could you please recommend a cookbook that has everyday family food recipes and not poncy stuff that I don't have ingredients or time for!

[INeedANew]

Would love to learn to cook but some of the cookbooks I've glanced through just isnt what I will eat. I want good wholesome everyday normal family food that doesn't require travelling to some far fetched land.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

It’s old but Jamie Oliver’s ministry of food is something I’ll go back to often. Has things like roasts, recipes for mince, easy pies, stir frys etc really clear and easy to follow.

I've just got the Bosh Healthy Vegan one and the recipes I've tried so far have gone down well with the whole family. No weird ingredients and most recipes I've tried so far have been 20-30 mins.

(We're not vegan but was just looking for some new ideas)

I have just purchased „Feed You Family for £20 a Week“ and am impressed with the range of down to earth recipes, using normal ingredients, which my children in particular might actually eat. It also has the bonus of an 8-week meal plan which is for me really helpful.

The Good Housekeeping Cookery Book or Potatoes and Rice Simple Cookery

Two chubby cubs

Try looking at student cookbooks, there are plenty of them and they tend to be quite simple.

Alternatively you might find more traditional cookbooks in charity shops. If you Google Jack Monroe recipes you'll find some very cheap and simple vegetarian recipes on her website - can't remember the name offhand but it has "bootstrap" in it.

Good Housekeeping. Wins hands down.
Delia's How To Cook.
Nosh for Students.

Already mentioned but Jamie Oliver's Ministry of food.

Before buying new, look on eBay. Second hand bookshops advertise there and you can pick up decent cookbooks for pennies.

I'd actually recommend BBCgoodfood website rather than a book. Pop whatever you fancy in the search bar (chicken, pasta), go for the (almost) 5* recipes & read the comments. It's a fantastic resource.

Actually this is tricky. Because you probably know how to make a roast, a spag Bol etc, so it's that next step up.

Which there seems to be a gap in the market between that and quinoa with some durian/dragonfruit combo.

We have Good Food Family Feasts for a Fiver. Everyone likes the recipes, they are tasty but more importantly easy to follow and they work! They require any bizarre ingredients either.

I have also just bought Two Chubby Cubs as mentioned up thread.

• don't require bizarre ingredients!!

Agree with others. Go for the older “classic” cookbooks. I always refer to Queen Delia when I want a basic recipe.

All the recipes by Jack Monroe are online, and she has books as well.

Hers are very budget conscious but also really interesting and varied.

And Delia has a website with all her recipes in it.

And she always has substitutes for herbs/spices you may not have.

Also recommend Two Chubby Cubs

I second Jack Monroe's books. I recently bought her Tin Can Cook one which is all based off tinned items - so handy for quick and easy! She has experienced poverty too so her recipes are very budget friendly.

River Cottage Family cookbook. It's a kids cookbook so there is a fair bit of 'put your oven gloves on' but it's full of classic recipies and info. It's great.

Ooh thank you so much. I'm going to pop into my local Waterstones so I can have a good look through some of the suggestions.

Great idea for buying off eBay!

Is there a specific Delia one?

The St Michael All Colour Cookery Book by Jeni Wright.

I'm still using mine, an original from 1980, you can pick it up on ebay.

It's not scared to use the occasional tin. Has all the basic stuff you probably had as a child, toad in the hole, stews, roasts, vegis. It also has puddings and baking so basic bread.

I am banned from making the shortbread as my carer claims it is like crack and if I make it he can't stop eating it.

I think the fanciest ingredient in it is paprika.

Some stuff is a bit dated eg prawn cocktail.

www.worldofbooks.com/en-gb/books/wright-jeni/the-st-michael-all-colour-cookery-book/GOR001204327?keyword=&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIqrmyoo7O5wIVWODtCh32AQqiEAQYAyABEgJoAfD_BwE

Is two chubby cubs slimming world?!

Two Chubby Cubs is great. It's marketed as slimming world friendly but actually it's full of simple family-friendly meals with not too many ingredients and nothing weird or wonderful.

Agreed. Their website is SW but they can't mention it In their books so they've just ended up with a lovely, and actually very funny recipe book