I shall be shouting at the TV

[Kaz]

I think you're right Di, time was whether you enjoyed it or not you had to be able to prepare and cook. I don't often enjoy cooking - although I go through phases when I do enjoy it - but I can cook and am self-taught aside from the basics I learned at school, as my mum lacked both skill and the patience to teach me - she couldn't stand anyone under her feet in the kitchen

I learned to cook cakes and bread when I was a skint single mum, when I was younger and first married I had a Good Housekeeping book as a wedding present and that was a godsend. I even used to throw dinner parties for my first husband when he had his own business and needed to schmooze clients - home made pate, boeuf bourgignon, pavlova etc etc Hence the Abigails Party frocks etc

These days if I was starting out I suspect I wouldn't have learned any of those skills - it would have been all prepared carrots and M&S ready to pop in the oven

[Workingman]

Kaz, my ex still has our old copy of Good Housekeeping. I has lost its colourful flyleaf; and its dark buff fabric binding simply embossed with 'Good Housekeeping' is now brown and oil stained.

It came from a publishers' remainder stall and was our bible. It covered everything from boiling an egg to producing a banquet, and some of the recipes (full instructions) I still have in my head for spagbol. chilli-con-carne. chicken cook times..... In its time it was the 'Delia' of cookbooks for so many of us.

[Diflower]

I still have mine, it was the first book I ever bought from the book club when I was about 17
Finally ditched the bits of wrapper about 3 years ago, but it's been in use all that time.
However many cookbooks I have it's still the one I go to for all sorts of things

[Gal]

These days if I was starting out I suspect I wouldn't have learned any of those skills - it would have been all prepared carrots and M&S ready to pop in the oven

Ah now Jen just goes online and googles say, chicken recipes, and then follows the instructions from her laptop....so you really don't need to be shown to cook by a parent these days I don't think. She actually despairs of me when it is my night to cook and I throw a frozen pie and chips in the oven - she enjoys it though, so revels in prepping and messing about wth flavourings and spices etc. I cba...... Although, she has given me inspiration many a night if I have forgotten to take any meat out of the freezer, how to get by with a bit of pasta, cream and veg

[Kaz]

Yes that's great Gal, Jen obviously has the inclination to seek the info out, and enjoys doing it, but I doubt I would have. I think I would just have gone for the ready prepared stuff if it had been available then, but in those days you really had to cook!

I had my copy of the GH book for about 20 years - it was soooo useful - but then in 2000 my ex and I moved out of our small bungalow for 6 months whilst it was being renovated. We went into a tiny rental so had to put most of our stuff in storage, and unfortunately a lot of my books and LPs ( ) got ruined in a flood So it was gone............

[debih]

L and her friends made these today. (Bad photo)

Three twelve year olds and a you tube video = rainbow heart cookies.

The only adult input was me sharing the link of how to make them on facebook.

If 3 pre teenagers can make something like that I'm damned sure adults can learn to cook!

[Diflower]

That looks terrific Debih!

Yes of course they can, but they don't, and many don't know where/how to start - and don't even realise they should, with all the ready-prepared stuff available.
Also, as we've all said, the amount of money being spent is truly unbelievable, so they have no idea about budgeting either - then wonder how come they're in so much debt.
A good start would be to draw out cash for shopping, it's much more real when you have to hand it over and see the pile going down.
It's a sad fact that an awful lot of 'adults' seem to have no clue about being a grown-up

[Workingman]

Gal, it is great news that Jen has enough about her to want to try and is able to follow the instructions, especially as she likes doing it; and I bet is not afraid to try out new recipes. Unfortunately there are not enough of her type about.

I went on the internet and an updated version (2010) of the GH cookbook is available for £30. That's a bargain, and the money will be paid back in no time. It's my daughter's birthday in May......... hmmm.

I want a rainbow cookie, well done those pre-teens.

Di, that idea about cash is fabulous. Draw out only so much and once it is gone there is no more till next week. It would make these bozos think twice......

[Diflower]

Amazon £20.40

[debih]

I have a really old GH cookbook - it's still in the original box it was posted in.

It is very, very Fanny Cradock.