Recipe book

Dormy Care Communities has ensured the memories of the ladies and gentlemen in our homes will live forever through the publication of a new recipe book.

From the Heart of Home is the name of the book, which is a compilation of classic recipes handed down through generations and recalled by the ladies and gentlemen who live in Dormy Care Communities’ four homes – Pine Martin Grange in Dorset, Bramshott Grange in Hampshire, Brockington House in Herefordshire and Foxhunters in Wales.

From food enjoyed whilst living and working abroad, to how to make dishes from specific regions of the UK and quirky desserts from the 1970s, the book includes residents’ favourite home-cooked meals and any particular anecdotes/stories about them.

There is also a selection of life stories on some of the residents who live in the homes.

All of the sweet and savoury dishes remembered by residents were painstakingly recreated by Dormy Care Communities Executive Chef James Thomas and the Head Chefs who work in the four homes.

Staff from the homes also contributed recipes which had been handed down to them too.

James says: “Recipe books seem to be superfluous these days because you can Google pretty much anything to get the information you need, but this book has an entirely different purpose.

“Most of these recipes came from a time when there were no take aways, no ready meals and the preparation of food was an expression of love, and there were stories behind the food people made.

“We wanted to capture these recipes and stories so they will never be forgotten and more importantly it will immortalise these wonderful people.”

One of the residents whose recipe is featured in the book is Lilian, who lives at Foxhunters. Her recipe is for Welsh faggots, and she recalls how her mum used to send her some in a shoebox when she was away at University in Aberystwyth.

Lilian says: “I always had lots of people queuing up wanting to share them with me because they knew how good they were. We would eat them whilst we looked out to sea as the waves came in. They are lovely memories and it’s so nice that I have been able to share them with others through the book.

Janet, who lives in Bramshott Grange, shares a recipe for her late husband Alan’s apple pie.

She says: “Alan always believed you ate what you saw so he grew lots of produce in our garden. He did most of the cooking and made this lovely pie which is best served warm with cream.”

Peggy, who lives in Brockington House, shares her quiche recipe.

She says “I put everything in my quiche to make it as tasty as possible, but it absolutely needs to have bacon. I would cook it slowly in the oven and some of my nicest memories are including it in a picnic lunch with the family.

Copies of the coffee table style book are being sold at £15 each and anyone interested in purchasing a copy can do so by registering their interest via our website. 

A donation from all sales will be made to Age UK.