I absolutely love Reader's Digest's The Cookery Year - probably the most famous of all retro cook books. I've heard it described as the cook's bible and I can definitely agree with that. It was first published in the mid seventies and my mum had a copy. I used to pore over the pages for ages - why a five year old found a cook book so fascinating, I don't know! But this book taught me all about different types of produce, as well as some very well known dishes - and it has the recipe for the most amazing orange foam sauce which is a delicious substitute for custard.
I'm the very proud owner of two versions of The Cookery Year, and one of them I bought for the knock-down price of fifty pence! Though I would have paid a whole lot more for it.
Does anyone else own this awesome cookbook?
My aunt had a copy. I know that because my mum had borrowed it many a time. Don't know why she didn't just buy her own! I'm sure she used it more than my aunty did. I don't know a whole lot about The Cookery Year but I reckon if I come across one, I'll definitely snap it up!
I do remember this book. It was in everyone's cookbook collection in the seventies and eighties. Or so it seemed. I know that some of my family had the Cookery Year but I doubt they still do.
My mum had a copy of the Cookery Year and she loved it! Whenever she wanted to cook a fancy meal for a special occasion, out would come the Cookery Year. I have to say it's a very useful book and even today it's very helpful for people who are new to cooking. It's a shame there isn't a book like that today. But then I suppose that's what Google's for!
I know someone in my family had it but I can't remember who exactly - one of my aunts I think. Whether they still have The Cookery Year or not on their bookshelves I've no idea. All I remember was that it was a very big, heavy hardback book which I thought would crush me if it ever fell off the shelf. Though that was probably because I was so tiny at the time!
I was at my aunt's house recently when I came across her rather battered, well-used copy of the Cookery Year! She hasn't really used any of the recipes in recent years but she said during the eighties, it was always her go-to book whenever she had people coming over to dinner and she wanted to impress. She was given the book as a gift, and even though she admits a lot of the recipes are a bit dated, she would never part with it.
My mum! LOL! She was given it by my grandma after hers and dads wedding. I don't really remember her cooking anything from it but I do know she owns it.