The Woman who Taught a Nation to Cook

The Woman who Taught a Nation to Cook

Author: trappedhistory June 15, 2026 Duration: 52:30

Rationing. It's a word which sends shivers down the spine. A word which conjures up Spam and powdered eggs, potato peel pie and cabbage. Endless cabbage. But it wasn't all doom and gloom. And today we celebrate the woman who taught Britain how to 'make do': the glorious Marguerite Patten.


Her recipes went down in history and she's still the cook with the most books – 170 at the last count. Marguerite was the first TV chef, the first to publish a colour cookbook and the first to recognise the magic of gadgets. So pull up a chair and feed your mind as we tuck into some of her recipes in the company of the food writer Claire Thomson, AKA @5oclockapron. It's hearty fare though we can't say the same about the food!


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Trapped History digs into the corners of the past that standard narratives often overlook, guided by James Baldwin's idea that people and history are mutually confined. This podcast is a deliberate effort to loosen that grip, one story at a time. You'll hear detailed accounts of individuals and events sidelined by traditional textbooks, from strategic minds in forgotten battles to cultural pioneers whose influence was deliberately minimized. Each episode reconstructs a specific moment or life, focusing on the nuanced realities of women's history, Black history, military history, and cultural history. The aim is to provide a more complete and human picture, moving beyond dates and dominant names to the textures of lived experience. By engaging with these overlooked chapters, the podcast invites a deeper understanding of how our present is shaped. It’s for anyone who suspects there's more to the story, offering a thoughtful and researched alternative to the history many of us were first taught. Listening feels like a conversation with a knowledgeable friend, one committed to unearthing truths that resonate with our contemporary world. The result is an educational and compelling narrative that challenges simple takeaways, encouraging listeners to question what they think they know about the forces that have built and bound our societies.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

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