For my wonderful family with love,
This collection of mostly old-fashioned recipes was originally ‘published’ as a ‘limited edition’ of one copy for Greg and Karen, in celebration of their wedding at Nil Desperandum on Saturday October 31st, 1998. In response to some requests for copies of the recipe collection, and with Greg and Karen’s encouragement, I have produced this slightly adapted version for the rest of the family.
The recipes have been gathered from a variety of sources over the years, and most have been tried and tested many times on family and friends and have become firm favourites. As such, it goes without saying, that most of the recipes are very straightforward and fairly foolproof, as I tend not to use the other sort more than once!
Many are old-fashioned ‘standards’ you have grown up with, originating either from my mother and others from that era, or from old recipe books, pamphlets, friends, etc., with just a sprinkling of more recent favourites, which you may not already have. Except where it has been lost in the mists of time (= I can no longer remember!), I have given the source of the recipe, although more often than not, it will incorporate some adaptations or be a combination of more than one recipe.
It is by no means a balanced collection as the family’s tastes and enthusiasms, especially while you were all growing up, have always leaned towards the sweet side, and some categories are thus better represented than others! Nevertheless, I hope it fills a culinary niche. Bon appetit!
Judy/Mum
December 1998
Editor's Note
We seem to have established yet another family Christmas tradition! One year on from the release of the limited edition of 'Favourite Recipes', we launch another eagerly anticipated culinary treasure from the next generation of Evanses, their partners and families.
The idea for this next volume originated with Greg but has been enthusiastically embraced by the rest of the family. My only contribution this time has been as editor, which has been a labour of love and mouth-watering anticipation! As with the first volume, there has been no attempt to 'balance' the collection. The recipes included are those that have become favourites - either long-established or recent - with their contributors. By definition, this means they are delicious and straightforward!
In this volume, it is interesting to note the somewhat reduced emphasis on sweet treats and the inclusion of several vegetarian, Asian, Welsh recipes, etc. - a measure of the broadening of Aussie culinary experiences and tastes in recent years, and the healthy influence of partners. Thank you all for your contributions (including those from the third generation) - I am sure everyone will enjoy delving into this collection as much as I have enjoyed editing it. I have already earmarked several 'must try soon' recipes!
Judy/Mum
December 1999
In October 1998, Greg Evans married Karen Markwort. For wedding gifts, they requested gifts that were made rather than bought.
After giving the idea much thought, Greg’s mum, Judy, decided to create a recipe book based on a compilation of family favourites from over the years. She typed up all the recipes into individual recipe sheets, and then found a local book-binder, who did a beautiful job of cloth-binding the sheets into a book for her.
The book was an inspired choice as a gift, and a great success with Greg and Karen, however the rest of the family then said, “we want one too!”
The following Christmas saw copies printed and bound of “Favourite Recipes” for Judy and Bill, and their children’s families – Doug and Pip, Kath and Chris, Greg and Karen, and Dave and Rhian.
Prompted by Greg’s enthusiasm, a second edition, “Favourite Recipes – the Next Generation” was produced for Christmas 1999, this time with contributions from the wider family, with Judy as editor and compiler.
The recipe-collecting net then widened to extended family, partners' families and family friends to see a third, bound edition, “Favourite Recipes – Extended Family and Friends” released for Christmas 2001.
With the supply of recipes seemingly exhausted, production ceased until Christmas 2009, when the fourth and final edition, “Favourite Recipes – the Third Generation” was produced for Tess’s wedding (daughter of Kath and Chris), featuring recipes from Judy’s brother John and his wife Val, as well as some from third generation members of Judy and Bill’s family.
In January 2020, Greg and Doug discovered each had been thinking about making copies of the four-book series for their own children, only this time as an electronic or online version so it could be shared with all of Judy’s grandchildren.
In March 2020, our much-loved Greg passed away suddenly.
Judy, Doug and his son Ben have created this web version of the first edition to not only remember Greg on his birthday, but to honour Greg’s boundless generosity and ensure that his desire for his children to receive a copy of the family recipes books was fulfilled.
In 2021, to remember Greg on his fifty-eighth birthday, the web version of the second edition from Christmas 1999 was released.
This is for you Phoebe, Huon, Laelah and Karen.
12th September, 2021