Christmas Cookbooks

[EdnatheHousemaid]

What is your favourite? I have Jamie, Nigella and Delia and wondered if Mary Berry's was any good.

Or maybe there's one that is not fronted by a celebrity cook but has great, foolproof recipes.

Obviously I realise I have a cookbook problem (well, a book problem really) really fancied making some mincemeat which got me thinking about Christmas cookbooks.

Anyway, recommendations please.

[EmilyChambers79]

I love Mary Berry's one. I usually get it from the library but have been lucky enough to get it from the second hand bookshop this week.

It's nice food that is easy to make with things you are likely to have or are not too expensive to buy and easy to get hold of.

[EdnatheHousemaid]

Oh thank you EmilyChambers79. I was beginning to think I was the only one who read Christmas cookbooks at this time of year.

I'm going to trawl our Oxfam bookshop to see if there might be a Mary Berry lurking.

Good point about ingredients - gone off Nigella because she always has something obscure that I can never find.

[Grumpbum]

I’ve just ordered Nigel Slaters Christmas Chronicles can’t wait for it to arrive!

[EdnatheHousemaid]

Grumpbum I have to sheepishly admit I have that - ordered it in time for Nov 1 when it begins. It's more of an ode to winter but no less lovely for that.

I absolutely love it. I'm sure it's going to be the book I re-read every year. He has such a refreshing view of this season (I get a bit fed up with the moaning about how awful winter is). Nigel is lovely, sort of person you'd love to have a coffee with. I'm sure he'd bring out the cake tin too.

Hope you enjoy the book as much as I do!

[JohnnyUtahsWetsuit]

The new Nigel Slater one is a lovely read. It doesn't have loads of recipes, but there is a recipe for mincemeat in there.

[ShowOfHands]

I have Sarah Raven's which is food and poncy decs and the Hairy Bikers which is pretty good. Also have Delia of course.

Do you recommend Jamie and Nigella? A friend swears by Jamie's gravy.

[EdnatheHousemaid]

I love reading Nigella's books but her recipes are a bit hit and miss for me.

I've had more success with Jamie generally - I bought the Christmas one too late to use properly last year but it does contain his Epic Hot Chocolate recipe which I've previously had to search the internet for. I make his waffles (not in the book) and we have it Christmas morning.

[NameChangeFamousFolk]

I loathe Gordon Ramsey, but his Christmas With Gordon book is brilliant. It's not hugely extensive, but the recipes in there are exactly the right thing for my family/cooking style/etc.

[tobee]

On the strength of this thread I have just had Mary Berry Christmas delivered. But I also splurged on New York Christmas which is a real contrast in recipes. However, now I just want to eat.

[EdnatheHousemaid]

Not sure I can stomach Gordon Ramsey and am off to Google New York Christmas (although I certainly don't need any more encouragement to eat )