Many American households may turn to their copy of Joy of Cooking this Thanksgiving for inspiration. Their version may have been their grandmother’s or even-great-grandmother’s!
In 1931, at the age of 52, St. Louis socialite Irma Rombauer self-published that first edition to help make ends meet at the height of the Depression Era. Nine editions later, it is one of the most published cookbooks in America, selling more than 20 million copies. Rombauer’s daughter, grandson and now great-grandson and his wife have kept the “culinary bible” relevant over the past 64 years. Rombauer’s contribution garnered a star on the St. Louis Walk of Fame.