Check out my new recipe page at: http://www.thedelidivacooks.wordpress.com. You’ll find a quick and easy recipe for homemade ricotta cheese! You’ll never buy it at the store again!
Like any other chef, I have cookbooks, but unlike most other chefs, I’m also a cookbook collector. At last count I was nearing 400 cookbooks. My favorites are the older books. It’s so interesting to look back and see the foods that were popular through the different decades and to see how many of them, in updated versions, are still being served today.
My oldest books date back to the 1860′s. My favorite one is completely hand written and each recipe is dated and includes the recipe creator’s name. Some of these oldies but goodies are very easy to make. Try them out and let us know about it. Mangia!
This recipe is from a 1940 cookbook that I just had to have when I saw the title: The Working Girl Must Eat!” I’m sure the publisher didn’t think about the double meaning of “working girl”….or maybe he did and the title assured him a best seller! 
Apple Crisp
4 cups sliced apples
1/4 cup hot water
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup flour
1/2 cup sugar
Arrange apples in buttered baking dish. Pour water over apples. Cream the butter, add flour and sugar and blend to form crumbs. Sprinkle over apples. Bake in hot oven (400F) 40 to 45 minutes, or until apples are tender and top is browned. Serves 4. (Diva tip: Try adding 1 teaspoon lemon juice and 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon…yummy!)
