Tuesday, 18 November 2025

If you show me yours, I'll show you ...

 He we are me dears as promised with a little rummage through my library of cookery books. Ms. First Nations was kind enough to show us hers. (click to see) It's well worth a look. Here are a few of my 336 cookery books.

 

 

Joy of Liberace - recipes from America's kitchiest kitchen; by Michael Feder & Karen Feder 2007. A fun book not meant to be taken seriously methinks.
 



Guide to Modern Cookery A. English translation of Le guide Culinaire by Auguste Escoffier. first published 1903 mine 1966.


This is the book I would recommend to anyone starting out on there own or setting up house for the first time. I have known and loved it all my life

The Penguin cookery book, by Bee Nilson; first published 1952 mine 1976. It has been so well loved and used that it is falling apart but No I do not want a new copy. 


My mother didn't have proper cookery books but booklets like this. This is not her copy but I bought it because it reminds me of being with her in the kitchen when I was little

 Trex Cookery - 1st edition, 3rd Impression 1954


The Food of Spain by Claudia Roden 2012. I adore Claudia Roden and this book is a masterpiece.


Modern cookery for private families by Eliza Acton, first published 1845 mine 1966. Far superior to Mrs Beaton.


I used to adore him as a nipper and he probably inspired me to be a chef

Graham Kerr cook book by The Galloping Gourmet. first published 1969 mine1972


Jane Grigson's Vegetable Book, first published 1978 mine 1980. A treasure trove of information and history


Le Repertoire de la Cuisine by Louis Saulnier, first published 1914 mine1960.

Before smart phones and the world wide web every chef had a copy of this in their bag. It was essential.


Fanny and Johnnie Cradock Cookery Programme- full set of 80 magazines in 5 Binders

and I am very proud of them. 


The Cooking of South West France by the American food writer Paula Wolfert 1987. I adore this book, just looking at the cover makes me want to pick it up cook something from it.


A dear departed friend bought this for me and got them both to sign it. It is treasured

 
 
 
 

Ms. First Nations posted her favourite Italian cookery book (The Art of Italian Cooking by  Maria Lo Pinto & Milo Miloradovich) which is now book 336 in my collection and I love it.

This is still my fave The Essentials of Classic Italian Cooking by Marcella Hazan first published 1992 mine 2011.


Just one more book to go and it is a cracker. It was written 1948 for the wives of the engineers working on the Panama Canal and living in the Jungle.

Tropical cooking in Panama by Gladys Graham. First published 1948 mine 1983

I would try the Raccoon recipe but I don't like Sweet Potato.

 

Ttfn

and Toodle loo 

Friday, 31 October 2025

The Delargo Gardens - October

 Here we are me dears and I'm sorry to keep you waiting for the gates open. We are well and truly into Autumn but while other plants are dying back the salvias don't seem to mind  


 This a new addition to the garden Salvia involucrata and we love it.
 

 If Amistad is the king of salvias then this is the Drag Queen of salvias.

Salvia Rockin Fuchsia

Salvia patens 'Patio Deep Blue'

Salvia 'Mirage Cherry Red' 

 
Salvia Amistad
 

 Salvia 'Nachtvlinder'

 Salvia Uliginosa

 Salvia Love and Wishes 

 Salvia Salgoon Lake Blueberry

 Salvia greggii Joy 

 Salvia Ember's Wish

 
Salvia 'Day Glow'
 
 
Salvia Amethyst Lips
 

 Salvia guarantica Amante

Salvia African Sky 

That's most of the salvias covered but we do have more (yes we can get obsessive about plants). 

Now it's time to jump into the Land Rover for a tour of the rest of our vast estate 





after that bumpy ride you deserve a rest and some refreshment. this is the view from our VIP hospitality Lounge 

The Summer Bedding is still going. 

And we have the first harbinger of Spring even if Winter has not started yet. Our lovely Polyanthus which we been trying to keep going from last year have decided to flower.

We are getting ever closer to the long awaited Fuchsia Fest. This month sneak preview is a double whammy Fuchsia Glitters with Fuchsia triphylla 'Thalia' behind.

Donny doesn't like this time of year when the garden starts to die back going into Winter. In fact he has not moved since last month. The Mexican Flea Bane has started to grow around him but I know that he has been going through the seed catalogues and planning next year.

There tiz then me darlins. We hope to see you back in the garden next month

Till then It's TTFN from Donny

and TTFN from me

Toodle Pip