Happy Labor Day! Southern California is having a heat wave! Here is a non-bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Bar I hope you enjoy. Stay cool!
Tomorrow (Labor Day September 5th, I will be on FOX% San Diego on the 9am hour. I will post the recipes after the show.
WTF Day! National S’More Day on FOX5 San Diego! Using See’s Candies!
Today I changed channels from CBS8 to FOX5. The kitchen and studio was different in the least. I used to be on the CW in San Diego for years until the station was sold. I had a rolling kitchen, and also one outside for grilling and warm weather. At CBS8, I made my own kitchen with tables and hot plates. Today, the kitchen is in the middle of the newsroom (See pictures below) and it also is the kitchen all of the staff and crew use. Great meeting everyone and so many talked about the aromas coming from the kitchen! Here are all of the recipes for you to they. All have three ingredients! And I used See’s Candies in a few of them.
WIth Kristina in the Kitchen
The kitchen is in the middle of the busy Newsroom at FOX5.
Happy Easter Weekend! I am going out of line for this one recipe (I am trying to do all of the cookies first). Date Nut Bread. Check out the VDK 1941 Easter Ad and story.
1941: Date Nut Loaf 59 cents!
1941 Easter Ad in the California Eagle Newspaper
1941 Easter story of Van De Kamps
The use of real Almond Paste instead of just a flavor really shows the quality of the ingredients that Van De Kamp used in their formulas. Here is the original recipe made from the formulas.
WOW! With every cookie recipe I create from the original formula from VDK I get a few minutes back of my childhood. I just wish I had a few of the original packaging for the products.
Cookie Perfection! Here is the recipe from the original VDK formula. VDK Oatmeal Cookie Recipe
Oh the rich pecan maple flavor will get you hooked and take you back to 1956 at Van De Kamps Bakery. This recipe is from the original formula created into a recipe that you can make at home. I convert, test, and retest to make sure the cookie is as best as perfect as possible. If you would like the same results, use a scale and weigh in grams, use the ingredients and tools that I use and you will have great success. I even provide links to the “strange” tools and ingredients you may not have in your pantry. Good luck and Post a picture in the Van De Kamps Facebook Page! VDK Facebook Page Link
April 1956 Ad: 33 cents a package!
You can turn up the heat or lower it with this fast and easy soup.
I love how everyone from the south says.. “My Biscuits are the Best”! Well here is a Buttermilk Biscuit recipe for you to try out. I love them, and use your hands to mix as your hands melt the butter into the flour mixture perfectly!
Holiday time Van De Kamps would sell a package of about a dozen cookies that were of a holiday shape. Here are the Shamrocks for the upcoming March 17th Holiday. Enjoy!
These and the Lemon Snack cookies were made into bite size cookies. Perfect for lunches. You could take Van De Kamps with you! Read the directions and you will have a successful cookie! This recipe is from the original formula of VDK.
A strange recipe from the original formula of the VDK Kitchens. A bit of a process, but i you follow exactly, they work and you will have great success. If you recall the chocolate cookies and want the real deal, these are them. Use a scale and get the ingredients you need.
These cookies look big, but they are about 3 inches in diameter. Post a picture on the Van De Kamps Fan Page on Facebook!
A real tart and perfect Lemon Cookie. Van De Kamps Sold these little bitesize in boxes. I have also created a filling if you would like to “sandwich” two together between lemon cream cheese filling. A few new “industrial” ingredients you will need to make these perfect lemon cookies.
Below you will find the official recipe from the formula from VDK. These are in grams and some ingredients strange, but if you want the cookie to be as exact as the VDK cookies were, then you will follow the directions.
Please post pictures on the Van de Kamps Facebook Page of your cookies!
4th in the VDK Cookie Series. If you have not been following, a former employee of VDK has been sending me the formulas of some of the baked goods. I have been testing and converting them into a recipes for the home use. BUT.. you have to use a scale and grams. It is easier really after you get used to it
If you would like to purchase a personalized copy of Made in California Go to the first page of the website.
Here is the 3rd in the Cookie Series of the Van De Kamps Cookies. As before, read the recipe completely, use a scale and you should have success. This recipe came from the VDK Formula of Peanut Butter Cookies. Post Pictures of your success!
Recipe for the Van De Kamps Peanut Butter Cookies: Recipe
REMEMBER TO READ THE ENTIRE RECIPE FIRST!
Here is a Chocolate Drizzle Version on the recipe page.
Van De Kamps was a very special company here on the west coast. It has been a few decades since a store had a full line of VDK products. If you want to follow the VDK Facebook Page Sign up! I have been working on the recipes that have been given to me by an employee. The batches are for hundreds and thousands of pounds of dough. It is not as simple was just dividing the dough smaller. It is chemistry! I have this in weights mostly so you will need a gram scale. Also, please read the entire recipe “formula” .
Here is the Formula Van de Kamps Cherry Almond Cookies
The formula and instructions seem like a lot to read, but I want you to have success!
In a grocery store display.
Here are the cookies dipped in chocolate
Many of you that have my latest books Made in California and LA’s Legendary Restaurants , have read about Van de Kamps Bakeries and Lawry’s Prime Rib. I won’t go into the history here. I have been a member of the VDK Fan Page for a few years on Facebook. Last week the page came up and said that it was unposted now and I could be the host. I thought why not! In time, a former employee with the late quantity recipes from both plants came forward and asked if I wanted some of the recipes to try to create for home use. The group went wild. Lots of factors but would say I came close.
Van de Kamps Chocolate Chip Cookies
Here is the Recipe for VDK Chocolate Chip Cookies
It was a very long 20 months. My home station was the last one to get back to. This morning I woke to all of the anchors text messages Welcome Home! A great way to celebrate the Thanksgiving Holiday. Here are the three recipes I did.
Here is the Link to the Show: LINK
Very excited to have been the first in-studio guest since the beginning of COVID. Highlighting Made in California, my newest book. I also whipped up a quick (Faux) Orange Julius.
Click to order
My newest book is out. But First: I have had a love affair with See’s Candies my entire life. When I was little I recall my aunt being able to pick out the caramel for me. The candy was special, unlike the boxes of chocolates sold at CVS that had the “map” of each chocolate on the inside lid of the box so you knew what you were eating. But once a few chocolates were devoured, the candy code was broken! This year is the 100th anniversary of See’s. It started on Western Ave in Los Angeles. Recently, I was able to obtain the historical plaque the location deserve.
My new book Made in California is my first without any recipes. Food History of the places we all grew up eating, that started in the Golden State. Lots of fun facts, like who created the first Bacon CheeseBurger? Why did Swensen’s Ice Cream go for 600 locations to the 3 of today?
If you would like a personalized copy, you can PayPal ggeary@aol.com for $40 per book (same price as Amazon, but you don’t get those personalized). Tell me whom you would like it personalized to.
Now, back to See’s. I was just on ABC7-El Paso, TX promoting the book. I have been booking many shows that I decided to create a handful of recipes from some of the companies items they sell. Try these cookies out!
Also, Check out the story of the book in the upcoming August Issue of LA Magazine.
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Made in California Book Promotion from ABC7 - El Paso, TX (KVIA)
Chris Nichols of the LA Magazine reading my latest book here is his story: August LAMag
Today, With the Cultural Heritage Sign installed
1921: The first See’s Candy Kitchen and Shoppe. 135 N Western Ave, Los Angeles
