Old Cookery Books Are Priceless!

I have a cupboard full of old cookery books that I have collected over the years. The ones that I use the most and love to read are the ones that belonged to my Mum and two grandmothers. They are full of handwritten notes, family recipes, and extra comments on the sides of the pages. Just great stuff.

One of the books I love is The Mt Eden Cookery Book of Tried, Tested, and Tasty Recipes. What a long title. It was produced by the Mt Eden Baptist Church in New Zealand. Inside the book is a handwritten entry - "To Amy, with loving wishes for Christmas and New Year from May – Christmas 1931". Amy Taylor was my Mum’s mother who sadly passed away before I was born, so I never got to meet her.

Some of the recipes in this book are totally irrelevant in today’s world, but at the back are a couple of priceless sections on Cleaning and Miscellaneous.

Here is one recipe from the Miscellaneous section that I want to share with you:

Recipe for Preserving Children

Ingredients:

• A large grass field

• Half a dozen children

• 2 or 3 small dogs

• A pinch of brook

• Some pebbles

Method:

1. Mix the children and dogs well together.

2. Put them in the field, stirring constantly.

3. Pour the brook over the pebbles and sprinkle the field with flowers.

4. Spread over all a deep blue sky.

5. Bake under the hot sunshine, and when well browned.

6. Remove to the bath tub.

Credit: Mrs. W. Harris – Gisborne NZ