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Peg Bracken is DEAD!!

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General fitness, health and nutrition
Published
23 October 2007
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30 October 2007
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Pennyaline
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  1. Author of "The I Hate to Cook Book."

    http://tinyurl.com/2rw5sj

    The article, in part:

    Author gave voice to homemaker angst
    Dies at age 89 - Writer Peg Bracken had a hit with "The I Hate to Cook Book"
    Sunday, October 21, 2007
    JOAN HARVEY
    The Oregonian Staff

    Peg Bracken, a Portland writer who taught a generation of homemakers how
    not to cook, died Saturday at age 89.

    Bracken was best known for "The I Hate to Cook Book," published in 1960.
    Bracken threw down the oven mitt to a generation of women who had been
    taught that their destiny was to be Suzy Homemaker. Her sharp wit and
    irreverent attitude made the book an immediate sensation. It sold more
    than 3 million copies...

  2. Pennyaline <[email hidden]> wrote in
    news:[email hidden]:

    Quoted message said:

    Author of "The I Hate to Cook Book."

    http://tinyurl.com/2rw5sj

    The article, in part:

    Author gave voice to homemaker angst
    Dies at age 89 - Writer Peg Bracken had a hit with "The I Hate
    to Cook Book" Sunday, October 21, 2007
    JOAN HARVEY
    The Oregonian Staff

    Peg Bracken, a Portland writer who taught a generation of
    homemakers how not to cook, died Saturday at age 89.

    Bracken was best known for "The I Hate to Cook Book,"
    published in 1960. Bracken threw down the oven mitt to a
    generation of women who had been taught that their destiny was
    to be Suzy Homemaker. Her sharp wit and irreverent attitude
    made the book an immediate sensation. It sold more than 3
    million copies...

    :-(

    I liked that book.

    Here's a bit from your link:
    Quote:

    "A sample from her recipe for Skid Road Stroganoff: "Add the flour,
    salt, paprika and mushrooms, stir, and let it cook five minutes
    while you light a cigarette and stare sullenly at the sink."

    Although the recipes appear old-fashioned in our arugula-strewn,
    post-Julia age, there is a streak of sophistication. A recipe for
    "coupe royale" calls for kirsch, and she champions fruit for
    dessert. A pea recipe includes lettuce and thyme similar to Julia
    Child's classic French recipe. Bracken's, however, is for canned
    peas. "

    "..A group of friends who called themselves the Hags traded
    complaints and recipes over martinis after work before hauling
    themselves home to start dinner. Bracken's recipes were notorious
    for their editorial comments. One of the Hags, Connie McCready,
    later Portland mayor, twisted Bracken's arm into writing the book
    and getting it published. It is dedicated to McCready. Bracken's
    husband at the time, who also was a writer, was famously negative
    on the project. "It stinks," was his often-quoted encouragement.
    They divorced a few years later..."

  3. In article <[email hidden]>,

    Pennyaline said:

    Author of "The I Hate to Cook Book."

    http://tinyurl.com/2rw5sj

    I loved her columns in Family Circle (or maybe it was Woman's Day) when
    I was a young wife. I loved reading "The I Hate to Cook Book" ‹ I have
    two copies.

    I cry for sad.
    --
    -Barb, Mother Superior, HOSSSPoJ
    Notes about our meals in Tuscany have been posted to
    http://www.jamlady.eboard.com; 10-16-2007

  4. sandi said:
    Quoted message said:

    Bracken was best known for "The I Hate to Cook Book,"
    published in 1960. Bracken threw down the oven mitt to a
    generation of women who had been taught that their destiny was
    to be Suzy Homemaker.

    Geez, I'm so sick of hearing about how bad "homemakers" had/have it.
    I'll tell you what, I'll stay home and wash the dishes (what?..10 mins
    max?) and change the baby (50 secs) while you hump freeze blocks up to
    the second story framing job in 110 heat.

    nb

  5. notbob said:
    sandi said:
    Quoted message said:

    Bracken was best known for "The I Hate to Cook Book,"
    published in 1960. Bracken threw down the oven mitt to a
    generation of women who had been taught that their destiny was
    to be Suzy Homemaker.

    Geez, I'm so sick of hearing about how bad "homemakers" had/have it.
    I'll tell you what, I'll stay home and wash the dishes (what?..10 mins
    max?) and change the baby (50 secs) while you hump freeze blocks up to
    the second story framing job in 110 heat.

    Your response proves that you have never washed dishes and changed
    diapers for any length of time, and never did it as two oft-repeated
    tasks in days filled with other tasks besides.

    And I don't know what "freeze blocks" are, perhaps you mean concrete
    breeze blocks (cinder blocks)? You're correct in saying that I wouldn't
    want to carry breeze blocks up to a second story framing job. Hauling
    them for ground level foundation and chimney work is quite enough right
    now, and I'm not even getting paid to do it. And that doesn't take
    working a full time job so I can pay for them into the equation, plus
    having to go and buy the blocks, and mortar, then get them home, then
    there are the mechanicals -- wear and tear on the truck to take into
    account and... then I have to keep the lawn mowed and beds weeding,
    clean the house and keep the laundry done, grocery shop, and keep them
    pots and pans rattling besides! Which part of that are you going to take
    over, again?

  6. I enjoy her books. I have The I Hate to Cookbook, The Appendix to the
    I Hate to Cookbook, and The I Hate to Housekeep Book. They are all
    fun to read and revisit. The illustrations are delightful. I don't
    believe I have ever cooked from the books, but I like having them
    around.

    The Atlanta Journal Constitution ran an article about her a few weeks
    ago:
    http://www.ajc.com/search/content/living/food/stories/kessler/2007/09/25/kessler_0927.html

    Tara

  7. "Pennyaline" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:
    notbob said:
    sandi said:

    > Bracken was best known for "The I Hate to Cook Book,"
    > published in 1960. Bracken threw down the oven mitt to a
    > generation of women who had been taught that their destiny was
    > to be Suzy Homemaker.

    Geez, I'm so sick of hearing about how bad "homemakers" had/have it. I'll
    tell you what, I'll stay home and wash the dishes (what?..10 mins max?)
    and change the baby (50 secs) while you hump freeze blocks up to the
    second story framing job in 110 heat.

    Your response proves that you have never washed dishes and changed diapers
    for any length of time, and never did it as two oft-repeated tasks in days
    filled with other tasks besides.

    And I don't know what "freeze blocks" are, perhaps you mean concrete
    breeze blocks (cinder blocks)? You're correct in saying that I wouldn't
    want to carry breeze blocks up to a second story framing job. Hauling them
    for ground level foundation and chimney work is quite enough right now,
    and I'm not even getting paid to do it. And that doesn't take working a
    full time job so I can pay for them into the equation, plus having to go
    and buy the blocks, and mortar, then get them home, then there are the
    mechanicals -- wear and tear on the truck to take into account and... then
    I have to keep the lawn mowed and beds weeding, clean the house and keep
    the laundry done, grocery shop, and keep them pots and pans rattling
    besides! Which part of that are you going to take over, again?

    You tell 'im, girl!

    Felice

  8. Felice Friese said:

    "Pennyaline" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:
    notbob said:

    sandi wrote:

    >> Bracken was best known for "The I Hate to Cook Book,"
    >> published in 1960. Bracken threw down the oven mitt to a
    >> generation of women who had been taught that their destiny was
    >> to be Suzy Homemaker.

    Geez, I'm so sick of hearing about how bad "homemakers" had/have
    it. I'll tell you what, I'll stay home and wash the dishes
    (what?..10 mins max?) and change the baby (50 secs) while you hump
    freeze blocks up to the second story framing job in 110 heat.

    Your response proves that you have never washed dishes and changed
    diapers for any length of time, and never did it as two oft-repeated
    tasks in days filled with other tasks besides.

    And I don't know what "freeze blocks" are, perhaps you mean concrete
    breeze blocks (cinder blocks)? You're correct in saying that I
    wouldn't want to carry breeze blocks up to a second story framing
    job. Hauling them for ground level foundation and chimney work is
    quite enough right now, and I'm not even getting paid to do it. And
    that doesn't take working a full time job so I can pay for them into
    the equation, plus having to go and buy the blocks, and mortar, then
    get them home, then there are the mechanicals -- wear and tear on
    the truck to take into account and... then I have to keep the lawn
    mowed and beds weeding, clean the house and keep the laundry done,
    grocery shop, and keep them pots and pans rattling besides! Which
    part of that are you going to take over, again?

    You tell 'im, girl!

    attagirl🙂)

  9. sandi said:

    Pennyaline <[email hidden]> wrote in
    news:[email hidden]:

    Quoted message said:

    Author of "The I Hate to Cook Book."
    http://tinyurl.com/2rw5sj

    Sad to hear. Author of an American classic, however
    unacknowledged by many.

    Thanks for the notice though.

  10. notbob said:

    Geez, I'm so sick of hearing about how bad "homemakers" had/have it.
    I'll tell you what, I'll stay home and wash the dishes (what?..10 mins
    max?) and change the baby (50 secs) while you hump freeze blocks up to
    the second story framing job in 110 heat.

    Very true.

    PB is good reading for anyone who "has" to cook, and
    even many who do.

  11. notbob said:
    sandi said:
    Quoted message said:

    Bracken was best known for "The I Hate to Cook Book,"
    published in 1960. Bracken threw down the oven mitt to a
    generation of women who had been taught that their destiny was
    to be Suzy Homemaker.

    Geez, I'm so sick of hearing about how bad "homemakers" had/have it.
    I'll tell you what, I'll stay home and wash the dishes (what?..10 mins
    max?) and change the baby (50 secs) while you hump freeze blocks up to
    the second story framing job in 110 heat.

    nb

    nb, I can't speak for her because I never met the woman. The point of her
    book published in 1960 (I don't own it) appears to have been some
    generations of women were raised to think all they could possibly ever
    aspire to was to be the "little wife". I'll have to see about finding a
    copy of this book for my collection 🙂

    Jill

  12. Tara <[email hidden]> wrote in
    news:[email hidden]:

    Quoted message said:

    I enjoy her books. I have The I Hate to Cookbook, The
    Appendix to the I Hate to Cookbook, and The I Hate to
    Housekeep Book. They are all fun to read and revisit. The
    illustrations are delightful. I don't believe I have ever
    cooked from the books, but I like having them around.

    The Atlanta Journal Constitution ran an article about her a
    few weeks ago:
    http://www.ajc.com/search/content/living/food/stories/kessler/2
    007/09/25/kessler_0927.html

    Tara

    They are fun reading. :-)

  13. Melba's Jammin' <[email hidden]> dropped this
    news:[email hidden]: in
    rec.food.cooking

    Quoted message said:

    In article <[email hidden]>,

    Pennyaline said:

    Author of "The I Hate to Cook Book."

    http://tinyurl.com/2rw5sj

    I loved her columns in Family Circle (or maybe it was Woman's Day) when
    I was a young wife. I loved reading "The I Hate to Cook Book" ‹ I have
    two copies.

    I cry for sad.

    I've never read her books but now I'll have to get them. I love a cookbook
    that tells stories as it goes along.

    Michael

    --
    Children today are tyrants. They contradict their parents, gobble their
    food, and tyrannize their teachers.
    - Socrates

    to email: dog3 at charter dot net

  14. notbob <[email hidden]> dropped this news:13hul6dg7l8sa15
    @corp.supernews.com: in rec.food.cooking

    Quoted message said:
    sandi said:
    Quoted message said:

    Bracken was best known for "The I Hate to Cook Book,"
    published in 1960. Bracken threw down the oven mitt to a
    generation of women who had been taught that their destiny was
    to be Suzy Homemaker.

    Geez, I'm so sick of hearing about how bad "homemakers" had/have it.
    I'll tell you what, I'll stay home and wash the dishes (what?..10 mins
    max?) and change the baby (50 secs) while you hump freeze blocks up to
    the second story framing job in 110 heat.

    Oh man... nb I hope you're wearing your flame proof pajamas tonight 😉 You
    gonna git your butt scorched over that one =:o)

    Michael

    --
    Children today are tyrants. They contradict their parents, gobble their
    food, and tyrannize their teachers.
    - Socrates

    to email: dog3 at charter dot net

  15. Oh pshaw, on Wed 24 Oct 2007 09:20:08p, Michael "Dog3" meant to say...

    Quoted message said:

    Melba's Jammin' <[email hidden]> dropped this
    news:[email hidden]: in
    rec.food.cooking

    Quoted message said:

    In article <[email hidden]>,

    Pennyaline said:

    Author of "The I Hate to Cook Book."

    http://tinyurl.com/2rw5sj

    I loved her columns in Family Circle (or maybe it was Woman's Day) when
    I was a young wife. I loved reading "The I Hate to Cook Book" ‹ I have
    two copies.

    I cry for sad.

    I've never read her books but now I'll have to get them. I love a


    cookbook

    Quoted message said:

    that tells stories as it goes along.

    Michael

    I think I was still in highschool when her first book came out. It was fun
    reading, and really simple recipes for a kid to make.

    --
    Wayne Boatwright
    __________________________________________________

    The meek are getting ready.

  16. notbob said:
    sandi said:
    Quoted message said:

    Bracken was best known for "The I Hate to Cook Book,"
    published in 1960. Bracken threw down the oven mitt to a
    generation of women who had been taught that their destiny was
    to be Suzy Homemaker.

    Geez, I'm so sick of hearing about how bad "homemakers" had/have it.
    I'll tell you what, I'll stay home and wash the dishes (what?..10 mins
    max?) and change the baby (50 secs) while you hump freeze blocks up to
    the second story framing job in 110 heat.

    nb

    Running the "house" side of a household, when you are doing it for
    anyone besides your own self, is not any kind of easy task. Particularly
    if there are small children.

    --

    Sarah Gray

  17. Sarah Gray said:
    notbob said:
    sandi said:

    > Bracken was best known for "The I Hate to Cook Book,"
    > published in 1960. Bracken threw down the oven mitt to a
    > generation of women who had been taught that their destiny was
    > to be Suzy Homemaker.

    Geez, I'm so sick of hearing about how bad "homemakers" had/have it.
    I'll tell you what, I'll stay home and wash the dishes (what?..10
    mins max?) and change the baby (50 secs) while you hump freeze
    blocks up to the second story framing job in 110 heat.

    nb

    Running the "house" side of a household, when you are doing it for
    anyone besides your own self, is not any kind of easy task.
    Particularly if there are small children.

    I don't have children but I honestly don't know how my mom managed it when
    we were little. Dad, being in the Marine Corps, was away a *lot*. He
    wasn't in the country when I was born. Mom was at home alone, pregnant and
    caring for my two brothers who are four and seven years older than me. At
    that age, as you might imagine, they weren't much help to a very pregnant
    mother. Fortunately she had wonderful friends living next door who pitched
    in.

    When I was 7 Dad went off and served two tours in VietNam. Once again she
    was left to deal with everything on her own. Granted, we were all a bit
    older by then but I'm still not sure how much help we were. I couldn't
    reach the washing machine but I did fold dried clothes and towels. (I've no
    clear memory of what my older brothers were doing; I'm sure they had chores,
    too. There's a vague memory of one of them washing dishes in the sink and
    handing them to me to dry off.)

    There's more to keeping a household than doing a few dishes and changing
    some diapers. The laundry doesn't do itself. The cooking doesn't do
    itself. The dusting, vacuuming, cleaning the bathrooms and the kitchen
    doesn't do itself.

    I appreciate nb's hard job in unpleasant weather conditions. I'm not
    knocking that in any way. But "housewives" of the day weren't sitting
    around all day eating bonbons while watching soap operas. I would imagine
    now it's even more difficult since there are more households with both
    parents working (and single moms/dads who work). All that household stuff
    *still* has to get done.

    And let's face it, a lot of people simply don't like to cook. There
    wouldn't be a such a huge frozen and boxed "instant" foods industry if
    everyone loved to cook. My mom very quickly embraced frozen "entrees" in
    gravy, Minute Rice and instant mashed potato flakes!

    Jill

  18. sandi said:

    Pennyaline <[email hidden]> wrote in
    news:[email hidden]:

    Quoted message said:

    Author of "The I Hate to Cook Book."

    I loved her stuff, especially that series of books. My library still
    carries it. As it happened, a few days before she died, I blogged
    about making her banana bread and a cake I made later with the same
    batter (minus bananas, added berries).

    http://serenejournal.livejournal.com/854961.html

    Serene
    --
    Spin the auto-sig generator, and she says:

    "When a man wants to murder a tiger he calls it sport: when a
    tiger wants to murder him, he calls it ferocity." -- George
    Bernard Shaw

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