This series from 1968 is more then a compilation of various indigenous recipes. It's a snapshot of the world at a time when advanced industry and technology had not so overtaken most countries that their cultural identities were lost in the current world melting pot.

The series consists of 2 books per region. The first is a hard bound book with cultural information and "how to" instructions for the most popular and/or most indicative recipes for the region. The second book is 100% recipes, reiterating the ones in the hard back book plus dozens more, which makes it very nice not to have to drag out both books to get all the recipes.

The current volumes are for the British Isles. It contains all the expected recipes: plum pudding, christmas cake (a type of fruit cake), roast beast, Yorkshire puddings but also information on how to make and assemble Steak-and-Kidney Pudding, Trifle, Summer Pudding and a chapter on pub fare and the famous Ploughman's lunch and a Highland Hunt.

You will get these books for me when you can pry them from my cold dead hands. The pictures and cultural information is priceless. ( )