Simple cookery book recommendations for husband learning to cook one weekly meal

[Diversion]

My DH cannot cook! He can bung things in the oven so frozen stuff but cannot cook from scratch although he can manage an omelette. I have cooked for our whole family, six of us and now just the two of us and my Dad twice a week since forever. DH is due to reduce his working hours shortly and I have requested that on his day off whilst I am at work, that he cooks our tea/dinner/evening meal. Please can anyone recommend a simple cookery book which uses basic ingredients, nothing fancy which will give step by step instructions and encourage him to taste and add seasonings etc. I don't require a fancy meal, just something simple and homemade which has flavour and is not overcooked/soggy/burnt. Just to add he is a wonderful husband and amazing Dad who has lots of talents in other areas just not cooking 😀Just one meal a week cooked for me would be an amazing treat. I do keep a very well stocked pantry and freezer so he would not need to even shop for ingredients really.

You husband can cook he just cannot be arsed and by pretending to be thick and inept you do the work.

why are you still doing the planning?

he can surely google bbc meals? They are very easy.

Delia complete illustrated cookery course

Show him how to cook a few easy meals that you like, and he could just do that, and learn others, as he goes along.

I see you have a few specialty cookbook stores in the U.K. I'd ask them. I recently saw one cookbook targeting men, and there are certainly ones for beginners. You also might consider the kind of cookbook that started me off long ago, a book of complete meals in one dish. I'm guessing that if he managed one great entree that incorporated both meat and vegetables, you wouldn't hassle him about salad and dessert and such.

We got a Jamie Oliver one years ago and did the whole book (apart from fish).

It included cottage pie etc. We still refer to it. Can't remember the name but it was red

Maybe try something like hello fresh or gousto - literally step by step picture instructions with everything measured out and prompts when to add seasoning.

I'm a pretty decent cook but I've used these a few times to try out different things when I don't want to buy stuff I might not use again.

Jamie Oliver ministry of food
or on Instagram - bored of lunch or don’t go bacon my heart (websites too)

There’s a simple Jamie Oliver one from a few years ago, I think it was max 5 ingredients per recipe or something like that. Also there are some small Hamlyn cookbooks (each has 200 XYZ in the title for different types of cooking) which are really good, they might not still be in print but should be available secondhand. I have a dyspraxic adult DC so we have needed simple books. We have also had some success with The Spicery cooking kits (spice mixes with recipe cards).

Delia Smith has you covered

Delia's "How to Cook". Additional videos available on the website. Has worked in similar situations for friends....

Inspired taste website - American based. Easy, healthy food.
or Jamie, ministry of food

or dh could just Google himself or ask chat gpt?

Aww such a shame he can’t read or write and therefore cannot google ☹️.

Tuff times for men innit?

Still, he’s done well to marry someone who can read and write so he’s not completely stuffed.

If you're the one sourcing a book for him you're still carrying the mental load for this task.

Hasn't he heard of YouTube? Tiktok?

Good point. What's effort is he making to become a functioning adult for his family?

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=club.sorted.cook&hl=en_GB this App by the Sorted crew. Gives recipes, shopping lists and planning, both my dc used it when they left home

Delia is fabulous for people who actually want to learn to cook and can be bothered to read detailed instructions and do a bit of hard graft. I’m guessing OP’s husband doesn’t fit this bill.

Almost any book by Jamie Oliver would be my suggestion, especially Ministry of Food and the 5 ingredients and 15 minutes books. Many of his recipes are also on YouTube, so he can ease himself gently into chef mode.

Better late than never, I guess…

Is he able to do adult things? Drive, work, plan a day out? If so, he can cook.

I’m learning to cook using the Taming Twins website

The BBC website has lots of info starting at how to chop and prep all manner or fruit/veg/meat/fish. I'd also be ensuring he knows the basics of food hygiene such as not using the same knives/chopping boards with raw and cooked foods, not putting raw meats in the fridge above cooked foods etc.

I don't have a book to recommend, but possibly a student cooking guide or some of these recipes will help:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/collections/back_to_basics

Youtbe is going to be better as he can watch it being done in real time and rewind if needed

Fay’s family food is good for easy and tasty meals. I like Jamie’s Ministry of food too.

Jamie Oliver - I think he did meals in 15 and meals in 30? I've got loads of his books and they're all simple to follow.

Thanks for those who have given useful tips and websites etc. As stated he is an amazing man with a multitude of skills who worked a stupid amount of hours on a farm, 7 days a week, every single week which allowed me to remain at home to raise our children in the 90's which was a common and joint decision. I was asking for tips for cooking and not comments on our lifestyle and choices.

Id also recommend gusto if you can afford it as it provides the ingredients and clear step by step instructions. This has basically radically changed my DH ability to and enjoyment in cooking. The food is tasty and loads of choice. I think doing this is less dry than reading a book and having to ensure getting ingredients together.

Jamie ministry of food is good. I’m not so keen on the 5 ingredients one.

Also the little bbc good food books are great. We have cheap eats and the one pot one amongst others and they’re very good.