A self-confessed ‘blokey bloke’ has shared the story of how he came to write a no-frills recipe book in honour of his late mum from Ipswich, who showed her love through cooking.

If you know somebody who loves food but needs a helpful steer in the kitchen, then Blokey Bloke Kitchen might be the perfect Christmas present.

The idea of a straightforward approach for cooking came to author Adrian Shave when it fell to him to teach his father how to cook after his mother, Daphne, was diagnosed with dementia.

Mrs Shave had lived with the condition since 2014, until she passed away from Alzheimer’s earlier this year. When her symptoms of dementia worsened, it fell to her husband, Peter, to take charge of the kitchen for the first time in his mid-80s.

“The only thing he could do was make a piece of toast and boil the kettle for a cup of tea. Those were the limitations for his cooking,” said Mr Shave.

“But he got quite good in the end. We started simple, like how to boil an egg. Then we moved on to things like, how to make a cottage pie, how to brown the mince, mash some potato, how to make gravy.”

Adrian Shave is hoping to raise as much money as he can for the Alzheimer's Society, in memory of his late mother.Adrian Shave is hoping to raise as much money as he can for the Alzheimer's Society, in memory of his late mother. (Image: Adrian Shave) Like many mothers Daphne Shave showed her love through cooking for her family.Like many mothers Daphne Shave showed her love through cooking for her family. (Image: Adrian Shave) These recipes have now been compiled in Blokey Bloke Kitchen, including the very first recipe Mr Shave’s mother taught him.

“I must have been nine- or 10-years old and I went off to cub scout camp at Nacton shores,” remembered Mr Shave. “She said gave me a tin of tuna, a packet of instant mashed potato and some breadcrumbs to make fish cakes.” 

Other recipes include a simple curry, fail-safe instructions for the perfect rice, and crowd-pleasers such as a moussaka-esque dish and Christmas cakes.

Adrian gives demonstrations in Cumbria, where he now lives, and is hoping to do so in Suffolk at some point in the future.Adrian gives demonstrations in Cumbria, where he now lives, and is hoping to do so in Suffolk at some point in the future. (Image: Adrian Shave) Blokey Bloke Kitchen has been a huge help to people suddenly finding themselves in charge of the kitchen, from students to widowers.Blokey Bloke Kitchen has been a huge help to people suddenly finding themselves in charge of the kitchen, from students to widowers. (Image: Adrian Shave)

Cooking was always Mrs Shave nurtured the people she loved, explained Mr Shave, just as it was for her father before her.

Adrian’s grandfather, Stanley Scurrell, had been a master baker who was stationed in the Middle East during the Second World War. 

Mr Scurrell would cater for hundreds of servicemen and brought the skills he learned back home to Ipswich. From his home in Cavendish Street, he built a thriving business, and supplied wedding cakes to countless people in our town.

Having spent most of his working life as a comedian and headline entertainer on cruise ships, Mr Shave is now following in his family’s footsteps, sharing his love of food with others. 

Fans of the book from far and wide have been getting in touch to share their stories, from students living away from home for the fit time to widowers.

Mr Shave is also determined to raise as much money as he can for charity, with £2 from every book being donated to the Alzheimer’s Society in his mother’s memory.

“With the loss of Mum this year and Dad now in a nursing home suffering from dementia, I am determined for them both to be remembered as the wonderful people they were,” he said. 

“I hope it’s the perfect Christmas gift for any man who fears it’s too late to take up cooking. It’s never too late!”

To purchase a copy, www.blokeyblokekitchen.com