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Original poster

Cookery bookclub - who is with me?

448 replies

Curioustiger · 05/04/2013 10:19

I love cookbooks and have picked up a ton of recommendations since joining mumsnet. I am keen to set up a cookery book club - anyone else interested? I propose:

  • we select one book each month
  • we go away, try out the recipes and generally revel in the deliciousness
  • we chat about it

We could alternate between books people are likely to have eg Nigella, Jamie, Delia and something a bit more unusual. If we have a rolling three month list, that gives people time to borrow / buy books they don't have (from the library for example).

What to you think?

OP posts:
GinRickey · 09/04/2013 15:21

Ooh, can I play? I have Feast and read the SK blog obsessively and could always do with more cookbooks.

Ditto on only using Feast for cakes. I make the snowflecked brownies regularly and they are v nice (in small pieces as very rich!) and also reasonably easy.

SK - I have made several of her cakes (blog, not book) with varying success - can particularly recommend the chocolate chip sour cream cake.

I think the lesson is that I need to try something savoury from these too and stop eating cake . Will have a look through tonight and see what looks likely...

Original poster
Curioustiger · 09/04/2013 15:37

Hello everyone! We are very popular now, I'm delighted!

karma possibly my top recipe in feast is the sake steak one which is perfect for two. I realise sake may not be a store cupboard ingredient exactly but it is so so good (you can substitute Marsala for sake and duck for steak as well). Or there is the tempura style cod with pea purée, very easy and looks quite impressive. I think she also has a lamb steak with redcurrant sauce type recipe somewhere ( tbh I think it features in all her books). There's a carbonara as well. If you get really stuck you could make the chilli and freeze half?

OP posts:
Grockle · 09/04/2013 15:41

Great - I will bake on Thursday then. I will follow the cake part of the recipe as smitten kitchen does it then adapt with different icing. Looking forward to it - I haven't baked in ages.

Grockle · 09/04/2013 15:43

Is the chilli with cornbread on top in Feast? I LOVE that. I also only use it for cakes & even then, not so much any more. I now use The British Bake-off book or Hummingbird for baking.

Maybe I should take Feast to bed with me & have another read.

glorious · 09/04/2013 16:51

Ooh tigerlily I've been meaning to try the sake steak. That'll be my second recipe then. I've just finished the chicken pot pies which have taken all day with my 9 week old in the sling at strategic moments. Hope they're good. Next up will be carrot, harissa and feta salad from sk.

glorious · 09/04/2013 16:52

oh and grockle yes it is and me too.

ScienceRocks · 09/04/2013 16:55

I'll do sake steak too. I've just bought a massive bottle of sake because my DDs are obsessed with teriyaki (salmon or chicken), which is a recipe in Nigella's kitchen Smile

Thanks for highlighting that one tigerlily Thanks

karmakameleon · 09/04/2013 16:59

Thank tiger I'll take a look at those tonight. I had forgotten about the cornbread chilli. It's one of my favourites and I regularly make big batches for the freezer. Haven't had it for a while so maybe it's time to bring it out again.

Original poster
Curioustiger · 09/04/2013 17:39

With the sake steak just remember the length of marinading does make a difference, so allow for that! I love it.

OP posts:
Original poster
Curioustiger · 09/04/2013 17:40

Ps I sometimes double the quantities for the sauce as most unusually I think nigella is bit stingy with that one.

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ScienceRocks · 09/04/2013 18:20

Thanks for the tips tigerlily! Kedgeree risotto tonight!

poppy77 · 09/04/2013 18:29

We went for the whole lemon bars from the Smitten book and they were absolutely delicious and so easy to make. Even with a set of digital scales which is only marginally more useful than guessing (about the fifth cheap set I've had to bin). I do love recipes which only need one bowl (or food processor in this case). Child 1 loved them, Child 2 liked the top and bottom but not the delicious lemony layer in the middle (she is still sick, though).

I will now read through the rest of the thread carefully in search of tips for veggie recipes (especially those suitable for fussy children who aren't that fussed on most vegetables).

glorious · 09/04/2013 19:51

Yes thanks for the tip on the steak tigerlily

Chicken pot pie from feast was good if quite generic pie. The pastry is quite rich.

ChocsandChipsandSealingWax · 09/04/2013 19:54

Sake steak - mmmm! yes please! That's my second SK recipe then :-)

I haven't started actually cooking anything for the thread, but it has really got me in a cooking mood - have got DH to put the DCs to bed tonight and I am doing the sweetcorn "oysters" (fritters) from Cranks Fast Food (they serve with mango salsa but I don't have any mangos so am doing tomato) with rose petal harissa marinaded chicken and sliced avocado garnish and salad.

It's very much a store cupboard/freezer version so is lacking fresh coriander but am hoping the rose petal might compensate.

ChoosandChipsandSealingWax · 09/04/2013 20:45

Waaa can't find sake steak on the site! I am really loving it though.

This lamb with pistachio tapenade looks amazing:
smittenkitchen.com/blog/2010/06/lamb-chops-with-pistachio-tapenade/

Reminds me of a lemony pistachio crust lamb I did from an italian cookbook, possibly Cuccina Siciliana, or if not that one then Bringing Italy Home.

glorious · 09/04/2013 20:47

choos the sake steak is from Feast Smile

Original poster
Curioustiger · 09/04/2013 21:02

I haven't started actually cooking anything for the thread, but it has really got me in a cooking mood

^ that is what it's all about! It's great that we're all trying specific things but honestly any recipe is better than processed food!

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Original poster
Curioustiger · 09/04/2013 21:03

sake steak recipe

OP posts:
ScienceRocks · 09/04/2013 22:13

The kedgeree risotto from feast was good. I added chilli and peas because it felt odd not to, and used normal eggs rather than quails and it was very tasty. Not sure I'd do it in preference to my usual kedgeree recipe, but good to have n the bank Smile

ChoosandChipsandSealingWax · 09/04/2013 23:05

Oops that'll teach me to read the thread Blush

Well it'll be one of my Nigella's then! Also like the idea of the kedgeree, (and as I said before the Georgian Feast, but need people round for it as DH veggie; and Arabian nights/curry which I am planning for Saturday, poss with Smitten Kitchen extras for good measure!)

The rose petal harrisa-marinaded chicken was really good - added lemon and oil and roasted with foil over to keep moist.

Pantah630 · 10/04/2013 09:33

I'm going to make the Sake Steak tomorrow night but with a nice bit of rump as it'll be marinating all day and Marsala as no Sake. Will also be scaling up to serve 3. I'm thinking I probably have the ingredients for the lemon bars in my cupboards at home, they might get made tonight :)

Pantah630 · 10/04/2013 09:34

Meant to add, the leftovers of the Broccoli Slaw went down very well with a potato, mushroom and pancetta omelette/frittata hybrid last night.

Original poster
Curioustiger · 10/04/2013 09:40

I think the lemon bars are proving to be the best recipe in the book so far, judging by all the positive comments, so pantah for the sake of scientific objectivity...you really should!

OP posts:
Angelico · 10/04/2013 09:43

Marking place :o

bewareoftheswan · 10/04/2013 10:21

Ooh my copy of the Smitten Kitchen arrived - it looks good! I have the raspberry & ricotta scones in the oven... My plan is the rhubarb triangles and Nigella's sweet tagine at the weekend. We have an over active rhubarb plant, so new rhubarb recipes are always exciting.

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