Right, im going to get myself a nice new cook/recipe book, whats the best??

[CharlotteACavatica]

I HATE recipe books with fancy fandangled recipes and expensive impossible to find ingredients, id just really like simple recipes, pies, cakes, yummy mains, and deserts? But i havent the slightest clue which book to go for, so would love to know if you have a book just like this, a favourite??

I like jamie's 30 minute meals.

I really like this book by Rachel Allen which fits your requirements pefectly.

All the ingredients you can get at the supermarket, the recipes are easy to follow, not irritating to read and have ALWAYS worked for me (unlike dear nigella and jamie).

I was just about to say Rachel Allen's book! I use it all the time and she does lots of variations on the basic recipe for, say, pasta or risottos.

I've also got Fay Ripley's Family Food for Christmas after a friend recommended it - she copied down a few recipes for me, which have been great, but couldn't lend me the book because she kept using it, which I thought had to be a good thing!

Alternatively, buy Easy Cook magazine.

I really like Sarah Raven's Family and Friends book.

River Cottage Everyday. I've just got it and have made 2 things already, and have a huge list of things from it I want to try. Looks great.

Donna Hay's Instant Cook is good as everything has a picture to inspire and many of them have 3 other options for the same dish with it as well.

Very quick, very easy.