I have before me a wonderful old cook book called 'Ripple Recipes'. It is one of those 'community' cook books I like so much. It was published in 1952 by the P. T. A. of Broad Ripple High School. What a treasure trove of the kinds of foods and flavors being served in the homes of Rippleites of yesterday. There are all the usual recipe categories, like beverages to desserts and sea food to vegetables, but my favorite chapter would be the one titled 'Menus Men Like'. How incredibly dated.

The ads (see Historic Ads of this issue for an example) throughout are a kind of step back in time. Danner's 5 & 10, Atlas Supermarket, Binkley Pharmacy, Doyle's Texaco Service, Darlene's Dress Shop, Handy Hardware Company, Broad Ripple Pastry Shop, Ripple Washette and even some larger Indianapolis area companies like Stokely-Van Camp, Inc. My favorite advertisement has to be the one that says only 'Compliments of a Friend'. We are likely never to know who this mysterious friend was.

I wonder how many people who contributed recipes are still around, and how many have family still in and around Broad Ripple. Good people like Mrs. Omer H. Dix, Mrs. Clyde Pike, and Mrs. B. E. Clatworthy. Mrs. W. E. McNamara is a familiar name in B.R. and Needham K. Hurst gives us his recipe for Bean Soup. I guess we know who that might be.

This first recipe was contributed by Mrs. Charles T. Cox.

Place bread on broiler tray, next the cheese, then the bacon cut in half topped with the tomato slice. Broil for about 10 minutes at 350 degrees.

This recipe came from Mrs. Charles Gisler

Melt butter, add flour; blend; add milk; cook over low heat until thick, stirring constantly. Add cheese; stir over low heat until melted. Add mustard, paprika and salt. Serve on buttered toast points. Serves 6.