Sadie Hirst

Food historian

The 1960's psychedelic colour pages offer recipes from this cookery legend, from making jam, pastry and our family favourite - Steak Elizabetta with mustard dumplings. This humble dish is simply stunning and we always have it for Christmas Eve. Marguerite was the steady voice during world war two, offering housewives advice through her "Kitchen Front" radio programmes on inventive ways to make the most of their rations. She died in 2015 exactly six months short of her 100th Birthday. In my mind she is one of our culinary greats and her books would be all you need to confidently guide you into becoming a good cook.

Holly Bell

Recipe writer, presenter and blogger

My maternal grandmother's copy sits on my shelf, glorious in it's 1960's technicolour. I admit I've never made a recipe - I read it more as a historical document.

Fiona Burrell

Founder, Edinburgh New Town Cookery School

This was the first cookbook I owned and was given to me for my 14th birthday. I cooked from it from cover to cover!

Shirley Spear

Chef and food enthusiast