Question: If Matilda mum, Zinnia, didn't cook, what is Matilda doing making pancakes with a recipe book at hand?
Shadow5
29th Jun 2011
Matilda (1996)
Answer: As said in the comment above, it is also mentioned in the book that she procured it from the library, and was very fond about learning how to cook.
Chosen answer: What about choosing not to cook precludes owning a recipe book? I'd guess Zinnia bought it simply because it's the type of thing a housewife would own. Or I suppose there's a chance Matilda, who is very resourceful and very fond of books, procured one herself from the library or elsewhere.
Phixius ★