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Images: #TBT Gallery revisits Cooks of the Weeks

The Daily Herald has been featuring a local Cook of the Week for almost 50 years. They first started appearing regularly in our publication in the late 1960s.

We located a few in our handwritten photo log books and dug out the old black and white negatives from our dusty vault.

In some cases, the cook's name is scribbled in the log book and we have included it here. With some, there is no mention of what the cook made to earn the Cook of the Week distinction, so we guessed the dishes in each photo. We found the kitchen decor, clothing and hair styles very entertaining in these old portraits.

Do you have an idea for a suburban #TBT Gallery? Share your ideas and photos with us at tbt@dailyherald.com. You can share your favorite and most memorable #TBT photos with us on Instagram using #tbtsuburbs.

The trivet hanging on the wall has a "Recipe for Happiness" printed on it, and it seems like a happy kitchen in this January, 1970 Cook of the Week photograph of Mrs. Berg in Mount Prospect. It looks like it could be a pasta dish. Daily Herald file photo
This Cook of the Week is using Sanalac powdered milk in her Buffalo Grove kitchen in July, 1971. Daily Herald file photo
This October, 1973 Cook of the Week has a chrome trimmed stove and a large hood to vent whatever it is that she is cooking in Hoffman Estates. Daily Herald file photo
Could it be mashed potatoes to top a shepherd's pie that Mrs. James Slifer is making in December, 1975 in Wheeling? Daily Herald file photo
We have no idea what the dish is that Mrs. Jerome Zak has made in October 1974, but we're certain those are rubber grapes in her Prospect Heights kitchen. Daily Herald file photo
Peppers, paprika and a lot of cream go into this dish in May, 1977 in Arlington Heights. Notice the spice rack on the wall and the checkerboard pattern on the table. Daily Herald file photo
The meal might be cinnamon buns with walnuts in this November, 1976 Cook of the Week photograph. The photo on the Mount Prospect kitchen wall is called "Grace" by photographer Eric Enstrom and is the state photograph of Minnesota. Daily Herald file photo
Looks like a lot of fruit-based finger foods for the holiday made by Terry Carter in December 1979 in Arlington Heights. Daily Herald file photo
The beautiful silver serving dish fits perfectly with the elegant dining room of Marilyn Olin in October 1980 in Arlington Heights. Daily Herald file photo
Fresh bread is on the table and busy paper is on the wall in this September 1969 Cook of the Week photograph in Mount Prospect. The cook is identified as Mrs. Jackson and the young girl with the cat-eye glasses is probably her daughter. Daily Herald file photo
Mrs. Wolter is wrapping something in September 1969 in Buffalo Grove. Daily Herald file photo
The kids seem excited about this bread, or meatloaf, or whatever it may be in February 1971 in Arlington Heights. Daily Herald file photo
Mr. Wright is the only male and the only apron wearing Cook of the Week in our gallery. He was photographed in July 1972 in Arlington Heights. Daily Herald file photo
Everybody loves a turtle neck sweater and plates of Christmas cookies. This Cook of the Week was photographed in December 1978. Daily Herald file photo
Kathy Jessup has a ladle full of hearty soup in her Palatine kitchen in May 1982. Daily Herald file photo
This Cook of the Week made some sort of Italian or French bread meal in February 1973. The calendar on the door matches the wallpaper in her Des Plaines kitchen. Daily Herald file photo
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