Cookery programmes

I remember one cookery lesson where they taught us to dry clean clothes you used the foam from washing up liquid in water. What a load of rubbish, but we were taken to The Ideal Home show which I loved.

I use a Fanny Craddock recipe for my Christmas puddings..

On Countryfile last night, there was a restaurant chef from Cornwall, doing recipes from little known types of fish. They looked good, but he had long hair and a beard, nothing like Philip whose beard was quite neat, and wearing chef clothing. This one looked like he had just come in from the harbour.

Yes, all that hairiness was rather offputting.

growstuff

Lincslass

Remember watching Fanny Craddock, awful woman. Favourites now Hairy Bikers, down to earth, and James Martin, with a bit of Jamie now and again.
Worst thing was getting rid of cookery in schools for boys and girls.

Sorry, don't agree. I didn't do cookery at school. Most male chefs didn't either.

I didn't do cookery at school either but had a good teacher in my Mum (and Dad too).

Fewer children learn the basics of cooking at home nowadays than we did. However, I'm still not sure about taking up some of the curriculum with cookery lessons.

I do like Rick Stein, Mary Berry and The Hairy Bikers although I don't think I've made any of Rick Stein's recipes. I just like the travelling and chat.
Delia Smiths's recipes always work.

Oh yes, Keith Floyd. He was great. I like Rick Stein and am always delighted to see his dirty Aga door! I think his fingers must be made of asbestos.

I watched an old programme of Fanny Craddock. I remember her on tv when I was young what an untidy cook she was compared to Delia. James Martin makes me sick he wipes his dirty hands on his clothes. I loved watching Keith Floyd now Jamie Oliver and Rick Stein are my favourites. They are both very organised and continually clean down the work surfaces and hands.

I wish I had had cookery classes at school. I went to a grammar school and those considered not up to learning a second foreign language did ‘domestic science’. I was one who was told to learn another language whilst my friend did ‘DS’. Absolutely zero choice apart from between Spanish and German. I hated my time at that school.

I don't watch the cookery programmes but I did accidentally catch a Delia Smith demo once and I remember thinking what an excellent teacher she is.

I don't enjoy cooking at all but we occasionally get invited to 'supper parties' round here which seem to be the old fashioned dinner parties by another name, so I occasionally have to reciprocate. For me, this involves a trip to Waitrose or MnS Food.

We did have cookery classes at my school but it was girls only. The boys had 'manual training' - yes, you may well ask!
I remember making a gingham apron and matching hat before we were allowed in the kitchen. I think that took up a whole term. After that we made a sponge cake and I was told off for letting the egg curdle. I don't remember anything else about it.

Yes Calendargirl, I remember Philip Harben, yes a neat beard, also Fanny Craddock (was she always half cut or was it an act?) and Clement Freud who I couldn’t stand. If I remember rightly FC was always dressed up like a dog’s dinner with false eyelashes. As you do when slaving over a hot stove. There was also a lady who seemed like a proper old fashioned cook who did nice plain but tasty looking food, Mrs. Something. Mrs Dale comes to mind but that’s not right I know. Mrs (Something’s) Kitchen I think the programme called. So much more watchable and instructive than all the competitive stuff and celebrities today.

I agree the cookery classes, at school didn't teach us a lot. Making something once with a teacher standing over you isn't really going to drum the recipe and method into your head.
Maybe if you did the same 5 basic dishes over the year, designed to teach different cooking techniques (baking, stir frying, marinading, etc) interspersed with classes on nutrition etc it might be better.

I did O level Nutrition and Cookery in the 1960s. It covered the basics from pastry, pickling, stews, different types of cakes, Invalid cookery and much more. There were two boys in the class but the Woodwork teacher wouldn’t allow girls in his class.

Anyone remember Philip Harben I think his name was? The first tv chef, had a beard. I seem to recall he was on at Sunday teatime when I was a little girl.

On Countryfile last night, there was a restaurant chef from Cornwall, doing recipes from little known types of fish. They looked good, but he had long hair and a beard, nothing like Philip whose beard was quite neat, and wearing chef clothing. This one looked like he had just come in from the harbour.

Shinamae

Luckygirl

My mother saw no joy in cooking and every meal was served with a huge dollop of resentment.

Gosh .... I thought I was the only one!!!

Me as well!!

Me too! And living in a Third world tropical island with no refrigeration…. Poor thing!

What annoys me are the fancy ingredients everyone seems to use. It’s all very well living in a big metropolis with large “ethnic” populations, but in the small rural towns, we don’t have such luxuries.

I remember seeing Fanny Craddock making a mincemeat omlette for christmas it looked yummy (NOT!) Goodness knows why people used to watch her. I also remember Mary Berry on a magazine programme in the 70s she was a good cook then. I have a load of cookery books. I have Mrs Beatons Cooking and Household managment book which I brought years ago. It is a lot of money to buy today.

Luckygirl

*My mother saw no joy in cooking and every meal was served with a huge dollop of resentment.*

Gosh .... I thought I was the only one!!!

Me as well!!

Chardy

I dislike both cooking programmes and those food slots on morning TV. They seem to constantly present (posh and expensive) meat, fish dishes and calorific desserts/cakes.
Special recipes for coeliacs/diabetics etc might be a plus. Speedy supper meals for busy people, veggie dishes to reduce the amount of meat we eat, even meat/fish dishes with vegan alternative ingredients would stop me switching off.

I agree Chardy. I quite like some of the BBC Food recipes, especially their collections for low carb or using up left overs, etc. I have quite a lot of them saved in my "folder". I can't remember the last time I watched a cookery programme on TV.

My mum served up wonderful home cooking with hardly any money. However I dread cooking for anyone other than myself and OH. Nothing ever seems to go right or nobody likes it. I've got Delias original cookbook and tried numerous recipes over the years. However none of my children have ever shown any appreciation of food on the table and still say 'what's this' or 'what's in it' and often leave most. I like watching Hairy Bikers for the scenery, find Gino's programmes funny and don't mind Masterchef, but they will never make me confident in the kitchen. I've always said to my oh when we win the lottery I'm hiring a chef. Dollops of resentment been served for years at our house.

I didn't do "food lessons". I've seen what my children did and, unless they opted for GCSE, they didn't learn much. Very few boys opt for GCSE Food.

I dislike both cooking programmes and those food slots on morning TV. They seem to constantly present (posh and expensive) meat, fish dishes and calorific desserts/cakes.
Special recipes for coeliacs/diabetics etc might be a plus. Speedy supper meals for busy people, veggie dishes to reduce the amount of meat we eat, even meat/fish dishes with vegan alternative ingredients would stop me switching off.

growstuff

Lincslass

Remember watching Fanny Craddock, awful woman. Favourites now Hairy Bikers, down to earth, and James Martin, with a bit of Jamie now and again.
Worst thing was getting rid of cookery in schools for boys and girls.

Sorry, don't agree. I didn't do cookery at school. Most male chefs didn't either.

Boys have been doing Food lessons, same as girls for 40 years or more.

Deedaa that Pioneer Woman must be exhausted I mean the numbers she caters for and all that cheese and more cheese and cream! They are shameless?
I remember watching Fanny Craddock on Tv as a little girl. Looking back, she was ghastly with that harsh eye makeup and “gash” of lipstick. Hardly an inspirational cook.
I can’t remember anyone else until Delia Smith unless we count The Galloping Gourmet anyone remember him? He was pure entertainment though.
I loath and detest Master Chef in all its forms and it seams to have an endless series on BBC suppose someone must like it….*TEN MINUTES!!!*

I cooked a Delia recipe today: Meatloaf. I’ve made it loads of times but still use the big (rather tatty now) black cookery course book to refresh my memory
I also made tomato sauce to accompany it - also Delias’ and served it with pasta. It was absolutely delicious.
The Beery Hikers, Rachael Koo, and Nigel Slater are good and convincing cooks.
They make me believe that if I follow their instructions it will turn out and on Television they are enthusiastic and give the impression they can’t wait to try the food.
Others maybe entertaining and have lovely kitchens, attractive friends and adoring children but most are showboating imo. Oh just remembered Nadia too? all practical and makeable

Lincslass

growstuff

Lincslass

Remember watching Fanny Craddock, awful woman. Favourites now Hairy Bikers, down to earth, and James Martin, with a bit of Jamie now and again.
Worst thing was getting rid of cookery in schools for boys and girls.

Sorry, don't agree. I didn't do cookery at school. Most male chefs didn't either.

A good life skill. Not everyone wants to take it further.

I'm not a bad cook, but I learnt everything from having a couple of decent cookery books (and Delia's Evening Standard recipes). I've had to learn about nutrition since I was diagnosed as diabetic over 30 years ago. I learnt about nutrients in science, not cookery. I'm glad I didn't do cookery at school and had time to do subjects which interested me.

I've got the Delia Smith cookery course that I bought for £1 about 25 years ago and use regularly for checking cooking times, temperatures and so on. Jamie's first Italian cookery book is one I use a lot and a couple of Gino da Campo's. My guilty secret is watching The Pioneer Woman on Food Network. Some of her American recipes are so different from anything we normally cook but some of them are really good.

growstuff

Lincslass

Remember watching Fanny Craddock, awful woman. Favourites now Hairy Bikers, down to earth, and James Martin, with a bit of Jamie now and again.
Worst thing was getting rid of cookery in schools for boys and girls.

Sorry, don't agree. I didn't do cookery at school. Most male chefs didn't either.

A good life skill. Not everyone wants to take it further.