• Ganga108 on March 12, 2022

  What a beautiful book! It is the most representative of Australian food that I have come across. It has everything - the food we grew up with, the food our grandmother's made, and the food obsessions we have had ever since (including avo on toast). True to form, the recipes are dominated by meat-based dishes and biscuits, slices, cakes and desserts (as were the many regional cookbooks produced by Country Women's Associations around the country in the mid to late 1900's). Well done to Ross Dobson!

Notes about Recipes in this book

• French onion dip

  • Ganga108 on May 06, 2023

    There was a period in Australia, perhaps the 80's, when there was a very popular variety of dips you could make from processed foods - just mix and serve. This was one of them - a packet of dehydrated French Onion Soup, plus some sour cream; mix and serve with Jatz crackers. Feeling nostalgic, I made this today, but more than doubled the amount of sour cream (35g soup to 400g sour cream seems about right). Frankly, I was surprised that the dried soup mixes are still available. There used to be a whole rack of them in supermarkets - these days just a few remain, including French Onion. The dip brought back so many memories. I will probably never make it again, but for today, it was wonderful. [Nagi from RecipeTin Eats has a recipe online, and her ratios are better.]

• Zucchini slice

  • ethedens on January 23, 2025

    Made this years ago, but I remember it being pretty good. 3.5/5

• Avocado, mango and nut salad

  • ethedens on January 23, 2025

    Made this forever ago but it was so good. 4/5

• Rabbit stew

  • meginyeg on December 13, 2023

    This was good. Fairly simply and we all enjoyed it.

• Roast pork dinner

  • meginyeg on December 09, 2024

    A good basic roast pork dinner. My roast took considerably longer than the time in the book however.

• Cheeseburger toastie

  • Ganga108 on May 03, 2023

    I took inspiration from this recipe and made meat-free toasties by layering home made tomato sauce, enough cheese to make the toastie gooey, and then a mix of mustard, chopped onion and chopped pickles. HIGHLY delicious on a cold Autumn day. A new favourite.

• Banana bread

  • Indio32 on January 25, 2022

    After my previous baking disaster (French Apple Cake) I thought I'd give this a go. Used a rubbly dark brown sugar rather than the called for light brown. Baked in a 2lb Silverwood loaf tin which was a bit bigger than called for. Taste wise it was good but it didn't have an obviously cakey texture nor did it rise particularly well. Was really easy to make so will definitely try this again.

  • Indio32 on February 01, 2022

    Re-made this yesterday as was slightly frustrated that the book image of this recipe shows a well risen, cakey textured banana bread. After 2 attempts mine is anything but! Used freshly bought everything and double checked all amounts. Despite tasting great its still barely risen with the texture of a bread pudding rather than a cake. The batter did seem wet. Will try another authors banana bread.

  • Materialsresearchkitchen on November 08, 2025

    Easy and tasty

  • kaisha_x5x580 on June 02, 2026

    Delicious! I add chopped walnuts and chocolate chips (measure with the heart), and it always comes out wonderfully

• Anzac biscuits

  • kaisha_x5x580 on April 22, 2026

    I took these out at 15min, probably could have taken them out earlier - I set the oven to 180 fan forced instead of 180 bake, so please dont make the same mistake as me! Despite being a little tanned, they taste delicious - crunchy on the edges, chewy on the inside.

• Apple slice

  • PiaOC on June 07, 2021

    Really lovely slice - not as sweet as commercial varieties. Followed the recipe precisely the first time and thought it could do with a bit more apple; not so, the pastry became a little soggy and the slice needed a plate but still delicious. Back to the original ratios next time.

• Walnut and nutmeg tea cake

  • RandomBayk3r on June 02, 2024

    There is a serious error in the method of this recipe on page 317. Sadly my question to Phaidon was met with disdain

• Stewed apples

  • Ganga108 on April 23, 2022

    A bucket of apples from a friend with trees, and an old fashioned recipe provide lots of apples for morning muesli and evening desserts.

• Pickled beetroot

  • Ganga108 on September 06, 2022

    A very Australian-style pickle, of course, with a beautiful balance of sweet and sour.

• Eat Your Books by Jenny Hartin

  A lovely examination of Australian cuisine as well as a glimpse of the beauty of the country itself.

  Full review