POSSUM PIE, BEETROOT BEER AND LAMINGTONS - A COOKBOOK WITH A DIFFERENCE

2011_Possum_Pie_RGB72.jpgPossum Pie, Beetroot Beer and Lamingtons is not your average cookbook. You won't find glossy images of finished dishes, or step-by-step instructions – even measurements are scarce. But, what you will find is more than 500 lost Australian family recipes from as early as 1868 (covering two World Wars) through to 1950, when the good housewife reigned supreme.

Uncovering dishes from Australia's early culinary scene, Possum Pie, Beetroot Beer and Lamingtons includes the recipes for: Australian Soup, Kangaroo Tail Soup, Cheese Pudding, Banana Salad, Hungry Boy's Cake and an old favourite, Flummery.

Perhaps the most appealing part of the book is the hilarious advertisements and advice from the day sprinkled throughout. Did you know that 'dieting at any age should never be undertaken without consulting a doctor first?' And that ‘bad cooking can lead to divorce?’ – look out wives and husbands of Australia. The book also explains that a school lunch should include three sandwiches, two savoury and one sweet, a scone with butter and an apple and orange.

Read a sample chapter of Possum Pie, Beetroot Beer and Lamingtons by Victoria Heywood, or to purchase a copy.