This March, we found almost two-thirds (65%) of the nation no longer use family recipes handed down through the generations, however, 43% of people surveyed are concerned about saving them.
So, to stop those all-important family recipes adored by generations from becoming forgotten, we tasked residents across the UK to tell us their favourite recipes for our first-ever recipe book – Recipes to remember.
From food enjoyed during World War Two, to how to make the best Burmese Khow Suey, and quirky desserts from the 1970s, the book includes residents' favourite home-cooked meals, and recipes tailored to older people by Care UK’s award-winning chefs.
But that’s not all – to make sure younger generations know their devilled eggs from their vol-au-vents, we've welcomed catering students, primary school pupils, brownies and grandchildren into our homes to enjoy cooking masterclasses from the chefs themselves – the residents.
At Cavell Court in Norwich, the local Brownie group teamed up with residents to bake a classic Victoria sponge – and hopefully secure a cooking badge in the process. Meanwhile, down in Kent at Weald Heights, residents were joined by four students from Sevenoaks School to compete in a MasterChef-style tournament to see who can make the best bread and butter pudding.
In Banbury, the team and residents at Seccombe Court had a much sweeter taste, with a chocolate-tasting and biscuit-making workshop planned with grandchildren. Keen to learn about all forms of cuisine old and new, residents at Ivy Grove in Chingford, joined forces with culinary students aspiring to be chefs, who cooked one of the recipes from our cookbook for a scrumptious afternoon lunch – bon appetite!
Download a free copy of the recipe book.
Discover the nation's top 15 most loved nostalgic meals.
Take a look at how residents have been getting involved in our cooking campaign.
See the full galleryAt Care UK we are committed to supporting older people and their relatives. We have used our knowledge and expertise to produce a range of useful guides and articles designed to help you.
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