NEW COOKBOOKS come out every day, but once in a while it doesn’t hurt to dust off an old favourite. Dutch Oven, a self-described “cookbook of coveted, traditional recipes from the kitchens of Lunenburg” is one of my favourites. It was complied in 1953 by the Ladies Auxiliary of the Lunenburg Hospital Society to mark the bicentennial of the founding of Lunenburg, NS.

It features blasts from the past—some nostalgic, some amusing—like Jellied Ham and Celery Salad, and Tomato Aspic. It also has excellent recipes for roasting goose and leg of lamb. Sadly, it seems that many of us don’t take the time to cook dishes like these anymore, but if this cookbook can motivate us to try, we will be well rewarded. Other recipes worth noting are the Chocolate Bavarian Pie, Mustard Pickles, and another oldie-but-goodie: Pineapple Upside Down Cake.

Cookbooks that feature recipes drawn from the community have long been my favourite, because they offer tried and true recipes for “real” foods. Dutch Oven doesn’t disappoint in that regard. Nimbus Publishing, $19.95. ~AB