Mrs Harvey's Sister-in-law And Other Tasty Dishes

The Age

Tuesday October 7, 2008

Justine Costigan

Mrs Harvey's Sister-In-Law and Other Tasty Dishes

By Margaret Dunn. Murdoch Books, $34.95

Mrs Harvey's Sister-in-Law is a beautifully bound collection of recipes compiled by Margaret Dunn, a historian, diplomat's wife and hostess now in her late 80s. Originally published in the 1970s as Mother Was a Good Cook Too, Mrs Harvey's Sister-In-Law is filled with recipes gathered during her travels. Filled with anecdotes about where and when the recipes were collected the book evokes an era of baking days, cocktail soirees and polite afternoon teas. A curiosity more than a practical cookbook, all of the recipes are in imperial measurements and the "exotic" recipes seem very tame given the way Australians shop, cook and eat in the 21st century. The best part of the book is the extensive pudding and cake recipe section, which includes baked thatch pudding, ardmore pudding and polka pudding (all fascinating variations on a combination of eggs, milk and sugar). --- JUSTINE COSTIGAN

© 2008 The Age

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