Back in May, we launched the Generations Swap Cookbook, a chance for people of all ages across the UK to make a collective record of the food they love to share with future generations. You can now read it in full here.
In partnership with Clarion Futures, the charitable foundation of Clarion Housing Group and the #iwill Fund, a £50 million joint investment from The National Lottery Community Fund and the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), we wanted to support groups of young people across the country to connect with their older neighbours and get swapping!
We’ve been blown away by the thought and care that has gone into writing each recipe, from timeless classics to delicious sweet treats, each with its own special story and memories attached to it.
One of the older contributors, Dorothy, shared her mum’s recipe for pancakes and told us about her memories of cooking during the war. “My mum used to make these every week. She was really good at tossing them – she tried to teach me, but they often ended up on the floor. My brother and I would have competitions to see who could toss them the highest. But he was 3 years older than me – I was always jealous that he was better at it than me. Mum would make enough for the week. We used to eat them with jam. I used to eat the scraps from the pan, and pinch a bit from the tin when they were finished and stored. When there was rationing, we couldn’t get the ingredients – we had to use powdered egg. I didn’t really taste the difference.”
Esther, a young person from Sussex, shared her favourite recipe that she likes to make with her mum, and has been passed down through generations in her family. Esther’s mum told us: “My mum used to make these with me when I was a girl. She let me lick the bowl – the raw mixture was delicious. In turn I make them with my girls. We enjoy cooking together!”
Sharing food is a form of joy and appreciation and we’ve been very moved by the warmth that comes through in each dish. We hope you enjoy reading this collection and trying out the recipes for yourself - why not give them a go with a friend or family member from a different generation?
We would like to thank everyone who contributed for taking the time to share their favourite dishes and heartfelt stories. Each recipe has played its part in creating something very special, full of fond food memories that will be cherished by many for years to come.