Special Stuff – Monday: Cookbooks
Pip is hosting another “A Week of” – this week it’s “A Week of Special Stuff” – and I am going to take part because I have lots of special stuff piling up around the house. I have lots of not-special stuff piling up too, but maybe that will be next week.
This notebook doesn’t actually belong to me, but it’s in my house at the moment and it’s pretty bloomin’ special. It’s my Mum’s first of many cookbooks: “The Robertson Family Cookathon Guide; 1970 est”. One day I will inherit this piece of family history but for now I am borrowing it to mine it for gems for our own sequel “The Robertson McCluskey Cookathon Guide; 2009 est”.
Top: Cover
Middle: Mum’s fab marble cake recipe which I loved as a kid – it was always pink, vanilla and chocolate. And yes, it did tend to be dry.
Bottom: My illustrated recipe for Coconut biscuits – c. 1974 (I know it’s around 1974 because that’s my brother in my Mum’s arms. She did have boots like that. Doesn’t every mother of a newborn… no?)
*** update… hang on, it can’t be 1974, that would make me 2 and I doubt I was writing like this at age 2… so maybe it’s more like 1977 or so ***
Responses
20th July 2009 at 5:45 pm
I love, love, love the way you’ve drawn your brother – brilliant!
Illustration was your destiny 
20th July 2009 at 6:23 pm
I love your recipe! The drawings are gorgeous! No idea where you’d source 4 ounces of butterflies… very exotic
20th July 2009 at 9:34 pm
I have no idea about printer history – but surely the dot-matrix paper is a clue!
I love looking through my mum’s old handwritten recipe notes too!
20th July 2009 at 11:06 pm
The fact that it is drawn on computer paper might help you date the drawing 
21st July 2009 at 1:18 am
That young, whether two or five, and already making recipes and drawing them oit? Still awesome! Love it.
21st July 2009 at 2:53 am
What a fun post…the boots made me think of that song “These boots are made for walking”!!
Hi…I found your blog through the book “Blogging for Bliss” and I’ve enjoyed my visit here!
21st July 2009 at 9:27 am
Very sweet! I’ve noticed that a lot of us who participated featured items from our childhood…must be something nostalgic about the atmosphere these days…:o)
21st July 2009 at 11:08 am
That is so great, remind me one day to show you my great grandmas cookbooks. nice and indian and full of disgustingness….
21st July 2009 at 1:07 pm
Oh how adorable is that drawing!
Funny I was just contemplating making a marble cake!
22nd July 2009 at 1:49 pm
Oh I love it! I sometimes go through my mums recipe notebook which has little 1980s dinner party gems sprinkled through. The drwaing is so gorgeous, thanks for sharing.
24th July 2009 at 2:54 pm
That is very special! I’m starting a collection of family recipes for my 17 year old niece who loves to cook and this has me even more inspired!
20th July 2009 at 5:36 pm
Gold…pure gold. How lucky you are to have this treasure (even if just for a borrow).