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February Cookbook Club - From Delia to a Modern Way To Eat, with a little Bento on the way

159 replies

HuevosRancheros · 29/01/2015 09:57

Welcome to February's cookery book club :)

Each month we choose a couple of books and each try to cook at least two new things from either book. We then report back and share our verdict Grin

This month we have three books to choose from :) :

  • Delia Smith's Winter Collection - I'm sure lots of the recipes will be on her website here
  • A Modern Way to Eat by Anna Jones - some recipes here
  • Just Bento by Makiko Itoh - millions of recipes (more than in the book!) on her website here also on her sister site Just Hungry which seems to be updated more recently

    Happy Cooking!
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TwoLittleTerrors · 29/01/2015 10:04

Itoh had cancer a couple of years ago and that's why the site hasn't been actively updated. However the archive is really good. It's a great resource for anyone looking to prepare lunches that are not sandwiches, yoghurt and a fruit. And picnics too if you are braver than me to eat outside in this weather!

I think I will concentrate on Jones this month. There are quite a few interesting stews and soups in there. Perfect for winter.

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ivykaty44 · 29/01/2015 10:06

Oh looks good

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HuevosRancheros · 29/01/2015 10:14

Yes, last time I used Just Bento she was unwell, I was quite worried when I saw it hadn't been updated for a while :(
But assume she is just concentrating on Just Hungry now

If anyone fancies making sushi rice or sticky rice balls (my daughter loves these, great finger food), the instructions on the site are brilliant and foolproof :)

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Pantah630 · 29/01/2015 10:17

Signing in, I have Delia and the video and Just Bento. Will look online for Anna Jones but given the recommendations on the last thread I can see this ending up in my collection. Blush

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HuevosRancheros · 29/01/2015 10:41

I know, Pantah, me too Blush

And I still have Plenty More, Momofuku and Eat Your Vegetables unused from Christmas Blush Angry

So I shall try to resist!

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OldBeanbagz · 29/01/2015 12:19

Signing in as i also have Delia Winter and will search out the others online.

Got Bread Matters, the Prashad cookbook and Made In India for Christmas. Made in India is the only one i've cooked from so far - very yummy beetroot & feta samosas.

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Silverjohnleggedit · 29/01/2015 12:35

Signing in. I might struggle this month with the choices but I'm intrigued to see what others will choose. I have a few Delias ear-marked, mostly the casserole things. Had planned to do Beef in Designer Ale tonight but then I got a bit carried away with making cowboy beans which have a thick bbq sauce, so I'm just going to do my brisket in a dry rub.

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HuevosRancheros · 29/01/2015 13:53

OldBean - think we had pencilled in March as curry month - Prashad, Made in India..... we could revisit Hairy Bikers' curry too, for those who don't want to buy new books Wink

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Haywire · 29/01/2015 14:16

ooooh joining in I love the Anna Jones book and have made loads from it. Favourites; sweet potato Dhal, panzanella, tahini green veg thing, burgers Blood orange margarita's, crack brownies, cookies mmmmmm.

only total failure so far was the cauliflower based pizza in a word Claggy, and wrong.

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OldBeanbagz · 29/01/2015 15:00

Oooh, just been on Anna Jones's website and seen the recipe for GF Cardamon & Carrot cakes. Might have to experiment on my GF DH start with that one.

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glorious · 29/01/2015 17:40

Yay thanks huevos and welcome new clubbers.

Liking the sound of blood orange margaritas and have blood oranges in the fridge... It'd be rude not to wouldn't it.

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HuevosRancheros · 29/01/2015 18:24

See, now you have me searching the internet for blood orange margaritas! I have found Smitten Kitchen ones, and Ina Garten ones, but no Anna Jones.

Maybe one month we should just focus on the best margarita recipe? Grin Wink

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glorious · 29/01/2015 19:16

Blood orange margaritas (makes 4)
500ml blood orange juice
Juice of 2 limes
2 tablespoons agave syrup
100ml triple sec or cointreau
150ml good tequila (her words!)
1 unwaxed lime

Mix all liquids, pour over ice, finish with slice of lime (my words!)

I didn't buy the book just so I could make a margarita tonight, ooh no

Just waiting for DH before I do them

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pregnantpause · 29/01/2015 19:26

I've book marked the margaritas for a Friday night soon. Got to be worth a trip into the big town for a blood orange so I'll have to have at least three to be worth my whileWink I could see if they have sushi rice too- stocky rice balls sound right up my street.

I haven't done my plan yet but I know that Anna jones blueberry banana pancakes are on my list and delias treacle pudding. Put those with the margaritas and it's not going to be a healthy month for meGrin

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HuevosRancheros · 29/01/2015 19:48

Thank you glorious, they sound lovely :)
I've seen agave syrup mentioned a lot, usually as an alternative to honey - I don't have the agave, do you think honey would do?

Pregnant that is quite some month Grin
Blueberries are healthy Wink

If you fancied the sticky rice balls, I make rice as for onigiri, no sushi vinegar, sugar etc, maybe a little salt to taste when cooking the rice. Then shape into small balls - I think onigiri are usually much larger, and stuffed with something, but DD (6) likes them 2-bite sized. I often sprinkle them with toasted sesame seeds. She likes them with either yakitori chicken pieces or the ready-fried pressed tofu from our local Asian shop, served with a satay sauce for dipping. A vegetable would be good here, but DD disagrees Good to have in the freezer for an emergency quick meal :)

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glorious · 29/01/2015 19:58

I don't know huevos because I don't have any agave syrup either! I don't normally sweeten my margaritas so I will probably just omit it but sugar syrup would be my first port of call for a substitute as the flavour is more neutral. Honey is at least a bit more virtuous though.

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pregnantpause · 29/01/2015 19:58

I thought maple was the usual agave substitute? I read it somewhere and have always used maple as a result- seems to work fine for me.

I think my dd6 will love that I'll definitely try it. ( she will also agree on the matter of vegetable inclusion)

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glorious · 29/01/2015 20:06

I expect you're right, though I don't have any of that either and not sure about the maple taste with the citrus.

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HuevosRancheros · 29/01/2015 20:13

I guess maybe it depends if the "original" recipe wanted agave? I see it a lot when converting a veggie recipe to vegan, so a honey sub. And for a lot of recipes, you couldn't use maple syrup instead of honey as it would be too overpowering? But maybe maple would be a good alternative to agave. Maybe... Hmm

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pregnantpause · 29/01/2015 20:21

This has made me think I must have read the maple syrup as agave substitute option in a vegan book. Because I think honey would be better too. I just blindly accepted it as the ' right' choice Confused

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glorious · 29/01/2015 22:11

Cheers! No sweet stuff and can't say I miss it

February Cookbook Club - From Delia to a Modern Way To Eat, with a little Bento on the way
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Haywire · 29/01/2015 22:32

Looks like I started something with the margarita's! The original uses agave syrup but I have made a sugar syrup for them when didn't have that. Also waitrose sells freshly squeezed blood orange juice not quite as nice as doing it yourself but passable Grin.

We are going to have some tomorrow with the black bean hummus from MWTE and sweet potato fries with some Guacamole; roll on Friday.

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gingerfluffball · 30/01/2015 00:18

Signing in, haven't tried any Anna Jones yet but will do do this month!

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Silverjohnleggedit · 30/01/2015 10:31

I know it's too late now but I wonder if in future if we could link back to previous threads in the opening post. I'd love to go back and read through the previous threads but the search engine is kicking up too many posts. Smile

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HuevosRancheros · 30/01/2015 11:36

Maybe if you knew the books we have done it would narrow your search results
Off the top of my head:
Jerusalem - Yotam ottolenghi
Every Grain of Rice - Fuchsia Dunlop
Hairy Bikers Great Curries (think we did Madhur Jaffrey that month too)
Top Bananas - Mumsnet
Mexican Food made Simple - Thomasina Miers
Short and sweet - dan Lepard. Think we did Paul Hollywood too that month?
Nigella Christmas
Nigella forever summer
River cafe..... Something? I did Green
Nigel Slater's kitchen diaries
We maybe did Delia's summer collection, prompting is to do winter now?

Ones that didn't grab me personally, but others loved - Ina Garten, Fay Ripley

That's all I can remember for now, hth

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