Keep Calm & Fanny On

Photo © Anne-Marie Minhall

Sometimes Christmas comes early.

This is one of those days.

From the postman, (who is still in shorts & it's -1,) there's a gift of a festive recipe book from friends in Paisley by the legendary cook, Fanny Cradock (not forgetting devoted husband, Johnnie).

‘Coping with Christmas’ has everything you needed back in 1968 to make a perfect season including recipes for lunch & supper. How to keep children fed & amused. Ideas as to how to set your table, how to make your own decorations, how to deal with guests ..

Over breakfast a glimpse has already revealed how to prepare ‘Hard Boiled Egg Swans’ & an ‘Ale Posset’ .. 

Oh & not to mention ‘Dorset Knobs’ plus ‘Mum’s Bangers’ ..

Need to keep your visitors well-watered? Then there’s advice on Christmas drinks covering wine & hot & cold drinks. One chapter to catch my eye is titled 'Preparing for the Fray' in which Fanny declares: "Christmas can be sheer hell for the average wife & mum, especially if she is in for a 'Plague of Relations' as well as everything else!"

I'm also looking forward to reading: 'Slap Happy Crisis Substitutes for Serious Cookery.' There are also a couple of pages containing ideas for 'Emergency Supplies' ..  These include ..

Ready?

Sugar Mice from Woolworth's for children

Jigsaws to keep little ones quiet after meals

Beer for late night thirsties

Face pack for Mum

Alka Seltzer

Money for Carol singers

I cannot wait to fully submerge myself into the pages of this tome. Here’s a woman who was undoubtedly a tour de force in cookery - she once sold out the Royal Albert Hall for a performance - she was a trailblazer & an inspiration to others to cook differently.

However ..

One senses that she was also not an easy character or individual to have to work or deal with. Pulled no punches. Condescending at times, incredibly rude at others both of which contributed to her downfall from grace.

Let’s finish though with a thought from her about Christmas Cake. She once justified the cost of ingredients by saying: "We do want one piece of decent cake in the year."

You can't argue with that.

AMM