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Original poster

Hamlyn All Colour Cookbook

57 replies

PyongyangKipperbang · 20/10/2021 20:12

I know that this is owned by many a Mumsnetter but.....when did you last look at it in detail?

Some of the recipes are downright disturbing!

Particular favourites found when DD and I were looking through it earlier are.....Prawn and Potato Salad, crab/chicken Mayonnaise and Chicken Creme......

Mind blowing stuff! Had to explain to DD that we didnt actually eat that stuff in the 70's and it was more aimed at the Margot Leadbetters of the world!

OP posts:
redthefraggle · 21/10/2021 01:41

I have two copies! One was my mum's and the other was a signed gift to my husband from Nigel Slater as it was a cookbook his mother often used.
I seem to remember lots of odd food combinations in aspic, not looked at it for a while. My kids were both horrified and amused when they first looked through it. Don't think I've ever made anything from it but I'd guess my mum did back in the day.

Tyredofallthis1 · 21/10/2021 07:00

I got an updated version of this back in 1989. The recipes are dated now, but they always turned out, and the peanut butter cookies completly rocked.

Geamhradh · 21/10/2021 07:03

@PyongyangKipperbang

It is of its time and thats why I love old cook books. I have my mums original Be-Ro Cookery book that she was given before she got married.

The ingredients, the skills, the appliances (or lack of!), the language, its a history book as much as a cook book!

There is a Bero FB group and it's lovely. The older Bero books go for a small fortune on eBay (not that I'd sell, too much of my Gran and Mum in them) The recipes are bloody good as well. The milk chocolate cake is still the best chocolate cake ever.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

General food
Geamhradh · 21/10/2021 07:05

I didn't have this, but my friend did, and we used it for our O level Domestic Science practicals.

Delia's classic original cookery course is pretty much the same. Mind you, Delia still tells you how to slice a tomato into 4 in her last and most recent book!

AtlasPine · 21/10/2021 07:09

There’s a very funny Twitter account @70s_party which shows the stuff cookbooks of the time were encouraging us to prepare for special occasions.

Salad set in aspic jelly anyone?

TeenMinusTests · 21/10/2021 07:22

I've got the red coloured one:
I use it for:

  • pots au chocolate
  • Christmas cake
  • pancakes
  • bolognaise sauce
  • fairy cakes
GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 21/10/2021 08:30

Mine’s dated 1973 - with a pic of a very young Mary Berry at the front! The hard front cover has parted company from the rest.😂

Most of the recipes never really appealed, but I still use the gingerbread one (minus the sultanas) - it’s yummy, and during lockdown one, when eggs and flour were like gold dust, I used the Barm Brack one - only one egg and I used up some out of date GF flour that had been sitting in the cupboard for ages. Was surprisingly nice.

It’s just occurred to me to cut out those recipes and ditch the rest. My cook book space is limited.

SpikyHatePotato · 21/10/2021 08:54

The New Zealand biscuits are very good (I was informed by a NZ'er that they are actually called Anzac biscuits). I often make a batch for everyone at the start of a new protect , and they always get complemented.

einekleinenachtarbeit · 21/10/2021 09:01

Anyone remember Farmhouse Kitchen ? Pretty much the same era - early to mid 70s. Think there was a TV programme to accompany it. Some great traditional baking recipes in it.

Geamhradh · 21/10/2021 09:02

@einekleinenachtarbeit

Anyone remember Farmhouse Kitchen ? Pretty much the same era - early to mid 70s. Think there was a TV programme to accompany it. Some great traditional baking recipes in it.
Yes! I think I have a copy. It was a lunchtime programme that we all groaned about because it meant kids lunchtime TV was finished!
HumbugWhale · 21/10/2021 09:04

I have my nan's old copy and there are some lovely recipes but yes some of them are horrendous! Lots of aspic and things arranged artistically. I definitely think Margot would have used it.

HumbugWhale · 21/10/2021 09:07

I have also recently inherited the Good Housekeeping children's recipe book first printed in 1958, mine is the 1981 edition with delights like curried eggs, poacher's pasties and tuna stuffed eggs. Because those are exactly the sorts of things kids would enjoy Hmm

TheLovleyChebbyMcGee · 21/10/2021 09:09

We have one we only bought a few years ago, its white sauce recipe is great, which is a good thing considering white sauce seems to be in most of the dishes!

Yes its got a bizarre collection of recipes though!

SirSidneyRuffDiamond · 21/10/2021 09:11

We went to a Victorian dinner party exhibition at an NT property once and Mock Turtle Soup featured on the menu card. I told my DH and DS I would look up the recipe to make it! The recipe I found began: but a whole calf's head and scorch off the hair... I rapidly changed my mind.

WeatherwaxOn · 21/10/2021 09:16

It's good for cakes, breads and "how to" for many things.
Some of the recipes are downright awful, though.
I have my late mums copy - she wrote comments on things she'd made, whether quantities needed changing, and added recipes of her own to the flyleaf/inside cover.

CeratopsofthePharoahs · 21/10/2021 09:17

I have one of these, it belonged to my Nanna. There's a curry recipe that has blackcurrant jelly as an ingredient.

RufustheBadgeringReindeer · 21/10/2021 11:11

Ooooo i used to have this book and a veggie version

If anyone can find the mushroom soup recipe (thinks its in the green one) i will owe you one …..one what ive no idea

Cosmosgrowinmygarden · 21/10/2021 15:11

@RufustheBadgeringReindeer

Ooooo i used to have this book and a veggie version

If anyone can find the mushroom soup recipe (thinks its in the green one) i will owe you one …..one what ive no idea

I’ve got the Vegetarian book Rufus. There are two mushroom soup recipes, Cream of Mushroom and Country Mushroom. I could take a picture of whichever you are after if that’s allowed? Need someone to tell me how to attach a photo though! 😀
campion · 21/10/2021 15:22

@SpikyHatePotato

The New Zealand biscuits are very good (I was informed by a NZ'er that they are actually called Anzac biscuits). I often make a batch for everyone at the start of a new protect , and they always get complemented.
I made some only last week! My mum used to make them and I now have her book. I add some ginger to mine but they're fine without. When the book came out (1970) it was quite ahead of its time as the recipes were all illustrated plus methods and tips were all together.
Original poster
PyongyangKipperbang · 22/10/2021 19:24

Just found a coffee ice cream recipe! I LOVE LOVE LOVE coffee ice cream but can never find it so thats going to be my next thing!

OP posts:
HumbugWhale · 22/10/2021 19:56

@PyongyangKipperbang

Just found a coffee ice cream recipe! I LOVE LOVE LOVE coffee ice cream but can never find it so thats going to be my next thing!
That recipe is good! Waitrose also do a really good coffee ice cream, their posh No 1 brand. I really love it too.
Rainbowsew · 22/10/2021 20:02

My mum's bero cookbook fell apart eventually but I loved looking at it! All her 70s ones. I took her 80s Delia Smith home to read and thought I'd do some of the recipes I remembered fondly but they haven't aged well at all!

ColaPip · 22/10/2021 20:08

I used to spend hours looking through it as a kid and dream up fancy dinner party menus. Loved the chocolate clock cake - I'd forgotten all about it and then DM surprised me by making it for my 43rd birthday Smile

julieca · 22/10/2021 20:08

I have these and Farmhouse Chicken, and still cook recipes from both.
Spinach and lentil roulade in Hamlyn is lush as is savoy cabbage parcels.

RufustheBadgeringReindeer · 22/10/2021 22:12

got the Vegetarian book Rufus. There are two mushroom soup recipes, Cream of Mushroom and Country Mushroom. I could take a picture of whichever you are after if that’s allowed? Need someone to tell me how to attach a photo though! 😀

Ooooooo….think it was the cream of recipe

I think its allowed

So you click on the choose file button just underneath your posting box and then take a picture of the recipe on your phone or ipad…then it tells you what to do as ive forgotten