Who Is Peg Bracken? Comical Author, Mother, Modern Woman and World Traveler
Peg Bracken wrote nine books. The first, "The 9-Months' Wonder" (with Helen Berry Moore), published in 1958, described the journey through pregnancy with her daughter, her only child.
"The I Hate to Cook Book" (1960)
"I Try to Behave Myself" (1960), an etiquette guide
"The I Hate to Housekeep Book" (1962), a book of household hints
"Appendix to the I Hate to Cook Book" (1966)
"I Still Hate to Cook Book" (1967) UK edition
"I Didn't Come Here to Argue" (1969)
"Instant Etiquette" (1969) UK edition
"But I Wouldn't Have Missed It for the World" (1973) described as "the pleasures and perils of an unseasoned traveler"
"The I Hate to Cook Book of the Year: A Book of Days" (1977) UK edition
"The I Hate to Cook Almanack" (1980)
"A Window Over the Sink" (1986) "a mainly affectionate memoir"
"The Compleat I Hate to Cook Book" (1988)
"On Getting Old for the First Time" (1997) All are wise, wonderfully helpful and laugh-out-loud hilarious.
Peg married after her graduation from Antioch College and she and her husband moved to Portland where Peg was an advertising executive and she worked with Homer Groening, the father of "The Simpsons" creator Matt Groening.
Bracken and Homer Groening co-wrote a syndicated cartoon called "Phoebe, Get Your Man."
Peg decided that the "perfect housewife with three fabulous meals on the table", title didn't fit her and she wrote the "I Hate To Cook Book". "It qualifies as one of the most delightful and influential pieces of food writing of the past 50 years. Bracken's often hilarious commentary about the rules of entertaining, the language of food and the gender roles imposed on women stays fresh. Relevant, even," said The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Published on: 09/27/07. The book is full of easy, tasty recipes and household hints. It's also hilarious.
She found more recipes and wrote two more cook books full of humorous sayings and delicious, practical recipes. Her practical ideas and recipes will save the day when you have to entertain. Less is more, is her motto.
Realizing that people also need a recipe for successful living, she wrote, "I Didn't Come Here To Argue". She wanted to list 108 sins, but could only come up with 107 and most of those are not mortal. Her maternal grandfather was a Presbyterian minister who taught her about sin but she had a more gentle attitude toward it.
She found that housekeeping was more than cooking and she wrote "The I Hate To house-keep Book". Lots of good tips every woman needs. How about how to thaw frozen hamburger in a hurry if you don't have a microwave oven?
She and her husband traveled all over the world and she described those adventures in "But I Wouldn't Have Missed It For The World". This book has only 11 recipes. Peg's tolerant kindness towards her fellow travelers on this space-ship earth shines through.
"A Window Over The Sink" was an endearing memoir of her growing up and early adulthood. She describes her love-hate relationship with her brother, Jack. They ended up as friends in their later years. This book has only 8 recipes, but it is a warm, true account of life in the innocent years before the second world war.
According to Peg, Katherine Hepburn once said, "The Older You Get, The More of Yourself You Should Keep Covered." Her last book, "On Getting Old For The First Time", written in 1997, tells how old age creeps up on you when you aren't looking. You think you are still young until reality set in.
All Peg Bracken's books stress gentle humor and gracious living without hard work.
"The I Hate to Cook Book" (1960)
"I Try to Behave Myself" (1960), an etiquette guide
"The I Hate to Housekeep Book" (1962), a book of household hints
"Appendix to the I Hate to Cook Book" (1966)
"I Still Hate to Cook Book" (1967) UK edition
"I Didn't Come Here to Argue" (1969)
"Instant Etiquette" (1969) UK edition
"But I Wouldn't Have Missed It for the World" (1973) described as "the pleasures and perils of an unseasoned traveler"
"The I Hate to Cook Book of the Year: A Book of Days" (1977) UK edition
"The I Hate to Cook Almanack" (1980)
"A Window Over the Sink" (1986) "a mainly affectionate memoir"
"The Compleat I Hate to Cook Book" (1988)
"On Getting Old for the First Time" (1997) All are wise, wonderfully helpful and laugh-out-loud hilarious.
Peg married after her graduation from Antioch College and she and her husband moved to Portland where Peg was an advertising executive and she worked with Homer Groening, the father of "The Simpsons" creator Matt Groening.
Bracken and Homer Groening co-wrote a syndicated cartoon called "Phoebe, Get Your Man."
Peg decided that the "perfect housewife with three fabulous meals on the table", title didn't fit her and she wrote the "I Hate To Cook Book". "It qualifies as one of the most delightful and influential pieces of food writing of the past 50 years. Bracken's often hilarious commentary about the rules of entertaining, the language of food and the gender roles imposed on women stays fresh. Relevant, even," said The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Published on: 09/27/07. The book is full of easy, tasty recipes and household hints. It's also hilarious.
She found more recipes and wrote two more cook books full of humorous sayings and delicious, practical recipes. Her practical ideas and recipes will save the day when you have to entertain. Less is more, is her motto.
Realizing that people also need a recipe for successful living, she wrote, "I Didn't Come Here To Argue". She wanted to list 108 sins, but could only come up with 107 and most of those are not mortal. Her maternal grandfather was a Presbyterian minister who taught her about sin but she had a more gentle attitude toward it.
She found that housekeeping was more than cooking and she wrote "The I Hate To house-keep Book". Lots of good tips every woman needs. How about how to thaw frozen hamburger in a hurry if you don't have a microwave oven?
She and her husband traveled all over the world and she described those adventures in "But I Wouldn't Have Missed It For The World". This book has only 11 recipes. Peg's tolerant kindness towards her fellow travelers on this space-ship earth shines through.
"A Window Over The Sink" was an endearing memoir of her growing up and early adulthood. She describes her love-hate relationship with her brother, Jack. They ended up as friends in their later years. This book has only 8 recipes, but it is a warm, true account of life in the innocent years before the second world war.
According to Peg, Katherine Hepburn once said, "The Older You Get, The More of Yourself You Should Keep Covered." Her last book, "On Getting Old For The First Time", written in 1997, tells how old age creeps up on you when you aren't looking. You think you are still young until reality set in.
All Peg Bracken's books stress gentle humor and gracious living without hard work.
You'll love Peg Bracken and her books
Peg Rescued Women From The Impossible
Ruth Eleanor "Peg" Bracken heard the cries of distress from women overburdened from working outside the home, trying to be gourmet cooks and "surgery room spotless" housewives, along with having chic looks, well behaved children, and good manners. She charged into the fray and with humor and grace, rescued the damsels.
Peg wrote "The I Hate To Cook Book" to help non-cooks get through the day while they held their sides laughing. It has 180 easy but delicious recipes and 75 household hints. She uses gentle humor to spoof the glossy perfect-little-housewife magazine pages.
She realized that a lot of very good recipes were left out of the "I Hate To Cook Book" and ended up with "The Appendix To The I Hate To Cook Book" with 140 recipes.
Then, she found a whole bunch more recipes and thinking how one has to cook three or more meals a day, decided to write the "I Hate To Cook Almanac, a Book Of Days", the funniest page-turner yet. Open this book to any page and a delightful recipe, joke or saying appears, such as "Woman's place is in the home, and that's where she should go just as soon as she gets done at the office." (Anonymous)Ha Ha.
Ten to sixteen recipes for each month of the year: really helps keep the seasons and the recipes straight, so you eat cool things in the summer and hearty, warm dishes in the winter.
She wrote five more warm and witty books: "The I Hate To Housekeep Book," "A Window Over The Sink," "I Didn't Come Here To Argue," "But I Wouldn't Have Missed It For The World," and in 1996, "On Getting Old For The First Time".
Peg enjoyed holidays and gives us some good recipes for celebrating them.
The tips she leaves us are especially good for these days, good solid common sense solutions.
Her second husband told her the first book she wrote "stunk" and we know what happened to him. Her last husband was a soul-mate and they enjoyed life and they traveled all over the world.
Peg Bracken passed away October 20, 2007 at the age of 89. 'There were no services.' That's the saddest line I ever read. She often mentioned the Almighty in her books and I believe she is now lounging in heaven drinking martinis and exchanging jokes with the other great comedians.
Peg wrote "The I Hate To Cook Book" to help non-cooks get through the day while they held their sides laughing. It has 180 easy but delicious recipes and 75 household hints. She uses gentle humor to spoof the glossy perfect-little-housewife magazine pages.
She realized that a lot of very good recipes were left out of the "I Hate To Cook Book" and ended up with "The Appendix To The I Hate To Cook Book" with 140 recipes.
Then, she found a whole bunch more recipes and thinking how one has to cook three or more meals a day, decided to write the "I Hate To Cook Almanac, a Book Of Days", the funniest page-turner yet. Open this book to any page and a delightful recipe, joke or saying appears, such as "Woman's place is in the home, and that's where she should go just as soon as she gets done at the office." (Anonymous)Ha Ha.
Ten to sixteen recipes for each month of the year: really helps keep the seasons and the recipes straight, so you eat cool things in the summer and hearty, warm dishes in the winter.
She wrote five more warm and witty books: "The I Hate To Housekeep Book," "A Window Over The Sink," "I Didn't Come Here To Argue," "But I Wouldn't Have Missed It For The World," and in 1996, "On Getting Old For The First Time".
Peg enjoyed holidays and gives us some good recipes for celebrating them.
The tips she leaves us are especially good for these days, good solid common sense solutions.
Her second husband told her the first book she wrote "stunk" and we know what happened to him. Her last husband was a soul-mate and they enjoyed life and they traveled all over the world.
Peg Bracken passed away October 20, 2007 at the age of 89. 'There were no services.' That's the saddest line I ever read. She often mentioned the Almighty in her books and I believe she is now lounging in heaven drinking martinis and exchanging jokes with the other great comedians.
More Info On Peg Bracken's Books
They all are funny, but they also contain much wisdom and warm compassion
Favorite recipes from "The I Hate To Cook" book: Stay-a-Bed Stew using cubed beef, peas, carrots, onions, cream of tomato soup (or any creamed soup). Put ingredients in a covered casserole at 275 degrees and go back to bed to read juicy novels and eat bon-bons all day. We had a lot of deer, elk and antelope to eat up and this recipe was perfect for busy days.
A tasty artichoke and chicken casserole recipe was about as fancy as Peg wanted and it was delicious. She included two recipes for dolled-up carrots good enough for company.
The book contains a recipe for fabulous fake Hollandaise, using no eggs, certainly a necessity for any woman at any time.
Peg also splashed a bit of sherry into many recipes, my kind of woman.
Cockeyed cake, also called crazy cake, wacky cake and no doubt more names is dark, rich, moist, chocolaty and fabulous. Put chocolate mints on it when you take it out of the oven, pop it back in for a few minutes, then spread.
I made it for a birthday cake once in the midst of a hockey tournament and the celebration for St. Patrick's Day. You put your dry ingredients in a bowl, make three holes and pour in the liquids and mix.
Took about 4 minutes and it is especially good for these unsettling days. In fact most of Peg's recipes use ingredients you have on hand and are not too expensive to buy in the first place.
She also has recipes for edible leftovers likewise good for these days. She uses lots of dried onion soup, bouillon, cream soups, sour cream and lemon juice.
There's a recipe for lasagna casserole that is easy, uses inexpensive ingredients and tastes scrumptious.
In the "Appendix To The I Hate To Cook Book" there is another recipe for Hollandaise sauce that's easy, but Peg's eggs hadn't been acquainted with Salmonella, and maybe they are not fully cooked. Sure sounds easy and good, though.
I loved the Pot-De-Chocolate recipe using egg yolks, scalded cream, chocolate chips and brandy or rum, and the beating, scalding and alcohol should do those Salmonella in. I made this a lot before raw eggs became verboten, but I think I'll try it again. Or you could use dried egg whites.
All her other recipes seem perfectly safe as she always says "browned hamburger."
The Almanac has lots of quotes and tidbits scattered among the recipes. It really is fun to read. Pick it up at any page and it will keep you engrossed until it's too late to thaw out that hamburger for dinner. This gem has a lot more dessert recipes than the other books.
A tasty artichoke and chicken casserole recipe was about as fancy as Peg wanted and it was delicious. She included two recipes for dolled-up carrots good enough for company.
The book contains a recipe for fabulous fake Hollandaise, using no eggs, certainly a necessity for any woman at any time.
Peg also splashed a bit of sherry into many recipes, my kind of woman.
Cockeyed cake, also called crazy cake, wacky cake and no doubt more names is dark, rich, moist, chocolaty and fabulous. Put chocolate mints on it when you take it out of the oven, pop it back in for a few minutes, then spread.
I made it for a birthday cake once in the midst of a hockey tournament and the celebration for St. Patrick's Day. You put your dry ingredients in a bowl, make three holes and pour in the liquids and mix.
Took about 4 minutes and it is especially good for these unsettling days. In fact most of Peg's recipes use ingredients you have on hand and are not too expensive to buy in the first place.
She also has recipes for edible leftovers likewise good for these days. She uses lots of dried onion soup, bouillon, cream soups, sour cream and lemon juice.
There's a recipe for lasagna casserole that is easy, uses inexpensive ingredients and tastes scrumptious.
In the "Appendix To The I Hate To Cook Book" there is another recipe for Hollandaise sauce that's easy, but Peg's eggs hadn't been acquainted with Salmonella, and maybe they are not fully cooked. Sure sounds easy and good, though.
I loved the Pot-De-Chocolate recipe using egg yolks, scalded cream, chocolate chips and brandy or rum, and the beating, scalding and alcohol should do those Salmonella in. I made this a lot before raw eggs became verboten, but I think I'll try it again. Or you could use dried egg whites.
All her other recipes seem perfectly safe as she always says "browned hamburger."
The Almanac has lots of quotes and tidbits scattered among the recipes. It really is fun to read. Pick it up at any page and it will keep you engrossed until it's too late to thaw out that hamburger for dinner. This gem has a lot more dessert recipes than the other books.
Quick, what do you think of Peg Bracken?
Was she a humorist, good cook or bad cook?
I think she was first a humorist and I feel she was a very good cook. She used humble ingredients and made scrumptious dishes.
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Peg Bracken enjoyed the simple life with good food, good wine and good friends, and she collected sunrises and sunsets.
Vote for your favorite books, quotes, recipes and wines.
Pick quotes from her "I Hate To Cook Almanac."
Recipes from her cook books and cleaning tips from her "I Hate To Housekeep".
A Perfect Glass of Wine: Choosing, Serving, and Enjoying by Brian St. Pierre
Many people see the enjoyment of wine as an intimi more...1 point
How to Taste: A Guide to Enjoying Wine by Jancis Robinson
Hailed by Paul Levy in The Wall Street Journal as more...0 points
Coffee: A Guide to Buying, Brewing, and Enjoying, Fifth Edition by Kenneth Davids
Now in its latest revised edition, Kenneth Davids' more...0 points
Discover Chocolate: The Ultimate Guide to Buying, Tasting, and Enjoying Fine Chocolate by Clay Gordon
There's a difference between a chocoholic and a ch more...0 points
Secrets from the Wine Diva: Tips on Buying, Ordering & Enjoying Wine by Christine Ansbacher
Christine Ansbacher-the "Wine Diva"-has more...0 points
Best books written by Peg Bracken
It's hard to pick the best ones.
After her cookbooks became successful, Peg Bracken wrote, "The I Hate To Housekeep Book", full of tips for almost effortless housekeeping and a few excellent recipes and the one good tip: drink a slug of salad oil before a night of drinking and you'll feel better in the morning.
Then came, "I Try To Behave Myself", Peg Bracken's etiquette book, and later, she wrote, "I Didn't Come Here To Argue." These books are just good common sense showing how to be kind and practical rather than perfect.
In 1973 she wrote, "But I Wouldn't Have Missed It For The World". She and her husband, Parker Edwards visited France, Japan, Mexico, Portugal, Ireland, England. China, Scotland, Greece, Monaco, Italy and many cities in the United States.
The book doesn't describe the countries as much as the people in them. Most of the book discusses tipping, travel tips and good manners pertaining to the respective countries.
"A Window Over The Sink", another very funny book, was mostly a sentimental journey through Peg Bracken's life. The window was in their kitchen in Hawaii, but when she looked out, she could see all the way back to her childhood home in McKinleyville, Missouri.
She wrote that pumpkins were a unique part of Halloween but the only recipe she includes is for pumpkin soup, using onion, curry powder, butter, canned pumpkin, salt , heavy cream and chicken broth. And you should use that hollowed out pumpkin left over from Halloween.
She writes about the Halloween night that her brother saved her from a drunken, irate housewife and left the huge bag of goodies on her porch. Peg and her brother, Jack got along much better after that night.
She mused that any housekeeping chore would expand to take up all day if you let it. And, she includes a few of her very favorite recipes.
Peg's "The Mither" and "The Feyther", her paternal Irish grandparents had a large hand in her up-bringing. The Mither scrubbing every bit of dirt out of the house and even the air outside and The Feyther kindly coaching the kids through childhood.
Her father was the superintendent of schools in the small town in Missouri where she and her older brother grew up in the innocent pre-World War II days.
Peg Bracken's last book was, "On Getting Old For The First Time," a joyful romp into her senior years.
In this book, she doesn't complain but just explains matter-of-factly how one ages and the troubles she had with computers. This book mentions her daughter and granddaughter and her husband. He is John Ohman, former Deputy Chief for Research of the U.S. Forest Service. They spent their final happy years in Portland, Oregon.
Then came, "I Try To Behave Myself", Peg Bracken's etiquette book, and later, she wrote, "I Didn't Come Here To Argue." These books are just good common sense showing how to be kind and practical rather than perfect.
In 1973 she wrote, "But I Wouldn't Have Missed It For The World". She and her husband, Parker Edwards visited France, Japan, Mexico, Portugal, Ireland, England. China, Scotland, Greece, Monaco, Italy and many cities in the United States.
The book doesn't describe the countries as much as the people in them. Most of the book discusses tipping, travel tips and good manners pertaining to the respective countries.
"A Window Over The Sink", another very funny book, was mostly a sentimental journey through Peg Bracken's life. The window was in their kitchen in Hawaii, but when she looked out, she could see all the way back to her childhood home in McKinleyville, Missouri.
She wrote that pumpkins were a unique part of Halloween but the only recipe she includes is for pumpkin soup, using onion, curry powder, butter, canned pumpkin, salt , heavy cream and chicken broth. And you should use that hollowed out pumpkin left over from Halloween.
She writes about the Halloween night that her brother saved her from a drunken, irate housewife and left the huge bag of goodies on her porch. Peg and her brother, Jack got along much better after that night.
She mused that any housekeeping chore would expand to take up all day if you let it. And, she includes a few of her very favorite recipes.
Peg's "The Mither" and "The Feyther", her paternal Irish grandparents had a large hand in her up-bringing. The Mither scrubbing every bit of dirt out of the house and even the air outside and The Feyther kindly coaching the kids through childhood.
Her father was the superintendent of schools in the small town in Missouri where she and her older brother grew up in the innocent pre-World War II days.
Peg Bracken's last book was, "On Getting Old For The First Time," a joyful romp into her senior years.
In this book, she doesn't complain but just explains matter-of-factly how one ages and the troubles she had with computers. This book mentions her daughter and granddaughter and her husband. He is John Ohman, former Deputy Chief for Research of the U.S. Forest Service. They spent their final happy years in Portland, Oregon.
Ruth Eleanor (Peg) Bracken, Complete Woman
Peg hated the thought of having to do it all, but she ended UP doing it all.
Ruth Eleanor Bracken was born in Filer, Idaho, in 1918 and grew up in Missouri. She graduated from Antioch College and after moving to Portland, Oregon with her husband, she worked as a copywriter and wrote her first book,"The Nine Month's Wonder" in 1958. This book contained all the wonder and humor of having your first baby.
After the cookbooks became successful, she tackled housekeeping in "The I Hate To Housekeep" book. I always thought she really liked to cook but really hated to clean house and all the little fussy things in it.
This book has some good-for-company recipes and she repeats her advice that dessert need only be Irish coffee and petits fours or assorted candies and nuts. Or how about Port wine with a bowl of walnuts.
She has several hints for whipping cream. I don't know anyone who whips cream anymore, now that you can buy it in cans and plastic tubs, but if you have to whip it, there is nothing worse than wilted whipped cream.
This book has recipes also, as Peg puts it: "Housekeeping and cooking are miserably intertwined."
And if you have to clean house, you need a couple easy standbys to use on those days. Hot dog eggs, cranberry beans, Chicago chowder, or uninspired casserole for example.
Lots of hints for using salt, vinegar and soda. Just what we need for these days of horrid economy and the "living green movement."
One of the best hints is to keep snipping the ends of the stems off flowers that you cut from the garden and put in vases. Cut them again before you put them in the vase and then every day thereafter and the flowers will get enough water to drink.
Cornbread to serve with that ham dinner? Use a mix for heaven's sake. This book even has a recipe for making brandy.
Peg Bracken was a classy lady who made enough money on her books to look nice and travel all over the world. You can buy classy products reasonably at Amazon.
Women's Classic Short UGG Boots
After the cookbooks became successful, she tackled housekeeping in "The I Hate To Housekeep" book. I always thought she really liked to cook but really hated to clean house and all the little fussy things in it.
This book has some good-for-company recipes and she repeats her advice that dessert need only be Irish coffee and petits fours or assorted candies and nuts. Or how about Port wine with a bowl of walnuts.
She has several hints for whipping cream. I don't know anyone who whips cream anymore, now that you can buy it in cans and plastic tubs, but if you have to whip it, there is nothing worse than wilted whipped cream.
This book has recipes also, as Peg puts it: "Housekeeping and cooking are miserably intertwined."
And if you have to clean house, you need a couple easy standbys to use on those days. Hot dog eggs, cranberry beans, Chicago chowder, or uninspired casserole for example.
Lots of hints for using salt, vinegar and soda. Just what we need for these days of horrid economy and the "living green movement."
One of the best hints is to keep snipping the ends of the stems off flowers that you cut from the garden and put in vases. Cut them again before you put them in the vase and then every day thereafter and the flowers will get enough water to drink.
Cornbread to serve with that ham dinner? Use a mix for heaven's sake. This book even has a recipe for making brandy.
Peg Bracken was a classy lady who made enough money on her books to look nice and travel all over the world. You can buy classy products reasonably at Amazon.
Women's Classic Short UGG Boots
Peg Bracken on Flickr
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Shout Out For Peg Bracken!
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- poutine poutine Dec 14, 2008 @ 3:03 pm
- Thanks for the profile, I have never heard of this lady before.
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- DivineIguana DivineIguana Sep 22, 2008 @ 1:11 pm
- I had never heard of Peg Bracken, but I will certainly look into her work now. Thanks for making this lens!
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- kathleenr kathleenr Jul 26, 2008 @ 1:23 pm
- Finally, a writer that sees houskeeping and cooking from my point of view! I can't wait to see the books!
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- kathleen kathleen Jul 26, 2008 @ 1:20 pm
- This writer sounds great! I already know I will love the books!
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