This section of the blog is a little different from the rest. But stay with me as it’s an exciting new project.
Here, you’ll find a collection of untested historic British recipes gathered from old cookbooks, leaflets, handwritten notes, and out-of-print publications.
You’ll find recipes that haven’t yet been tried in a modern kitchen but are too interesting to leave forgotten on the page.
Rather than testing every recipe myself, I’m inviting you to take part in bringing these recipes back to life.
I would love to create a shared kitchen project by building a collaborative space for anyone who enjoys traditional British recipes, food history, old cookbooks, leaflets, & magazines, and old handwritten family recipes.
Each recipe shared will have its original format included, but when needed, it will also have a few modifications or adaptations that I have worked through just so that it can make sense for our modern kitchens.
It would be wonderful if you would have a go at the recipe within your own kitchen and report back here to us at oldbritishrecipes how you got on – Leigh@oldbritishrecipes.com
However, do keep in mind that the recipes are untested, so results will vary!
But that is the fun of experimenting with old recipes!
If you’d like to take part, then this is how it will work:
- Choose a recipe that interests you
- Try it out in your own way
- Share your experience with us here by commenting below the recipe post or sending an email to: Leigh@oldbritishrecipes.com
You can share what worked and what didn’t, any additions, any suggestions for improvements, any tips or advice, etc.
If you take photos, you’re very welcome to send them to the blog email. With your permission, I can add your results to the recipe post along with your notes to help other readers. You’re also welcome to contribute anonymously if you prefer. Just let me know.
What to expect:
These recipes are untested, so results may vary. Older recipes were often written with very little detail, and measurements, timings, and methods were not always precise. Cooks were expected to already possess a vast knowledge of cooking. Therefore, part of the testing process is interpreting them and adapting where needed.
But that’s part of the interest and part of the fun.
Together, we can build a living collection of old British recipes by bringing them back to life for others to enjoy.
Over time, this section will grow into a shared collection of tested experiences, reader feedback and discussion, and practical adaptations.
It’s hoped that recipes will be tested by many different cooks, developed further and the results shared with everyone. Of course, I will also take an active part in the project and will be testing out the recipes as I go, and updating the recipe posts with new photos and cooking tips, etc.
A final note:
These recipes offer a snapshot into how people cooked in the past, which was often with simple ingredients, resourcefulness, and using ingredients that could be easily accessed, home-grown, and were affordable. Keep that in mind while testing the recipes, and feel free to adapt to your own preferences and needs. By doing so, we bring the recipes alive while catering for our own needs, which in turn maintains the spirit of the recipes’ authenticity.
I am so excited to begin this collaboration, and I hope to connect with many wonderful home cooks from all over the world!
Any questions, please send me an email – Leigh@oldbritishrecipes.com
All the best Leigh x
Update: You can find the first recipe for the project here – Creamy Fried Sandwiches
