The Big Red Book

I mentioned this the other week and people asked for more details. In 1999, I realised I had loads of clippings, postcards, and bits and pieces tucked inside recipe books and generally floating untidily round the kitchen. I found an old hardback A4 notebook and covered it with some leftover wrapping paper.

Ever since then, I have been sticking things in and using it for general purpose notes.

Some things are just purely sentimental – postcards from Liz and Steph. Other things are useful and referred to often. Some things are just there to make me smile.

“Feed a family of four for £21 a week” is a Shirley Goode article from 1983. I still use some of these recipes. I keep the recipe for Amish Funnel Cakes – but for the sake of my health, do not bake them! The bake-ahead for Christmas booklets have some useful ideas in.

Like PomPom and her craft project books, I will admit to keeping recipes I probably won’t ever make- but they inspire me, and give me something to read if I am bored. If things become out-of-date or irrelevant, I just stick new things over the top.

The Lists are particularly useful –

• what did I give people for Christmas in years gone by [and what did they give me – write it down immediately and then send a thankyou note]
• which hair colourant coloured the grey/made my head itch/worked well/looked awful
• a typical week’s Wartime Rations [you never know!]
• timetable and order of event’s for August Holiday Club Preparation – starting in March!

This cartoon came from one of the girls in 1992

I cannot remember who sent me this one

This is a sweet wrapper which came back from the States in 2002

I shall post a couple of the useful recipes later!