In my about me page I state that Santa brought me a Brownie Cookbook and the rest is history. That is indeed the case but alas I no longer have said cookbook. My story is that my Mum must have got rid of it however she categorically states that I did. Either way it obviously went to a jumble sale at some point. Not sure exactly what prompted me but a couple of weeks ago I was browsing Amazon and had a search for Brownie Cookbook. Lots of results including some fab looking books for the modern Brownie. Right at the end of the list was my book. The Brownie Cook-Book by Verily Anderson. Priced at only slightly more than its original £2.20 price tag I splashed out and ordered myself a replacement copy.
Much excitement when it arrived. The memories really came flooding back and I totally remembered so many of the illustrations. I must have poured over it and read it from cover to cover on numerous occasions. Some of the text is hilariously earnest (and downright sexist!) in retrospect but at the time I poured over every word and took it as gospel.
I shared my excitement on my Facebook page and Twitter which led to lots of reminiscing about first cookbooks and sharing of photographs. Only one person recalled also having "The Brownie Cookbook" but was clearly a big fan as apparently Verily Anderson wrote lots of Brownie books which Kelly collected.
The BeRo book was a popular first, accompanied for many with a BeRo man. Keep Calm and Fanny On (still treasure and use it a lot) Melanie ( I was always helping my mum cook and could make a mean cheese sauce by the time I was 7) and Craig (came with the BeRo man I got fae Suntie). By this point I was feeling a wee bit deprived that I never had my own BeRo man, although I do remember that my friend Wendy had one. Apparently "You could use his head as a bowl and his bowler hat was a sieve".
Katie still uses her Ladybird "We Can Cook" which was also owned by Elaine, Christine, and Lynne (contains the best fruit cake recipe ever)
Katie still has her "Pooh Cook Book" which caused some sniggering with certain childish people who were not very sure about a "Pooh" cookbook...
Elaine's favourite was the "Mr Men Cookbook" but she fears it was a victim during a house move. Stephanie still has her copy and shared the fantastic list of recipes from the contents page.
It was only when Stephanie messaged me with a photo of her beloved "Blue Peter Book of Gorgeous Grub" that I remembered that I had this one too. If I recall correctly it was a collection of recipes that viewers had submitted for one of the infamous Blue Peter Competitions. Alas I no longer have my copy.
Victoria Sponge Pease Pudding was always intrigued by the Hungarian entry of Cold Cherry Soup in her "Kids Around the World Cookbook".
Two food bloggers (Chocolate Log Blog and Janice at Farmers Girl Kitchen) both started off their foodie journey with a copy of "My Learn To Cook Book".
Laura hopes that her "Fun to Cook Book" is still at her Mums. I have told her to go and retrieve it along with her copy of "Fun To Sew".
Rachel Gillon received Good Housekeeping's New Picture Cookery as a 3rd year Food and Nutrition Prize in 1975. Its been well used over the years and is still referred to.
I must admit that I had a wee snigger at Briony from The Glasgow Food Blog's "Step-By-Step Kids Microwave Cookbook" when she commented "if I remember correctly, we didn't actually have a microwave either" I guess its the thought that counts.
The Glasgow Cookery Book belonged to both Anna and Karen at Blow your own crumpet (Was also my Mum's. V old. No jacket. 'Lovely' cooking for invalids section. Great book)
Donna rescued her copy of Ladybird Learnabout Cooking from her Mum's house when they moved. Camilla at Fab Food 4 All had it too and Lynne summed it up well "Fab fab fab. Somehow kid's cookbooks today don't have the same appeal as those 70s ones" In addition to Leanabout... Janet also had the Piccolo Picture Cookbook. That looks like some party feast on the cover.
My Mum initially thought that hers was the "Aberdeen Cookery Book" but realised that she had told a lie. "Just remembered that in my last year at the Academy I won a prize in Domestic Science and could choose a book so I chose "Better Cookery" by Aileen King. It is dated 1962 (written inside the cover) the year I went to College." Alas my Sister clearly suffered from second child syndrome and cant recall ever having a cookbook of her own.
Kate still has her copy of "Cooking is a Game you Can Eat". Love the name and the look of this one in Puffin Paperback.
Diane added a third Ladybird book to the collection "Cooking With Mother" Especially liking the retro hedgehog on the cover of this one.
The Hamylin all colour cookbook! Had a picture for every dish! Oh and Supercook, a weekly series that came out in the 70's
Sharon
Mine was my mums handwritten, contained all the recipes she tried and liked, unfortunately it is no more , however I have started one of my own and it has many recipes from you all that have been shared and enjoyed. I have tried to put the name or source beside each recipe to give credit where it's due. Hope that eventually my granddaughter might like it.
The Moosewood Cookbook by @MollieKatzen I got it for my Batmitzvah 15 yrs ago, it is still one of my favourites
Gosh, I have no idea. I think it was probably Delia's Complete Collection.
My Mum's old jotter from her Home Ec at school. I still use the truffle recipe. No other one matches up.
Its long gone now, but my first cookbook was The Wombles.
Love the sound of this. Would be great to see what Madame Chollet cooked up in the burrow. I was a big Wombles fan and had all their albums but no cookbook. Alas despite extensive Googling I can't even find mention of one. Anyone else remember one? Please don't let a Wombles cookbook be a figment of Kate's imagination!
I have absolutely loved hearing about and seeing everyone's first cookery books. Its been a real trip down memory lane and so great to hear of many books still being used and inspiring life long passions for cooking. I'm sure there are many others out there with tales behind them. Please do leave me a comment below telling me about yours. For the bloggers I've created a Linky. If you'd like to do a blog post about your first cookery book I'd love if you linked up and shared your memories. Happy for you to link up any existing posts but please add a link back to this one and share the #firstcookerybook love.
