Margaret and Me Cookbook
Recipe and first image from Margaret and Me by Kate Gibbs, published by Murdoch Books
Many moons ago I ate dinner with Margaret Fulton. Yep, that Margaret Fulton. The Australian wonder woman who taught a generation of Australian's how to cook.
I've chosen to forget the fact there were 99 other people in the room that night because in my mind it was just me and Margaret, comparing notes on getting a good crackle on our roast pork whist slowly sipping her cream of oyster soup which sat in front of us.
So when I was asked by the lovely people of Murdoch Books to take a look at Kate Gibbs' (Margaret's granddaughter) third cookbook Margaret and Me, I couldn't jump at the chance quick enough.
Apart from being Margaret's granddaughter (a role I was born for), Kate is herself an accomplished woman, journalist, food writer and author (see Kate's website here).
Having myself not grown up with a grandmother who was part of my life, let alone having one don an apron and teach me to bake, I would often pretend that Margaret was mine, so whilst greedily reading all about "my grandmother", I could not pass by Kate's recipe for Scottish Shortbread.....oh what memories this simple little biscuit brings back. Memories of me sneaking barefoot into the kitchen, pinching said biscuit from the big red Walkers tin in the pantry and then running back up to my room before anyone caught me. Fun times!
Full disclosure will have me admit that on first tasting the biscuit, I was a little disappointed. My family and I couldn't put our finger on it....there was something missing.
Then I typed out the above recipe....doh!
I'd used unsalted butter. Not salted butter. My second attempt.....pure bliss!
I blame the fact that Margaret's not really my grandmother, because I'm quite sure I would have been spot on first time round if she was.
This beautiful book is being released on 1 May 2015 by Murdoch Books - just in time for Mother's Day!
Getting to know Margaret more through Kate's eyes was just pure joy. Thanks for sharing Kate.
Disclosure: I received the above product for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, all words are my own honest opinion and I only recommend products or services I would use personally.