April 6, 2011

This 1940s Lemon Chiffon Pie recipe is the perfect springtime dessert

Day 96 of Vintage 365


 

Let me begin today's post by thanking those lovely folks of who shared their comments with me last week when I announced that I was going to revamp the Wonderful Wednesday Recipe post (a longstanding repeat post here on Chronically Vintage) and merge (for the remaining duration of 2011) with the Vintage 365 series. I sincerely appreciate your feedback!

Suggestions such as recipes for frugal comfort foods (thank you for that one, Rocky Mountain Homemaker!) and doing themed months - such as a month of recipes from the 1930s (care of a commenter using the very food post appropriate name of Blackberry), are both ideas that I will keep firmly planted in mind as I search for entertaining vintage recipes to share with you all.

With spring now underway (said the Canadian gal, quickly darting her gaze out the window to make it hadn't suddenly started snowing again, like it did last Thursday!), one's mind tends to turn to lighter fare that incorporates the jubilant colours and sublime flavours of the year's second season into its composition.

Few tastes call to mind the return of spring more than the tart, invigorating, immensely lovely flavour of lemon, and when paired that workhorse darling of the vintage dessert world, chiffon pie, you've got a real winner of a dish on your hands.


{Click here for a larger version of this yummy vintage lemon chiffon pie recipe.}

 

While I highly doubt many companies would likely be so bold as to promote the "healthy properties" (such as being high in Vitamin C and easy to digest) of a dessert like like Knox did back in the 1940s (when this recipe appeared in one of their gelatine ads) today, there's something extra wonderful about the fact that not all yesteryear recipes were as obsessed with being diet-fare worthy as many you see in print are nowadays are.

I rather like the idea that at one point a group of Knox marketing folks were sitting around putting together the next line up of advertisement recipes and trying to come up with seemingly healthy point for what is, there's no denying, clearly a sweet treat. Though in this marvelous sounding Lemon Chiffon Pie's defence, it's not nearly as sugary or caloric as some desserts - both past and present.

Calling to mind the colour of baby chicks, gardens of tulips or soft yellow crocuses, and the soothing return of sunshine, this delightful vintage lemon chiffon pie recipe (which comes via vintage.kitten's great Flickr stream) requires a minimal amount or ingredients, can be whipped up in a jiffy, and has the added appeal of being the kind of delicious classic that works every bit as well today as it did sixty five years ago.

Bon appétit!

6 comments:

  1. LOL. I never even saw that you posted this. I guess I'm a little slow. :) If anyone makes this, I'd love to know how it turns out. I like looking at recipes, but am too lazy to actually make them. :P

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  2. My grandmother use to make this all the time. I also make it pretty regularly. I am making it as I write to take to a barbecue. I think it's my favorite pie even more so than banana cream and coconut cream which I love. I don't know if you'll share my opinion. This has memories as well as a great taste. Love you, miss you Gram.

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    1. Hi Mary, thank you very much for your sharing the beautiful memory of your grandma's lemon chiffon pie with me/us here. I really appreciate it and am touched to know that this vintage recipe post stirred up some lovely nostalgia for you.

      Many thanks again & have a beautiful weekend,
      ♥ Jessica

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  3. I'm making this tonight! I've never made any kind of chiffon before but it looks pretty straightforward. Moreso than the Italian meringue buttercream I (sort of) made last night. I will let you know how it comes out. Thanks for posting!

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  4. I made this pie last year and it turned out absolutely divine! Will be making it again for Memorial Day. Thanks so much for putting these vintage recipes out here for all to enjoy!

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