Laura's Recipes

Laura Lindsay - 1964

Laura Lindsay (1914–88) was a popular Edmonton television personality. Her homemaker’s show aired live five days a week on the Sunwapta Broadcasting Corporation’s CFRN (now CTV). Her real name was in fact Laura Banks, and her son Tommy Banks would eventually become an acclaimed pianist, television host, and senator (Aubrey 198). In addition to recipes ranging from traditional “Roast Beef and Yorkshire Pudding” to trendy “Gumdrop Cake” and “Pink Pickled Eggs” (coloured with beet juice), the cookbook also contains a ten-day diet regimen to make the reader “Feel ‘In the Pink.’” Its reduced portions emphasize proteins, fruits, and vegetables. The final page of the book also has instructions for a two-day “Blitz Diet” for quick slimming. Lindsay’s cookbook was sold unbound, designed to fit into a standard 8½ by 5½-inch binder (to which users’ own recipes might be added). The owner of this copy used a red “Trip Diary” binder. The book sold around 30,000 copies.