Introduction The AFS Story Table of Conversions Appetizers Breads and Pancakes Soups Fish Poultry Meats Vegetables Salads and Dressings Desserts Cookies

This is the Fourth Edition of the AFS International Cookbook. The recipes in this book have been sent to us by the mothers of former AFS students and by the "mothers" of former Americans Abroad.

When the recipes were written in English, they were used without change. In cases of translation, they were rewritten for ease of understanding. Please refer to the Table of Conversions where necessary. The recipes have been tested and as accurate conversions as possible have been made.

The Committee wishes to thank all the contributors, for without their interest and assistance, the Cookbook could not have been published. We also wish to thank all the AFS Chapters throughout the country for their help, without which it could not have been distributed.

Friendship and increased understanding among their fellow men have been the aims of the American Field Service since 1915, when it was founded as a volunteer ambulance service with the French Armies, carrying thousands of wounded in World War I. After serving again in World War II with the Allied Armies, and therefore with men of many nationalities and beliefs, the idea of a peace-time program to further the basic friendship which exists among all men was revived. AFS had operated its Fellowships for French Universities on a graduate level between the two wars. In 1947 it began its new program on the teen-age level, as being most likely to accomplish the objective. The American Field Service is a private educational organization, and it has no affiliations with any religious, political; or other organization.

An American Field Service International Scholarship is an open door which leads to understanding and friendship among the peoples of the world. Through this door pass students from more than 50 foreign countries to attend American secondary schools for a school-year of study and first-hand experience and, during the summer, American teen-agers from practically every state to study and to live with families abroad --- a two-way exchange of seeing and showing. In this way, future citizens of the world learn to respect the similarities and differences of those who, though they live in different countries, have dreams and efforts similarly directed toward the goal of a peaceful and useful life.

Those who pass through the door are teen-agers, 16 to 18 years old --- when students are most adaptable, open minded, and eager to learn. They have been screened, with the co-operation of educators in their own countries, for personality as well as intelligence, in order that the students chosen be those best qualified to make it an enriching experience for themselves and those with whom they come in contact.

In addition to their studies in the senior class of their American high school, the AFS students are encouraged to participate wholeheartedly in the life of their host community, where they attend the senior year of high school and live in carefully selected American homes as members of their host families on the same basis as the other children in the home. While they learn first-hand of many different aspects of our life --- of our customs, ideals, interests, and problems --- they also broaden our horizons by telling of their own countries and daily life in their own homes.

In U.S.A. recipes, measurements are nearly all given by volume (spoonfuls, cupfuls, pints, etc.)

Recipes from abroad give most measurements by weight (grams).

For practical purposes you can convert measurements directly from weight measurements to volume-measurements, using the following chart, if you are measuring a watery substance such as milk, soup, stew, juices, stewed or canned fruits and vegetables, fresh tomatoes, etc. For the more difficult conversions, the Committee has worked out Charts of Conversions and Equivalents which we hope will be helpful. From the mathematician's point of view they are not absolutely accurate, but for the cook they should be entirely adequate.