Mad Cook Books

[Rhona]

I'm having a bit of a tidy of the cellar-head where I keep my cookery books, which obviously means that instead of tidying I'm actually just sitting looking through some that I don't ever use.

My bestest so far is the marvellously pretentious 80's one by Jocelyn Dimbleby on how to throw the perfect dinner party (everything is stuffed with avocado mousse and serve cocktails in the drawing room, peasant); and the M&S Cooking on a Budget from the 70's (one grapefruit really can serve four people as a delicious starter!)

I'm even happier when a previous owner (my mother probably) has written gems like "Not bad. Don't put too much lemon and crab in it" (lemons stuffed with crab).

Some recipes stand the test of time in the M&S book and in fact good sound advice on seasonal cooking etc. but the Jocelyn Dimbleby one is a scream. The general idea seems to be to disguise as far as possible each ingredient, until it's all a fancy, creamy, blousey nightmare.

Anyone else got any mad ones?

[HeyWayne]

I have a book of "hot" recipes - I likea de spicey. One of our houseguests bought us a German cookbook. Based on the cooking she did for us when she was here (she is also German) we haven't dared cook anything yet - although I have to say, whenever I'm in Germany I enjoy the food.

We've a Raymond Blanc book "A Blanc Christmas", which looks a little ott.

[janeyo]

What's a cellar head? Happy sorting out, I normally end up with more stuff than I started with, no idea how that happens lol.

OH and I have made a resolution to actually use our huge cookery book collection this year. Curent total this year (well since xmas) of new recipes =11 (I think). We are trying to use stuff we would normally have in the house anyway. For instance instead of having sausage and mash as per usual, we had sausage soup (delish!).

The only trouble being I am veggie and he is most defo not so we have to either adapt the recipes or compromise and add meat to his after.

When I met him he used to cook everything and me nothing, he even went on courses! But since having the children I cook it all and he has forgotten how. He is now starting to practise again in the new kitchen and says he is a bit rusty (cooks everything too high and gets the timing wrong etc) but it will all come back.

We did get rid of a few cookery books when we moved but seem to still have 2 kitchen cupboards full! I also keep recipes oput f magazines and have been doing a few of those, a meringue one with whpped cream, choc and marshmallow was to DIE for the other day!

janeyo

[Seahorse]

One of my faves is Classic Game Cookery by Julia Drysdale, published in the mid 70s. She assures me not to worry about the quality of the meat I have because my 'husband or gamekeeper will know'

[T-lady]

Thinking about 1970's dinner parties, do you remember when orange juice was a 'luxury starter'?

[lynda66]

when my mum got married, she started off a book of recipes, which i still have, i really should use it more ...... thankfully she never bothered about the fancy poncey stuff ........

i never understand why they drizzle chocolate sauce ....... FFS ........ you 'pour' chocolate sauce

and whats the point in having a tiny pile in the middle of the plate ....... bung it all on i say

[Alice]

I have my husbands mothers cookery book - I'm sure it's Mrs Beetons.
It includes a recipe for chicken soup which starts-
Take one old hen, kill it, plluck it blah , blah, blah (sorry folks).

It also gives instructions for a dinner party, including how to manage it if you only have 1 servant, and the admonition that you should allow your servant to help you to lay the table " as she will delight it in and soon catch on"

Well, I've always only had 1 servant and he can do everything.

[FionaH]

I have loads of cook books which I read with all good intentions, and end up cooking the same old same old. Still I like the pictures lol.

[Rhona]

It also gives instructions for a dinner party, including how to manage it if you only have 1 servant

That's so funny - love it. One of the v old Robert Carrier books that a lovely Grape (thanks Lizzy!) sent to me has recommendations for an "emergency shelf" so one might rustle up a 3 course dinner for unexpected guests. This included Turtle Soup and 'at least a summer truffle'. At the very least, Mr Carrier...

[Alice]

Now that is funny Rhona. I'll have a look in Mrs Beeton tomorrow - it's full of gems.

[Comfreyfan]

I have loads of cook books which I read with all good intentions, and end up cooking the same old same old. Still I like the pictures lol.

This is where I sound very, very sad. OH has created a spreadsheet for me, I enter the basic details of each recipe I want to try from my cook books (I've collected quite a few over the years) - including the ingredients. Then I can filter for whatever ingredients I fancy cooking, choose 7 meals for the week, print my choices and I've also got my ingredients list for shopping. I love cooking - but I get very bored cooking the same things over and over, this way I generally try a new recipe at least once a week.

[kirsty b]

Nothing sad about that!! Sounds perfect.

My bro bought me a couple of books a few years ago They are Cooking Techniques, and with them I have discovered the most yummy shortcrust pastry (which always gets complimented - good for the ego!), mastered choux and have attempted many other things because of the step by steps with pictures!!

[SarzWix]

I got Valentine Warner's 'What To Eat Now' for Christmas; I can only find 2 recipes in the whole book that I would want to eat

I've got a couple of shelf-full's of recipe books, but really only use one or two of them a lot. Got a few 70's M&S ones which were my Mum's, the photography in those is hilarious and Everything seems to be brown?! Plus a couple of really old Farmhouse ones which have some hilarious gems in them. Must fish them out later, see if I can give you a giggle

I laughed out loud at

and the admonition that you should allow your servant to help you to lay the table " as she will delight it in and soon catch on"

from Alice

[jackie j]

janeyo My OH is vegetarian only he is a night mare cos he doesnt like me cooking meat so I compromise every day, I am fed up with the same things week in week out, He had a new vegetarian cook book for christmas and I have had a couple as well, so I am going to start cooking at least one new recipe each week, I will have to buy most of the ingredients but thats ok.

[Rhona]

Jackie - have you heard of Yotam Ottolenghi? He has the most amazing veggie recipes - we're not veggies either but his recipes always impress me. Really different and creative stuff, quite exotic too. Well worth trying some of his to get out of a veggie recipe rut!