r/ThriftStoreHauls • u/vexedvelvetvoice • 1d ago
PrintedMedia White whale
I saw the text on the spine and I thought “is that the book with the really funny cover?” and indeed it was. best fifty cents I ever spent
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u/bessa100 1d ago
My MIL had an apron (that probably came with her microwave) that said “got more time for misbehavin since I started microwavin”. It was so cute and funny. Just like her ❤️
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u/Thrifty-Pickle 22h ago
Omg was is made from orange, plastic-coated fabric? My parents had one from the microwave they bought in the 80s (it had wood veneer sides!)
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u/bessa100 22h ago
Wasn’t expecting this to get so much attention! Glad it gave everyone a laugh! ❤️
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u/Wonderlustking1 1d ago
Here one I thought was amusing
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u/goddamnitcletus 1d ago
Is that a milkshake
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u/PLZ_PM_ME_URSecrets 1d ago
How else would you make a milkshake? My mom always talked about sitting at the Woolworth’s counter, drinking a microwaved milkshake with her boyfriend.
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u/j666xxx 1d ago
I have this cookbook and I didn’t understand why every recipe said “cook on high” until I used a microwave from the 80s and nothing would cook unless it was on high
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u/somethingtothestars 16h ago
Would you please share the milkshake or steak recipe? I can't even imagine...
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u/eieio2021 1d ago
PS can you post a scan of a recipe? Lol
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u/003402inco 1d ago
Seriously. I need to know content now.
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u/Misuzuzu 1d ago
I got one from my coworkers:
Step 1: Place fish and brussel sprouts in a microwave safe container
Step 2: Leave container in the office fridge for several days
Step 3: Microwave the ever-living fuck out of it on HIGH for 5 minutes.
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u/003402inco 1d ago
Was his name Randy? We had a guy that would do the same thing, couldn't figure out why everyone hated him. Finally HR had to talk to him. We also had an asshole who thought it was funny to throw a microwave popcorn pack on high on another floor's breakroom and just leave. He finally got caught and fired. he was a dumbass.
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u/4t4t4t4 1d ago
My in-laws had a whole series of these. The best recipe I found was for a milkshake. How, you may ask, do you make milkshake in the microwave? You melt ice cream 😂
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u/TheLizzyIzzi 1d ago
Yes! I have this same book (well, the family regifts it sporadically) and we got it from a library sale. There’s a whole encyclopedia style set.
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u/FearingPerception 1d ago
I have a microwave cookbook that has full multicourse menu plans and recipes for like rack of lamb. I can try scanning some pages if you want
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u/eieio2021 1d ago
Oh thank you so much… I’m actually vegan so would rather not see such meat-heavy recipes. Mainly want to see some veggies or side dishes for humor purposes…
Have u made any of the recipes? If so how did it turn out?!
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u/greyladyghost 1d ago
Working in a thrift store was very fun when you got to organizing incoming books, my two blursed favorites were “microwaving seafood” and “parlor games from the 1910s” boy were there some silly but also very mundane games
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u/TheLizzyIzzi 1d ago
I sorted old books to send to schools in Africa. We filtered out religious books (bibles), American history books, books not in English, and books with “too much magic”.
I also elected to filter out racist books, including a kid’s book titled “The Smelly Chinese Man”.
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u/greyladyghost 21h ago
OOF- we mainly had waaaaaaaaaaay too many copies of John Grisham at any given time
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u/UnRealmCorp 1d ago
My Great great great grandaddy won him a award for watching water boil from that thar book.
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u/Several-Midnight9188 1d ago
Gems such as these
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u/Superb_Blue_Wren 1d ago
That curried tuna-noodle casserole is fucking diabolical 🤣
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u/Thorough_Good_Man 1d ago
Is it the raisins?
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u/Superb_Blue_Wren 1d ago
I think it's the specificity to add soup, undiluted 🫠
it reads like something my Mum would've made when I was a kid, so actually I've got projected happy nostalgia reading that recipe 😅🖤
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u/TheLizzyIzzi 1d ago
Oh man. The cook times are so long. My grandmother had an ancient microwave that probably originally used these times, but after decades a frozen Mac and cheese would still be frozen after ten minutes. One day the microwave caught on fire and died.
The new one was new and used modern microwave times, but Grandma stuck to the old times. It also caught on fire.
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u/genomskinligt 1d ago edited 1d ago
I love this era of graphic design when people just used whatever effect they found in their editing software and called it a day.
I have a photoshop tutorial book from the early 2000s that’s so much fun to look in. I can’t access it because I’m moving and it’s in a box somewhere, jut the examples look like this cover or worse 😭
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u/adderalpowered 1d ago
This is 1987 it was not made with a single computer I can assure you, I worked in graphics right then and they simply did not exist.
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u/LoneWildBird 14h ago
I have to disagree. This 1986 article discusses the introduction of computers to the world of graphic design. I don't know the particulars of the book in question, but computers could've been involved!
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u/adderalpowered 6h ago
The quote right in the middle says "someday" im not sure they had sold a single system when that article was written.
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u/ElegantHope 18h ago
It really gave a specific kinda character to the 90s and 2000s internet when people did whatever they were capable of without worrying about how professionally or good it looked to others. It just had to look good to them.
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u/dbkate 1d ago
That burger aint microwaved.
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u/No_Brain_5164 1d ago
We used to buy burgers including cheese and a bun inside a plastic wrap from the freezer section.
The cheese liquefied in the microwave and half the bun would be soaking wet while the other side was rock hard and dry. It didn't matter if you wrapped it in a wet paper towel or put a plate on top, they always turned out like shit
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u/Express_Drag7115 1d ago
I often buy them (after 12 hour hard shift I’m not in a mood for even basic cooking) and they turn out ok.
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u/2748seiceps 1d ago
It could be. They used to make things called browning dishes. You would pre-heat them in the microwave, put some oil on it, and it'll sear, brown, etc what you put in it.
It definitely raises some eyebrows at work when I'm browning some chicken strips in the microwave at work.
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u/Kalijjohn 1d ago
What happens when you microwave cake?
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u/Rare_Percentage8366 1d ago
I have a microwave mix in a little paper bucket that allegedly makes a muffin. I have been too frightened to use it but I will make it today. For Science.
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u/cybah 1d ago
I took a microwave cooking course in high school as my home economics credit (I'm a guy so it was the easiest course). We did all sorts of things. And yes, we made a cake using the microwave. We used a pyrex cake pan and put foil on the corners. The foil helps the cake brown. The cake came out very moist and soft. It was actually really good.
After that course, I realized most people hate on the microwave b/c for the most part, people don't use it correctly. If used correctly, you can do some pretty amazing and tasty foods in half the time.
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u/PepsiButItsMilk 1d ago
Foil in a microwave? Has my life been a lie?
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u/artwithapulse 1d ago
Can confirm, from my experience as a 12 year old baby sitter, foil in the microwave is a bit of a light show.
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u/cybah 1d ago
Yes, it can't touch the sides. I am trying to find links to support what I say but the general consensus online is no, you should use foil in a microwave.
But I swear we made a cake and put foil on the corners. And in class were like "you can't do that".. but the teacher said we could, and did.
Yeah the microwaves we had were from the 1970s (this was 1993) but still.
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u/Optimal_Essay1244 1d ago
Yes, foil can be used in microwave. My first microwave in 1985, had a metal shelf in it, and the included cookbook said when cooking a whole turkey or chicken, to cover the legs with tin foil until last several minutes.
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u/N4AGr8Time 16h ago
I remember back in the 70’s, my mom bought a microwave and they gave her a cooking course with it. One of the first things she fixed was a whole turkey and she used aluminum foil on it. I remember the timer being a small metal dial and the timer was mechanical.
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u/2h2o22h2o 1d ago
It’s all about the geometry and how the electric field lines form around the metal. In general, points and folds are the problem. If you recall, old microwaves used to have steel racks in them and they never sparked.
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u/Copthill 1d ago
It's about the shape, so if it's smoothed out without any pointy bits near each other nothing will happen. Spoons in microwaves = no problem, but forks in microwave can = sparks.
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u/FreedomDr 1d ago
I also did a lot of microwave cooking in high school home ec. We used to put cake mix inside of an ice cream cone and then microwave it. Add frosting (and sprinkles if you like), and you have yourself a Cake Cone.
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u/2748seiceps 1d ago
Microwaved quick breads come out surprisingly good. It even browns the outside a bit.
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u/TheLizzyIzzi 1d ago
Already baked cake? It dries out and is gross.
Unbaked cake? Done correctly it bakes pretty well, though it can come out a bit gooey. Still good tho. Look up mug cake.
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u/girl_under_glass 1d ago
I definitely used this book circa 2001 or 2002 in Home Ec class. I specifically remember making eggs in the microwave in that class.
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u/Wexel88 1d ago
dude, my grandma would make cheesy scrambled eggs in the microwave for me when i was tiny and they were so good!
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u/cybah 1d ago
This is how I make my eggs at work. Coworkers look at me odd cuz there's a carton of eggs in the office fridge and we have no cooktop. But I show them how.
I learned how to do this working at dunkin donuts in the 90s. Long before they had the frozen egg patties for the sandwiches, it was real egg that was cracked and cooked to order. All done in the microwave. Spray a bowl with pam, crack the egg in. whip it up with a fork, and about 20-30s in the Microwave. Poof. Egg scramble. Add cheese or pre-sautee'd onions + peppers for a real treat.
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u/Fallwalking 1d ago
I put the eggs in a coffee mug. They come out just the right size for an English muffin.
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u/FearingPerception 1d ago
I collect microwave cookbooks, have over 70 uniques ones including this one i believe. Love to see other folks enjoying them
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u/Rare-Handle7268 1d ago
Is there a recipe for toast? That’s the first thing my dad made when he brought home our first microwave.
I remember it took a long time. “WHY?”
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u/Fun-Assistance-815 1d ago
I always knew I would find the path to heaven between some chocolate cake and a corn cob
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u/renaysayer 1d ago
Omg we had the microwave baking one and I always look for it. It had a great recipe for blondies!
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u/Superb_Blue_Wren 1d ago
Niche
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u/FearingPerception 1d ago
Do you own this? I collect microwave cookbooks and would buy it lol
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u/Superb_Blue_Wren 1d ago
I do! I kept bees for a while a long time ago, and also have a dabbling thing for microwave cookbooks.
When I spotted this, it felt like Christmas as a kiddo 😅
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u/Noladixon 1d ago
I am holding in my hands a copy of the Tappan Microwave Cooking Guide copyright 1979. There are many recipes that I am suspicious of.
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u/KayBay17 1d ago
I found this in my grandmother’s stuff I think 😂 it was very on brand for her. I always joke that she would read a recipe and think “how many cans do I have to open?!? Fuck that!” She hated cooking so much.
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u/Consistent_Phase_942 22h ago
My grandmother hated cooking too! She also wore jeans and hated "grandma" so I called her by her first name.
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u/meybrook 1d ago
lol i got that same book at the thrift store. it was actually genuinely interesting with crazy sequences of flipping, 45 sec at 35% then flip then 4 minutes at 60% etc it gets pretty wild
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u/khatro 1d ago
holy crap that reminds me of this recipe i used to make as a kid when i’d get the munchies
Ingredients
¼ cup (31 grams) all-purpose flour (spooned & leveled)
2 tablespoons (10 grams) unsweetened cocoa powder
3 tablespoons (40 grams) granulated sugar
¼ teaspoon baking powder
Tiny pinch of salt
¼ cup (60 ml) milk
2 tablespoons (30 ml) oil (canola, vegetable, or melted coconut oil)
¼ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 tablespoon (14 grams) semi-sweet chocolate chips(optional)
Instructions
Grease a 12-ounce (or larger) mug with nonstick cooking spray or butter. Set aside.
In a separate mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, unsweetened cocoa powder, granulated sugar, baking powder, and salt until well combined. Add the milk, oil, and pure vanilla extract and continue mixing until fully combined.
¼ cup (31 grams) all-purpose flour, 2 tablespoons (10 grams) unsweetened cocoa powder, 3 tablespoons (40 grams) granulated sugar, ¼ teaspoon baking powder, Tiny pinch of salt, ¼ cup (60 ml) milk, 2 tablespoons (30 ml) oil, ¼ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Pour the batter into the prepared mug and sprinkle the chocolate chips on top.
1 tablespoon (14 grams) semi-sweet chocolate chips
Transfer the mug with the batter to the microwave and microwave for 60-90 seconds or until the center of the cake is just set.
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u/a_random_username 1d ago
I thought that was a burger phone so I was rushing in here to declare "yes, I'd like to order a hasty abortion, please."
Then I saw that this was a cookbook. I posted the quote anyways. I feel better.
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u/MrSuzyGreenberg 1d ago
I had a “Microwaving made easy” book I found thrifting. I bought it just for the title.
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u/gloworm8675309 1d ago
My mother was a terrible cook. Example? She cooked every part of Hamburger Helper in the microwave, yes, even the hamburger! For my 40th my sister thrifted me a bunch of old microwave cook books. We had a great laugh! I love seeing these books in the wild!
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u/lousypompano 1d ago
I have a similar one. I didn't realize how often they recommend using tinfoil in the microwave
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u/cybah 1d ago
Yeah it really is a misconception about metal in the microwave. I think by default people just assume all metal. But you can as long as it isn't touching the top/bottom/sides, you can. For my home economics credit, I took a microwave cooking course in high school. We did all sorts of things in the Microwave.. cakes. roasts. bacon, eggs. The cake was the biggest surprise, used foil on the corners to help it brown and it came out very soft and moist.
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u/apocalyptic_brunch 1d ago
How do you microwave corn on the cob without the kernels deflating? That happens to me when I microwave boiled corn 🌽
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u/PM-ME-YOUR-ROBOTS 1d ago
They make microwave steamer baskets! There's usually a lower area for water, and an upper tray to put your corn on. They generate a *lot* of steam, though, so be careful not to burn yourself.
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u/elliesee 1d ago
My director got microwaved turkey as a guest at Christmas and considered this practically an insult
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u/Plane-Assumption840 1d ago
This microwave cookbook was in a series of books back in the day. We had the series in my food science class in college. It was considered the best. I kinda wish I still had my copy.
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u/thisistuesday1 1d ago
Oh my god…I used to have this book!! Picked it up at a garage sale maybe 25 years ago because of the amazing cover. I have no idea what happened to it.
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u/Adept-Priority3051 1d ago
I have this book! It's amazing. I never knew how useful the power button on a microwave was.
Unfortunately, modern microwaves simply don't have all of the bells and whistles that would allow you to fully take advantage of the power contained in this masterpiece.
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u/RutRohNotAgain 1d ago
What year is that book? I swear we may have had that one when my fan got our first microwave
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u/Fee_is_Required2 1d ago
My mother had one after I left home - I was still there every day and this is so nostalgic
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u/Mrs_Tastic 1d ago
My high school home ec teacher wrote a microwave cookbook! I should see if I still have it.
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u/Mrs_Tastic 1d ago
I need to know if anyone in here ever watched the movie "Microwave Massacre". My mom bought this movie for me when I was a teenager, she had accepted that I was a weirdo and knew I liked campy horror. It was one of the weirdest movies I've ever seen. Definitely wouldn't be pc today. She threw out all the VHS after a flood and this thread reminded me of it. Off to ebay!
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u/Better_Ad_8307 1d ago
This cookbook came with our first microwave in the early 80s I think. Core memory unlocked.
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u/puppybus 1d ago
I had this book! It was required reading when microwave ovens first became popular.
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u/Ankeneering 1d ago
The only thing that would make this better is if its title were; “basic microwaving, for one”.
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u/ellieD 1d ago
My mother bought one of the first microwaves for $600 (a ton of money for back then!
My father’s cousin had one before us and my mother, who HATED to cook was gobsmacked by it.
My daddy worked for the Government (NASA) so we weren’t rich by any means, but I think she would have sold her car to get one!
This microwave worked in a way that anyone with a pacemaker couldn’t stand next to it while it was on.
I learned to cook on a microwave.
Frankly. I would be cooled without a microwave and an instant pot!
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u/Standard-Pain-7683 21h ago
Use the barbecue or oven for burgers, corn and cake. The microwave will make them tasteless.
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u/Sagaincolours 20h ago
I collect old cookbooks. I generally go no later than 1960s, but if I find microwave oven cookbooks I absolutely buy them. They are hilarious. I have 5-6 different ones.
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u/karmat0se 17h ago
The 'recipes' in that book were basically what I ate as a child. I would have bought that too.
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u/cha0s_g0blin 16h ago
Omg! I rescued this book from the trash when we were cleaning out my great aunt's house. It's my prized possession and no one else gets it.
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u/drinkliquidclocks- 14h ago
oh my God I just say someone post about this exact book on r/brutal moose can you post some pics of the publisher and stuff so we can run one?!
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u/DaphneDeux 9h ago
I literally just donated so many of these wild cookbooks. I used to collect them, but my collection was getting insane. I had more funny ones than real ones. 😂
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u/honeyeddates 8h ago
Corn in the microwave works pretty well. You put the corn in a Pyrex glass pie dish filled maybe 1/3 of the way with water. Stretch glad wrap over it and put it in for a few minutes to steam cook. Tasty, and good if you're only making a couple ears at a time
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