Jamie Oliver book for mil?

[hophophippidtyhop]

Mil has been watching 30 minute meals. She's not known for her cooking - Recently she made a bolognese using a recipe book for the first time when we were round there and was amazed at the 'amount of chopping' and that it needed to cook for 45 minutes. So although I know she'd love a copy of his new book, I was thinking that Ministry of food might be more suitable. I'm hoping it may have more every day recipes with not too many ingredients. Having watched 30 minutes, I can't see her getting the processor out every time. If you've got this book, how easy is it to follow and get the stuff you need from your local tesco?

[dinkystinky]

Maybe you could buy her a food processor to go with the book?

My MIL (also a v reluctant cook) is keen to get this bk for xmas too - Jamie makes it all look so easy... and yes, you can get the stuff at your local supermarket on the whole

[cyb]

Yes Ministry is very good with a mix of basics and more fancy recipes

30 min book confusing imo

[sethstarkaddersmum]

yes - I have Ministry of Food and I would say it is perfect for what you want.
It's also aimed slightly towards food older people are more familiar with (a whole chapter on mince ) as well as curries, stirfries etc.
there are some recipes that take a lot of ingredients but he has done his best to keep it simple and there are lots of straightforward ones as well.

[bogie]

MoF is the best one, I love that one.

[cyb]

In fact i might get Ministry for My mil...might make her realise one doesn't make a shepherds pie by BOILING the mince in water

[hophophippidtyhop]

I thought the 30 minute book might be a bit confusing - don't think she'd be keen on swapping between jobs. He makes it look easy, but I think it would put her in a flap, thinking she was on a 30 minute countdown.
Dinkystinky she has a processor that has sat in the cupboard for 20 years! Though she did tell me she bought a griddle pan the other day, though not used it yet.
Thanks for info, helps to ask people who have used it as well as looking at it!

[Oblomov]

I have really really enjoyed JO's 30 minute meals. Was wondering if the book was any good.
I think I could do what he does relatively easily. But maybe I am kidding myself.

[Oblomov]

CYb and others, so what is the book actually like then ?
If you had watched all the meals being prepped, would it be manageable ?

[cyb]

yes if you had watched all progs it would make more sense.

But you kind of feel you HaVE to make all 3 courses-its harder to pick out just one the way it is written

its like the script for the show, jumping back and forth

[hophophippidtyhop]

I made the chicken pie. It was lovely, and simple and quick to do. I didn't do the other stuff with it though. It did take me a bit longer, but other factors were involved - I didn't put my 30 minute head on, I had to feed dd2 during the process, as well as help dd1 play cbeebies games. I also didn't have quite the right equipment, a pan that could go on the hob and in the oven. and I could only get block pastry that neeed rolling from the local shop!

[cyb]

jamie makes it look simple because he doesnt have pesky kids tugging on his shirt begging for food

or the phone ringing every 10 minutes

[Oblomov]

Im sorry to laugh hiphop, butt hat sounds like just the kind of thing that would face us all. sainsburys out of puff, so bought shortcrsut instead, ds2 needed feeding mid rolling etc etc.
I'm sure cyb is right, its only that JO makes it look so easy.

[hophophippidtyhop]

It was funny, I didn't have time to get the worktop tidy as I was late starting, plus transferring it from a saucepan to an oven dish.It was nice though!He does seem to use a load of salt in everything, wouldn't be good for dp's blood pressure.

[ProfessorLaytonIsMyLoveSlave]

I like the individual recipes in the 30 minute book, but do not see how a normal person can make all the dishes for the combined meal inside 30 minutes. IME it goes "put X, Y, and Z in a pan over a medium heat" then "go and do some other step involving ingredients for a different part of the meal" but omits the "while you are doing this, X, Y and Z will have burned to a cinder" aspect. So I think it's actually better for a more experienced cook, probably. The Ministry of Food sounds far more up her street.

[sethstarkaddersmum]

yes, 30 minutes in which all you have to do is cook would be an unheard of luxury in our house.

I might get the 30 minutes book for me when the children have grown up a bit. It would be just about the most pointless cookery book possible for us now though. (what I need is 'Dinners you can make on and off over the course of a day using only one hand'.)