Mary Berry - Complete Cookbook

This is a very practical book, very useful to have alongside other 'fancier' cookbooks. I've used it for years and everything I've made from it has turned out perfectly.

Contains lots of tips and advice. It's definitely a good basic book for anyone leaving home for the first time, or learning to cook. My parents bought it for me when I went to University and it was invaluable. I still use it all these years later, as many recipes have become favourites.

Very wide ranging from basic techniques to the slightly more complicated.

Great for a reference book or for the beginner. Though those looking for complicated or difficult recipes will be a bit disapointed.

It covers a wide range of recipes and of those I have tried, all have turned out perfectly even under less than ideal circumstances (i.e. with small child 'assisting').

Very good for family cooking and for relaxed dinners. Fantastic as a reference book for classic dishes or for basics (sauces/stocks etc). The cakes section goes a bit beyond this as goes into slightly more complicated stuff.

However the recipes are more old favourites than exciting combinations or ideas. It's not technically challenging - though the recipes are well tested and work brilliantly.

It's Delia level cooking - but better. A good faithful to have on the shelf.

This is the best recipe book you could have, it is not a poncey coffee table book. This book is full of accurate pictures and sound advice. All the food is well photographed and the instructions clear and concise. It has loads of extra advice on cutting, storing and nutrition.