Be-Ro

[Jerry]

Bell’s flour business was in Bath Lane, Newcastle. Two of his best-selling products were baking soda and self-raising flour, marketed as ‘Bell’s Royal’, at the turn of the century. As it was illegal to use the word ‘royal’ commercially in the reign of Edward VII, Bell changed the product’s name to ‘Be-Ro‘.


In the early 1920s, self-raising flour was a novelty. Exhibitions were widely held, where freshly-baked scones, pastries and cakes were sold for a shilling to visitors. Demand for recipes was so great that the first Be-Ro book was produced in 1923, containing 19 pages. It has now grown to 86 pages and has reached its 40th edition. With sales of over 38 million it has claims to be the best-selling English cookery book of all time.


You can get one from (£1-50?):


The Be-Ro Kitchen
po Box 100
Blackburn
Lancs BB0 1GR

[Globalmyths]

The secret ingrediant in the self raising flour was cream of tartar.

[Elaine H]

I have my grandmother's be-ro book. Wonderful !

[johnc10]

I've got 2 Be-ro books off me mam, I don't think they'll be as old as yours Elaine with it coming from your grandmother but I use mine all the time

[Globalmyths]

T. J. EDMONDS: makers of flour cornflour, custard etc. And consistant winner of the neatest and tidiest factory gardens etc put out many and I mean many years ago a cook book which was and still is the most bought cook book in New Zealand. My Mothers mother had one my mother had one and tonight I asked my daughter Michelle on the phone if she had one. Yes she did, sounds a bit like your Be-ro books.

[little_tata]

I have my grandmother's be-ro book

I have my grandmothers too Elaine!

I never knew it was a Newcastle company though.

[Jarrow Pete]

The wife still has her copy in the kitchen drawer, can remember sending for it for her when we first got married 36 years ago.

[Globalmyths]

Does your up to date latest editions of your Be-Ro books retain some of the yesteryear recipes as per the first edition.

Because I think some of the very old recipes our parents used were more economical and more nutritious. In my opinion. And I think you would have agreed if you had ever tasted my mothers scones cooked in the oven of a wood fueled stove. YUMMY I can still remember them and the taste of her scones dripping with home churned butter and tasty cheese or peanut butter on them.

[Globalmyths]

Thank you marrasis, they were the best in my humble opinion.

[anna]

I Got my first Be-Ro book from school,, i use to enjoy using these books, as they were easy to follow..

[Globalmyths]

The originator of those books knew what he was doing because if you cooked these recipes exactly as the recipe required you would get your man, for surely then as it is now the way to a mans heart was and is through his stomach.

[Pooter]

The best cook book is the one my wife got from her grandmothers - The Atora Beef Suet cookbook. "Hmm suet....."

[Pooter]

Mmmm clogged arteries

But what a way to go..............

[Podgy Pete]

I've got an old Be-Ro book. The best recipes I enjoy are their biscuits and Coffee Kisses. Luverly.

[Podgy Pete]

duplication

[Globalmyths]

When my mother was cooking-baking and when she got my sisters also cooking and baking they always wore their Pinafores. - aprons. Do you ladies still wear these when you are cooking baking etc