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Cookery bookclub - May - Jerusalem by Ottolenghi and Kitchen Diaries I by Nigel Slater

521 replies

Curioustiger · 25/04/2013 10:40

Come join the Mumsnet cookery bookclub! Each month we choose two cookery books - one popular, like Nigella / Jamie / Delia, so you probably already have it / can borrow it and one a bit more unusual. We cook a minimum of two recipes each - you choose the recipe, they just have to be ones you have never cooked before- which works out at four new recipes each month.Then we chat about them!

To see our April thread about Feast by Nigella and the Smitten Kitchen blog / cookbook, click here ... This thread is still live as we're quite taken with these books and are keeping on going!

For May, our books are:

  • Jerusalem by Ottolenghi
  • Kitchen Diaries

and we'll post on this thread.

For June our books will be
  • Mexican Food Made Easy by Thomasina Miers
  • Thirty Minute Meals by Jamie Oliver


We will always try to pick at least one book with recipes available on the Internet, and local libraries are great for cookbooks if you can order in advance, so don't be put off if your cookbook collection isn't threatening the foundations of your house extensive.

We have veggies, low carbers and 5:2ers on the thread so this is very diet compatible! Although I refuse to take any responsibility for cake-induced weight gain (even my own).
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kneedeepindaisies · 30/04/2013 19:45

Another vote for Hairy Bikers.

ELR that sounds like a great job. Very jealous.

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kneedeepindaisies · 30/04/2013 19:53

Also regarding the baking book I have Jo Wheatley's first book and it has some some lovely recipes. However a Mary Berry one might be a more popular option.

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Curioustiger · 30/04/2013 19:56

ELR glad you're enthused. I will start a new thread for challenges as otherwise the detail might be a bit tedious if others on the thread just want to do the books ("you use 125g not 150g for your macaroons, really?")

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ScienceRocks · 30/04/2013 19:56

Hairy bikers get my vote. I have their diet book and the pie one. I've done a couple of recipes from each, but my pie making has been somewhat hindered by my dislike of their pastry recipe (mine, from home ec classes in the dim and distant last, serves me much better!).

I have been keen to try some dan Lepard too! I have done a recipe or two of him from magazines, and they have been very good.

The challenge thing sounds interesting. Of the things you mention, I have tried making macaroons (two and half hours of full on effort and they were nice, but not any better than I can buy at paul!), and making pasta (ditto, but substitute waitrose for paul).

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ScienceRocks · 30/04/2013 20:01

I also make meringues quite regularly and fresh gnocchi. I used to buy whole chickens for jointing, but now just can't be arsed (probably because it is cheaper to buy cuts of meat than it used to be).

Thanks for the tip re other London boroughs. I will give that a go as I am quite near a library in another borough.

Surprised nobody had mentioned Gordon yet. Jury is out for me on his books at the moment. Some of his recipes are fabulous, others are simply too much hassle!

And talking of Gordon, how about Marcus waring? His "perfect" book is very good. Mark sergeant, another GR protege, also has a decent cookbook with some different stuff in.

Claudia Roden may be worth a look one month too.

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kneedeepindaisies · 30/04/2013 20:06

I've got Gordon's World Food and I'm not sure about it really.

Can I throw Rick Stein's name in for a future month?

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frenchfancy · 30/04/2013 20:18

Could I suggest Delia's summer for either July or August? Love the idea of HFW veg, I don't have it yet, but I have his other books and have been wanting to buy it.

I don't have Jerusalem (yet) but the stuffed aubergine recipe looks delicious, it a little out of season, my aubergine plants are only about 1" high at the moment.

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ELR · 30/04/2013 21:16

It's funny but I own about 300 cook books and not one by Gordon, Delia or Rick Stein. I have made Delias Eccles cakes with a few tweaks and they were lovely.
I know this is the May thread but I must urge you all to make the roasted pear & chocolate chunk scones from the SK blog they are delish!

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Xiaoxiong · 30/04/2013 21:24

Yes yes yes to karma's suggestion of Dan Lepard Short and Sweet. I never could bake bread for sandwiches before I bought that magical book, let alone all the other wonderful things in there.

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ZuleikaJambiere · 30/04/2013 23:01

Hi, can I join you? I've read all of your April thread, and it was more mouthwatering than any cookbook or blog I've read recently and now I'm itching to join the fun.

I'm hoping this book club will help me get better at meal planning. I went back to work at Christmas after maternity leave and since then more meals than not have been cobbled together from the random contents of the fridge and freezer. I know meal planning will make my evenings quicker and tastier, but I'm struggling to get into the swing of it.

I have KD I and II, and I think KD I is probably my favourite of all my cookbooks, although I think I spend more time reading it than actually cooking from it. KD II is by my bed at the moment, I got it for Christmas, but I'm finding it harder going. Whereas KD I (and Appetite) are tempting and enthusing, Nige seems to have a touch of verbal diarrhoea in KD II, to the point that I'mthinking of eBaying it once I've finished it as I doubt I can be bothered with trawling through the waffle again.

I've flicked through the May chapter today, and there are quite a few in just that month that tempt me to try.

I don't have Jerusalem, but have looked on the website that was linked to. Is this lemon and celery salad recipe in Jerusalem? Please say yes, it sounds amazing and something that we love to have alongside jacket potatoes or sausage rolls or something easy that we enjoy for a weekend lunch.

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Nolda · 01/05/2013 07:13

Yes to Dan Lepard Short and Sweet. I have another book of his and would love an excuse to buy this one too.

Hi ZJ [waves].

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PartTimeDomesticGoddess · 01/05/2013 09:10

If there's room for one more, I'd love to join in too please? I have been having my long awaited new kitchen fitted, which I hope to be almost fully operational by the weekend (although I think I will have to wait a little longer for my cookery book shelves to be refitted so that I can unpack those boxes). I am beyond excited with my new induction hobbed range cooker (which I have christened Clara) and can't wait to get to some cooking with her (I hope we will be very happy together for a long time Grin)
Although I have a reasonable collection of cookery books, I don't have any Nigel Slater so am more than happy to treat myself to that one and find some Ottolenghi recipes online. Will report back next week.
In the meantime, have loved reading the April thread and looking at the SK website, which I have now subscribed to. Can't wait to try the lemon bars and the candied nuts that were recommended, as well as spend some more time looking through there to see what else I can try.

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Curioustiger · 01/05/2013 09:51

ZJ I'm really glad you like reading the the April thread, I think we all agree it was fun to write! At one point I thought it would be just pantah and me so I'm really pleased with how it has blossomed. parttimeDG pleased to see you too, I am a bit jealous of your range cooker though! That's on my wish list for that mythical time when we can redo our kitchen...

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Curioustiger · 01/05/2013 09:58

frenchfancy et al, I will add all suggestions to the list. I am also surprised by the lack of Gordon but tbh, I don't know who buys his books. I don't have any, and not do any of my cooking friends, to my knowledge, plus no one has ever recommended one of his recipes for me. I leafed through one in a bookshop once and perhaps it was unrepresentative, but it just seemed like a lot of fancy roast dinners and then some classic puddings, I wasn't excited by it. I am prepared to be corrected though as really haven't given him much of a chance to date. And his restos are fab!

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Poledra · 01/05/2013 10:02

Jumping on here to say I made the onion soup from the Kitchen Diaries last night and it was delicious (and used up some rather elderly onions that were in dire need of consumption!). Served it to DH with some cheesy soda bread (Paul Hollywood's Bread, if you're interested) and he was most impressed.

I cannot bear to watch Nigel Slater, but I do find his recipes reliable. I made DH the coffee and walnut cake from the KD for his birthday cake and I think he (DH) are almost the whole thing himself Smile

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Poledra · 01/05/2013 10:04

Oh, I have Gordon Ramsay's Sunday Lunch, and it has some great recipes in it - the beef wellington was sublime (though it should be, as it has a very expensive cut of meat in it - not one to make for a big family gathering!).

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FreeButtonBee · 01/05/2013 10:21

Quick post to get this on my threads I'm on. Will be dipping in and out, babies permitting.

I really like the look of the NS chicken and tarragon - Ingredients added to my shopping list. I can recommend the chocolate brownies. They are perfect. Most important thing is not to overlook them and to cut only when completely cold.

I haven't got any G'S cookbooks but his dauphinoise potatoes are fabulous and is the only recipe I use. S he does have his uses.

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ELR · 01/05/2013 10:21

zj thanks for the link to that salad looks good, but I think you may just cause a sizeable dent in my bank account as I now want to order everything from the website!
Just looked at the menu for Nopi and think I will get DH to take me soon, or maybe if anyone lives in london we should meet up at the end of may for the pre theatre menu and discuss the book properly! Just a though?

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Curioustiger · 01/05/2013 11:34

Ooh elr I'd be up for that. I love nopi!

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Curioustiger · 01/05/2013 11:36

Hi freebutton good to see you, thanks for the reccs. Please if anyone has cooked from the books already let us know what you have found to be good... So helpful. I have to admit I am struggling with Nigel... It's the format, why can't each recipe have its own page!

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Nolda · 01/05/2013 11:42

What a shame I live too far away from London, I would have loved a good foodie chat over a super meal.

I was given Gordon Ramsay Makes it Easy a few years ago. I have made only one thing from it (which was terrible) and haven't opened it since. I do use GR's recipe for pastry for mince pies though which I found on the internet.

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TheRealFellatio · 01/05/2013 11:55

I'd love to do some Gordon and some Rick as well, and I already have most of their books although I am eternally grateful for the excuse to buy some new books. Grin

I have been busy catching up on my Feast cooking this morning (made the Guinness chocolate cake and the kidney bean dip, and will make the red wine braised lentils with bacon for dinner tonight.) will try to do two things from Smitten Kitchen before the end of the weekend and then I am up to speed for May.

Although I have to wait ages fro my May books to be delivered to Qatar but I have one of the June books so I might work in reverse. Grin

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pregnantpause · 01/05/2013 12:40

I have tried ns squash laksa, it's very nice.
Also the sausage salami stew on the cover, is as delicious as it looks , very wintry though.

Trying the pork and lime patties this afternoon with a watercress salad. Will channel the pretentious git in me and lunch outdoors as well I think, really get in the mindsetGrin

Jerusalem arrived yesterday and looks amazing, who was it that could source barberries, sumac and za taar, as I have no chance if finding them where I am and Amazon are charging 3.99 postage for each!
I have Gorden makes it easy and I too have only cooked one recipe from it which sucked. My DB has all of his books though and swears by him.

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Curioustiger · 01/05/2013 12:51

Pregnant I can get all of those for you. I live near edgware rd so middle eastern heaven here ( not quite as good as realfellatio in Qatar but postage will be cheaper)! If you pm me your address and a list I will send them to you on Saturday.

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Pantah630 · 01/05/2013 13:24

I'm just planning my shopping list for tonight's trip to Waitrose. I'm intending to do the chicken with onions and cardamon rice, lamb shwarma and mejadra this week after so many recommendations.
The baked onions are looking good from KD too.
Will let you know how they go when prepared and eaten.
Loving that we have so many joining us now, am thinking of listing my cookbooks in the hope of encouraging you to pick from the ones I haven't cooked from yet so many of them I don't have any Gordon or Rick either surprisingly, though I use his steak Diane recipe from the C4 website and my cousin swears by Ricks pastichio recipe :)

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