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Anyone want a little giggle-I’ve found a cake book from the 1970’s

399 replies

retainertrainer · 06/10/2018 13:10

I’ve been sorting out my mum’s cupboards and came across the woman’s weekly birthday cake special. I’m going to take my inspiration from it for all family birthdays in the future.

Who knew you could make such masterpieces out of buttercream!

OP posts:
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111
Ellie56 · 08/10/2018 00:05

I've still got the Hamlyn all Colour Cookbook Mc Fugget but I've never used any aspic recipes.

dontgobaconmyheart · 08/10/2018 04:56

oh god the hedgehog cake! I'm NC with my mum these days but bloody hell i think she exhausted all of these designs on our birthdays and then some, she was good at them!
I honestly thought that hedgehog cake was the dogs bollocks as a kid and that my mother must be a master of cake making.
Am making one tomorrow, can't wait!

Rebecca36 · 08/10/2018 05:42

I have a McVities cookery book. My mother in law had one and bought one for me. It's good for cakes and stuff, the stew is very basic - bit like school dinners were years ago - but it has been a very useful book.

Bought the 'Get Stuffed' cookery book for my son though he is actually a good cook but we used to watch the programme sometimes. I also have a copy of it.

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General food
PrincessIsAUnicorn · 08/10/2018 07:06

I wonder if the clown cakes are to blame for so many adults being afraid of clowns?! Hmm (thinking face)

BertieBotts · 08/10/2018 08:39

To be fair every picture of a clown I see from the 70s is terrifying, I'm not sure why adults seemed to think they were charming or funny?

anzu66 · 08/10/2018 08:57

BretonStripe

I grew up in Australia, and had actually forgotten about musk strips until this thread. Can't imagine how I forgot them (lack of availability?) because they were my favourite sweet ever. I didn't see them on recent trips back home, but am hoarding a huge stack of musk Lifesavers that I bought last visit.

How they taste...I guess floral and perfumy is the best description. I love Parma violets, sweets flavoured with rose water, and so on, and find them all in a similar category. If you like those, you'd almost certainly like musk flavoured sweets too.

MarshaBradyo · 08/10/2018 09:06

Me too. I remember them very well and had forgotten them

I think we had the Hamlyn book if it has a certain chocolate brownies page that’s it - must have used it 100s of times

SillyBillieMillie · 08/10/2018 09:43

namechange4000
We had that book too. Mum bought it from the milkman. Had some great recipes.
The be-ro book was a firm favourite too. I learned how to bake using a copy and I used it to teach my kids how to bake as well. You used to be able to send off for them. The last new one I had was in the ‘90’s. Does anyone know if they are still being produced? Every household should have one.

AjasLipstick · 08/10/2018 09:53

Anzu I live in Australia but I'm a Brit and see musk sweets all the time here in SA. I think they're the weirdest things ever! They taste ODD! My kids like them though.

Furrycushion · 08/10/2018 10:05

The Be-Ro book is currently in its 41st edition, apparently. I wonder if they will get a surge of interest after this thread (anyone who orders it, let me know if "Joyce" is still around!

Anyone want a little giggle-I’ve found a cake book from the 1970’s
Bowerbird5 · 08/10/2018 10:07

I’ve just found this thread and haven’t read it all yet just p.1 and p. 14

I have the book at the top of this page. I won it in a competition in Parents or Mother and Baby magazine. I was chuffed to bits at the time.

Going back to page 1: Marguerite Patten was a friend of my aunts and I met her several times she was a lovely lady. I also have one of her books, a very old one. My aunt was a hotel manager in Africa. She was a wonderful cook.

I have the WW birthday cookbook too described on p.1 and made several cakes for my kids out of it. I’m another one that likes musk sticks but they seem to have changed the recipe last time I was in Aus.
You can buy some things from a shop in London or online. They run out a lot😁
Anzu66 What about Violet Crumbles?
My daughter is going soon and is teasing me about spearmint milkshakes which she thought would be horrid until she had a sip of mine. Mmmmmm!

I still have the original Dairy book and still use it. The cover is coming off! It has the best scone recipe.
I’m going to catch up on the other threads later and reminisce.😊

Mrstraveller · 08/10/2018 10:11

We had the Hamlyn All Colour Cookbook at home in the 70's/80's and we used to bake a lot from it as kids. I loved the pictures and the recipes were easy to follow. It ended up very battered up and I remember my mum had to recover it in blue gingham pattern sticky back plastic. I got all nostalgic about it a few years ago and wanted a copy of my own. Paid about £20 for a used copy via Amazon. By coincidence I was actually baking the coffee polka dot buns from it when I saw this thread!

SassitudeandSparkle · 08/10/2018 10:20

I still like a fruity curry, and how had I forgotten about the rice moat? I recall trying to get a perfect circle with an embroidery hoop once Grin

IrianOfW · 08/10/2018 11:21

My go to recipe book for the basics was one of my mothers Marguerite Patten books. However the photos made everything look utterly hideous.

Also had a Stork margarine giveaway book from the 1970s. All the recipes were based around the story of two young women living in a flat in London and the various things they did. Loads of photos of men with monstrous moustaches, long hair and tight flares. So funny! And that was from my childhood.

StormTreader · 08/10/2018 11:33

WindyWednesday My mum has a number of those sainsburys books - the Baking one has had every single recipe in it made at some point.
They are genuinely the only "named" thing I have asked to be bequeathed in their will.

campion · 08/10/2018 14:17

Nettletheelf I think these are the cakes?
It's a very good book for all sorts of techniques. I've used it in teaching for years,especially the icing modelling instructions which are really simple.

Anyone want a little giggle-I’ve found a cake book from the 1970’s
Anyone want a little giggle-I’ve found a cake book from the 1970’s
FreezerBird · 08/10/2018 14:18

I'm making curry tonight. There won't be fruit, but there will most certainly be rice moats.

TamiTayorismyparentingguru · 08/10/2018 14:38

I’m kind of intrigued by all this y’all of musk sweets. I love a Parma Violet so I reckon I’d like them. Anyone know if they are maybe like Floral Gums? The description of a floral flavour made me think of those. (Although DH maintains that they actually taste of soap!)

LadyKyliePonsonbyFarquhar · 08/10/2018 16:41

I had this book as a child in the seventies and also My Learn to sew Book.

Anyone want a little giggle-I’ve found a cake book from the 1970’s
pmac62 · 08/10/2018 17:22

I have just bought the Be-Ro book as a stocking filler for my DD. So I will you know when I get it!

AviatorShades · 08/10/2018 17:53

Bowerbird5, deeply envious that you actually knew Marguerite Patten Smile.What a memory!

FekkoTheLawyer · 08/10/2018 17:54

Lady - I've got that one! I love the groovy illustrations.

DS modelled for a kids cookery book when he was about 4 (and very cute). I still have it - ready for when he brings his first girl friend home - evil mum emoji 😈

Nettletheelf · 08/10/2018 19:29

Excellent spot Campion!

FekkoTheLawyer · 08/10/2018 19:32

You just don't get cheesy pineapple hedgehogs these days do you? At a nice cheese and wine soiree.

PrivateParkin · 08/10/2018 20:28

Fekko I did a cheesy crocodile for my DS's birthday party last year Grin

It was a cucumber with a "mouth" cut out and cheese and pineapple sticks.

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