Spec me a cookbook

sgx.saint

sgx.saint

sgx.saint

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Hi Folks,

As titled, I'm wanting to get into cooking, as it's mainly the missus that's in the kitchen cooking away, and with the birth of our little one due this week, I want to set a good example! :)

I know there are heaps of cooking books, and I really don't know where to start, so I was just hoping some of the Gordon Ramsays of the OCUK world would be able to suggest a decent book.

Cheers!
 
Marie Claire Kitchen - Great all rounder with good info. I would say a very good book for beginners. Covers everything from breakfast to cocktails and everything in between.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Marie-Clair...=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1263777599&sr=8-4

it has a good range of recipes and a fair bit of useful reading around certain ingredients. It was £6 in W H smith, not sure if it still is, or if that offer has ended.


Great Recipes of the World - A globe-trotting collection of fabulous dishes in 10 cookbooks For a good but select range of cuisine around the world
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Great-Recip...=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1263777895&sr=8-1


Good food 101 series - good home style dishes, fast and easy.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/101-One-pot...=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1263777966&sr=1-1
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Fish-Seafoo...=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1263777966&sr=1-9
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Pasta-Noodl...r_1_24?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1263778024&sr=1-24



Those 5 books will give you a great start. After that you should be looking into cook books with much more info about dishes and ingredients to expand your learning.

Things like
river cottage Meats http://www.amazon.co.uk/River-Cotta...=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1263778290&sr=1-1
Heston blumenthal in search of perfection http://www.amazon.co.uk/Total-Perfe...=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1263778272&sr=1-2
Michael Bateman - World of spice http://www.amazon.co.uk/World-Spice...=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1263778232&sr=1-2


My next purchases will be
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Advanced-Pr...TF8&coliid=I2OJWUNXSLQUJ1&colid=243PHTF8RPVKL

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Modernist-P...UTF8&coliid=I3G178FT67MAU&colid=243PHTF8RPVKL

Which I'm hopping will develop skills even further.
 
Last edited:
Tonyator said:
Jamie at Home is a good one that I have. Can recommend.
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Cybermyk said:
Delia Smith's Complete Cookery Course

One of the first I ever read, the recipes work and she inspires confidence.

I suppose a lot depends on what you like to eat really.
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These two are all you need.

Delia will be a constant reference for how to cook normal stuff, it's got everything in it. Jamie at home is full of useful stuff too, lots of info about different foods and quick and easy recipes to follow when you want to try something different to delia:)

Get Delia first...
 
I know I'm going to get slated, but I don't care anymore!!1

Anything by Ainsley Harriott is a great place to start. Pretty much all of his recipes and cooking are exceptionally easy and serve as a fantastic means to get into more interesting cooking. I have Gourmet Express (which was my first cook book, got it about ten years ago :p), Gourmet Express 2 and Feel Good Cooking. All of those books are jam packed with extremely good tasting, but more importantly, very very easy recipes and I couldn't recommend them highly enough. :p
 
Yeah, Delia and Jamie are a good place to start.

I wouldn't personally recommend too many of Gordons as he tends to get a bit overcomplicated and fancy, same with Nigella too, and they often require lots of ingredients.

I aren't a brilliant cook but often I need ones with pictures in of what I am going to make. I find it helps somehow and is better than wading through pages of recipes with no photos to wet the appetite!

Delia's Complete Illustrated Cookery Course is where I started.
 
sgx.saint said:
Gordon Ramsay
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I got Gordon Ramsay's Great British Pub Food for Christmas and it's packed full of easy to make classic English recipes. Nothing complicated at all and it's all very satisfying. Lots of stuff you can prepare, stick in the oven and forget about until it's done.

I've also got Jamie's Italy by Jamie Oliver which is all real Italian food.

If you want to get into Indian food I recommend Pat Chapman's Curry Bible, but it's been out of print for some time so you might have to get it second hand or from the library, but it really is the best Indian cooking book in my opinion.

Levi Roots' Reggae Reggae Cookbook is pretty good for Caribbean though I have to admit to only making one or two things out of it.

I find the library is great for cook books. You can browse and try a few out before you commit to buying your own.
 
Hi Folks,

Sorry for the slow reply, just got home from work.

Thanks for the tips, I think I may look at investing in a Delia cookbook, but at least I've got a good spread of suggestions, as I might pick up more than one!

I don't really want to cook too fancy food, my favourite meat is chicken, and I just love chicken dishes.

As I don't cook lots, it's difficult to say what I would like to learn to cook, if that makes sense?
 
I got Gordon Ramsay's Great British Pub Food for Christmas and it's packed full of easy to make classic English recipes. Nothing complicated at all and it's all very satisfying. Lots of stuff you can prepare, stick in the oven and forget about until it's done.
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Ah nice! I thought you'd like that :) Good innit :D
 
I guess as my confidence grows, I'll be able to branch out, and as a result my taste in cooking styles will probably change.

So I think I'll stick with Delia for the time being... just having a look around for the best price. She has released loads of books!

Just been thinking, I'll probably need to spend on some kitchenware, as I we don't really have cooking type equipment.

What basics will I need?
 
Hi there :)

I second the vote for the Good Food 101 series. They're only a fiver each and really good. We have 4 of them: one pot dishes, cheap eats, simple suppers and meals for two. They're easy to follow, and most of the recipes are really straightforward and quick to make. We both lived at home until last year so had our tea cooked for us! These books soon got us into the swing of cooking for ourselves and we are now culinary experts ;)

I'm sure your partner will appreciate the help with you having a little one on the way. Team work will be essential! Good luck :)
 
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