The recipes gathered in this book are from May Goschnick's collection. Many of them are hand-written, while others are cuttings from newspapers and magazines throughout the years. Still others are gifts from friends, relatives and family members.

These recipes reflect May's personal style, tastes and interests. More importantly, they offer a glimpse into the many phases of her remarkable life – how the time went by, with Australia's eating and cooking trends ever-changing.

Readers would notice these recipes are rather simple and straightforward. This is just the practical, no-nonsense way that May was – like how often her recipes are scribbled and short-handed over the back of an envelope or any scrap paper nearby. Quite unlike the modern recipes where every ingredient is meticulously measured and every step of the cooking process tediously explained.

On those occasions where the recipes are accompanied by letters and notes from friends, relatives and family members, these are preserved as well, as they open a window to May's multifaceted life. Also, whenever relevant photos or images are available, these are included, too, just to make the book visually appetising.

In our garden there is a plaque from May’s place in Rosebud, which reads: “Bugger the garden – Where's the wine?” Upon seeing it everyday, I think of May’s kindness and generosity, her hearty laugh (and cheeky smile), her everlasting sense of curiosity and open-mindedness, and how she cared for EVERYONE in the Goschnick Family.

It remains our hope that this edition of May’s recipe book will bring you peace, comfort and joy.

May Goschnick passed away peacefully in 2022, at age 91, and was still home-based and cooking up until the last six months or so. She was the beloved matriarch of the Goschnick Family. ... More