Elena Zelayeta (1898–1974)

Blind restauranteur Elena has produced simply the best home style cookbook ever to come from a one-book wonder. Her adopted country has benefitted from her easy to serve and prepare Americanizations of her Mexico City origins. My friend made sure to buy one of these for each of her 5 children. I will do the same.

I am cooking my way through this. The great majority of recipes are tasty and simple. The ingredients are those which were found in American groceries in the 1950s, so many can be updated by a knowledgeable cook. Still, Elena cooked like my husband's Mexican Nana who came to America in the 1920s. She used what she had to make something special

I grew up on Elena's recipes. When I married my husband he was surprised that I could cook so many things which tasted like his Nana used to make. Many of these are simplified to suit American kitchens before variety hit the grocery stores, but they still taste great.

40. Signed! 1st pub Aug 1947, this 2nd ed pub June 1948. "In this book, Elena Zelayeta, blind, passes along the lessons life has taught her and tells how she has found joy of living in spite of great difficulties." Frontis of author by son Lawrence Zelayeta. Life stor, philosophy & Recipe Postscript.