Mumsnet Talk

The only books I have are old Christmas presents with fussy recipes in-like Delia Smith!

Classic and simple recipes that aren't too expensive or could be frozen would be great.

Jamie Smith's Ministry of Food has been heavily recommended here. I really like Rachel Allen. Delia is my staple though!!

Nothing I have tried from James Martin has ever worked.

JO's ministry of food is pretty good

Had a really nice GAry Rhodes book from the library. Why not go and have a look there and then buy one.

Another vote for Ministry of Food.

And if you can get hold of the original Good Housekeeping cookbook, it's brilliant.

Agree with Min of FOod

Oh I immediately thought of Jamie Oliver's new boo but you all beat me to it. It really is good.

My dh also swears by this Gary Rhodes book

JO's Jamie's Dinners is fantastic - we use it a lot along with Nigella Express and the original Delia.

Jamies MOF is excellent, got me cooking from scratch.l Havent made a bad recipe yet

I have been looking at Jamies MOF too some of the recipes sound lovely and most of all easy!!!

Its £10 delivered on Amazon.

Delia Smith's cookery course taught me to cook and didn't find it fussy, but brilliant to learn basic cookery.
Have got in a rut lately so bought Jamie Oliver MOF, which is just really an updated version of the Delia book.

I got it last week and have made the Chicken Korma and the Minced Beef Wellington.My DCs and DH loved both of them.

WHSmith were selling a Good Housekeeping Family Cook Book for £5 (on offer from £25)last week

If you want a nuts and bolts bible for cooking pretty much most stuff, then Mary Berry's Complete Cookbook is AWESOME. Both DH and I love cooking and have loads of recipe books, but it's pretty much this one that we both fall back on. Have recommended it to a few friends and they've all said the same....

Also putting in a good word for Delia's Complete Cookery course...very thorough but everything I do from it works!

Can't beat Ministry of Food. Have tried loads of the recipes and they are easy and not too expensive to put together either.

Had the pork stew last night - it was flippin' lovely! As JO would say.

I would definitely second the original Good Housekeeping cookbook- mine is bound together with gaffer tape! Don't buy the gold cover version though-it is not as good at all.Mary Berry for cakes and Delia complete cookery course is totally reliable- not her latest attempts!

I've got a really nice book called 'Eat Up' - hang on I'll try and get a link...

here

I really like this - the recipes are good and my children eat most things that I cook from it.

Hugh Fearnly-Wotsit has also done a family cookbook, but I don't know if it's any good - River Cottage FAmily Cookbook I think it's called.

I'll second Mary Berry!! I adore her Fast Cakes book too.

The dairy book of home cooking. If you can get hold of a copy..it's well worth the money.

Jamie's Ministry of Food and Jamie's Dinners are both fantastic.
Nigella's How to Eat
Jill Dupliex Old Food (aka Favourite Food) is very well used here
Nigel Slater Appetite, Real Fast Food and 30 Minute Meals are all good
The Dinner Lady

MN recommended How to Feed Your Whole Family a Healthy Balanced Diet, with Very Little Money and Hardly Any Time, Even If You Have a Tiny Kitchen, Only Three Saucepans ... - Unless You Count the Garlic Crusher..., which I have ordered and hopefully will be arriving soon. So I don't know if it's any good yet.

Thank you for your suggestions.

I have ordered Jamie Oliver's MOF and the Good Housekeeping book to try out.

I've got stuck in a rut with my cooking(or lack of it)lately,it'll be good to start enjoying it again-I loved H.E. at school!

Can I also add my support for the very basic Delia Complete Cookery Course - taught me to cook.

MN recommended How to Feed Your Whole Family a Healthy Balanced Diet, with Very Little Money and Hardly Any Time, Even If You Have a Tiny Kitchen, Only Three Saucepans ... - Unless You Count the Garlic Crusher..., which I have ordered and hopefully will be arriving soon. So I don't know if it's any good yet.

Isn't that written by a Mumsnetter?

I love the Green Light GI cookbook by Rick Gallop, you can pick it up for £2 on Amazon marketplace and it's great if you want to keep your family's sugar intake down. My lot love the meatball and pasta sauce recipes.