Can anyone recommend a good easy cookbook for dss? They're 12 and 15

[CuriousMama]

I'd like to get ds1 cooking and ds2 will no doubt join in.He has done bits in the past but it'd be good to get him cooking more. After all may not be many years until he leaves

Has anyone seen a straight forward cookbook suitable for dcs? Dp said a student cookbook but tbh ds1 is a bit of a food snob and I imagine there'd be a lot of beans and tins or suchlike involved in student cookbooks? He's used to homecooked food.

Aww bless he just walked in and I told him I'm asking MN advice on a cookbook for him. He said 'awright, I need a hobby' He does mind you, get him off the xbox.

I have a veggie student cookbook from hamlyn cookery books. It does have some ridiculous how-to-boil-an-egg recipes but also things like bolognase and strogonoff from scratch - recipes my food snob dh adores. They have a non-veggie version too.

Cheers I'll have a look for them.

This is brilliant, aimed at students and I have had it since I left home. It is now sadly out of print but there are lots of cheap second hand copies on amazon. I would really recomend it.

Thanks both of you I ordered 2 Sam Stern's just now off ebay they sound great. Thanks for the wolf in the kitchen I'll get that too. I love cookbooks
So will no doubt get a few more for him, please keep them coming.
We have zillions of cookbooks, Delia, Nigel Slater etc... but I'd like him to have some just for him (and perhaps ds2?) although I just mentioned ds2 helping and he told me 'no, an artist should work alone'

Thanks I'm really looking forward to ds1 cooking. I may get him to find a recipe he thinks he can manage from one of our books? Or online?

Well all the cookbooks are on the way, been dispatched. I found a one pot cookery book and ds1 decided he'll make dinner tomorrow night. He only went and chose a dish with 2lb of lamb in it. I managed to persuade him to do a chicken one instead

Sam Stern ones are quite good.

Yes ordered 2 and one from the library too. I'm trying to talk ds2 into doing the washing up after tomorrow night's event

A bit of a different suggestion but how about a food magazine subscription instead? I get Delicious magazine and it covers easy weekday recipes as well as more advanced stuff and baking.

Thanks for the suggestion. I used to get that mag too but it's quite expensive. He's just got a PC for £700 so any extra cash will go to getting the stuff to go with it.

I picked up a Sam Stern from the library, the other 3 are on their way. DS1 made the truffle brownies which are delicious, very very sweet. They taste a lot like sticky toffee pudding yet no dates in? He used galaxy chocolate instead of dark. Dark may have been more to my palate? But they were still lush. He loved making them

I'm looking forward to the next treat. I'm hoping he does savoury as I prefer it.

"First Steps in the Kitchen" by Maureen O'Connor is fantastic. I got it when I was 11 or 12 ( back in the early 70's) and I still occasionally use it. Lo and behold, you can still get it on Amazon!

Jamie's Ministry of Food is excellent. DH uses it when he cooks for my birthday and Valentines.
Step by step, basics to build on, but it's real food, curries, stews, salads etc.

You know I've got hundreds of cookbooks and I still look on the BBC good food website, what I do is set up a binder on there and work through them, he can rate the recipes too and put the computer to good use!

I'd second Jamie Oliver. At their ages they're probably ready for grown up books! JO would fit the bill as he's always so straight- forward. My dc always help with the 30 min meals which I love as there are always loads of veg included as part of the meal, never an add-on.

I picked this up in a charity shop last week. I have loads of cookbooks but it looks really good Fast food

I third Jamie Oliver (particularly this one www.amazon.co.uk/Jamies-Dinners-Jamie-Oliver/dp/0718146867/ref=pd_sim_b_2)

Also try Nadine Abensur's Cranks Fast Food - lots of straightforward recipes. www.amazon.co.uk/Cranks-Fast-Food-Vitality-Health/dp/0304356069/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1348926009&sr=8-3

this is a great easy book