Cipe Pineles' approach to the illustrated recipe pages in "Seventeen" magazine was remarkably innovative and showcased her artistic talent and creative thinking. In her first issue of "Seventeen," Pineles served as both art director and artist. Faced with the seemingly "ugly" subject of potatoes, she developed a fresh approach. She expressed her frustration with the usual color photos of food and decided to create a challenge for herself.

Pineles had previously created a private cookbook for herself and her husband William Golden, in which she illustrated her mother's recipes. Golden was a great admirer of her food art, even if he didn't always appreciate her cooking. Encouraged by him, she took on the task of artistically depicting potatoes. She found that potatoes were actually beautiful, bought ten cents' worth of potatoes, and painted them on a double-page spread. She laid out the text design and left town. This creative process took only an hour and a half. Two weeks later, when the finished artwork was needed, she approached the task more seriously. She carefully tended to the potatoes, considered the text layout thoroughly, and then tore everything apart because she found that the rough draft had been more fun. In total, she spent 18 hours on this work. The final artwork did not cause a rush on potatoes, but it made the magazine's food department happy, which was accustomed to color photography. Pineles' potato illustration was awarded a gold medal by the Art Director's Club (ADC) in 1948 and remained an outstanding example of her ability to transform everyday objects into art, transcending conventional boundaries of food illustration.

Pineles' love for the kitchen and cooking was evident not only in her art for "Seventeen" and other magazines but also in her personal works for family and friends. She painted not only foodstuffs but also kitchen utensils, containers, serving pieces, and linens, reflecting her deep appreciation for the kitchen and cooking. Her works were characterized by close observation, skilled brushwork, and a unique artistic vision that turned even simple objects into fascinating artworks. (dg)