DECADENCE & AUSTERITY

Had a bit of a nostalgia binge this afternoon. Went through Mary Frances Heddle's (my mam's) 80 year old notebook of "Tried Recipes" looking for inspiration...

Very talented lady, my mam - having to drop out of university when her father died, she got a job cooking for "Bart's" Hospital.

Getting lumbered with me, she made most of my clothes while my useless father went off to sow his wild oats around the USA & Australia.

She kept on cooking for schools & hotels to put me through private education. Oh dear - then she met Dickie - useless stepfather!

Anyway these pages caught my fancy - the "Decadence" one's funny in that she misspells  Coco Tara & two lines down  - 3 oz Rum (4 is better!)

The "Austerity" one shows wartime constraints - no butter - suet - does anyone use suet these days? Boil for 3 hrs!! (in a bag!)