On Monday's Good Food Live Jill Dupleix will be bringing in some of her collection of old cookbooks and talking about how they can still be useful today. If you have any precious old books or recipes you'd like to share with us, tell us about them here.

See you Monday

Well the one that springs to mind is the BeRo cookbook (the first cook book I ever had) I used to make the coffee kisses and frequently inflict them on my family. My Mum recently found the book out and gave it to me it seems incredably dated by todays standards.

The cover is purple with a lady in a red gingham pinny pointing at her BeRo cook book.

Has any one else got this cookbook

Lynne

I've accumulated lots of ancient cookbooks over the years, some of which are written as guides to domesticity for new wives! Probably an 'off-topic' subject these days.
One in particular has given me endless pleasure and can be read as a book rather than referred to for recipes. It is Eliza Acton's book 'Modern Cooking for Private Families' and was first published in 1845. It has been reprinted recently, 1993 I think by Southover Press. It seems that it formed the basis of the famous Mrs Beeton's guide to household management, but Eliza Acton's work was not acknowledged. An early example of the plagiarism so widespread in modern cookery writing.

Ive got a fascinating old cook book issued by The Daily Express called "war time cookery" and lots of little cookery books issued by Trex and Stork which have ALL the basic recipes. I have a really thick Womans Own cook book from the 20's which also has loads of basic recipes. Also a first edition Betty Crocker from the 50's

Be-Ro Yes
Trex.. Yes
Stork.. Yes
Why don't the manufacturers do these any more they were invaluable.
My "Bestest" Cookery Book was an early edition of The Good Housekeeping Cookery Book. It had a yellow hard-backed cover and cost about £5 I think. It was my BIG present from my lovely mum one Christmas when I was very young. and was bought on installments it was so expensive!!! It had a recipe on each page and photos of how to do the dish stage by stage..Wonderful. I have many many cookery books now but it's the one which instantly evokes pleasant memories..

I also have the Bero book...in fact I have 3...one which was mine, one was my mam's and one was my gran's (a brown one) It is a great book for the basics. Often make the dropped scones for the kids.

I also have the complete set of Supercook from the 1970's. There are some great recipes in there...many that I have made time and time again...Beef Brazil was a favourite. mmmmm must have another look in them.

Be Ro still do the books, and Be-Ro flour is still sold but mainly in the far North and Scotland! If you have a look for the address in your books, you should be able to get the phone number to ring and enquire about them, that's what i did! I think the books sell for £1-99 or in that area. Coffee Kisses are still in the book!

Here is the address for Bero...from one of my Bero books...don't know if it is still valid though:

Joyce Bostock
Bero Home Cookery Service
Dept BR10
10, Victoria Rd
London NW10 6NU

I e-mailed Be-ro and got a reply back saying "The 40th edition of the Be-Ro recipe book can be purchased by sending a cheque or postal order for £1.25 which includes p&p made payable to "Be-Ro
recipe book" and sending to

The Be-Ro Kitchen
PO Box 100
Blackburn
Lancs
BBO 1GR

This may take up to 28 days to process."

The Be-ro book is for sale off the shelves, by the flour, in my local Sainsburys.

The Be-ro book is on sale in Morrisons also near flour and baking shelves £1.25

Thanks for that, Gaye and Jackster, i will have a look in those supermarkets to see if they have them here in Leicester! Saves me waiting all that time if they do!

My best cookbook is the Homepride book of home baking C1968 I think. I grew up with this book using it for cake and biscuit recipes as a child. I managed to find one a couple of years ago to add to my collection.

One of my most interesting books is called Patsy's Reflections.

Its a post WW2 book published by the Daily Mirror. Designed for young woman just married, unable to cook and confronted with a range of foods not available during the war. It even teaches you how to make sandwiches.

Unfortunately my wife does not share my passion for old cookbooks and insists that I get rid of an existing book if I want a new one. :-(

Matthew that is utterly utterly terrible. Just don't take any notice and keep all your cookbooks.

When I was but a child I used to use my mums Be-Ro cookbook to make biscuits and other tasty morsels while mum was at work. You did not need 'fancy' ingredients and we almost always had the ingredients. My favourite cookbook of all time would have to be The TV Times Kathie Webber Cookbook published in 1972. It should be described as the Cookbook for Dummies as every recipe works out exactly as described - no failures. Its simply the best. Do they still make this book as I would love to give one to my daughter? Pauline

I have a Stork cookbook which must be about 30 years old and I still use it sometimes. In fact I made gingerbread from a recipe in there only yesterday. It's funny that whilst I have up to date recipe books written by Delia, Jamie, Nigel Slater etc., I still go back to the old faithfulls, I suppose it's because they are basic and are great for family cooking. In fact, my ultimate food bible is a Marguerite Patten book, Every Day Cook Book.

my favourite old cook book is Delia Smiths "The Evening Standard cookbook dated from 1974, and i regularly use the recipes

I have a cook book By Margaret Patten - Cookery in Colour, A picture encyclopedia for every occasion. I got it when I was young in the 60's. I used to use it alot. Some of the recipes I can adapt to make them low fat and no sugar. It is battered, it is torn, it is very very worn. I used to have one that came with my grandmothers cooker. The cooker had the gas taps on it. From the 40's I think. But it has somehow got lost over the years.

Matt the Chef - are you sure you married the right woman?! My other half remains gallantly silent on the topic of my cookbook selection (60+). I have imposed an embargo on myself over the last couple of years, only buy books that genuinely tell me something I don't know, or have completely new ideas. Still give in occasionally though!
My favourite oldie is of course an aged Delia Complete Cookery Course, handed down by my dear mum, complete with some of her notes. She's always been a fantastic cook (that's Mother, as well as Delia!) and the book is foolproof, a great combo. Happy reading all.

Sorry, just seen how old the original 'conversation is - think I should stick to reading not surfing!!

Well swiss Chard, you certainly got people talking again.

hi have a old stork cook book but it is so tatty anyone got the address so i could see if they still make it. i have all knew books but this one is my favourite but half is missing be most grateful if anyone can help me

Try looking in Charity Shops. They are a great source of old cook books.