Food, books, nostalgia – yum!
Posted by Kirsty
July 11, 2008
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I didn’t read traditional childrens’ books when I was wee, much to my regret nowadays. While proper kids were reading Enid Blyton and Judy Blume, I skipped straight to Point Horror and the classics. Yes, I was precocious, but I didn’t put my precociousness to very effective use. Anyways, my literary foibles don’t stop me enjoying this delicious book by Jane Brocket, of yarnstorm fame.
I don’t talk much on this blog about my career in publishing, as it doesn’t usually coincide with our mantra of craft, style, and adventure, but my two worlds have happily collided here, as my company is Jane’s publisher. The office has been whisked down memory lane to the kitchen of our childhoods as we’ve been getting ready for publication yesterday. Everything about the childrens’ literature of yesteryear was wholesome – including the breakfast, elevenses, lunches, afternoon teas, teas, suppers, and midnight feasts that they consume. I particularly loved the idea of Milly-Molly-Mandy’s fried onions – so simple yet so tasty and a little bit cheeky. I always relish the idea of eating something when you’re not supposed to – left-over curry for breakfast, yoghurt for dinner – and the wholly benign naughtiness of eating just onions is quite fun.
Although I place the utmost faith in Jane’s recipes (I haven’t tried any out yet, but her editor has and they are scrummy), this book is made by the descriptions and extracts from the literature that she draws inspiration from. Themed recipe books abound, but this is more like a compendium of childrens’ literature with the added bonus of tasty treats!
2 comments Categories: adventure, books, recipes
July 11th, 2008 at 1:26 pm
Ooh this book looks lovely! What a nice cover. I seem to be spending more and more time reading recipe or food books rather than novels at the moment.
Might have to put this on my birthday wish list!
July 11th, 2008 at 1:47 pm
It all sounds very Enid Blyton! Ginger beer and kippers, anyone?