While reviewing Mrs. Charles Darwin's Recipe Book recently, I looked through my own cookbook collection searching for some new soup recipes for these cold Winter days. Later I found myself dropping off a small pile of books at a used book shop and, while waiting for them to be priced, drifted off to spend a little time in the cookbook stacks. When I go to this shop I vow I will not bring home more books, but of course I usually do. My discovery this time was a like-new copy, half-price (but 'free' as I had a credit), of fun chef Jamie Oliver's ninth cookbook - Jamie's Food Revolution.
Leafing through I felt I was back in my Mum's kitchen in the 1950's, the concept being 'rediscover how to cook simple, delicious, affordable meals' from scratch, and then teach the recipes to a few other non-cooks in a pass it forward way. Although I don't really need cooking lessons after slaving over a hot stove for many decades, I do like the way this particular book is written and presented with colorful photos of recipe steps and the glorious finished dish, all accompanied with Jamie's bits of {non} Queen's English such as, "whiz everything up", "a dollop of", "a few lugs of olive oil", "scrummy and rich". So many of the recipes could have come straight from Mum's own kitchen so are familiar and fun in their rediscovery. Already tried a few and they've turned out perfectly.
Jamie's book is dedicated to this incredible lady, Marguerite Patten, 'a British national treasure'. I purchased one of her many (160+)cookery books several years ago, finding it to be an incredible history of my own childhood years after the war. Ms. Patten worked for the Ministry of Food during the second world war helping families prepare nutritious, appetizing dishes with their weekly rations and, although in her 90's, is still cooking and broadcasting!
Post-War Kitchen, Nostalgic Food and Facts from 1945-1954 ~ history between the pages of a cook book!
I'll share more of Post-War Kitchen another day - it's such a fabulous book with great photos and illustrations.
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Cookbooks can be so enticing. I know I have way too many, but just can't resist them. And now you tease me with new possibilities.
ReplyDeleteI have that cookbook by Jamie - the kids bought it for me because I wanted something new to try. It's a great book - good reading and very good recipes.
ReplyDeleteHi Mary. Just to say you must try the macaroni cheese recipe (with creme fraiche) - it's fabulous! Great winter comfort food, although not to be eaten on a day when calorific intake is being monitored...
ReplyDeleteI've only heard good things about his book.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing your found treasures, Mary. Cookbooks can be such fun collections filled with stories and interesting tidbits as well as delicious recipes.
ReplyDeleteI love Jamie Oliver. His cooking style is very natural and basic. And his way of speech is endearing. He has a show on the cooking channel every evening that I enjoy watching. Carla
ReplyDeleteRecipes were much simpler in those days, before the exotic ingredients made their appearance. Not sure that today;s recipes taste any better though.
ReplyDeleteLooks like a fun book. I used to read cook books a lot when I was the one doing the cooking. Sorta like the "in house chef" that does that sorta of thing now. LOL
ReplyDeleteHope all is good in your part of the world. ~ sarah
Hi Mary. You ask how far we are from Ullswater and The Lakes. We just have to cross the Pennines. One of our favourite days out is to go along the A66 to Penrith and then down through the Kirkstone Pass along the side of Ullswater and back through Ambleside and Kendal - it is a lovely round trip.
ReplyDeleteLove cookbooks! I have quite a few old ones that were my mom-in-laws, and they are fun to go through!
ReplyDeleteTake Care,
Ulrike