Spec me a.... cook book!

FeFiDoh

FeFiDoh

FeFiDoh

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So I have started to cook a bit more now and really enjoy it, kind of addicted to some of the cooking tv shows now I have started watching them.

Looking for a book that has simple meals that are relatively easy to make and have a lot of variation. I know this is probably most books but there are so many narrowing it down would help.

I see a few in Tesco, 1 or 2 James Martin ones, a Hugh from River Cottage and can't remember the third but it looked ok as well. I don't want one that is just for one type of cuisine/continent.

What have people got that they can give a thumbs up? Christmas time seems to be all about cook books.

*edit*

Just searching around a few online places and Nigel Slater was the other one I see.
 
You could try Jamie Oliver's books as they're pretty good entry level recipies.

I'd say as well to look at the Two Fat Ladies, as their recipies are great. Also they're hilarious if you're looking for another TV cooking show to watch.
 
The Naked Chef by Jamie Oliver. Old now, but really simple to follow and the dishes are generally great.

If you want to be a bit more adventurous with your flavours, but still with simplicity, try Ottolenghi; The Cookbook.
 
Depends entirely on the cuisine you want to learn to cook and your capabilities, but I'd avoid most of Slater's books as they just don't seem to have many recipes in that you'd really knuckle down and cook on a regular basis. And I can't cook from his books without thinking about his podgy, creepy little face, which does rather put one off eating the results.

Jamie's books are pretty good on the whole (bar 30 and 15-minute Meals, aimed as they are at the lazy cook) and his Cook with Jamie makes for a decent tome to keep you going for a fair old while. Admittedly it's a little Italian-centric, but that's not a bad thing when you see just what recipes are on offer.

River Cottage Every Day is excellent as there's really good a good variety of recipes in there and you'll find yourself coming back to them time and time again. I'm not a fan of HFW's series in general, but I do rather like Every Day and I cook from it regularly.

Marcus Wareing's One Perfect Ingredient, Three Ways to Cook It is a great book for learning variations on a theme, but overall the recipes are a little hit and miss for me. Some are amazing, some are poor and very few are in-between and worth persisting with.

But overall, for someone learning the ropes, I'd go for Waitrose's Love To Cook. A nice wide range of recipes with sensible guides and plenty of step-by-step photographs - perfect for both someone who wants to learn or who just wants to increase their repertoire.
 
Glaucus said:
PM me your address.
I can send you a few, won't be till new year though.
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Really? Thanks if so!

Cheers people knew you wouldn't let me down. I haven't seen that much of Jamie Oliver just some bad press about his 15 min thing and people kicking up a stink as it wasn't doable. I will look around for some of his other ones, I do remember hearing they sell millions so they can't be to bad.

The Nigel Slater one from what I have read on reviews from Amazon as that is it more of a diary with food thrown in not really something I am after currently.
 
Another thumbs up for Yotam Ottolengh, although his food is very different from most cook books (you may want to have a flip through before committing).

Gordon Ramsey usually does some really good stuff too and has some really good cooking hints in his book. I have his new Ultimate Cookery Course book and once again it has a wide range of great recipes (although he creeped me out a little in the accompanying TV series; making almost sexual noises to show his appreciation of the finished dishes and ingredients)
 
I love Rick Steins far eastern odyssey book


but you have to like chilli otherwise its wasted on people
 
FeFiDoh said:
Looking for a book that has simple meals that are relatively easy to make and have a lot of variation. I know this is probably most books but there are so many narrowing it down would help.
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I would try the BBC Good Food magazine for a start as well as some good suggestions above.

The magazine has regular features by some chefs above and a good dozen or more single recipes by chefs like James Martin, Jamie Oliver, Michel Roux JR etc.
 
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I really like to cook but I am also on a fairly tight budget every month so I find I can't justify spending all my money on the 'required ingredients' for most recipes. Some of the lists from the River Cottage Veg fill the whole page. Ridiculous.

What they need are cook books for budgeteers.
 
Liquid_Entity said:
I really like to cook but I am also on a fairly tight budget every month so I find I can't justify spending all my money on the 'required ingredients' for most recipes. Some of the lists from the River Cottage Veg fill the whole page. Ridiculous.

What they need are cook books for budgeteers.
Click to expand...

Delia's Frugal Food does use a lot of 'humbler' ingredients to keep prices down, it's a great book
 
Liquid_Entity said:
I really like to cook but I am also on a fairly tight budget every month so I find I can't justify spending all my money on the 'required ingredients' for most recipes. Some of the lists from the River Cottage Veg fill the whole page. Ridiculous.

What they need are cook books for budgeteers.
Click to expand...

This is what I keep coming across time and time again. Take Jamie Oliver for example, fresh herbs of which you may only use a a few sprigs of it, then have to throw the rest away because you can't think of anything to use it with.

It's all very well having a large "larder", but it ends up being quite wasteful when it comes to the fresh ingredients. Delia is pretty good to this end though and as said earlier, often uses more humble ingredients.
 
Yeah you have to be careful with some cookbooks. a lot of recipes simply amount to buying very expensive bits of meat then doing some flouncy side dish with it. Not particularly hard, and quite expensive at the end of the day. Anyone can cook a decent lamb shank in wine for 3hrs and call it a recipe.

I'd go for Jamie Oliver or Gordon Ramsay. Their's a reason why they're the two best known -- the recipes are easy and fantastic tasting without costing a bomb. Ramsay's Ultimate Cookery Course is brilliant.
 
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