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Original poster

The most indispensable cook book?

71 replies

PoppadumPreach · 07/02/2012 20:45

you can only own one cook book. which one and why?

me: Hugh F-W's "Everyday" as it is diverse but does the basics well.

caveat: just got my first nigel slater books this christmas and if i had had more time to get into them i suspect they would have been contenders....

would love to know anyone else's choice....

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countessbabycham · 07/02/2012 21:43

You can get it from Dairy Crest.

maydarnaychild · 07/02/2012 21:44

which reminds me, my spine is knackered so I need a new one and will probably buy three so I can keep on to give to each of the kids. Has become a rite of passage in my family!

ChishAndFips · 07/02/2012 21:45

Good Housekeeping. Now on my second copy with the much-loved first, a wedding present many years ago, safely tucked away!

And (sorry I know you said one!) the Bero book is fantastic too.

Original poster
PoppadumPreach · 07/02/2012 21:47

this is taking me back - I'm sure my mum used to get a cook book from the milkman (can't ask her as she has passed away) - but that is really ringing a bell!

will definitely look out for one!

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Almanzo · 07/02/2012 21:47

GOOD HOUSEKEEPING STEP BY STEP COOKERY BOOK.
Sorry for shouting but have just been buying stuff from Bookpeople and noticed that they have this INDISPENSIBLE and BRILLIANT book for the ridiculous price of £6.
I have about 50 cookery books but this is the one I USE the most. Just buy it.

maydarnaychild · 07/02/2012 21:48

off to google dairy crest.

I already looked on ebay! Now ladies, please do not outbid each other, I suggest you all compare the item numbers - there were at least 10 of the nineties version available.

I love the sausage and leek supper and the lentil lasagne recipes by the way, give them a go first!!!

Original poster
PoppadumPreach · 07/02/2012 21:48

Chish - my DH has the Good Housekeeping one and i agree it is great. His mum gave it to him when he went to uni (and it seems to have worked as he can actually cook!)

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maydarnaychild · 07/02/2012 21:49
MrsJAlfredPrufrock · 07/02/2012 21:49

Cuisine Gourmande by Michel Guerard.

Sounds a bit ridiculous but it has absolutely everthing in it and it is brilliantly straightforward. I have lots of other cookery books but I adore this one and use it again and again and again: for elaborate dinner parties and suppers for the children. I've learnt so much from having it and love it. If you like cooking, buy it and make something from it and you will see how easy it is.

maydarnaychild · 07/02/2012 21:51

Now I am being really cynical
Which one of you works for Dairy crest....

[http://www.dairydiary.co.uk/dairy-book-of-home-cookery.html]

maydarnaychild · 07/02/2012 21:51

damn links hang on

www.dairydiary.co.uk/dairy-book-of-home-cookery.html

TalkinPeace2 · 07/02/2012 21:58

Delia - Complete Cookery Course
Delia - frugal food
Dairy Food cookbook
and the hidden gem Pomaine French Cooking in ten minutes

Original poster
PoppadumPreach · 07/02/2012 22:00

thanks for the link mayday - just ordered it!!

the power of mumsnet......

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TalkinPeace2 · 07/02/2012 22:01

PS
if you see them in charity shops, the "ready steady cook2 books have some great ideas

oooggs · 07/02/2012 22:09

I also have the other dairy cookbooks Blush 'quick and easy' 'around britain' etc...

MustControlFistOfDeath · 07/02/2012 22:11

Delia Complete Cookery Course - an oldie but goodie Smile

Original poster
PoppadumPreach · 07/02/2012 22:14

can i just share with you the best recipe EVER for bolognese...

wikipedia

the "Classic Bolognese Ragu" is just fab - i had never thought of using white wine and milk - and critically, cooking for 1.5 - 2 hours. i just use mince but from a good butcher. the texture of the mince is amazing after it has been cooked this way. highly recommended.

sorry for going a bit of piste!

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MrsHoarder · 07/02/2012 22:19

Delia Complete Cookery here. Was given a paperback copy for Christmas 4-5 years ago and it rarely gets to the shelf between uses.

chipmunksex · 07/02/2012 22:25

Was going to link to the dairy one too here mine is just like this except with gaffer tape down the spine

It's the one I turn to most regularly, closely followed by the DK children's cookery one here Great recipes for crunchy cereal, pancakes, naan breads, banana muffins and our favourite choc chip cookies.Grin

singinginthelifeboats · 07/02/2012 22:27

I am a complete cookbook addict - have to limit myself to one every couple of months or the shelf would collapse. I love Nigella, I love Nigel, I love Jamie and friends have given me the Great British Baking Books as I am a cake maker and I like them but.....

I bought this Tamsin Day-Lewis book recently (it was in a sale!) and find it really useful:

www.amazon.co.uk/All-You-Can-Eat-Recipes/dp/0297844830/ref=sr_1_7?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1328653169&sr=1-7

No pictures, no glossy presentation but lots of familiar recipes to look up and lots of new ones (to me) too. Its the book I currently turn to. Apparently it repeats a lot of recipes from her previous books but I haven't got any of them so I don't mind! I even thought I would get it for (fairly savvy cooking wise which many of them in my life seem to be) teenagers going off to uni.

TalkinPeace2 · 07/02/2012 22:27

my dairy book is on its third set of tape down the back
my delia is wrapped in sticky back plastic
am on my second copies of frugal food and pomaine

many of my trendy cookbooks do not even have their spines cracked !

HandMini · 07/02/2012 22:30

Poppadum, I agree, this is how Nigel Slater does bolognese and it is super-yum

Original poster
PoppadumPreach · 07/02/2012 22:34

HandMini - funnily enough i tried the NS recipe just this week for first time as i saw it was so similar however he "dilutes" the wine/milk mixture with stock and i think this slightly reduced the velvetyness of the ragu when compared with the wiki version. but they are pretty much the same!

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HandMini · 07/02/2012 22:39

Hmm, good thoughts. I agree that Nigel's recipe sometimes feels too watery and you do have to bubble it away for a couple of hours. Next time I do it (practically every weekend!) I'll try reducing the amount of stock or leaving it out.

Original poster
PoppadumPreach · 07/02/2012 22:49

Handmini - go on - leave out all the stock - dare ya! go crazy!

(note the wiki recipe even suggests you can add some evaporated milk at end to make creamier - it is very, very nice with this but extremely rich!)

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