The PWMU Cookbook is now 105 years old, making it the oldest book of its kind still in production in Victoria. The PWMU Centenary Cookbook is reprinted (with revisions and corrections by Mairi Harman) in 2009 – the year the Presbyterian Church of Victoria celebrates its 150th Anniversary.

The PWMU Cookbook Committee is a joint committee of the Presbyterian and Uniting Churches.

Sales of this book have aided the work of PWMU since 1904 and the work of the Uniting Church Adult Fellowship since 1977 – and continue to do so.

The income PWMU receives from sales is specifically used to fund students from developing countries who come to the Presbyterian Theological College in Box Hill, Melbourne. They are given training which is aimed to benefit their home churches.
To date students from these countries have been trained: Nigeria, Vanuatu, Korea, the Philippines, Malawi and India.

The book is attractively bound with spiral binding and a wrap-round cover

Presbyterian parents have long made sure their children have their Bible and their PWMU Cookbook in their bags when they leave home.

Out of the ashes of the 7/2/2009 fires the PWMU Cookbook Committee was asked by Helen Kenney of the St Andrews CFA could she photocopy recipes to hand out to families whose houses were burnt down. It had come to her attention that many cooks were so traumatised that they could not remember simple recipes that they had used for years. Both the Presbyterian and Uniting Churches donated funds to purchase 65 cookbooks from the publisher at a reduced rate. On 5 June these 65 books were presented to St Andrews. The PWMU Cookbook Committee then looked into the possibility of donating a book to approximately 2000 more families throughout Victoria who had lost their homes on Black Saturday.

Each book will have an inside label attached stating that it comes with the good wishes from both churches and Hachette publishers.

There will still be over 4500 copies of the Cookbook in stock so plenty will be available for others wishing to purchase them. The publisher will give a 35% discount for church groups when orders and payment are made together.

Christine Closter PWMU Cookbook Committee Treasurer and PWMU Cookbook Convenor of the PWMU State Council

Sample recipe from p71 of The PWMU Cookbook

(used with permission)

Chicken Curry

I kg chicken pieces
2 onions
salt to taste
1-2 teaspoons sugar
½ teaspoon chilli powder
2 tablespoons (40ml) oil
2 cloves garlic, crushed
2 stalks lemongrass
500g sweet potato or potato
1 x 200ml can coconut milk
1 tablespoon cornflour
¼ cup cold water


Chop chicken pieces into thirds. Place chicken in a large bowl with one finely chopped onion, salt, sugar, curry powder and chilli powder. Mix lightly and leave for one hour. In a large saucepan, heat the oil. Add garlic and chicken and fry for 15 minutes until chicken is golden brown. Add enough water to cover the chicken. Wash the lemongrass, crush the base, tie the stalks together and add to the pan. Chop remaining onion coarsely and add. Bring to the boil, turn down heat and simmer for about 30 minutes, until chicken is cooked. Remove lemongrass. While chicken is cooking peel and dice potato into 3cm dice. Deep fry for 3 minutes. Add to saucepan and very gently mix. Add coconut milk. Make sure there is enough liquid to just cover the ingredients. Blend cornflour with cold water and add. Stir gently until sauce thickens, then let it boil for one minute. Remove from heat. Serve with Vietnamese bread, steamed rice or noodles.
Hint: if fried potato is banned in your diet, add diced potato while chicken is simmering.