Please recommend a recipe book for DS (16) who wants one for Christmas!

[Milliways]

He has decided he wants to learn to cook more (Hooray) - inspired by sister at Uni experimenting when she come home.

He wants one with lots of pictures that is easy to follow. He would live on pasta, but has to restrict this as DH doesn't like it!

Any ideas?

Jamie's Ministry of Food?

Ooh? We have a few Jamie books but not that one - does it over the basics?

I wondered about Rachel Berry "Family meals made easy" but don't want it to look "girly".

It's certainly blokey enough, and as far as I can remember (I borrowed a copy from the library) it does a big range of staple meals with good pictures and tips for the beginner cook. I think it was specifically designed to get people cooking who don't usually do it.

His 30 minute meal one has very straightforward, tasty stuff in it.

This one?

Thanks everyone - gives me somewhere to start in Waterstones or wherever at the weekend :)

Sam Stern, hes a young lad cooking and has some fun recipes

Nigella Express is simple, quick & tasty

I second Sam Stern. His student cookbook is brilliant.

I was going to suggest jamie's ministry of food - lots of basics, clearly set out and clear photos!

Take a look at Ainsley Harriot. Easy recipies, good photos and delicious food. I would say it is more basic than jamie O.

No good for puddings though. For that you need to look at nigel slater or nigella.

As basic cook books you can't beat Delias complete, or Goodhousekeeping cookery book.

I'm buying my ds this one as he has taken to watching their youtube videos and has cooked us a few things using it. Best of all none of the ingredients are expensive so if he messes up it's not such a problem.

Doesn't have pictures and not all too healthy but an amazing book all the same is this one, www.amazon.co.uk/Takeaway-Secret-Cook-Favourite-Fast-food/dp/0716022354/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1321570136&sr=1-1

Note the 88 positive reviews! The food actually tastes like it's fresh out of your fast food favourite and it's fairly straightforward and easy to follow.

Ooh Sharond - that looks like a book for me! :)

Ainsley is definately also on the shortlist, as is the "Sorted" student book - Thanks everyone for all the ideas.

Trouble is, I am going to end up buying more for me when I actually go into a bookshop!

Hi there,

Well, people have recommended you proper full books, but if you also want a Christmas stocking filler, then why not go for "Care to Cook" bit.ly/v6wT8U.

"Care to Cook" is an A5-size soft glossy cover 34-pager with easy and yummy recipes from "real people"; adopters, carers and children who support, work or are cared for by the children's charity, TACT Fostering & Adoption.

It costs only £3 and will help the charity raise invaluable funds for the adoption side of the organisation, TACT Adoption. The money raised will for example help support and run the post adoption support service, counselling sessions for families and therapeutic care for some of the most damaged children.

I love working there and so thought I'd reply to let you know.

Take care
Sylvie

www.tactcare.org.uk/Adoption

The ministry of food one is excellent. Lots of basics as well as some meals he will probably not have tried before and it even has a section in the front where it explains basic things like the difference between boiling and simmering.

I quite miss it actually - XP had a copy!