Convenience, nostalgia, good eating. That's why consumers continue to rely on simple recipes on the back of boxes, packages or cans.
Some are classics and have met the test of time, such as Nestle Toll House Cookies and Hershey's Deep Dark Chocolate Cake. Others are newer favorites, such as Philadelphia New York Cheesecake or Baker's One Bowl Brownies.
"People look to packages for recipes," says Tracy Sherva, group manager at Kraft Kitchens, "because they come from trusted sources and have been tested and retested by food professionals. They are written in a clean and simple way and help consumers be successful."
The Toll House Cookie recipe has been on the Nestle semisweet morsel package since 1939, while the Libby's Famous Pumpkin Pie recipe has been on pumpkin cans for 50 years, says Roz O'Hearn, a Nestle spokeswoman.
"We have never taken classic recipes off [packages]. They have stood the test of time and reside in our collective memories," O'Hearn said.
The recently released "Back of the Box Cooking: 500 Delicious, Easy-to-Prepare Recipes From America's Best-Loved Brands," edited by Barbara Greenman (Black Dog & Leventhal Publishers; $19.95), offers an updated collection.
The book title is misleading, says Greenman, because very few of the recipes in the book are from packages or cans. However, the recipes are taken from food company websites and test kitchens. They range from appetizers to desserts, and feature more than 50 supermarket food brands (from 40 food companies, including 11 organic ones).
Although many books on the topic have been compiled over the years, the author was prompted by the Internet and America's growing interest in organic food.
Designed for everyday cooks, most of the recipes are easy, include prep and cook times, and are accessible, using in many instances what's on hand in a well-stocked pantry. There's even a chapter on kid-appealing ideas, along with a few beloved, timeless classics.
NATALIE HAUGHTON,
Los Angeles Daily News
