A rather quirky second-hand kids cook book!

'My Fun-to-Cook Book' illustrated by Martin Mayhew 





I picked up this rather quirky children's cook book from a second-hand book shop recently.  First published in 1969, it's full of these fabulously crazy child-like illustrations by Martin Mayhew which appear to have been done with coloured texta's, felt tips or magic markers.

I love the care-free and relaxed style of the illustrations, and the cute visual step-by-step diagrams to accompany the recipes and cooking methods.  The illustrative style is such a world away from sophisticated computer generated illustrations or stylised photography, but I can see how these simple and fun images would relate to children, and make cooking seem quite easy.

I love having these sort of books as reference material to remind me that everything doesn't have to be 'perfect' or too finished, sometimes a quick scribble can be just as visually effective as a fully polished piece of artwork. 

8 comments:

  1. Hi Lucy, I had this book as a child and have been searching for it, on and off, for years, but I didn't know the writer or illustrator. My copy disintegrated through use, but I can track another one down now. I remember the pictures for iced elephant biscuits and croque monsieur. Thank you so much! Lisa

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  2. Hi Lisa,
    Glad it's bought back some childhood memories for you! The writer of the book is Ursula Sedgwick if this helps. I can't find the recipes for the two you mentioned - although this book is the follow on book to the 'My Learn to Cook Book' so maybe that was the one you had? Good luck hunting it down anyway! Lucy :)

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  3. Hi, I have been searching high and low for this recipe book, as I too remember cooking my favourite recipes as a child. Do you still have the book and if so would you be kind enough to see if you can find some recipes for me? I can remember a farmhouse fruit cake, chocolate crunch and an iced coffee cake (might not be the right names). I would be so grateful if you could check for me. I have managed to find the book in a few online stores at various prices ranging from £30 and really want to make sure its the right one before I buy it :). Thank you so much, Pam

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  4. Hi Pam,
    I can't seem to find any of the recipes you've mentioned in my version of the book. In my book there is a 'Quick Mix Fruitcake' and then things like; Castle Puddings, Pineapple Milk Shake, Toasted Sugarbread, Coconut Cones, Chocolate Butterfly Cakes, Topsy Turvy Cakes, Peanut Butter Cookies, Golden Crisps and Coffee Fudge Cake to name a few recipes. I hope this helps! Lucy

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  5. Thank you for posting pages from the book! I had a copy as a child and it brought back many fond memories.

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  6. Hi Lucy!

    I think this is the books I've been hunting for for a while, does it have a recipe for raspberry buns? Thanks. X

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    Replies
    1. Hi queen jellybean! Yes this cookbook has a recipe for Raspberry buns!! :)

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    2. Did you need the recipe?....

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