Dine like it's 1979: Vintage Stamps cookbook serves up Grey Cup snack ideas

Originally published November 22.

Frozen meatballs, ketchup, grape jelly and a splash of lemon juice.

Back in 1979, those were the only ingredients you needed to whip up a tangy Grey Cup snack. Toss everything in a chafing dish (fondue pot), heat through and let your guests servethemselves with toothpicks.

It's just one of many recipes you can find inside Stir With The Stamps, a handwrittencookbook published 37 years ago by the Stampeder Football Wives Association.

"They're all recipes that are contributed by the wives," saidCalgary Eyeopenerfood columnistJulie Van Rosendaal,who also describes herself as a cookbook hoarder.

One such example is a recipe forshrimp gazpacho fromPeni Hufnagel the wife of Stamps president and CEO John Hufnagel, who was the team's quarterback when the cookbook came out.

Beer fondue? 1979 Stamps cookbook serves up classic Grey Cup snacks

8 years ago

Duration 0:29

Julie Van Rosendaal dug up the Stir With The Stamps handwritten cookbook published 37 years ago by the Stampeder Football Wives Association to raise money for charity. And it's just in time for Grey Cup.

The forward to the cookbook reads that it would raise money for the Canadian Paraplegic Association "in hopes of building a structure at McMahon Stadium to seat the disabled."

And that did happen. Stamps spokesperson Jean Lefebvresaid proceeds from the cookbook went towards creating the 140-seatsection reservedfor wheelchairs in the north end of the stadium,under the canopy above the Olympic Volunteer Centre.

Remember olio?

If you want to flip through the food relic with your own eyes, it's available for viewing at the Calgary Central Library.

Inside, you'll find loads of recipes for casseroles and dips. Other highlights include beer fondue, wine and watermelon punchand refrigerator bran muffins.

"The big bucket of bran muffin mix that you would keep in the refrigerator for six weeks and then scoop out and bake every morning," Van Rosendaal said.

Many of the recipes call for classic '70s ingredients such as processed cheese and canned vegetables.

"There's a lot of olio in this book. Do you remember olio? It was a fat replacement. It had some gastrointestinal effects and I believe they pulled it from store shelves. But it was really the thingat the time used incakes and baking," Van Rosendaal said.

Jocko's Favourite Angel Pie

Jack (Jocko) Gotta was the head coach of the Calgary Stampeders when his wife, Joany, contributed this recipe. He also played with the Stampeders from 1956-1959.

With files from the Calgary Eyeopener

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• FOOD AND THE CITYRiver Caf's Matthias Fong brings a world of techniques to the Canadian table