My go to cookbook....

Most of us have a 'go to' cookbook that we always go to when we come across something we aren't sure about.....I now have two!

My first one.....is probably my favourite however that is probably because it happens to be my old textbook from high school and how I came to have in my possession some 30 years after leaving school I don't know. 

It has 'class set', property of Home Economics Department, Boronia Technical School stamped all over it.....oops! 

Ooops, Cookery The Australian Way - The inside cover!

 I must have nicked it, can't remember doing it but I must have. 

I must have liked it and found it to be most helpful and I have to say I was correct, it has been like a bible to me. 

For the basics it is definitely my 'go to' cookbook. I just love it.....I've scribbled recipes on the bottom of pages and in the back 'notes' section. I've spilt all sorts of stuff throughout it. 

My favourite recipes....funny to read them now.

 Pages are torn, the cover and spine are quite tragic and being a lover of cook books....I do have A LOT, I should really be ashamed that I have treated it so badly.

It's tired but well loved.

I have often thought about trying to get a updated reprinted version but it just wouldn't be the same....I need this cookbook, without it, I'd be hopeless in the kitchen. I think it's my security blanket, the thought of not being able to grab it actually makes me feel a little bit sick, not to mention nervous. I don't think I could cook toast without it. How sad am I?

But my newest favourite is fabulous and I'm sure I'm going to love it just the same, if not more, and, I think it actually is 'bible like' and I mean that not disrespectfully.

This book I love.....big thank you to my Aunty Faith who gave it to me for my 40th birthday.

It covers everything you need to know about anything you want to know. I just love it.

 I'm sure this book is going with me everywhere I go from now on 'til the rest of my days. It's become the first book I pick up when I want to learn about a particular fruit or vegetable. It will tell me the history and interesting facts, then it has recipes to accompany it, it tells you what it will go with and gives you many many options. I will be forever grateful to have this book.
BIG BIG Thanks to my Aunty Faith who gave it to me for my 40th birthday some years ago, it must have just about taken up all her weight allowance on the flight over from Australia. It weighs a tonne.

But to finish, after all these years of 'owning' Cookery the Australian Way, just today I discovered this little poem at the end of the introduction and it is so true.

I guessed the pepper; the soup was too hot!
I guessed the water; it dried in the pot!
I guessed the salt; and-what do you think?
We did nothing else the whole day but drink!

I guessed the sugar; the sauce was too sweet!
And so by my guessing I spoiled our treat;
And now I guess nothing, for cooking by guess
Is sure to result in a terrible mess.

I can't believe I had never read this until today, I wish I had've seen it earlier, it might have spared my family some traumatic eating experiences.