Today’s Free Book is:
The Cookery Book by Margaret Powell
ISBN 9781250029263, Hardcover
In the national bestseller Below Stairs, Margaret Powell told readers what it was really like to work in the great houses of England. In Margaret Powell’s Cookery Book, she gives readers a closer look at the world inside the vast kitchens of these great houses. It’s an eye-opening and mouthwatering snapshot of that world. The upstairs dining room always demanded the best of Continental cuisine and, cooking downstairs, Margaret Powell obliged.
Her cookery book is a firsthand account of the way people cooked and dined in the early twentieth century when houses like those in “Upstairs, Downstairs” and “Downton Abbey” were fully staffed and running like clockwork. Describing kitchen equipment such as the black ranges that had to be shined daily, the fancy moulds that needed screen covers to keep out the flies and tubs of ice that were used instead of refrigerators, she tells readers just how big a job it was to keep the upstairs dining table abundantly filled.
Giving away the secrets of the manor, she presents more than 500 recipes, from the simple to the sophisticated. Divided into chapters such as Hors d’oeuvre, Soups, Fish, Entrees, Roasts and Meat Dishes , Savouries, Puddings and others, she shows readers today what it was like to eat well, if you were a member of England’s upper class. Classic, but simple, dishes such as Shepherd’s Pie and Roast Chicken Stuffed with Herbs alternate with sophisticated fare and long-lost recipes like Potatoes a la Florence, Rabbit Pilau, Compote of Snipe, Sardines a la Bombay and Queen Mab Pudding.
With her trademark wit and gimlet eye, she tells readers what it was like to cook for her “betters” but she also states one thing proudly–“Food is more than just food. I like it to be prepared and cooked well, and I like trouble taken over it.” Behind every well-fed family like the Crawleys of “Downton Abbey” or the Bellamys of “Upstairs, Downstairs” was a cook like Margaret Powell and, now, she invites readers everywhere to the feast.
We will choose a winner at random from comments we receive here on the Blog from PBS members.
You have until Sunday, May 22, 2016 at 12 noon EDT, to leave a comment.
Good Luck to everyone!
Note: All the books given away on Free Book Friday are available in the PBS Market. We have thousands of new and new overstock titles available right now, with more added hourly. Some of the prices are amazing – and you can use a PBS credit to make the deal even better!
Remember, every new book purchase supports the club and helps keep membership free!
Tags: Book Recommendations, Book Suggestions, Contests, PBS Market
this looks like a book a Downton Abbey fan like me would love
It would be an honor to receive a book free with such wealth of information. I feel it would be a great benefit to ones home and dinner table. I know I would enjoy trying these recipes.
wow I would love to win this book as I am a deep seeded baker and love to cook as well . I think my husband would benefit of a few more different dishes to add to the super table . thanks for this opportunity
Sounds like an unusual cookbook, and I’d love to have it! Thanks for the chance to win.
Wow!! I read cookbooks like novels as it is so this would be fabulous to receive!! Good luck everybody!!
What a wonderful idea for a “Downton Abbey” dinner party – to use this book as a guide!
looks like a good read. i have the other book.
I want to give this to my Mom! She is currently watching all the seasons and loves to cook.
For some reason your free books are more special; it’s not the money but like a treasure found! Must be the child in me!!!!
I would love to have the book for so many reasons: a huge fan of Downton Abbey, enjoy cooking and like to try new recipes, would love to surprise my friends with some of these … and yes, it is somehow extra special to receive a free book! Good luck to everyone – I know whoever gets it will treasure it.
How fun- a book combining two of my favorite things- Downton Abbey and cooking!
I am hungry just reading the descriptions!! What a fun giveaway!!
Yes, the Downton Abbey connection is intriguing!
I love read about the history of food–this book looks great!
Queen Mab pudding? Sign me up, please!
I would love to have this for some serious Downtonians–thanks for the chance to win it!
How fun this would be, my husband and I love to cook together!!
I loved the series and would like to read the book.
Send books. More books. Lots of books. No, this is not an obsession, just a frequent interest so just BOOKS BOOKS ALL MINE GIMME BOOKS GIMME BOOKS NOW!!!!
Love to cook!! Thank you!
My parents were born in Wisconsin during the first decade of the 20th century, but I’m sure they didn’t eat like this. I’m now into my 4th quarter century of life, gluten-intolerant, but always looking for new dishes that can be adapted to my diet, or that would be of interest to our church First Sunday of every month pot-luck lunch. Wonder what the shepherd’s pie was like in the days before supermarket ground beef?
This would be perfect to start off my summer reading list!
Is it only me who loves to read cookbooks and magazines like Bon Appetit or Food and Wine more than I actually enjoy making the recipes?
This sounds very interesting, I’d love to read it. Maybe I’d try the recipes too!
Wow, after watching all of Downton Abbey, it would be great to revive the period with pictures of food that wound have been served there and fantastic pictures. Having recipes added to the pictures would make it perfect. I would so enjoy this book. Love the chance to try to a Friday book.
This is definitely more than just a cookbook! It would be interesting to read and learn about cooking in another period of time plus get new ideas from traditions of another part of our world.
Love to cook and as a history teacher, I love to read about earlier eras. I believe this book is going on my wish list!
I am an ‘Upstairs, Downstairs” fan. This book sounds quite interesting.
Since I am from Downstairs ancestry, now is the time to be Upstairs and read the book.
Ahhhh – the Pavlovian response has already kicked in – I’m watering at the mouth just thinking about all those delicious recipes!!!!!
Hope to win – I’d love to try a few of them ASAP!
Good luck to everyone!
I adore learning about British food, was lucky enough to go to a British pub and loved the experience. This book sounds like an enjoyable read, I would love to try the “proper” Shepherd’s Pie (un-Americanized).
Not only would my wife love this book, but with being a fan of Downton Abbey, I’d love it, too.
Sounds interesting. I’d love to read about how people ran homes & how they functioned once upon a time.
We Love watching Downtown Abbey and plan to watch Upstairs, Downstairs in the future. I think this would be a very interesting book. Thank you for this contest!
Wow! This is the first time I have clicked on the link and it is one of my wishlist books. Summer is upon us and hubby will be out of school and I would love to surprise him with new recipes to keep him busy. Thanks for the opportunity to win a new book.
Looks like a wonderful bit of British history all wrapped up with recipes!
We just returned from 2 weeks touring western England and Wales, including Shakespeare sites and castles, so this is a timely offering.
Sounds like a very good book! Thanks for the chance to win. 🙂
I love British television and British literature. This book would be awesome in my collection!
I would so enjoy reading this and maybe even attempting to cook some of these old fashion meals! Good luck to everyone entering 🙂
My favorite thing to do on Saturdays is to watch the cooking stations and decide which cook”s book I want to buy this month. Love, love, love collecting cookbooks and trying recipes! Would LOVE this one for my collection! Thanks for op.
Love those period miniseries.
Sounds interesting. I love to cook!
Juicy stories & recipes – sounds good to me.
Looks like a fun and flavorful read!
First time Free Book Friday for me! I think it’s wonderful!!! And the book sounds like an absolute delight!!!
Trying to win for my mom! Thanks for the contest PBS!
Sounds great!
Free Book Friday!
This sounds really good. I would love to have it.
Thanks for this opportunity.