My Life in Recipe Books

My Life in Recipe Books

 

One of my earliest and happiest memories as a child is being in the kitchen with my grandmother when she was baking.  Being Swiss, there was a heavy emphasis on butter, cream and cheese. She made a fantastic cheese pie with an unpronounceable name which is a Swiss version of Quiche and is a pastry base with a filling of cheese, eggs and cream. Her pancakes were the best I have ever tasted and I still remember hounding her to make a batch of them for me.  They were so light and thin as paper and my brothers and I used to plaster them with butter, sugar and lemon juice or jam. My cousins and I still reminisce about her yummy Macaroni Cheese. This at a time when pasta was not on New Zealand menus.

My mother was a wonderful cook and baker too.  Her specialty was scones.  They were so light and fluffy.  She used cream instead of butter in her scones.  I had a Lemonade Scone at The Porch Cafe at Waihi Beach today and it reminded me of mum's scones.  Not as good as Mum's but light and fluffy. My friend Loren gave me the recipe for Lemonade Scones and they are delicious and easy to make.

So here is my life in my recipe books.  I would love to hear about your favourites too, so feel free to add yours in the comments section below.

1950's - Aunt Daisy's Recipe Book
I have to confess, I was too young to actually use this myself but my grandmother did and I loved sitting with her at 9.00a.m. and listening to Aunt Daisy on the radio.  As children we used to giggle over Aunt Daisy saying every day that the weather in Wellington was fine and sunny and that the sun was shining up her back passage!
Grandma had this book and used it so I think that it qualifies by default.

1960's - Edmonds Cook Book
My brothers used to make the most amazing sponges using the Edmonds book.  They would beat the mixture with a hand beater for what seemed like hours until it was just right.  I used to make Chocolate Fudge, Queen Cakes, Banana Cake, Pikelets, Chocolate Crackle, Coconut Ice and Hokey Pokey.  We had to take turns cooking dinner and always had pudding too, Apple Dumplings, Steamed Puddings, etc. OMG! How come we weren't obese! None of us were even overweight.  Bears out my theory that the obesity epidemic comes from processed foods! 

1970's - Cordon Bleu Cooking Course Cookbooks
Raewyn and I both bought the whole series, about 70 books.  One book was published every week and if you missed one, man you were in trouble.  The only recipe I remember using from all these books was Fillet Steak with Anchovy Butter.  Very sophisticated! I met a woman who had gone to London and done the course. I was so envious!

1980's - Australian Womens Weekly Cookbooks
I loved these and still use them.  The Childrens Birthday Cakes was a real favourite, as was the Cheesecake Book which my daughters use now too.  Well, we actually only use the Basic Cheesecake Recipe but it's a goody.  My daughter made it for my grandson's 4th birthday and man it's rich, but so yummy for special occasions.  The original Womens Weekly Cookbook has a Dark Chocolate Cake recipe, which is divine. I still refer to these books when I am looking for traditional recipes.

1990's - Jamie Oliver Cookbooks
The advent of cooking shows on television brought Jamie Oliver, Bill Grainger, Nigella Lawson and Rick Stein into our living rooms. Jamie's Broad Bean Salad and Bill Grainger's Flattened Chicken recipes are family favourites. I'm such a sucker for a good recipe book and bringing these wonderful chefs into our living rooms was a clever marketing ploy. One I fell for at least.

2000's - Delicious Magazine, St Cuthbert's and Diocesan cookbooks
I love Delicious Magazine and have subscribed both my daughter-in-law and son-in-law who are both foodies.  Something tells me you need to be a foodie to be in our family! Magazine subscriptions are such a cool present and one appreciated all year.  My daughter-in-law and I trade recipes we try out from this great magazine. My grandson helps me make Anzac biscuits and Muesli from the St Cuthberts book and there is a fantastic Poached Fillet of Beef in the Diocesan book.  Deborah's Chicken Sandwiches from the St. Cuthberts book are great for cocktail parties too.

2010 - Ottolenghi
A close friend introduced me to the wonderful Ottolenghi Cookbook, born from the Ottolenghi Deli Cafe in Belgravia, London. It has a Moorish influence and is full of wonderful recipes which can be vegetarian if you prefer.

Many of the above recipes are in our Food for Thought section or our Wisanow E-Recipe Book but if they aren't and you want one or several, email me at info@wisanow.co.nz with the recipe name in the subject line and I will send them to you.

Well, that's it.  Who know what wonderful kitchen treats will come out of the next decade.