File

This file contains information booklets and recipes published by the Beef Information Centre. Documenting beef marketing campaigns conducted in the 1970s and 1980s, it chronicles how the organization's message evolved over time to address changing consumer concerns.

C’est facile et rapide avec du bœuf. Recettes gagnantes… ("Beef is fast and easy. Surefire recipes"), a booklet probably published in the 1970s, offers fast, economical, easy recipes to help busy families grapple with the demands of modern life. It provides a series of time-saving tips (for example, plan menus in advance, prepare large quantities, use leftovers, serve the same recipe with a different sauce) and recommends the use of time-saving devices (pressure cooker, microwave oven, slow cooker, etc.). According to the booklet, the proposed recipes can be made in 30 minutes or less or can be slow cooked following a short preparation time.

The file also includes both the English and French versions of the publication The Best of Beef (in French, Le bœuf par excellence). Illustrated with colour photos, this recipe booklet focusses on the smell and taste of beef: "What is it that makes barbecuing beef so deeply satisfying? The meat sizzles. The fire flares. And that glorious smell wafts up with the answer." The recipes are organized into sections: "Ribs ’N Such," "Steaks," "Roasts," and a fourth section entitled "For Fun" that features more exotic recipes like Oriental skewered beef and taco burgers. There are also instructions for preparing a community pit barbecue. The last page of the publication implies that it was associated with the "Beef Sounds Good" ("J'aime mon bœuf," in French) advertising campaign.

Finally, a brochure entitled Un succès bœuf au barbecue ("How to barbecue beef") contains some recipes, but primarily provides practical advice and information about successful barbecuing. For example, it looks at how to make a good fire, the tools needed, marinades, and cooking on a grill or spit. Illustrations identify the various cuts in a side of beef and their individual elements. While mentioning the aroma and tremendous versatility of beef, the brochure focusses primarily on the fact that certain cuts are a truly economical choice. In addition, it notes that even consumers who are watching their weight can enjoy beef: "You can slim down for summer without having to reduce the amount of beef in your diet. Beef, the most popular meat in Canada and an important source of nutrients, should be part of any effort to cut calories."