A Vintage Treasure

One of my most favourite ways to pass an hour or two is to rifle through the shelves of secondhand books in a local bookshop. Oh my! There are thousands to wade through and I always leave with a gem or two (some of which I have been meaning to show you…).

One of my most favourite friends had clocked this and for Christmas gave me a present that she suddenly had second thoughts about. Would I love it? Would I think she was completely batty?

She’s one of those people who always manages to come up trumps when it comes to, well, everything but presents too. I loved it. It was an old book called Dundee Homecraft Book: Cookery, Laundry, Housewifery.

It’s not much to look at, especially compared with today’s offerings that have to, seemingly, have pages and pages of wonderful photos. Actually, it doesn’t have a single one. It doesn’t contain any illustrations either save for a few ads.

I don’t know how old it is, the first page is missing, but the next page tells me it’s for use in school and home and is “Compiled by a Committee of Dundee Domestic Science Teachers”. Now, doesn’t that sound wonderful, to be a domestic science teacher….

It has so many recipes, from the edible to how to make soap jelly and gum water (whatever that is). It is also very bossy. There’s a list to follow for Preparation of Washing which includes 5. Half fill boiler and set fire. 6. Collect materials, make soap jelly, starch etc. 7. Prepare dinner and do any extra housework.

And that’s before you’ve even done any actual washing!

A favourite bit, of what I’ve read so far, is called Invalid Cookery. It contains so many orders such as “Obey doctor’s orders exactly”. You must also serve nourishing and appetising dishes, seasoned lightly and with as much variety as possible. “Serve food daintily and punctually”. Oh how I love it!

It also makes me wonder what exactly I do with my time…