Bookshelf: TV Guide Cook Booklet

Bookshelf is a monthly column examining printed matter relating to television. While I love watching TV, I also love reading about it, from tie-in novels to TV Guides, from vintage television magazines to old newspaper articles. Bookshelf is published on the second Thursday of each month.

TV Guide Cook Booklet
First Published in 1970
Published by Triangle Publications, Inc.
30 Pages

This month’s column is a bit of a cheat, I admit, and I can’t rightly call it review because the only proper way to review a cook book–or a cook booklet, in this case–would be to actually use the recipes to prepare some dishes. Ask anyone in my family and they’ll tell you I am about as far from a cook as a person can get.

One of the more unusual aspects of TV Guide, in my opinion, was (is?) the inclusion of recipes. While I was reviewing issues for my A Year in TV Guide project I didn’t keep track of how many featured a recipe or two but it was a good percentage.

Front cover to TV Guide Cook Booklet
Front cover to TV Guide Cook Booklet – Copyright 1970 Triangle Publications, Inc.

The first page declares that the booklet includes “a selection of favorite recipes that have appeared in America’s favorite TV magazine.” There are a total of 36 recipes printed in the booklet, split into sections like The Accent is Mexican, Clambake at the Beach or at Home, For That Special Dinner, and Beef with Style. In all, there are eight categories.

Here are some of the recipes: Squash Spice Cake, Tuna Empanadas, Garlic Peanuts, German Beer Bisque, Chicken and Biscuit Pot Pie, Red Cabbage with Apples and Wine, Maharajah’s Lobster Curry, French Bouillabaisse, and Florentine Eggs En Croute.

I’m curious about how the TV Guide Cook Booklet was distributed. There’s no price listed, which suggests it wasn’t sold. Was it sent to subscribers? Was it an insert in newspapers or some other magazine?

If your family sampled TV Guide recipes, be sure to hit the comments and let everyone know how the meals came out.


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30 Replies to “Bookshelf: TV Guide Cook Booklet”

  1. I’m looking for the actress who played Opal Courtland’s split pea soup, it had leeks in it and lots of meat. Can anyone help me. I made it years ago and lost the recipe which turned into a family favorite.

  2. I had a recipe from TV Guide from either the late 1980s or early 1990s that was for Belgium Waffles. Is there anyway to locate this particular recipe? It was delicious!

  3. I’m looking for the edition that had hamburger recipes. My favorite was pineapple burgers. Wish I could see the index for this book.

  4. this recipe had large shells stuffed with chicken cornbread stuffing and shredded chicken and a sauce over it, lost the recipe and forgot how to make the sauce.

  5. I am looking for the recipe they called San Francisco Stew – it was with Pork- zucchini and red wine

  6. I’m looking for a recipe in TV Guide in 1965 or 1966. Ingredients were whipped egg whites sweetened with sugar and pureed watermelon. I seem to remember maybe freezing the mixture and eating it like ice cream or sorbet.

    1. I Googled it and got three Pinterest sites claiming to have Ray Romano Hamburger Minestrone Soup recipes. You may want to try a Google search.

      1. I’m looking for the recipe for Lucas Tanner chicken. I think it included oranges and lemons.

  7. I’ve been searching for a Mexican rice recipe from my mom used to make when I was a kid that she got off TV guide book. Anyone have it

  8. I would love to find the recipe for Rum baked acorn squash that was in TV Guide in the late 70’s or early 80’s.

  9. I am looking for a recipe using the kraft mac n cheese box plus vegetables in a pie. It was the deluxe type macncheese. Thanks

  10. I’m looking at a recipe I frequently make Stuffed Giant Shell’s dated September 13, 1975, Excellent and easy to make. Also November 6, 1976 Apple-Sausage Stuffing Pennsylvania Dutch Style A little work but my whole family makes this now its become a tradition. Don’t have a date on this one it’s under celebrity recipe Cher’s favorite Pork Chops for 2 Again excellent recipe. Hope this is of some use to someone.

    1. I’m making the baked stuffed shells tomorrow for dinner. Everyone loves this recipe. However, since the pandemic manufacturers are skimping on their jar sauces the recipe calls for so I make my own sauce. I wish they’d bring the original tv guide back . I have quite a few that I’ve saved!

  11. I’m looking for a recipe that is called ( I believe “Homespun meat pie “.
    It was made with a hamburger crust and filled with mashed potatoes and velveeta cheese chunks.
    I would really like to get the recipe again .

  12. I am looking for two recipe from TV guide: Texas red hot chile and peach baked alaska.
    Can anyone help please.

    thank you

  13. A recipe for Couque Co Vin with wine and thickened with egg yokes. Also one for Beef Beer Stew. Lost both these recipes.

  14. I am looking for a recipe for tuna loaf that came out early 70’s. Please if anyone can help. It’s like a big pastry roll with a tuna mixture inside. Thank you

  15. I’m looking for a recipe for an almond and pear tart that had red currant jelly on top of it. It was in an issue in the summer or fall of 1976. I made it one time, it was delicious, almost like it came from a restaurant. I lost the recipe many years ago. I would love to have it again. Hopefully someone can help!

  16. I am looking for a peanut butter cake with jam as a decoration on top. Loved it but I lost the recipe. It was in a TV guide issue definitely in the 80’s. Can anyone help me?

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