Every now and then, I get another comment or request on the post I did about Home and Freezer Digest back in November 2009. Home and Freezer Digest was one of the few cooking magazines available in the early 1980s and I did have many copies and, indeed, had the binders for them as well. However, pre-blog I gave them away to a charity shop keeping only the December 1988 copy and three of the special ‘books’ that I purchased from them.
Only the 100 Best Apple Recipes seems to have a publication date, which was 1981, so I’m assuming that, as it was 75p, it came first, followed by Christmas from the Freezer at £1 and finally, at the huge price of £1.95, The Complete Freezeaway Christmas Cookbook.
Occasionally I do still cook from these books and have some real favourites in the Apple book. It seems that I am not the only one with affection for these magazines as, every now and then, I get another comment on the 2009 post from someone who used to collect the magazines, seeking a particular recipe. This month I had a request for ‘Princess Pudding’, sadly I was unable to help, but yesterday I had a request from Clare in Canada, for the mincemeat recipe from Christmas from the Freezer and I am pleased to be able to oblige:
Mincemeat
Makes about 5lb (2.25kg)
1 1/2 lb (675g cooking apples
1lb (450g) seedless raisins
8oz (225g) currants
6oz (150g) sultanas
2oz (50g) mixed peel, chopped
8oz (225g) shredded suet
10oz (275g) soft brown sugar
1 lemon, grated rind and juice
1/2 tsp mixed spice
4 tbsp brandy
1. Peel, core and slice apples. Cook genlty without water, stirring to pulp them. Cool.
2. Add dried fruits to all other ingredients, then stir in apple. Mix well.
3. Put into rigid containers. Keep 3-4 days in fridge to ‘mature’.
To serve now: as required
To freeze: seal and label. Use within 3 months.
To serve from freezer: thaw overnight at room temperature.
Anyone who is seeking copies of Home and Freezer Digest would be advised to have a look on Ebay as there always seem to be a few copies of both the magazines and the little books available at pretty reasonable prices.
That mincemeat recipe is very similar to my boozy fat free mincemeat, it also has apples in it too and you cook them with the fruit! A lovely post and I had never heard of this magazine before until now. Karen
I used to get the Home & Freezer Digest too – brilliant little book, but I can’t find the one that gives the recipe for the very “short” pastry for the mince pies. I always get asked to make these. They are known in our family as “Mum’s drop on the floor mince pies” as soon as you take a bit they just fall apart, but are so delicious. If anyone still has the copy with these in I would be grateful for the recipe again.
They sound lovely Ruth. I don’t think I have that recipe, if I get a chance I’ll look, just so busy in the run up to Christmas.
My mother had that 'Complete Freezeaway Christmas' – I'm going to HAVE to hunt for one on Ebay now!!
Hope you find it Sarah!
I used to love that magazine too. In fact I have several scrapbooks full of recipes cut out of it and many of our long standing family favourites first appeared in it.
We had that booklet in the 70s. There was a recipe for ginger hollows. Biscuits that cooked with a hollow centre. They were delicious.
I stumbled across your blog whilst searching, in vain, for the "Home & Freezer Digest" recipe for Cranberry Relish. I have been making it all this time but am currently in Qatar and cannot find my copied recipe! I know exactly where my binders are at home but everyone is away for Christmas already. Can anyone help?
Hi Heather
There is a Cranberry Sauce recipe in each of the Christmas books:
450g cranberries
150g caster sugar
150ml water
Put all ingredients in a saucpan, cover an simmer for about 15 minutes until berries are tender. Serve hot or cold.
Cranberry Orange Sauce
150g granulated sugar
300ml water
1 orange, finely grated rind and juice
450g cranberries
Heat sugar in water slowly till dissolved stir in rind and juice and boil 5 mins. Add cranberries and simmer gently for about 10 mins till berries burst. Serve hot.
There's also a great cranberry relish recipe HERE
Thanks for your time and trouble, Janice.
The recipe I was after used vinegar and cinnamon stick but I can't remember what else and in what proportions. It was a relish and definitely not like the 'jam' which passes for sauce. 😉
Merry Christmas to all.
My mum still uses recipes from some of her very old books on a regular basis – latest to be used was the Sainsbury's Freezer Cookbook which contains her chicken liver pate recipe!
Is the brandy butter recipe in the "Christmas from the freezer" cook book. I remember using it & everyone loved it as it was entirely different from the usual brandy butter.
I'm afraid I don't have access to my cook books at the moment, they have all been put away while I get work done on the kitchen. I'll try to remember to come back and let you know when I can get to Christmas from the freezer, thanks for your interest
Do you have the recipes for stuffings that were in Christmas From The Freezer . I had a new kitchen fitted last year and hsve lost my copy of the cookbook. I have tried most of the christmas recipes over the years and am so unhappy that the book has got lost.
If you email me [email protected] I'll scan and send them to you. If you want a copy of the book, try eBay I've seen copies there.
I made the freezer mincemeat from Christmas from the Freezer but i seem to recall that it was made with butter not suet.
Yes, I believe the freezer mincemeat was made with butter but this is isn’t the Freezer version, it is a cooked version and the recipe definitely states suet. There are so many different ways to make mincemeat but, in my opinion, it’s all delicious! Thanks for your comment, always nice to hear from fans of H&FD
I had quite a collection all in the blue hardback folders. Unfortunately when I moved home in 2014 I threw the lot in the dustbin. They had become quite dusty and I didn’t think I had room for them. However I really regret that now and keep remembering recipes which I used from there i.e. tuna plait and tuna pate. So sad!
So many of us have thrown out our collections, Tuna Pate sounds familiar, I’ll have a look and see if I have the recipe.
Thank you Janice.
I still have the Freezing for Christmas book and use it every year, especially love the mincemeat.
Good to know there are still some of us using the old H&F books!
I am about to make the freezer mincemeat tomorrow,love it because there is no suet in this one ,have made it for years😊
That’s great, Beryl. Home and Freezer Digest was such a great little magazine, full of useful, everyday recipes as well as specials for entertaining.
Hi, I winder if you can help me please? About 30-40 years ago my Grandad used to buy the Freezer Digest magazine each week for my Mum. She used to cook a really nice Biryani recipe from them, quite possibly a Mary Berry recipe my Mum recalls. She’d really like to make the recipe again but has long since lost the magazines. I wonder if you know of anywhere I might be able to search further for it please? Thanks for any help.
Hi there
You can buy some of the magazines on Ebay, but difficult to know what you are going to get. I will look and see whether I have a Biryani recipe in any of my remaining magazines and let you know. Otherwise, perhaps ask on Twitter?
Thank you, Janice, that would be amazing. I’d happily go on eBay, but with so many magazines produced, and with no idea of what issue this recipe was in, it’s a bit of a needle in a haystack.
I’ve had a look and I did find a ‘Feast from the East’ but sadly it didn’t include a Biryani. I do regret throwing out all the magazines that I had, but it’s too late now. Hope you manage to find the recipe you are looking for.
That’s ok, thanks so much for looking, really appreciate that.
My Mum has used the recipe from the freezeaway Christmas book for her fruit cakes and had lost the book in recent years. Thank you so much Janice for providing the recipe, she’ll be one happy lady and the rest of the family look forwards to eating lovely Christmas cake once again!
You are very welcome Alison. I’m glad to help our where I can, and I hope you and your family enjoy your Christmas cake.
Hi my mum used to make the coffee walnut cake recipe from home and freezer digest. We have moved so many times she no longer has the books but it would be great if someone had the recipe. Many thanks.
I’ll have a look Geraldine and let you know if I have the recipe.
Lovely, thank you
Sorry Geraldine, I have looked through the recipes that I have from Home & Freezer Digest and I don’t have a Carrot Cake. I can recommend this one that I got from a blogging friend
Lost this recipe when we emigrated from UK to Canada, so glad to have found it again. My family will not eat shop bought so we have gone without for a few years. I must admit I add about 100gm glacé cherries. Thanks you for posting.
We’ve lost the page from ‘The Complete Freezaway Christmas Cookbook’ (the £1.75 version!) for boned turkey with three stuffings. Would very much appreciate it if someone will send it. Thanks
I’ll see what I can do Peter.
DOES ANYONE HAVE THE RECIPE FOR THE CHRISTMAS PUDDING IN THE HOME AND FREEZER DIGEST PLEASE, ITS THE ONLY ONE MY FAMILY WILL EAT, I SUGGESTED BUYING A PUDDING BUT IT DIDN’T GO DOWN WELL. THANKYOU XXXX
Hi Maureen, I’ve emailed you.
I have the old freezer digest with 3 different Christmas puddings in – 1.Traditional rich 2. Budget special 3.South Seas Christmas pudding. I “Mum’s drop on the floor mince pies” as the pastry is so crumbly you take one bite & …. you can guess what happens!! – explode onto the floor 🙂
Hi Ruth I have been looking for the recipe for the mince pies as I have lost my copy with it in so can you help
Hi Linda
Which mince pie recipe was it you were looking for?
Janice
I can email you the traditional mince pie recipe. Do I need you email address or do I just type it out here?
They are the recipe using part cornflour. when made they are so light and the pastry melts my husband threw mine out thinking they were old magazines for the tip
The recipe in my old F.D. book uses SR flour not cornflour, so maybe there’s another one.
Thank you for your reply the recipe I’m after is in one of the freezer monthly books regards Linda x
Hi Linda, I’ve also checked my H&F books and I don’t have any recipes using cornflour , sorry. Janice
That comment was for Linda Oates I’ve just realised. Not sure how this site works. I am going to make the traditional mince pies tomorrow as it happens!
Somehow half of that vanished I actually said ” I have kept the old Christmas edition as my family love the traditional mince pie recipe in it & call them “Mum’s drop on the floor mince pies etc etc
Sounds like a good one, Ruth!
If the lady who needed the pudding recipe wants to email me I can copy out whichever recipe it is that she needs.
I need the recipe for the traditional rich pudding please-I lent my book to someone last year, Can’t remember who & never got it back.
I’ll email you Sue.
I guess you don’t need me to copy it out as it looks as if Janice is going to. If not please let me have your email address Sue & I’ll copy it out.
Kind of you to offer Ruth 😊
The question is has anyone got the recipe for the short pastry mince pies with macaroon topping from Home and Freezer Digest.
I’ll email you Ewa.
I loved the Home and Freezer Digest. I have used recipes for Christnas Cake and Pudding from one entitled Cook Ahead For Christmas most years. The saved pages are so tattered and food stained but still readable. Shock horror I thought I had left them in France but am pleased to say I must have brought them back with us.
I’m glad you managed to find your copies of H&FD, Christine. It was an awesome magazine and so ahead of its time.