Forgotten Skills of Cooking – Darina Allen

Enter our worldwide giveaway to win one of three copies of Forgotten Skills of Cooking: 700 Recipes Showing You Why the Time-Honored Ways Are the Best by Darina Allen. The publisher is providing three copies to US members and EYB is providing one copy worldwide.

This month, Darina Allen’s classic cookbook the Forgotten Skills of Cooking is being reissued so that a whole new generation of cooks can benefit from the expertise of Ballymaloe’s world famous chef.

This masterpiece won the Andre Simon Food Awards Best Food Book in 2009 and shares 730 recipes from dishes that use foraged ingredients (wild greens and mushrooms) to chapters devoted to baking. Filled with beautiful photography and sprinkled with illustrations, it will become a go-to cooking bible in your kitchen.

In 2019, I had the honor of speaking with Darina and wanted to share a link to that interview again for those who may have missed it. Darina is everything you would imagine her to be warm and devoted to her craft.

There are four recipes from this title available online for you to try now. Our Library also has nearly 150 online recipes written by Darina.

Special thanks to the publisher for providing three copies of this title in our promotion open to the US. EYB is providing one additional copy worldwide. Entry options include answering the following question in the comments section of this blog post.

Which recipe in the index would you like to try first?

Please note that you must be logged into the Rafflecopter contest before posting or your entry won’t be counted. For more information on this process, please see our step-by-step help post. Once you log in and enter your member name you will be directed to the next entry option – the blog comment. After that, there are additional options that you can complete for more entries. Be sure to check your spam filters to receive our email notifications. Prizes can take up to 6 weeks to arrive from the publishers. If you are not already a Member, you can join at no cost. The contest ends at midnight on May 22nd, 2022.

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212 Comments

  • miggsy  on  March 9, 2022

    Hazelnut brittle

  • sayeater  on  March 9, 2022

    I love all the foraged and scratch made essentials. Pickled walnuts caught my eye as something different that I haven’t tried before.

  • lean1  on  March 9, 2022

    Grilled Dover sole on the bone

  • gallucci  on  March 9, 2022

    Paprika sausages and Colcannon!

  • dataentrytard  on  March 9, 2022

    Wild garlic pesto

  • JulieQC  on  March 9, 2022

    Blackberry and apple muesli

  • Plumbobmummy  on  March 10, 2022

    Wild blackberry and rose petal sponge cake

  • renharvey  on  March 10, 2022

    Oxtail with grainy mustard sauce!

  • wildchild  on  March 10, 2022

    Pork, sorrel, and fresh herb terrine

  • LSanders  on  March 10, 2022

    Chargrilled squid with chile and parsley oil and chorizo

  • youngsvnnhrs  on  March 10, 2022

    Brown bread ice cream

  • sarahawker  on  March 10, 2022

    Cottage pie with garlic butter

  • emi10383  on  March 10, 2022

    Wild garlic pesto

  • Buffizz_1  on  March 10, 2022

    Cottage pie with garlic butter

  • karya  on  March 10, 2022

    Definitely Lydia’s lemon cake with crystallized violets and angelica

  • eperry5  on  March 10, 2022

    I’m a baker, so I can’t wait to try Lydia’s lemon cake with crystallized violets and angelica!

  • averythingcooks  on  March 10, 2022

    Apple and tomato chutney

  • kmn4  on  March 10, 2022

    Grandpoppy’s mushroom ketchup

  • Margret  on  March 10, 2022

    Seville orange marmalade cake

  • Sand9  on  March 10, 2022

    Kerry Treacle Bread x

  • Kassen  on  March 10, 2022

    Crab and wild garlic tart

  • bopper  on  March 10, 2022

    Tansy Sauce

  • chris2468  on  March 10, 2022

    l’d try Zucchini-herb fritters with garlic yogurt first

  • tcjanes  on  March 10, 2022

    Wood pigeon pie!

  • bookmark77  on  March 10, 2022

    Cottage pie with garlic butter

  • lilmiztam22  on  March 10, 2022

    Cottage pie with garlic butter sounds delicious!

  • GreenhouseCheryl  on  March 10, 2022

    Crystallized violets

  • bookmark58  on  March 10, 2022

    Seville orange marmalade cake

  • joymc  on  March 11, 2022

    Spaghetti with wild garlic & herbs! Yum!

  • Wbafcben  on  March 11, 2022

    Damson or plum sauce

  • Lesevans6  on  March 11, 2022

    Blackberry and Apple Muesli.

  • maci234  on  March 11, 2022

    Paprika sausages and Colcannon

  • JEWGAL777  on  March 11, 2022

    Forager’s Soup

  • justcooking  on  March 11, 2022

    Beef Cheek with Mustard Fruits!

  • Pamyoungvb  on  March 11, 2022

    Anything with fennel! I think I would try stuffed fennel bulbs first.

  • Vanderjane  on  March 11, 2022

    Chanterelles on Buttered Toast

  • biro  on  March 11, 2022

    Homemade sausages, Roger’s nettle beer, … and there are sooo many more …

  • aimeekitty  on  March 11, 2022

    I would try Lydia’s lemon cake with crystallized violets and angelica. It sounds fun.

  • foodie16  on  March 11, 2022

    Pork and beef salami

  • jlbshead  on  March 11, 2022

    Stuffed Fennel!

  • Blue___Nile  on  March 11, 2022

    wild garlic pesto

  • lils74  on  March 11, 2022

    Rachel’s drop scones!

  • DavidP  on  March 11, 2022

    Yogurt Cake with Lemon Curd & Creme Fraiche on page 224 is an absolute delight. Dont forget if you have a fan oven to reduce the temperature to 160 C. Made it this afternoon. 5 stars. I have the book so wish you all well in this giveaway

  • Isis1981uk  on  March 11, 2022

    Comfrey fritter

  • ozfoodie  on  March 11, 2022

    The Marinated Labne! Sounds interesting.

  • sgp  on  March 11, 2022

    Pork and apple burgers

  • circ2000  on  March 11, 2022

    Apple and tomato chutney

  • jrgreenw  on  March 11, 2022

    Classic Fish Pie

  • Jbolze  on  March 11, 2022

    Blackberry and apple muesli

  • erindrain  on  March 11, 2022

    crab and wild garlic tart!

  • almonds  on  March 11, 2022

    Very difficult to choose but wild garlic pesto would be at the top of the list

  • Roosta  on  March 11, 2022

    Wild salmon carpaccio

  • Shelley.b  on  March 11, 2022

    Crab and wild garlic tart

  • JudithCocks  on  March 11, 2022

    Damson or plum sauce

  • racheljmorgan  on  March 11, 2022

    Wild blackberry and rose petal sponge cake

  • LaurenE  on  March 11, 2022

    Wild garlic pesto

  • jmay42066  on  March 11, 2022

    Spaghetti with wild garlic & herbs!

  • hillsboroks  on  March 12, 2022

    I would try the Roast wild mallard with potato and parsnip stuffing.

  • Haegar7382  on  March 12, 2022

    I,ll try the Wild mushroom pastry

  • reader1trees  on  March 12, 2022

    Cowslip fritters

  • maggz19671  on  March 12, 2022

    Hazelnut brittle – a delight

  • Kag2020  on  March 12, 2022

    Seville orange marmalade cake

  • orchidlady01  on  March 12, 2022

    Traditional roast rib of beef with horseradish sauce, gravy, and Yorkshire pudding

  • Dendav  on  March 12, 2022

    Brown bread ice cream

  • topdawg11  on  March 12, 2022

    Crab and wild garlic tart

  • sarahteertzah  on  March 12, 2022

    I’d be interested in trying to make homemade marshmallow!

  • agreaves19  on  March 12, 2022

    Blackberry and apple muesli

  • coryphaeus  on  March 12, 2022

    Bilberry jelly with fresh mint cream

  • FJT  on  March 12, 2022

    Mummy’s rabbit stew

  • BMeyer  on  March 12, 2022

    wild blackberry and rose petal sponge cake

  • mharriman  on  March 12, 2022

    Hazelnut brittle.

  • ravensfan  on  March 12, 2022

    Asian ceviche

  • janv  on  March 12, 2022

    Chargrilled squid with chile and parsley oil and chorizo

  • AKBrady  on  March 12, 2022

    Hazelnut Brittle

  • anna9092  on  March 12, 2022

    Duchesse potatoes

  • DarcyVaughn  on  March 12, 2022

    Crab and wild garlic tart

  • sarahmoorse  on  March 13, 2022

    Cottage pie with garlic butter.

  • banba1  on  March 13, 2022

    Crab and wild garlic tart

  • ceejayen  on  March 13, 2022

    Wild blackberry and rose petal sponge cake

  • jbgerken21  on  March 13, 2022

    Venison Pie

  • chefandra  on  March 13, 2022

    I would love to try the pickled crabapples.

  • dan031082  on  March 13, 2022

    Hollandaise sauce

  • Angelfish726  on  March 14, 2022

    I’d love to try making the Osso bucco alla Milanese.

  • RuthHarwood  on  March 14, 2022

    Pork, sorrel, and fresh herb terrine

  • chromiumman  on  March 14, 2022

    the cottage pie with garlic butter

  • prettypistol  on  March 14, 2022

    Wild garlic pesto

  • Kate2348  on  March 14, 2022

    Gorse Wine

  • JenjiD  on  March 14, 2022

    Crab and wild garlic tart

  • rkosully  on  March 15, 2022

    The first recipe I would like to try is the Potato and Wild Garlic Soup!

  • dzm  on  March 15, 2022

    wild garlic pesto

  • chezlarios  on  March 17, 2022

    so many – but i’m intrigued by “spaghetti with wild garlic and herbs” – its almost the season!

  • Poppyanne  on  March 17, 2022

    Porter fruit cake, yum

  • antpantsii  on  March 18, 2022

    I think I’d like to take Roger’s nettle beer for a twirl

  • roxlet  on  March 18, 2022

    Wild garlic pesto

  • RaceyR  on  March 18, 2022

    The first recipe that caught my eyes was the Horseradish sauce (I love horseradish) and the second was the Cottage pie with garlic butter. Then anything with grainy mustard.

  • kelrific  on  March 18, 2022

    I’d like to try the nettle beer 🙂

  • Cjennings  on  March 18, 2022

    Gingerbread

  • HelenNT  on  March 19, 2022

    Would love to try Chargrilled squid with chile and parsley oil and chorizo

  • Dannausc  on  March 19, 2022

    Blackberry ice cubes

  • virjeania  on  March 19, 2022

    Elderflower vinegar

  • LeMinou  on  March 19, 2022

    Cottage pie with garlic butter

  • demomcook  on  March 19, 2022

    Buttermilk chocolate cake

  • NaomiH  on  March 22, 2022

    Traditional roast rib of beef with horseradish sauce, gravy, and Yorkshire pudding

  • leilx  on  March 23, 2022

    black currant swirled ice cream!

  • ageier7  on  March 24, 2022

    I would love to try the wild garlic pesto

  • Mermaidhair99  on  March 24, 2022

    wild garlic pesto

  • vmsparrow  on  March 24, 2022

    I love the sound of this book. I’d start from the beginning, but I’d definitely have to make the spiced beef.

  • RickPearson54  on  March 25, 2022

    Wild garlic pesto

  • Lexih  on  March 25, 2022

    The bacon and egg pie sounds delicious!

  • amweeks  on  March 25, 2022

    Here on the eastern shore of MD, I’d have to make the Crab and wild garlic tart!

  • PeavineBlues  on  March 25, 2022

    Wild Garlic Pesto

  • grumpygraham  on  March 25, 2022

    Spaghetti with wild garlic and herbs

  • JessHeilman  on  March 26, 2022

    Apple and tomato chutney

  • kennethjohngilmour  on  March 28, 2022

    would like to try the herb dumplings

  • H_Leblanc123  on  March 28, 2022

    I would try the Crystallized Violets first.

  • eroachTN  on  March 28, 2022

    I’d start with the Crab and wild garlic tart! sounds awesome

  • aligiraffe  on  March 28, 2022

    Wild strawberry cake

  • Oliich  on  March 29, 2022

    Sea urchins with homemade mayonnaise

  • sedm3949  on  March 29, 2022

    Digestive cookies!

  • Skorpyoh  on  March 29, 2022

    Lydia’s lemon cake with crystallized violets and angelica.
    Sounds good and pretty

  • stehol  on  March 30, 2022

    Potato and wild garlic soup

  • Lafauvette  on  March 30, 2022

    Crab and wild garlic tart

  • Laura1  on  March 30, 2022

    wild garlic pesto

  • PMLORE  on  March 30, 2022

    Grandpoppy’s mushroom ketchup, but had a hard time deciding. Would love to try any of the blackberry and rose geranium recipes, Mummy’s country rhubarb cake, or the Yogurt cake with lemon curd and sour cream. Grandpoppy’s mushroom ketchup won.

  • redcurrant  on  March 31, 2022

    Crystallized violets

  • Sawalkerflinders  on  March 31, 2022

    Kerry Treacle Bread

  • eildoncook  on  March 31, 2022

    Watercress salad with duck eggs and olives

  • biro  on  March 31, 2022

    Oh, so many choices! Maybe Emer Fitzgerald’s braised lamb neck moussaka? Or epigrams? Or any of the pickled fruit recipes?

  • biro  on  March 31, 2022

    Oh, so many choices. Maybe Emer Fitzgerald’s braised lamb neck moussaka? Or epigrams?

  • AllieTaylor  on  March 31, 2022

    The apple cake. This is something straight out of my childhood!

  • Haegar7382  on  March 31, 2022

    The mendiants sound (and look) really good 😋

  • trudys_person  on  March 31, 2022

    I think I’ll have to try Beginner’s brown soda bread – for all the baking I’ve done, I’ve never made soda bread – and it’s a staple!

  • TammyDee  on  April 2, 2022

    I would try the horseradish sauce. I love horsy sauce.

  • stulled  on  April 3, 2022

    herb dumplings for sure

  • madelainebj  on  April 4, 2022

    Apple and tomato chutney

  • JulieQC  on  April 5, 2022

    Toffee and walnut squares

  • silversand  on  April 6, 2022

    Grilled Dover sole on the bone

  • Olimamma  on  April 7, 2022

    garlic recipes

  • mph993  on  April 7, 2022

    Bacon and cheddar cheese strata

  • RSW  on  April 8, 2022

    Fish and chips

  • tararr  on  April 8, 2022

    Prawns or shrimp on brown bread with mayonnaise

  • Pandorabilia  on  April 8, 2022

    Roger’s nettle beer sounds like fun!

  • jinni  on  April 8, 2022

    Ballymaloe School Brown Yeast Bread
    Dillisk bread
    Ballymaloe Sourdough bread

  • Heaton99  on  April 8, 2022

    Wild Garlic Pesto

  • tarae1204  on  April 8, 2022

    Cottage pie with garlic butter

  • Chaosmanager  on  April 8, 2022

    Smoked eggs

  • Spud13  on  April 9, 2022

    Blackberry and rose geranium cordial

  • DFarnham  on  April 9, 2022

    I would love to try the crab cakes!

  • luccio  on  April 9, 2022

    Black currant swirl ice cream : now that’s something I’ve not thought of doing!

  • Ishtar  on  April 9, 2022

    Skate with black butter

  • suzerbelle23  on  April 9, 2022

    Wild mushroom and potato gratin

  • chasteph  on  April 10, 2022

    I would try the mendiants first

  • lgroom  on  April 10, 2022

    Oxtail with grainy mustard sauce

  • FattyNaddy  on  April 10, 2022

    Wild salmon carpaccio

  • Ishtar  on  April 11, 2022

    Fresh and smoked seafood chowder

  • feliciakw  on  April 11, 2022

    Why Ballymaloe crab soup, of course!

  • jd5761  on  April 12, 2022

    Blackberry and Apple Muesli for me

  • Pizzacat13  on  April 12, 2022

    I would love to try the Beef Consommé recipe- such a classic staple.

  • klrclark  on  April 14, 2022

    Lydia’s Lemon cake. I always have lemons, I love them

  • poneill  on  April 18, 2022

    Pickled crabapples

  • oduong930  on  April 18, 2022

    hazelnut brittle

  • DesertPetrichor  on  April 18, 2022

    Wild garlic pesto!

  • t.t  on  April 18, 2022

    Hake with tomatoes and Swiss chard

  • michelle666  on  April 19, 2022

    Wild garlic pesto

  • et12  on  April 20, 2022

    Pork and apple burgers

  • Leonard5854  on  April 20, 2022

    Lydia’s lemon cake with crystallized violets and angelica

  • teamkies  on  April 21, 2022

    Beef shin and oxtail stew

  • Shana.  on  April 21, 2022

    Wild garlic pesto.

  • lollipop123  on  April 22, 2022

    Cottage pie with garlic butter

  • angiejackson  on  April 22, 2022

    Cottage pie with garlic butter

  • rchesser  on  April 22, 2022

    Wild blackberry and rose petal sponge cake.

  • krnries  on  April 23, 2022

    The Comfrey fritter xx

  • sheridarby  on  April 23, 2022

    Cottage pie with garlic butter

  • Emmamaryd  on  April 24, 2022

    Wild garlic pesto

  • e4b4  on  April 24, 2022

    Summer fruit jello with rose geranium cream

  • DimensionAEB  on  April 24, 2022

    Cottage pie with garlic butter

  • zeeenie  on  April 25, 2022

    Wild garlic pesto

  • Yatota74  on  April 25, 2022

    Spaghetti with wild garlic and herbs

  • lapsapchung  on  April 25, 2022

    Nettle beer. When I was a child, my grandparents once took me to a village where almost every house and shop made and sold nettle beer, it was a local speciality. We bought some, and a dish of winkles, and had an impromptu picnic on the beach. I’d love to make it in memory of them

  • Janetr1970  on  April 25, 2022

    I’d like to try Roger’s nettle bear as it takes me back to my childhood

  • misty33  on  April 25, 2022

    Ballymaloe Irish stew

  • ClaireHamilton  on  April 25, 2022

    Pork, sorrel, and fresh herb terrine

  • PatBarrett  on  April 25, 2022

    Blackberry and apple muesli

  • Twiddle  on  April 25, 2022

    Lydia’s lemon cake with crystallized violets and angelica

  • EmilyR  on  April 26, 2022

    Blackberry and apple muesli

  • ameliark  on  May 1, 2022

    Roast stuffed loin of lamb with roast peppers, tapenade, and basil

  • ltsuk  on  May 3, 2022

    Grandpoppy’s mushroom ketchup

  • nocona  on  May 3, 2022

    Cowslip Fritters!!!!!!!!!

  • Zigzag123  on  May 5, 2022

    Paprika sausages and Colcannon

  • joke7  on  May 5, 2022

    potato and wild garlic soup

  • calguire  on  May 6, 2022

    Squid Provençal

  • debbiehb  on  May 6, 2022

    Crab and wild garlic tart

  • janinex  on  May 7, 2022

    Old-fashioned rice pudding, and hope it tastes like my Nan’s did

  • mumliz  on  May 8, 2022

    Crispy puffball

  • humptybren  on  May 8, 2022

    Watercress soup

  • clairew137  on  May 8, 2022

    Hazelnut brittle

  • Rachaels21  on  May 9, 2022

    Hazelnut brittle

  • ljsimmons  on  May 9, 2022

    Zucchini-herb fritters

  • Belene  on  May 9, 2022

    Wild garlic pesto

  • Betsy77  on  May 9, 2022

    baked plaice with chanterelles

  • hammygav03  on  May 9, 2022

    Tansy omlette

  • nicolej922  on  May 9, 2022

    Wild garlic pesto

  • millyvanilli3  on  May 9, 2022

    Pork and beef salami

  • Ingridemery  on  May 9, 2022

    I love pickled mushrooms but have never tried them so I would definitely give them a go!

  • betsyradelow  on  May 9, 2022

    Cottage pie with garlic butter

  • ChicagoJen  on  May 12, 2022

    Yorkshire pudding

  • Poppyjoey  on  May 15, 2022

    Wild Salmon Carpaccio

  • PennyG  on  May 15, 2022

    Watercress soup

  • babsiscookingnow  on  May 15, 2022

    Cheese Straws

  • Lora724  on  May 15, 2022

    I would love to make a Wild strawberry cake.

  • bomika  on  May 19, 2022

    Too many to consider. Will have to read the whole book to decide. But will try the cottage pie posted on the site immediately.

  • portkey  on  May 21, 2022

    Seville orange marmalade cake

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