“Made in England” Vintage Kitchenalia: Old Tins, Icing Sets and Measuring Cones with Tala
“Made in England” Vintage Kitchenalia:
Old Tins, Icing Sets and Measuring Cones with Tala
The old mixing bowl!
Welcome to my first “Made in England” Vintage Kitchenalia post, and before my lovely Scottish, Welsh and Irish friends say anything, I will be featuring items that have been made in Scotland, Wales and Ireland too, it’s just that all of the vintage kitchenalia that I am featuring today was made in England! I have decided to share some of the rather large (I’m embarrassed to say) collection I have of vintage baking bric-a-brac – most of which I still use today. Many items are much-loved family pieces that have been passed down to me, such as my grandmother’s old rolling-pin, the mixing bowl you see in the photo, a Tala measuring cone, lots of bread tins, mince-pie and patty tins plus a very old Yorkshire pudding tin. It’s a wonderful way to connect with family and the past and I make no apologies for being rather nostalgic as I write this post today.
Vintage Tala Pastry Cutters
The collection I am showing today is part of my vintage Tala range and comprises: Pastry Cutters in a Tin, Four Measuring Cones, a boxed set of Castle Pudding Moulds, an Icing set and some Card Pattern Sandwich Cutters. I have used ALL of the items that are shown, with the measuring cones and pastry cutters being in constant use. I have not used my little castle pudding moulds for a while, but the last time I used them I did make some almond castle puddings, with raspberry sauce and custard, taken from the recipe on the back of the box……and they were sublime! I promise to make them again soon, so I can share the photographs,as well as the recipe.
“Made in England” Vintage Kitchenalia – Castle Pudding Recipes
Along with my retro castle puddings, I have also had immense fun with the “Card Pattern Sandwich Cutters” too…….. a little box of four cutters in the shape of the card houses – Clubs, Diamonds, Hearts and Spades. Again, I must make some more sandwiches soon, so I can photograph them…….as I recall when I used the cutters last, it was for a Jubilee Party, with a retro theme, and they had traditional fillings such as cucumber, cheese and tomato and yes, there was some salmon paste ones too!
“Made in England” Vintage Kitchenalia – Card Pattern Sandwich Cutters
What is fascinating about the measuring cones in my collection, is how the ingredients that are marked inside have changed over the years. Apart from the obvious change of Imperial measures to metric, there have been a few changes with the ingredients too……..out go “Groats” (hulled or crushed grains, usually oats) and “Sago”, although “Tapioca” and “Ground Rice” are still there, comfortingly! One of the complaints I often have about using American recipes is the use of cups; but, I see that in both the old and new measures, there are “Standard” and “English” cups, as well as “American” cups and pints, which are different to ours.
“Made in England” Vintage Kitchenalia – Vintage Tala Measuring Cone
I STILL prefer to use these amazing Tala measuring cones for all my dry ingredients, they are so handy and easy to use, even though I have a lovely old set of Salter scales as well as an “all singing and dancing” metric scale. Next in my “Show and Tell” line-up are the Cream Horn Moulds………I have a set of twelve and YES I have used them once, with average results – some of the pastry horns were intact, and some had sort of “frayed” away from the mould! Once again, I MUST make some more very soon, as I LOVE them, especially when made with home-made jam at the bottom.
“Made in England” Vintage Kitchenalia – Vintage Cream Horn Moulds
There are lots of recipes out there for cream horns, but the best I have seen recently is the one that is featured in the Food Glorious Food book from the television series. Made by Colin W Ballard, the recipe was his father’s who was a baker, and they were regularly requested by members of his family for special events and large family gatherings. You can find the recipe in the book and here: Colin W Ballard’s Fresh Cream Horns.
Colin W Ballard’s Fresh Cream Horns: Photo courtesy – Handbag.com
Last on my vintage list is the Tala Icing Set; complete with the icing “syringe” and six nozzles the set also comes with a handy little booklet about how to achieve all sorts of different finishes, as well as recipes for all sorts if icing. I remember my mum using a similar set when piping the “swirls” on to her Christmas cake. I am not sure that I have ever used this set, as I have an older set with a cloth bag that I find easier to use, but, I am sure the nozzles will come in handy! I see that the price label is from one of my favourite shops, Fenwick, and it cost a BIG £1 and 16 shillings (£1. 16/-) in its day!
Tala Icing Set
I’m going to end with a gallery of images, and I promise I will use some of these vintage items soon, so I can show the finished results and share the recipes. I’ll be back later with some new 5:2 diet recipes, as well as a regional bread recipe, and my Vintage Kitchenalia series will continue next week, bye for now, Karen
“Made in England” Vintage Kitchenalia: Old Tins, Icing Sets and Measuring Cones with Tala
“Made in England” Vintage Kitchenalia: Old Tins, Icing Sets and Measuring Cones with Tala
“Made in England” Vintage Kitchenalia: Old Tins, Icing Sets and Measuring Cones with Tala
“Made in England” Vintage Kitchenalia: Old Tins, Icing Sets and Measuring Cones with Tala
Lavender and Lovage Historical Recipes
Teacup Spiced Fruit Loaf
Laura@howtocookgoodfood says
I am a mad keen fan of vintage cookware and cookbooks. How gorgeous, I wish I had a few items myself. I do love all of your lovely china too which always add so much to your photos. Hope you are well, I have been out of the blog loop for a while due to holidays and work so just trying to catch up with everyone now 🙂 xx
Karen Booth says
Thanks Laura! It’s lovely to see you back, although I did follow your holiday exploits on FaceBook!
Thanks so much for your kind comments and if I ever come across a “hoard” of vintage bakeware anywhere, as some of these I found in boxes in bric-a-brac shops, I will let you know!
Karen
Lorrie says
FT, I LOVE all these vintage items…I have a small collection too.
Karen Booth says
Thanks Lorrie! It is LOVELY to see you here too! Are you still over at Zaar and Zazz? If so, I will pop over to see you! FT
Jude A Trifle Rushed says
Wow! These are heavenly, I just love vintage in the kitchen, the card sandwich cutters would be ideal for an old fashioned Bridge party, I must lookout for a retro set, they’d be perfect for my family when they play, ‘Knock out Whist’! 🙂 Jude x
Karen Booth says
Thanks Jude! I do love my vintage bits and bobs, and yes, the card cutters would be absolutely BRILLIANT for a bridge party! If I see a set, I will let you know or get them for you……just so you can make them for your Know out Whist family party! Karen
Susie @ Fold in the Flour says
I LOVE this post! I always find it so interesting finding out what people enjoy using in their kitchens, and if it has been something handed down, then that’s just so fitting somehow. Anyway, can’t wait to see you Welsh items. 🙂
Karen Booth says
Thanks Susie! I decided to start a new little mini series, just for fun! I will let you know when my Welsh item is up, I only have one unfortunately! I wish I had a loving spoon however…….always wanted one of those! Karen
Vohn says
What a wonderful post Karen, which brings back such happy childhood memories. I learnt to pipe with a piping “syringe” and measured my first ingredients in a Tala cone. Vohn x
Karen Booth says
Thanks Vohn! Yes, memories are often associated with baking apparel as well as recipes, and just getting all of these items out reminded me of warm baking days in the kitchen with my mum and grandmother! Karen
Dave Milnes says
I am so envious of your collection! It seems to be getting harder to find stuff like this too, ever since shabby chic became fashionable….
Galina V says
I love the cream horns, we had exactly the same in Russia. And on the recent trip to Italy we had the tiny cannoncini with cream, utterly delish! Thank you for showing you fab collection of kitchenalia, read about it with great pleasure.
Kevin says
Hi,
You may be interested to know that the Mulberry Factory (glassware, crystal, pottery, tableware) showroom in York stocks a number of reproduction Tala items including syringe icing sets and cutters in replicas of the tin boxes. I’m not sure of the address but it is somewhere in the Swinegate area. Maybe the next time you’re up there you could look into it!
Kevin
Karen S says
Thanks Kevin! I LOVE Mulberry Factory, and used to work just up the road from it at Droopy and Browns, a posh frock shop that is sadly no longer open. Karen
Don Thompson says
I have a complete TALA Icing and Food Decoration Set including a TALA Egg Wedger., which I am in the process of selling on eBay , if any of your correspondents would be interested.
It comprises:
28 Icing nozzles in stainless steel with brass base rings and brass securing screw collars, 1 linen Icing Bag and 1 Stainless Steel Syringe.
6 Castle Pudding Moulds, 3 Mashed Potato nozzles and 1 Egg Wedger, all stainless steel.
All of these in their original TALA cardboard or tin boxes with original instructions.
If there are interested parties wishing to purchase, these will be listed from 12 noon today 4th December.
They were my mother’s property and I believe pre WW2.
Don T.
david graham says
Hi,Karen. Perhaps you could help me.Amongst all of your Kitchenalia would you possibly have such a thing as a METAL coupling or
adapter for the icing nozzles? Everything is now plastic but I desperately need the metal one.It would make my wife so very happy.
Hope you do not mind me asking. Nice to recall the “old fashioned things’ we used so long ago.Thank you.Regards,David.
Karen Burns-Booth says
I’m really sorry David, I do have one, but one only, so I cannot sell it, I am so sorry, Karen