VINTAGE COOKERY BOOKS…

Before 1800, housekeeping books tended to be handwritten collections of recipes and instructions tried and tested by the household cook. By the 1850’s they were developed into books for ‘adult women’, in particular for your brides who were setting up home.

They were intended as work manuals, they were without lavish photography or even set in fine bindings but if you can get hold of one from a book shops they will amaze you. They tell us about the lives of the women in the past from where you can see social change and the disappearance of domestic servants.

Mrs Breton’s Book of Household Management, which was published in 1861 was a huge success and sold 60,000 copes in its first year and two million by 1868. Of course with no television at that time these books were inspirational.

By the time Helen Simpson wrote ‘The Happy Housewife’ in 1934 modern appliances were starting to pop up everywhere, not only helping with the housework but also removing the servants of that time.

In ‘Keeping House’ with Elizabeth Craig (Collins 1936) she said ‘ I have no use for elaborately decorated or furnished homes or for elaborate meals. The simpler the home, the simpler the housekeeping.

Some of these vintage home books can now fetch a lot of money at auction. A book published in 1687 ‘The Accomplished Ladies Rich Closit of Rarities’, by John Shirley sold at Sothebys for £1,625. So, if your great aunt or grandma are still alive and have some old cookery books make sure they don’t end up at the tip.

Even the National Trust ‘Manual of Housekeeping of 2006’ sold 10,000 copies in 2006 and is now being reprinted !!!

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2 FREE KINDLE RECIPE BOOKS WORTH READING OVER THE BANK HOLIDAY WEEKEND…

  1. Gluten-Free Freezer Recipes and Gluten-free Recipes for Kids by Tamara Paul – The Going Gluten-Free Cookbooks provide you with everything you need to go Gluten-Free, stay Gluten-Free, and LOVE EATING GLUTEN-FREE:
  2. Vitamix Recipes – Soups, Smoothies, Juices, and Sauces – don’t have a Vitamix? A blender will do just fine!
  3. A Collection of Your Favoruite Foods (All Gluten-Free) – miss the pasta, pizza, burgers, and desserts from your diet? It’s all one click away!
  4. Italian, Indian, Greek, Mexican recipes, and many more!
  5. Always on the go? Check out the On-The-Go Recipe Book or the Freezer Recipes Book to save time!
  6. On a budget? Eating gluten-free doesn’t have to be more expensive than it already is – check out the Quick, Cheap, and Gluten-Free Recipes – with every recipe taking 10 minutes or less!
  7. Slow cookers, pressure cookers, and baking galore – you’l find it all with this amazing set of cookbooks!
  8. All recipes are family-friendly, and Tamara goes a step further by providing her very own set of Gluten-Free Kids Recipes – great for the whole family – even better for the little ones! 

Food on a Stick Cookbook: State Fair and Carnival Food on a Stick Recipes by Choose between sweet and savory food on a stick or even better prepare a real state fair meal from appetizers, sides, snacks, and main entrées to desserts!

Recipes include savory recipes like:
• Corn Dogs
• Pork Chops on a Stick
• Steak Taco on a Stick
• Cheese Meatballs on a Stick
• Tornado Potatoes
• Meatloaf on a Stick
• Caprese Kabob on a Stick
• Pizza on a Stick
• Lasagna Rolls on a Stick
• Thai Chicken Skewers

For the sweet tooth, some of the examples of recipes included in this collection are:
• Rainbow Cake Push Pops
• Mango-Strawberry Ice Pops
• Candy Bars on a Stick
• Caramel and Chocolate Apple on a Stick
• Cookie Pops
• Donut on a Stick
• Caramel Popcorn on a Stick
• Fruity Fun Skewers
• Cheesecake on a Stick
• Cupcake on a Stick