HOW TO CHEAT AT COOKING - Thanks Delia. Oh and a recipe for apple sauce

 

Meal-times come around too often and if you have better things to do than slave over a hot stove then this is the book for you.

Delia Smith published, 'How to cheat at cooking' in 1971, the book was a massive hit, as she was somewhat revolutionary at the time, young, pretty, different - on TV, even on Swap Shop telling us kids how to cook basic stuff - she was thirty, apparently. Delia captured her audience, the short of time, overworked, penny aware, younger mums of the day who identified with her view that things were changing, these women (this is what it was like then) were eager to put good food for the family on the table quickly. 

Cheaters don't chop, she suggests, buy a magimix or chop veg when you have time on your hands and freeze it. Or buy it chopped.

Buy grated cheese, she advocates. Yes Delia, I'll spend twice as much money on half as much cheese.

Escape long hours of kitchen drudgery by a little kitchen 'cheating'.

Is Delia the reason why the current generation can't cook? 'Cos their mothers learned to cheat. or is it that Delia said use convenience foods and add little touches to please family and friends.

In 1971 when this book came out, housewives bought shopping from new fangled markets that were prefixed 'super'. At the time olive oil was still bought at 'Boots the Chemist' and meals that weren't English and traditional would be considered as that foreign muck to most. 

In the 1970's my Mum was in her early forties and we all were young, she fed us well and she did it on a tight budget, she was pressed for time, back from work as a teacher, then she cooked tea, then she marked her students homework at the kitchen table having washed up. Or she ironed ours and his clothes. Mum had four lads and a husband to feed and a house and all to look after. 

Our family ate traditional food and Mum was a great baker, Chelsea buns, cakes including a brandy fed Christmas, or a Simnel Cake at Easter were a joy, fab gingerbread mum made in minutes,  Her puddings I remember with happy sadness. Other meals like stews went into a pressure cooker. Pasta was baked. In later life Mum loved to cater for us all and our families at special or seasonal gatherings. 

Pic: My daughter Sarah, about five with my Mum in the background.

I was in what was in old money 'second year' at high school and there was a flyer for new books that circulated monthly and it must of been mum's birthday or mothers day as I bought her using my fag money, yes you guessed it, Delia Smith's 'How to cheat at cooking', it was probably 35p in paperback. I thought it might make her life easier, or more likely, we might get something else to eat, or, if I get her this it's better than the Geranium I bought her last year.

Anyway the book came and an older kid saw it, so on the school bus from Kirkby Lonsdale via Hutton Roof (aka Button Moon) to Burton in Kendal. All I heard was, Read's Mum cheatz at cookin, Read's Mum cheats at cookin', a chant all the way back on that journey

I think that was a turning point for me aged thirteen or so. So thanks Delia. The book's title indicated to my not so skool chums that cheating was improper when Delia meant make it easy for yourself. 

I took it as do it properly then NO ONE CAN TAKE THE PISS. So thanks Delia because that's what I have been trying to do ever since. In the kitchen and at work and everywhere. You use your knowledge, your skills and your equipment to ensure you do things as best you can.

Have I ever bought apple sauce in my memory at the Co-op? Well. No.

Would I make it in a microwave, no, but if that is what you do then that's fine. Me? I make it in a pan.

Recipe:-

Apples - Bramley are best but any will do. Peel and chop into rough bits throw in a pan add just a little water, bring to a gentle simmer, add a pinch of cinnamon, a pinch of ginger powder, a pinch of salt and a half tsp of mustard (Dijon) and some brown sugar, then lemon juice. Then it's down to you, taste it, is it sweet or sour. Adjust as you want for flavour and for texture.

Delia has sold over 20 million copies of her books and they are all available in any charity shop.