Marguerite Patten Wartime Recipe Books

Queenie

thriftlady - I have that one from when it was £4 a day :T :rotfl: It's become quite nostalgic in our family because I even made notes against the recipes, the dates we tried them and the children's responses (recall one where I'd written: "DD will now eat liver!!" :rotfl: Actually, I was looking through it a few months ago and I don't think the prices are so very different really *note to self: must do a price comparison one day out of interest*
I also agree that the Marguerite Patten war one's are far more than just a coffee table book and beg to differ with pudding06's point of view that they don't translate well into what we eat today. Fundamentally, the recipes are very much small portions of meat, lots of veggies; if you were to compare her recipes of then to say the GI diet of today, I think you'll find that many of her recipes would hold up well - certainly on a seasonal, budget, grow-your-own point of view. Yes, we do have a greater variety today and are positively encouraged to eat strawberries year round, but some of us (hands up, I'm not afraid to be counted :laugh: ) also factor in the environmental aspects of those luxury "year round" fruits and veggies.

I particularly enjoyed "We'll Eat Again", the "Victory Cookbook" was ok but I was disappointed with the "Post War Kitchen" - this is reflected in the wear and tear of each one

I am biased though, because I've inherited my mother's ability to read a cookery book with the same intensity and enjoyment as others might read a novel.

As we've established that they can be purchased in the 3-in-1 volume at much less than QVC are offering it, I think the advice to check out your library 1st is a good idea and see just how useful it would be for your circumstances and then, if keen, purchase it either at a cheapy bookstore, charity shop or at a pinch, amazon.

Best of luck with your decision recovering spendy - as you've seen from the various replies already, asking if it's worth it will bring a mixed bag of reactions because we all differ

Shocking Pink - do you know, I was so sure it was called The Victory Cookbook but struck a line through it when amazon threw up TVC as the 2nd in the series of 3 (which of course it is!). I'm so glad you confirmed that it exists as a 3-in-1 too They must have amended it to The Wartime Kitchen to avoid the (now obvious) confusion).

BS - yes, some of the recipes do lack a certain .. er .. something But, I find a spoonful of dried chilli flakes has a very positive effect on most things (except puddings ) Did you make the "honeycomb" sweeties for your children? Mine think it's D-lish! :drool:

csarina

thriftlady wrote:

dronid have you seen this book http://www.amazon.co.uk/Feed-Your-Family-Five-Pounds/dp/0722525710/sr=8-2/qid=1161018578/ref=sr_1_2/202-4560088-2422211?ie=UTF8&s=books

There are some posts about it around here somewhere. It is a bit out of date now but might be what you have in mind, although unfortunately out of print. I love it:)

I had this book some years ago and found it very useful, I gave it to my daughter when her children were small and they were living on a very small income so she could be a stay at home mum.

recovering_spendaholic

Thanks for all your replies - before I discovered this site I would just have sent for them on impulse so at least I have restrained myself!! I will have a look around the many publishers outlets and so on which we have round here and I will also get them out of the library. So that's £12.45 I've saved!!! I am interested in wartime cookery though and I have my Grandfather's recipes from the ship in the war (he was the head chef on the Queen Mary) and some of them are great, except that you have to scale them down as he was cooking for 100 at a time! I love TV programmes and things about the war years too - I think it comes from my childhood when my parents and family used to go on about it all the time!!

black-saturn

thriftlady wrote:

dronid have you seen this book http://www.amazon.co.uk/Feed-Your-Family-Five-Pounds/dp/0722525710/sr=8-2/qid=1161018578/ref=sr_1_2/202-4560088-2422211?ie=UTF8&s=books

There are some posts about it around here somewhere. It is a bit out of date now but might be what you have in mind, although unfortunately out of print. I love it:)

£5 a day is a bit much :eek:

dronid

thriftlady wrote:

dronid have you seen this book http://www.amazon.co.uk/Feed-Your-Family-Five-Pounds/dp/0722525710/sr=8-2/qid=1161018578/ref=sr_1_2/202-4560088-2422211?ie=UTF8&s=books

There are some posts about it around here somewhere. It is a bit out of date now but might be what you have in mind, although unfortunately out of print. I love it:)

No I haven't! And now I'm going to have too.:o I collect cookery books and have already overfilled a bookcase! Thanks for that. Maybe we need to write a new edition on here!

Queenie wrote:

I am biased though, because I've inherited my mother's ability to read a cookery book with the same intensity and enjoyment as others might read a novel.

Gosh, it's nice to talk to people who do the same. I'm facinated by the things people do and have done to their food over the years. Probably the (anti) pride of my collection is a book made up of the cookery course released by Fanny and Johnny Craddock:eek: :eek: . If I ever need to know how to make something look appetising and attractive I use it to show me what not to do.

Scary:eek:

black-saturn wrote:

£5 a day is a bit much :eek:

D'you know I'd probably aggree with you there. I think I could get it consistently under £5 for a family of 4. Possibly by quite a bit if it's just eating.

Maybe we really do need to do that book!

Queenie

black-saturn wrote:

£5 a day is a bit much :eek:

:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

That was per *day* = 3 meals per day for 2 adults and 4 children = 6 people x 3 meals = 18 plates for £5 per day so .... 0.28p per plate :whistle:

dronid

recovering_spendaholic wrote:

I am interested in wartime cookery though and I have my Grandfather's recipes from the ship in the war (he was the head chef on the Queen Mary) and some of them are great, except that you have to scale them down as he was cooking for 100 at a time!

I would be very interested in seeing some of those recipies!:D

Queenie wrote:

:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

That was per *day* = 3 meals per day for 2 adults and 4 children = 6 people x 3 meals = 18 plates for £5 per day so .... 0.28p per plate :whistle:

Aha, for 6 people! Yes I suppose that's probably closer to the mark!

Ruby_Pudding

I've got the Victory Cookbook and it's a brilliant, nostalgic and thought provoking read but I haven't been brave enough to try any of the recipes yet. Although, I think I'll dig it out tonight and see if there is anything I can make at the weekend....

The book has inspired me to think about doing a little 'victory garden' though - not that keen on gardening and only have a 10 x 10 foot concreted back yard but successfully grew tomatoes, strawberries, aubergines and chillis this year so next spring I am really going to go for it and see how much produce we can yield.

hilstep2000

I've got them, use them all the time!

dronid

Ruby_Pudding wrote:

I've got the Victory Cookbook and it's a brilliant, nostalgic and thought provoking read but I haven't been brave enough to try any of the recipes yet.
The book has inspired me to think about doing a little 'victory garden' though

You must, Ruby. Some of the recipies are excellent 'stick to your ribs' food and it's very cheap to do. Personally I prefer 'We'll eat again', my copy of which is getting a bit tatty now from over use!

I wish, I wish, I wish I had a garden, or even an outside space. Hopefully this year I will be able to grow some tomato plants on the windowsill but it's not ideal.