Mother's Cookbook
Mary Taaffe's Recipes
The compilation of the recipes that follow have been lovingly kept for over seventy years. They were originally penned in a beautiful and clear hand but not surprisingly, the paper on which they were written, was beginning to fray. I felt that the recipes should not be lost forever, but be shared and enjoyed by many others and in time, be considered worthy to be passed on once again.
Neither the years since they were written no the many different types of food so readily available are considered to have superseded the recipes. Quite the contrary, may will experience a new delight and pleasure in cooking which will invoke memories of a different age.
The recipes were written down by a young women name Mary Taaffe or as we all know her, Mother. The cooking of these recipes sustained and provided much enjoyment whenever circumstances allowed, to a large family, for relatives and friends. To some of us they are still very much part of our lives when we hear, ''this is how Mother used to do it.'' Many of the things that we learn thoroughly are through unconsciously absorbing what happens in daily life around us. It would be wonderful if these recipes were learned today, by another generation, in this manner.
The preservation of these recipes is a sincere and very humble dedication to Mother. I hope that you all enjoy them as I have, over many years.
- Ann Mc Evoy, November 2001.