--Hong Kong Fortune Cookies
--Chinese Shrimp Cakes (chopped shrimp, fried with onion in light batter)
--English Popovers (like crispy-puffy bread accompaniment)
--English Style Chops with Herbs (lamb chops)
--French Quiche (flavored with bacon and swiss cheese)
--Versailles Au Chocolate (sounds like a fancy chocolate_
--German Kalbsrouladen (rolled veal scaloppini)
--Greek Baklava
--India Bhapa Doi (baked yogurt/evaporated milk, with nuts)
--Italian Salsa Di Pomidoro (spaghetti)
--Mexican Stew (beef, beans, tomato soup and chili powder)
--Old Mexico's Guacamole Salad (regular guac)
--Polynesian Punch (papaya, apricot, orange, lemon juice ginger ale)
--Near East Fruit Kebabs (mixture of fresh, dried and canned fruit cooked for 5 min)
--West Indies Salad (crab meat, made into a salad of sorts)

Diary of a Giveaway Treat - these appear to be cookies and other baked goods that you can bring into work or to an outing with your friends.

Recipes Include:
--Brass Bound Trunk Candy (candy mixture that gets refrigerated and cut into bars)
--Missing Map Cheese Wafers (baked cheese and pecan dish)
--Haunted Showboat Pralines (pecan pralines)
--The Cornings' Caramel Cookies (cookies made with butterscotch pudding)
--Velvet Mask Ball (chocolate balls made with pecans, vanilla wafers and various flavorings)
--Winning Toasted Nibbles (corn puffs, oat puffs, coated in a savory flavor)
--Tommy's Fruit Yummies (ground dried fruit made into balls and covered in various substances)
--Apple Butter Reward (apple sauce, vinegar, sugar, and crushed cinnamon candy)
--Vanishing Nut Bread (date and pecan bread made using biscuit mix)

Overall Thoughts:

I love the idea of a Nancy Drew cookbook and there's clearly some thought and care that went into the 1973 version of the cookbook but it isn't (quite frankly) enough.

Starting off with some good things:

I really like the perspective that this is "Nancy Drew's" Cookbook - as in these are the recipes that she likes to make and she's included recipes from her friends. It's a fun way to tie in the source material!

I also liked all the tips, asides, and modifications that Nancy provides to go along with a lot of her recipes. It's like she's participating in the baking or cooking alongside you.

Every recipe goes: Title, ingredients, instructions, tips (if applicable). The recipes are sometimes broken up by little line art illustrations of various kitchen-related items (salt & pepper shaker, cheese grater, sugar bag, etc). I appreciate the images adding a bit of visual interest but I do feel like it would be nicer to have pictures of the food items or at least of Nancy Drew doing things.

The recipes that are familiar are good examples of solid American cooking. Corndogs, Burgers, Chili and more. They are filling, hearty and overall, delicious.

But then we get quite a few niche items that are more than a little odd by today's standards -- I'm looking at you "A Keene Soup" which is basically hot milky peanut butter. Or there's "Chimney Cones" (baloney cone filled with cottage cheese, anyone? Anyone?).

But you could say that the unusual recipes add to the charm. It is a little time capsule into popular recipes from 1970 and earlier (granted, I'm giving the author a pretty hefty dose of 'benefit-of-the-doubt' because...there's a lot of weird recipes but MAYBE they were popular in the 70s).

So, if you want to use it as a 'regular' cookbook, it's not too bad (if a bit quirky at times).

Now for some frustrating things:

The biggest detriment to this cookbook is the lack of explanation for the recipes. I am a firm believer that the best literary cookbooks have a 1:1 ratio of reference to recipe. Pulling recipes directly from the text is peak cookbook, suppling recipes that are 'in spirit' of the series is definitely a step down.

As far as I can tell, every recipe is a reference to *something* (person, place, or thing) from the original series but more often than not, I have no idea what the recipe is pulling from or if the reference makes sense.

For example, there's recipes that refer to people (like Nancy's Scrambler) but I have no idea if Nancy actually made a scrambler in the books.

There's plenty of recipes that seem to refer to places involved with the mysteries like Hollow Oaks Nest Eggs, Blackwood Hall Muffins, or Crooked Bannister Corn bread. But again, was there corn bread in the original series or did the author just want to include a corn bread recipe and thought Crooked Bannister sounded like a cool reference?

And still more recipes seem to either be general sleuthing references or maybe references to specific clues in the series, like Sleuth Soup, Coded Steak Rolls, or Impostor Tea.

The lack of context for the recipes made reading the book a frustrating experience. I was constantly wondering, if "Detective Burgers" were a thing in Nancy Drew's series or did the author just want a burger recipe in the cookbook and tacked 'detective' on it so it could fit the theme?

If you are one of those folks who say, "oh just reread the series if you want to get the references!"

As of 2025, there's been 620 Nancy Drew books published (according to Wikipedia). Now, if we limit the books to the ones published before this cookbook came out (1973), that's still about fifty books that this cookbook can pull material from. (and no, as much as I'd love to, I will not be tracking down and reading the first 50 Nancy Drew books in order to 'get' references for a cookbook from the 1970s).

Ultimately, I really wish that the author added a quote and a sentence or two to explain what the recipes were referring to. If the author had put that in the book, this honestly probably would have been a 3.5-star read.

[Manybooks · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well to tell the truth, I have only in fact read very very few of the actual Nancy Drew mysteries (as I have never been a huge fan of the genre). But yes, I do fondly recall that when I signed out The Nancy Drew Cookbook: Clues to Good Cooking from my high school library in the winter of 1980, I was indeed very much impressed (and remain so even now, even today) with both the presented recipes themselves (an expansive array of diverse food and meal suggestions, from breakfasts to candies) and also with the fact that the food preparation instructions are for the most part clear, concise and often embellished with and by suggestions for added nutrition (not to mention that the list of cooking do’s and dont’s at the beginning of The Nancy Drew Cookbook: Clues to Good Cooking is in my opinion an absolutely and totally important, essential and very much to be taken to heart general list which really and truly every young cook should learn and internalise).

And with regard to the presented recipes in The Nancy Drew Cookbook: Clues to Good Cooking, I actually have not read enough of the Nancy Drew novels themselves for me to say exactly how many of these have in fact been gleaned from the latter, but that yes, I do find the selection delightful and generally quite appealing with regard to potential taste and nutrition (diverse, and neither too healthy nor too unhealthy, although there is a pretty standard focus on meat and egg based dishes). Furthermore, I also do really love love love the many Nancy Drew stories based recipe titles. Four stars in general for The Nancy Drew Cookbook: Clues to Good Cooking but rounded down to a high three stars, because while the accompanying line drawing like illustrations are of course appreciated, it is still not the same as having actual photographs of the end products, of the meals and foods provided (and no, you also and actually do not really have to be a fan of the Nancy Drew series to either appreciate or to make use The Nancy Drew Cookbook: Clues to Good Cooking in your, in the kitchen).

[ScarlettMi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this cookbook when I was a kid. I remember trying out some of the recipes and being excited when I could make breakfast for my parents on their anniversary. (I'm sure it wasn't great but my mom faked enjoying it.) I've still got a copy to this day, sitting with my more grown up cookbooks I've acquired over the years.

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bess, the "pleasantly plump" one naturally has the best recipes. George, the closeted lesbian, has disgusting healthy recipes. Avoid them

[Eric Wood · Rating 3 out of 5]

Who would of thought that Nancy Drew would have her own cookbook! I was pretty excited when I first got this book, I couldn't wait to try out the recipes and see how they all tasted. I yet to try out all the recipes, but so far the ones I tried out are good and bad. Considering this book was first published in 1973, you can expect to find some questionable, yucky recipes in here, like Hannah's Cheese Puffs or Souffle Gruen. Souffle Gruen is the worst recipe I made so far! It. was. FOUL! It was just egg, butter, and cheese you put into a casserole dish and throw in the oven. I gagged when I first took a bite of it and instantly threw it away! However, there were some really surprisingly good recipes as well! The best ones I made so far were Whistling Bagpipe Crunchies, Bess's Secret Chocolate Waffles, and Detective Burgers! They were yummy! Overall, this is a good, fun, nostalgic cookbook that any ND fan will enjoy making recipes from. Just be careful of making some of these recipes cause they are yucky and will leave a bad taste in your mouth!

[Meltha · Rating 3 out of 5]

I collect cookbooks, my mother collects Nancy Drew, so voila. My one complaint in this is that the recipes are generally related to the mysteries in name only.

[Deb · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just a fun collectible book that I have had for a few years. If you love Nancy Drew and vintage cookbooks, you'll enjoy it.

[Denise Spicer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This Blast From The Past vintage book of 1973 (my copy is dated 1978) will be lots of fun especially for those who have fond memories of reading the Nancy Drew mystery books. It still holds up with classic recipes (albeit with cutesy Nancy Drew related names: Hollow Oak Nest Eggs, Tapping Heels Griddle Cakes, Old Attic Stuffed Tomatoes, Missing Map Cheese Wafers, Sleuth Soup, etc. – you get the idea).
The recipes are similar to those found in popular cookbooks of the time period, i.e. Betty Crocker or Better Homes and Gardens. There’s a glossary of basic cooking terms helpful for young (or any beginning) chefs and clear, easy-to-follow directions. The book also includes some ideas for menus, parties, gifts and gives us picnic, holiday and international options. Fun, quick read. A few cute black and white line drawings add to the vintage charm but there are no color photos.
NOTE: My copy has different cover.

[Talea · Rating 4 out of 5]

The recipes are good basic recipes though dated in some cases. Those of us that grew up reading Nancy Drew not only will it bring back memories of the character, but also of the flavors from our mother's and grandmother's kitchens. The popcorn balls, coffee cake, smothered pork chops, and pear salad types of recipes will take you back to the 70's in the best of ways. The recipes are simple enough that I'd feel comfortable letting my kids make them with minimal supervision.

[Lauren Stoolfire · Rating 3 out of 5]

Most of the recipes in The Nancy Drew Cookbook: Clues to Good Cooking by Carolyn Keene are pretty standard, but there are a few that stood out. I don't think I've ever seen a soup with peanut butter in it before? Especially when it also includes either celery salt or cinnamon powder in it as well. Plus, it seemed a little more advanced than I was expecting it to be considering it's a kids cookbook.

[Julie H. Ernstein · Rating 3 out of 5]

The recipe names are a hoot! All are references to particular Nancy Drew mysteries. As a big fan of the series as a kid, this was a fun thing to come across at a used bookstore.

[Morgan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Partly hilarious, partly a glimpse into 1970s cooking, which is a little horrifying.

[Joan · Rating 3 out of 5]

A 1973 mystery-themed cookbook designed to capture the imaginations of younger fans who were avid readers of the Nancy Drew series of books. The recipes are standard for the time [fruit gelatin mold, frozen fruit salad], some hold up quite well [deviled eggs, corn pudding, cookout potatoes], and none are particularly difficult for a tween or teen to complete. With “mysterious” titles, or dishes named for characters in the series, the mystery fan chefs can create meals for breakfast, brunch, lunch, dinner, picnics, backyard barbeques, and holidays. There are international dishes and recipes for give-away treats.

Nancy even adds her distinctive touch to the recipes, suggesting ideas for additions to the basic recipe. Although the recipes don’t significantly differ from those found in other cookbooks of the time, the charm is in the cookbook’s efforts to relate itself to the beloved series and there are sure to be some readers who fondly recall cooking with Nancy.

Along with the recipes, young chefs will find a guide to success with recipes, a list of cooking terms, and a table of weights and measures equivalencies.

[Tory]

There are a few pretty unhinged recipes in here, although that might be more the 1973 of it all than it is Nancy’s fault. Way too many suggestions of ways to add “intrigue” or “mysterious tastes” to the recipes for me to ever feel comfortable eating at her house, though.

I did learn a lot about Nancy, namely that she really seems to like these things:
- Paprika
- Vitamin A
- Parsley
- Mixing tomato juice and cranberry juice together to celebrate George Washington’s Birthday
- Vitamin C
- Almonds
- Wheat Germ
- Saying random things are “nutritious”
- Protein
- That’s pretty much it

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

adorable cookbook, easy to follow recipes for kids and teens, perfect for Nancy Drew lovers! I like how many of the recipes are named after Nancy's mysteries, like Crumbling Wall Coffee Cake or Blackwood Hall Muffins (one of my favorite Nancy Drew books!), Moonstone Castle Carrot Salad or Scarlet Slipper Raspberry Punch. I plan on making Chief McGinnis's waffles, Nancy's scrambler, Ned's potato pancakes, the French quiche and the Haunted Showboat pralines :)

[Lisa Mcbroom · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't cook at all but I do like to look at Cookbooks. especially vintage ones. Vintage finds such as stuffed tomatoes just to mentin a few. Cleverly named for Nancy Drew books, the book had recipes for parties and other special occasions. A great find!!!!

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

While outdated, published in 1973, this was a fun read. I was able to write down a few recipes to try, a fun book for any Nancy Drew fan

[Joseph · Rating 4 out of 5]

A culinary tribute to the beloved girl sleuth.

This retro cookbook was first published in 1973, before it was re-styled and re-released in 2005. I own the latter edition, which is conveniently spiral bound. Since the Nancy Drew novels often highlighted the cuisine which Nancy and her friends ate during sleuthing adventures, this creation makes sense.

The recipes are generally simple enough for a young cook to follow, with clear instructions in a good-sized font. Although some dishes are basic (e.g. Ned's Potato Pancakes, Blackwood Hall Muffins, Detective Burgers), the overall collection is varied and appealing. With that being said, however, it's important to realize that this is a retro cookbook, so the recipes won't reflect what is popular today.

Many of the recipes are keyed to Nancy's mysteries, but only some have actual connections with the stories. For example, Moonstone Castle Carrot Salad reflects a scene from The Moonstone Castle Mystery where Nancy attended a party with a table lined with salads. And Polynesian Punch is a definite nod to The Secret of the Golden Pavilion. But Mirror Bay Triple-Decker has no connection with the events in The Secret of Mirror Bay. There were many dishes from the pages of Nancy Drew that I think could have been added to this book, and that's my primary criticism.

I tried my hand at preparing Muskoka Salmon Salad, Crooked Banister Corn Bread, and Invisible Intruder's Coconut Custard. All three looked and tasted marvelous. On the other hand, there are some dishes which needed rethinking. Sleuth Soup is literally just tomato juice, beef broth, and heavy cream, so it was nothing special.

Note: The recipe for Tomato Sauce includes a serious omission: the instructions say "cut up tomatoes and combine with [other ingredients] ..." but no tomatoes are listed among the ingredients! It's really quite glaring how such a mistake wasn't fixed when the book was reprinted. Looking at an online copy of the 1st edition, I see that a few recipes were deleted from the 2nd edition that I own. These include Mrs. Marvin's Magic Muffins, Coded Steak Rolls, Red Gate Farm Tomatoes, Chinese Shrimp Cakes, and Captive Biscuits. They were probably deemed a little repetitive with the other recipes included.

Overall, I would recommend this to children and adults alike.

[Stacy · Rating 5 out of 5]

If I had discovered this book when I was nine, I would have spent the next three years talking my mom into letting me try every recipe in this book.

For a book challenge, I needed to read a book written the year I was born (1973) and when I stumbled across this in the store, I wanted desperately to buy it just to sit in on the shelf with my childhoold Betty Crocker Junior Cookbook. I checked out the date and as soon as I saw 1973, it was added to my cart.

The nostalgia I felt when I read this makes up for the fact that there is a recipe that involves non-fruits in gelatin. I mean, I know it was the 70s, but still...

[Kelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read the 1975 edition of this cookbook from a local antique shop. Reading it with no intention of cooking any of the recipes? 5/5 star experience. The recipes themselves? 2-3 max. I’m not sure if the book was revised for later publications or not, but this one featured recipes that were bizarre at best and disgusting at worst. There was a strong presence of pineapple juice, canned cherries, marshmallows/gelatin, beef, American cheese, and breadcrumbs. In total, there were maybe 4 recipes I’d consider adapting to make. But the weirdness of it all made for a very exciting read. Would recommend to a friend

[Wanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an interesting cookbook first published in 1973 and has little clues from Nancy Drew on each recipe. I really enjoyed the reference to items you would not find in as much use today for example an aluminum ice tray with the middle rack for cubes. Several of the recipes require the ingredients to be frozen and that called for removing the middle tray of the ice cube tray---really dated me!

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a book that I bought for my youngest child. I had a copy of my own when I was growing up. I enjoyed making the recipes when I was growing up, and it was a lot of fun seeing my daughter and son trying them out. I loved the whimsical take on the recipes and the names they gave for the different dishes.

I think anyone who feels a little nostalgic should give this ol' recipe book a go. After all, it's a mystery every time you make something new--the flavor that is! :)

[Tara]

I went through a big Nancy Drew phase when I was in third grade. While I haven't heard any rave reviews for the recipes, I can't resist the kitsch of names like Scarlet Slipper Raspberry punch, Shadow Ranch Barbecue Beans and Twisted Candles Peach Crisp.

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A scream!!! Loved finding this edition, and love the recipe names. some of them look like they might even turn out! Cannot wait to try some. As a kid I preferred Agatha Christie to Nancy Drew, but as a nancy myself I have a lot of fun re-discovering Nancy. Hysterically kitchy in a way I adore.

[Wanda · Rating 2 out of 5]

I picked this up for the nostalgia, to be honest the recipes are not that good (even by 70's standards) but I used to take this book out of the library and try to make my first attempts at following recipes. What a blast!

[Meaghan · Rating 4 out of 5]

mmm...tasty

[Staci · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not one recipe turned out. Some recipes didn't list ingreidents yet had them in the directions. My hero let me down!

[Sydney · Rating 5 out of 5]

awesome stuff

[MysterySeeker · Rating 5 out of 5]

interesting recipes, sound amazing, look delicious, and enticing.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love Nancy these recipes are interesting,will try several