Frankfurter Spectacular.

This has been around for a long while (like, forever), so I was surprised I hadn't run across it before... but I hadn't, and it's so scary that I figured I should share.

Experience the horror that was Weight Watchers in the 1970s over at Candyboots, where there are many recipe cards like this:

(Link via my mom, who says she remembers making some chocolate roll confection thing with COTTAGE CHEESE FILLING!  Gross!!  And she made it multiple times!  Grosser!  What if she gave it to the baby version of me??  Auuugh!!)

Comments

[Electric Landlady]

When I first saw these, Fluffy Mackerel Pudding was the one that made me almost fall out of my chair laughing.

[Julie Carter]

I feel that it's never too late to suffer aftereffects of food poisoning. Cottage cheese and chocolate? It could still kill you after all these years!

[TadMack]

I have gifted people with the cookbook version of these... and for the Knitting version of this? It's the kitschy kitsch of Stitchy McYarnpants! And her little "My Hamps" song is not to be read while drinking anything...!

Sadly addicting, this.

[Leila]

I love Stitchy McYarnpants!

[Brookeshelf]

How in the world does a person make a mackerel "fluffy"?!?

My grandmother gave me her personalized copy of the 1968 edition of the Better Homes & Gardens cookbook as a wedding present. We call it the "cholesterol cookbook" since it features so many recipes like the one above. (Like the recipe for PB&J that includes mayonnaise, bacon, and pickle relish. Oh, and then you grill it). We'd toss it, but it reminds me of Grandma, so it's worth keeping around.

[a Paperback Writer]

Okay, you people need to read James Lileks' Gallery of Regrettable Food -- and while you're at it, pick up his Interior Desecrations as well. (The latter makes fun of decorating trends from the 1970s.) But do not read either while you are eating, as you're likely to spew food particles everywhere.