Delia Smith - Delia's Complete Cookery Course

An absolute necessity, always useful for checking roasting times and how to make basic sauces etc.. I wouldn't use it for pasta recipes but it's great for more old fashioned fare like cakes, roasts, casseroles etc... Delias boeuf bourguignon is amazing! And parsley sauce...and all-in-one sponge and banana loaf...

Great book bit out of date but this is the on i have used most in my kitchen

Yes, good cookery book for the basics. A bit old fashioned, but a great general reference book.

I have tons of cookery books, covering all kinds of cuisines and techniques, but this is the one that I always turn to for basic, sound advice.

The recipes aren't the most exciting, but it's a great reference book.

Mine is falling apart now, and I will definitely be replacing it as it is so valuable in my culinary armoury!

The gospel according to Delia. All the classics of British cooking are in here and if you don't mind following instructions that border on the schoolmarmish (I find it embarrassingly reassuring..) this book will not fail you.