PODCAST · arts
Cooking our Books
by Pamela & Helen Cook
Two sisters cooking their way through their mum's treasured recipe books, sharing memories and a glimpse into simpler times.
Episodes
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28 - White Christmas
It’s nearly Christmas, and we’re celebrating with White Christmas, the sweet, creamy, and crunchy slice that's an iconic Australian treat. This no-bake classic is equal parts nostalgia and indulgence. With its mix of Rice Bubbles, coconut, dried fruit, and Copha, it’s a crowd-pleaser for summer...
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27 - Mandarin Choux Buns
Helen’s lifelong hunt for the perfect choux ends here—and yes, it’s as fluffy and fabulous as she dreamed. Here on Cooking Our Books, we whip up Mandarin Choux Buns—airy, elegant, and absolutely irresistible - a swirl of vanilla cream, zesty mandarins, and rich chocolate sauce tucked into a…
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26 - Chokky Rocks
Helen’s son Cameron joins us to settle a long-standing question: which of the three Chokky Rocks recipes in the cookbooks is the best? These classic cornflake biscuits are easy to make, super tasty, and take us on a nostalgic trip. Recipe and pictures are on Instagram cookingourbooks1 Theme music...
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25 - Vienna Almonds
Just four ingredients, one pot, and a lot of quick action. We tackle a deceptively simple Australian Women's Weekly recipe for Vienna Almonds—and it’s trickier than it looks. Plus, Helen spills a few stories from her Europe adventure. Recipe and pictures are on Instagram cookingourbooks1 Theme...
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24 - Hot Cross Buns
It's time to make hot cross buns, and we've got a perfect recipe - they're sweet, spiced, and irresistibly fluffy buns— great for Easter or whenever the craving hits. Plus, we dive into the buzz around new hot cross bun flavours that are going viral on your socials. Recipe and pictures are on...
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23 - Involtini
We welcome our sister-in-law Maria as she guides us through the art of making Involtini, a versatile dish that can be prepared in various ways, whether with meat or as a vegetarian option. Maria reminisces about her mother's culinary legacy and talks a bit about her extensive cooking experience....
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22 - Brandy Snaps
It's back to the late 1960s to make Brandy Snaps, a dessert which packs a sugary punch. Despite appearing to be a complicated recipe the only real challenge lies in mastering the rolling required to make them look the part. Recipe and pictures are on Instagram cookingourbooks1 Theme music is…
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21 - Light Christmas Cake
As Christmas approaches, we're embracing the festive spirit by baking a Light Christmas Cake from a vintage 1980s magazine recipe. It's a true gem! We also discuss how the holiday season can sometimes bring a bit of stress. Recipe and pictures are on Instagram cookingourbooks1 Theme music is…
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20 - Carrot Cake
Our sister Wendy joins us for a nostalgic journey back to the 80s, to her Year 9 home science class where she first baked this cake. We reminisce about teen idols, the challenges of adolescence, and the way our food choices have broadened over time. Recipe and pictures are on Instagram...
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19 - Cheese Souffle
Neither of us has ever cooked or eaten a soufflé before; how challenging could it be? As it turns out, not very. We'll tackle this classic French dish and explore other inventive soufflés in the cookbooks. Recipe and pictures are on Instagram cookingourbooks1 Theme music is Josie has the Upper…
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18 - Swiss Rolls
We make a swiss roll and reflect on the challenges of getting this one right. Recipe and pictures are on Instagram cookingourbooks1 Theme music is Josie has the Upper hand by Josh Woodward CC by 4.0
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17 - Orange Butterflies
We bake a 1960s recipe for Orange Butterflies, an orange-flavoured cupcake that delights kids and adults alike. Helen's hack meant her cupcakes were the hit of her party, while we investigate why there are so few references to cupcakes in the cookbooks. Recipe and pictures are on Instagram...
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16 - Mrs McKee's Christmas Cake
With Christmas around the corner it's the perfect time to make this Christmas Cake from Queen Elizabeth II's former cook Mrs McKee. We take a look at her life and get some insights from her time cooking for multiple royal households. The cake itself is light and packed with dried fruit - and was...
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15 - Lattice Apple Tart
Helen's culinary skills are on show with this impressive looking apple tart - combining a apple puree filling with a lattice pastry construction. The real lesson is, try not to make pastry dishes in Spring/Summer! Recipe and pictures are on Instagram cookingourbooks1 Theme music is Josie has the...
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14 - Cornish Pasties
With Cornish Pasties on the menu we invited our friend Deb, who is from Cornwall, to tell us all about this delicious comfort food and where it comes from. She also gives us a lesson in how to pronounce 'pasties' which we manage not to get quite right! We agreed this recipe was pretty spot on and...
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13 - Sausage Beehives
With a name that sounds both sweet and savory, we crack open store-bought puff pastry to build these beehives, which resemble a mix between a sausage roll and a scotch egg. Recipe and pictures are on Instagram cookingourbooks1 Theme music is Josie has the Upper hand by Josh Woodward CC by 4.0
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12 - Small German Biscuits & Hungarian Cherry Cake
We're cooking up a double dose of sweetness: from the cookbooks we bake Small German Biscuits - a super simple and tasty bikkie perfect with a coffee. Plus we're joined by Angela who gives us her favourite recipe for Hungarian Cherry Cake (Cseresznyés Lepény) a fruity and dense sponge cake well...
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11 - Stuffed Monkeys
Fancy a fruit-filled pastry delight? We finally get to taste Stuffed Monkeys which turned out yummier than the name suggests. Credit to family friends food for the research into its origins. Find the recipe & pictures @ cookingourbooks1 Theme music is Josie has the Upper hand by Josh Woodward CC…
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10 - Pineapple Upside Down Cake
Cut out from a 1984 edition of Family Circle magazine, the Pineapple Upside Down Cake is an easy recipe for beginner cooks and perfectly showcases the sweetness of tinned pineapples. We delve into theories about how this recipe was created and compare notes on making it. Here's Quaint Cooking...
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9 - Chilli Con Carne
We make a step-by-step recipe of Chilli Con Carne. We also look at references to the British Royal Family in the cookbooks and plan dishes to serve at a coronation party. Recipe and pictures are on Instagram cookingourbooks1. Theme music is Josie has the Upper hand by Josh Woodward CC by 4.0
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8 - Sherried Sultana Cake
We're making a cake full of boozy sultanas with some surprising how-to instructions after baking. A recipe from the 1980s perfect as we commence Autumn. Recipe and pictures are on Instagram cookingourbooks1 Theme music is Josie has the Upper hand by Josh Woodward CC by 4.0
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7 - Cheese & Relish Pinwheels
Sweet or savoury, scones are easy to make and versatile. We make cheese and relish pinwheels, one of the 28 scone recipes in the cookbooks.
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6 - Boulangere Potatoes and Parsnips
We make a French dish of baked vegetables in stock, get reacquainted with parsnips and thanks to a newly discovered photo of Helen's, reminisce about children's birthday cakes. Recipe and pictures are on Instagram. Theme music is Josie has the Upper hand by Josh Woodward CC by 4.0
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5 - Raspberry Ribbon Cake
We make a cake from the late 1970s that features a heap of margarine plus raspberry flavour inside and out. We also discuss iconic food brands and our favourite flavour of jam. Find the recipe and pictures on Instagram. Theme music is Josie has the Upper hand by Josh Woodward CC by 4.0
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4 - Chicken and Asparagus Croquettes
From book 4 in the cookbooks, we make Chicken and Asparagus Croquettes and talk about why these breaded goodies are so popular. Find the recipe and pictures on Instagram Theme music is Josie has the Upper hand by Josh Woodward CC by 4.0
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3 - Cheese Triangles
We make cheese triangles and reflect on the challenge of working with filo pastry. We also chat collecting and deli meats. Find the recipe and pictures on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/cookingourbooks1/ Theme music is Josie has the Upper hand by Josh Woodward CC by 4.0
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2 - Crunchy Tea Cake
From book number 2 we bake a tea cake with a crunchy topping, a recipe that tested our washing up and sieving skills. We also chat slow cookers, pressure cookers and our shared love of cinnamon. Find the recipe and pictures on our Instagram https://www.instagram.com/cookingourbooks1/ Theme music…
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1 - Passionfruit Slice
In our first episode we make a passionfruit slice and discuss the history of our mum's cookbooks. Find the recipe and pictures of our attempt at our Instagram Theme music is Josie has the Upper hand by Josh Woodward CC by 4.0
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Cooking our Books have?
Cooking our Books currently has 28 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Cooking our Books about?
Two sisters cooking their way through their mum's treasured recipe books, sharing memories and a glimpse into simpler times.
How often does Cooking our Books release new episodes?
Cooking our Books has 28 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to Cooking our Books?
You can listen to Cooking our Books on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Cooking our Books?
Cooking our Books is created and hosted by Pamela & Helen Cook.
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