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Food/recipes

Which cookbook to ask for, for my birthday?

17 replies

JontyDoggle37 · 25/06/2015 19:34

Im hoping you all might have some great cookbook ideas! I'm a keen and relatively experienced cook, looking for some new inspiration. My taste is wide - I cook British, italian, Thai, some French and some fusion-type stuff as well. I've tried some Indian but not done too well at it, I struggle with the spicing for some reason. I'm keen to try other food cultures too.. I have a six week old baby and an otherwise busy life too, so I don't have three hours to devote to a recipe, but up to an hours effort is fine. Husband and I love spice and heat, recipes can be meaty or vegetarian. Bundles of flavour, clear recipes and great photographs is what I'm after!
All ideas gratefully received! Grin

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HuevosRancheros · 25/06/2015 20:40

Mostly based on the cookery book club on here Grin - I can recommend Made in India by Meera Sodha, and most things by Yotam Ottolenghi, but mostly Jerusalem and Plenty (this one is veggie but please don't let that put you off, it is wonderful and eye opening :) )

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HuevosRancheros · 25/06/2015 20:41

Ooh, Chinese - Every Grain of Rice by Fuchsia Dunlop :)

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MelanieCheeks · 25/06/2015 20:43

Anything by Nigel slater.

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OttiliaVonBCup · 25/06/2015 20:45

Sally Butcher's books are lovely.

Persian inspired, but not only.

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wonkylegs · 25/06/2015 20:54

The 5 o'clock apron - nice article about it here.
www.mrfoxmagazine.com/food/5-oclock-apron/
It's a family cookbook but I think it's about getting kids to appreciate good food rather than dumbing food down so don't write it off as kids stuff. Fab photos, interesting recipes.

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IHaveBrilloHair · 25/06/2015 20:57

Rick Stein's Far Eastern Oddysey.

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couldntbebothered · 25/06/2015 21:26

Made in India - definitely!

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JontyDoggle37 · 25/06/2015 21:28

Thank you all, I shall be looking these up and then dropping appropriately heavy hints to DH!

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FairyPenguin · 25/06/2015 22:17

I have Gok Cooks Chinese which is full of really tasty, quick and simple recipes. Highly recommend.

Someone cooked a delicious dinner for me once from that Every Grain Of Rice and that was really good. It was quite fiddly although I guess that's because she was cooking to impress!

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HelenF350 · 25/06/2015 23:46
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HelenF350 · 25/06/2015 23:49
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LondonLizard · 26/06/2015 10:18

Any of Bill Granger's books are great - Easy and Feed Me Now particularly good for stuff you can get done in under an hour. And most of it is pretty light, easy stuff that is great for summer.

And I definitely second wonkylegs on 5 O'Clock Apron - I have worked my way through that over the last few weeks and have loved everything so far. It's a really refreshing take on family food.

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BumbleNova · 26/06/2015 10:24

ottolenghi Jerusalem - its awesome! literally become one of my staples.

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100sanemum · 26/06/2015 11:44

I also love Jerusalem, it has broadened my repertoire.

HFW's Veg book is full of classics that I cook over and over again (even though we are all meat lovers in my house).

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slippermaiden · 26/06/2015 11:50

Jamie Oliver ministry of food, great mix of recipes x

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JontyDoggle37 · 27/06/2015 16:08

Thank you everyone, ivehad a look and decided, as they aren't very expensive, to go for two - Jerusalem and Every Grain of Rice, looks like they will both broaden my horizons! I've got some great Indian cookbooks already, so I think I just need to apply myself more with those!

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HeadDreamer · 27/06/2015 22:11

You will love every grain of rice and Jerusalem. They are both such great cookbooks.

My family is from Hong Kong and I find every grain of rice filled with very authentic home cooked meals. I find the recipes not fiddly. You will access to a Chinese grocer because Dunlop uses real Chinese sauces and ingredients. Some substitutions I've seen in westernised Chinese food is very bizarre. Like balsamic vinegar for Chinese black vinegar! I remember Jamie's Dan Dan noodles too. It's a horror.

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