An old cookery book....

Quasar

Today I was browsing for books in my local charity shop and saw this substantial tome, with a simple dark pink cover and gold design on the front - it looked like a bible, or an anthology of literary works. I opened it and to my delight it turned out to be "The Constance Spry Cookery Book" written by er... Constance Spry and Rosemary Hume. Naturally I bought it.

Its 1,196 pages of no-nonsense, matter-of-fact advice (and no pictures whatsoever) it is a veritable bible of culinary expertise. It was written in 1956, when cooking was really cooking - no microwave ovens, no gadgets and above all no ready meals. It tells me how long meat should hang, how to kill a lobster, the correct way to prepare and use dry vegetables, not to mention the proper way to flamber with brandy or with wine.

Not that intend to do any of the above, but its zillion recipes look delicious and wholesome, and the authors also advise us on how to serve (ie hand out) the dishes at the table.

This book shows no signs of ever having been used though, and apart from the slightly yellowed pages, it is in pristine condition. At £2.50 I believe I got a bargain here.

Anyone here has books by these ladies?

Ruby_Pudding

You lucky thing - I'm always on the lookout for a good cookbook from years gone by.

Penelope_Penguin

Quasar - you lucky, lucky person. My MIL has that book (she's promised it to DD), and she says that Constance Spry was the Delia Smith of her day.

Want to share some recipe suggestions - not breaching copyright, of course.

Penny. x

Quasar

Ruby_Pudding wrote: »

You lucky thing - I'm always on the lookout for a good cookbook from years gone by.

Oh this one is practically a textbook on how to use a kitchen and cook properly. I think I'll start cooking properly from now on even if I'm on my own.:j

Jayar

My favourite cookbook is The Creda Housecraft Manual. It was written in 1958 and belonged to my MIL. It includes sterling advice such as how to wash foundation garments and how pluck a chicken (best done when it is still warm apparently:eek:
But seriously, it is my bible for doing things from scratch the OS way.

Penelope_Penguin

I have a *Mrs Beeton Cookery Book* (thin volume - 300 pages, not the thick *Household Management*) from 1906. I've always dismissed it as rubbish, but have taken it down and will have a browse, inspired by this thread.

Penny. x

Churchmouse

Oh Quasar, how lovely and lucky for you! A real bargain. To my immense shame and regret I inherited loads of old cookbooks from my Grandmother when i got engaged. She passed on this huge bagfull, saying these will be useful to you, better than me throwing them away. I was young and silly and just viewed them as old-fashioned and dull. I said *thankyou* nicely and took them to the charity shop:eek:

I know for a fact Mrs Beeton and Constance Spry were amongst them as they were old names I'd heard of. What I'd give to get my hands on them now:o

piglet6

Quasar - you lucky thing. Mr P is a professional chef and we have more cookery books than I dare own up to (we love any type of books, but are currently onto our 5th shelf of cookery books - I think it can officially be classed as an addiction! :rotfl:), but we love searching through charity shops for cookery books with new (old!;)) ideas...

Constance Spry is certainly well known in the field - enjoy!!!

Piglet

Quasar

Penelope_Penguin wrote: »

Quasar - you lucky, lucky person. My MIL has that book (she's promised it to DD), and she says that Constance Spry was the Delia Smith of her day.

Want to share some recipe suggestions - not breaching copyright, of course.

Penny. x

LOL Oh I will share recipes - I don't think there's a copyright on them because they are all classics.

I'm browsing the book between posts and there isn't one sentence that is superfluous. I mean, the stuff one learns about peas, for example, is amazing.

And the puddings are quite evil. :drool:

Ytaya

Wow, you lucky thing! I was brought up with my mum's Mrs Beeton's but am having trouble finding a similar copy of it for myself; it seems to come in so many different editions! This one looks like it might be an excellent alternative.

thriftmonster

I have my MIL's Constance Spry and it is great for those moments when you think "Now how do I do.......?" The other ones my MIL gave me and which are great for entertaining are two Robert Carrier books - especially "Great Dishes of the World" - well worth looking out for in the charity shop