“To Bonnie, Best Wishes, Mercedes Bates”
This signed 1963 first edition of McCall’s Cookbook is a true collector’s gem—penned during the golden age of home economics, and signed by none other than Mercedes Bates herself.
Known affectionately as “America’s Mother of the Year,” Bates was more than just McCall’s food editor—she was a culinary force. As the first female officer at General Mills, she helped shape not only the way American families cooked, but how they felt about cooking. Her recipes were designed to be foolproof, comforting, and crowd-pleasing—speaking to the busy home cook with warmth and authority.
 
Under her leadership, McCall’s Cookbook became a best-seller and a must-have in every mid-century kitchen. Generations learned to make classics like pineapple upside-down cake, beef stroganoff, baked Alaska, deviled eggs, and meatloaf that didn’t disappoint. It wasn’t just a cookbook—it was a kitchen bible.
 
Styled here with a carefully curated mix of vintage treasures also available in the shop: a carved wooden rolling pin, Polish pottery butter dish, ceramic poppy salt & peppers, copper rooster wall plaque, and more. Every piece was chosen with love—for cooks, collectors, and storytellers alike.