“I miss my wife’s cooking—as often as I can” is a popular joke of uncertain origin. “I miss my wife’s cooking — whenever I get a chance!” was cited in print in 1944.
The joke is often credited to popular one-liner comedian Henny Youngman (1906-1998), but the early citations of the joke do not credit Youngman. “I miss my wife’s cooking—as often as I can!” was credited to Youngman in 1981.
Google Books
Collier’s
1944
Pg. 256:
“I miss my wife’s cooking — whenever I get a chance!”
27 November 1946, Marietta (GA) Daily Journal, “Quickies"by Ken Reynolds, pg. 4, col. 7:
“Since I found this place with a Marietta Daily Journal Want Ad, I miss my wife’s cooking—every chance I get!”
11 February 1950, Waukesha (WI) Daily Freeman, pg. 7, col. 3 ad:
I sure miss my wife’s cooking…every chance I get.
(Goff’s restaurant.—ed.)
25 September 1952, Elgin (IA) Echo, “The Broadcaster,” pg. 8, col. 6:
Traveling Salesman: “I miss my wife’s cooking.”
Second Salesman: “So do I—every time I can.”
22 May 1981, The Morning Union (Springfield, MA), “Henny Youngman is still king of the one-liners” by Marilyn and Hy Gardner, pg. 35, col. 2:
“I miss my wife’s cooking—as often as I can!”
16 July 1984, Pacific Stars and Stripes, “More than one line on Henny” by Sid Shapiro, pg. 13, col. 1:
New York—Henny Youngman has made people laugh with his one-liners from the London palladium to Las Vegas, from Miami to Broadway, over radio and television—even Dial-A-Joke.
Now the 77-year-old comedian is pushing his book, “Take My Jokes, Please.”
(...)
Marriage: “I miss my wife’s cooking—as often as I can.”
Google Books
Hilarious Roasts, Toasts and One-Liners:
The Ultimate Source for Speeches, Toasts, Parties, or Any time for Pure Fun
By Gene Perret with Terry Martin
Edison, NJ: Galahad Books
2001
Pg. 204:
I miss my wife’s cooking — as often as I can.—Henny Youngman
Google Books
Jewish Comedy Stars:
Classic to Cutting Edge
By Norman H. Finkelstein
Minneapolis, MN: Kar-Ben Publishing
2010
Pg, 20:
(“I miss my wife’s cooking—as often as I can.” ... )
(Henny Youngman.—ed.)
Google Books
To Hell With The Diet:
A Feast of Quotations for the Guilty Epicurian
By Aubrey Malone
Stroud, Gloucestershire: The History Press
2014
Pg. ?:
I miss my wife’s cooking –- as often as I can.
Henny Youngman
Above, a 1934 plaque from the Big Apple Night Club at West 135th Street and Seventh Avenue in Harlem. Discarded as trash in 2006. Now a Popeyes fast food restaurant on Google Maps.
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Above, Big Apple Corner at 54th Street and Broadway in Manhattan. Google Maps. Stolen and missing, 2021-2024.
Above, John J. Fitz Gerald, from the Aug. 15, 1931, Binghamton (NY) Press, pg. 14.
Listen to Robert Emmerich introduce "The Big Apple," a hit song from 1937. Music written by Bob and performed by Tommy Dorsey's Clambake Seven with Bob on piano. Lyrics written by Buddy Bernier and sung by Edythe Wright. Audio provided by Dorothy Emmerich.
Also listen to a 1937 "The Big Apple" song by Ozzie Nelson and his Orchestra. See a 1929 photo of John J. Fitz Gerald and a 1931 photo of John J. Fitz Gerald.
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