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In the 1950s, "returning GIs wanted the picket-fenced home, a new car in the garage, and a patio with a barbecue. Yes, man was master of the flame, singeing his eyebrows while smoking out the neighbors." With that visual, author Linda Everett kicks off The Retro Barbecue, a colorful, kitschy, if slightly bizarre collection of barbecue recipes presented through the prism of 1950s America. During that decade "the popularity of the backyard barbecue quickly spread," says Everett, and her book is decorated with a deluge of grilling-related pictures and ads of the era, including ones for Ronson Fire-Starter Fuel ("Starts Barbecues Instantly! No Work! No Wait!") and the Master Barbecue Grill ("Eating Thrills for Family and Friends"). Baked in with all the nostalgia, though, is a bountiful array of intriguing, tasty American recipes, spanning meats, salads, sauces, drinks, desserts, and more. Highlights include Boston Harbor Baked Beans, Prairie Dogs (sliced hot dogs filled with American cheese), and Rosarita Beach Burgers, which are topped off with dollops of refried beans and avocado ("messy, but oh so yummy!"). Ultimately, this is a fun, goofy cookbook with plenty of retro charm. --Andy Boynton

Book Description
The grilled meats, casseroles, and molded gelatin salads of the 1950s defined the comfort foods Americans love. Returning from the war, men wanted a picket-fenced home, a new car in the garage, and a patio with a barbecue. Yes, man was master of the flame, singeing his eyebrows while smoking out the neighbors.

Featuring a colorful collection of nostalgic advertising, collectibles, and graphics, THE RETRO BARBECUE represents America in the golden age of the postwar party. Grill aficionados will appreciate the wide range of regional recipes and flavors, and greenhorns will be lead through all the steps to coronation as king of the coals. Recipes such as Bart’s Backyard Ribs, Rosarita Beach Burgers, Cackle-N-Shout Chicken, and Pink Slipper Pickled Peaches are sure to delight friends and family. To fill out the feast, we’ve included recipes for chili, salsa, side dishes, and desserts. So toss on your apron, grab your spatula, and fire up the grill: It’s retro barbecue time!

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