My Mum bought this book when she was first married and used it regularly. I am very familiar with its recipes as the finished products would appear at the table all through my childhood.
Designed "for the older schoolgirl" to use in 'Domestic Science' lessons, it is a historical gem. It includes such essential information as how to grate cheese, line a cake tin and peel an apple. Within its pages we can learn the correct order in which to wash dishes, how to make "high tea for four people" (prepared by two girls) and how to cater for "a record party for eight" (again two girls are needed with tasks for each set out in order).
Back in 1965 vegetarianism was, at best, condidered as a fad. This book does contain, however, a surprising number of meat-free meals and my recipe for vegetarian pasties was based on the beef version in this lovely little reminder of a bygone time.
If you find a copy, put it on your shelf next to the 'Peter and Jane' books.
EVEN MORE FUN!! I have also recently found the 1978 version (the fourth edition). By now the 'record party' is obviously out of favour and each recipe needs only 'one girl' to prepare it. There is still, however, the same traditional approach - remember to always roll your pastry away from you as rolling it sideways makes it uneven and make sure you use three bowls when you separate your eggs! A new 'International' section has been added so that kebabs, curry and ghoulash can now become part of every good housewife's repertoire. And the price has gone up to £1.95 but don't worry you can afford it by making that extra saving when you use a tin of concentrated soup instead of making a sauce for the veg at supper time!
(And, incidentally, back in 1978 cabbage wasn't cooked unless you had boiled it for 10-15 minutes. For a much better way see my recipe for Fantastically Simple Cabbage)
