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Original poster

Cookery Book Club May - French Brasserie and Delia's Summer Collection

149 replies

Pantah630 · 29/04/2014 13:28

Do you know I think it's been a year Shock since we began our Cook Book Club. Feel free to join in, the more the merrier.

This month we have the French Brasserie cookbook, currently only £4.12 on kindle and Delia's Summer Collection, I've had this for years yet rarely cooked from it.

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Original poster
Pantah630 · 07/05/2014 19:16

I'm ok, have one coming from MN already, thank you for thinking of me Grin excited to get MN pm's

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ScienceRocks · 07/05/2014 19:21

May I join and get a copy of the MN cookbook for next month? I'm a regular, I promise, I just haven't joined this thread as I don't have the books. Hopefully pantah, glorious, huevos and others can vouch for me...

HuevosRancheros · 07/05/2014 19:48

Science? Science who?

Grin
ScienceRocks · 07/05/2014 20:00

Huevos! I'm still working through those chipotle chillies you sent me, you know. I chop them into all kinds of things - casseroles, jacket potato toppings - and it's much easier than making the chipotles en adobe. I can highly recommend it.

glorious · 07/05/2014 20:14

Oh that's ok then pantah (and didn't mean to ask twice)

science I'm still using up chipotles sent to me my maniacbug, haven't seen her for a bit (unless she name changed and I forgot...). One of the great things about this thread.

Original poster
Pantah630 · 07/05/2014 21:04

Grin science you were on the list of prolific cook book club posters in secret MN pm's

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Original poster
Pantah630 · 07/05/2014 21:05

glorious sciencerocks and madamecake CatherineHMumsnet that's the last three Grin

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HuevosRancheros · 07/05/2014 21:40

Science I've just moved house with a massive bag of chipotle chillies!!!! Just before we moved I finished up my last jar of chipotle en adobo, and I was so addicted to it I know I'm going to have to make some more soon :)
That and some chilli oil from EGOR, run out of that too, and really missing it....

ScienceRocks · 07/05/2014 22:37

Pantah, I'm touched and slightly freaked out Grin

Huevos, chipotles probably were my culinary discovery of 2013 Smile

Original poster
Pantah630 · 08/05/2014 11:49

GrinGrinGrinscience no need to be freaked out at all mwahaha

Back to this month, have just popped next door to the butchers to order some rump steak for this evening. Decide to have the minute steaks with herb and lemon butter, asparagus with parsley vinaigrette (strangely lured by chopped hard boiled egg in vinaigrette) and either sautéed pots with parsley and garlic or fondant potatoes (never cooked these) as a side. I'm erring on the side of the fondant potatoes, if only to see what all the masterchef fuss is about. All from French Brasserie.

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LeonardoAcropolis · 08/05/2014 14:55

Pantah that all sounds delicious.

I have just completed next week's meal plan and we will be having salmon steaks with avovado creme fraiche, chicken basque and the veg lagagne. Possibly the orange and rhubarb pie if I can be arsed too.

Will study the French Brasserie in detail this weekend.

Thinking in advance, shall we do Delia's winter collection later this year?

Original poster
Pantah630 · 08/05/2014 15:21

Ooh yes, I've got her winter collection on VHS :)

Let us know how the salmon is, I've still got some steaks left in the freezer and fall back on the ginger recipe from HB Dieters as it's so delicious, update, even better using the correct ginger. I'd used fresh originally and added honey and sugar to sweeten.

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HuevosRancheros · 08/05/2014 16:22

I think I already know the answer to this, but is there much stand alone (i.e. not a side dish) veggie food in French Brasserie?
I am getting tempted...... Grin

LeonardoAcropolis · 08/05/2014 16:38

Yes, there is a veggie chapter with 12 dishes, plus a side dish chapter Grin. The Starters chapter also has quite a few veggie dishes too.

Original poster
Pantah630 · 08/05/2014 16:51

Not really, there aren't many recipes at all if I'm honest. According to EatMyBooks there are 115 recipes, including stocks, sauces, soups, pastry, etc and proper meals/desserts.

Just had a quick look 11 vegetarian dishes plus extra side dishes.
Tomato tart with goats cheese
Roquefort, Broccoli and Onion Quiche
mushroom and Herb omelette
crepes with Mushrooms and tarragon
Wild mushroom risotto
Artichoke and Red Pepper gratin with goats cheese
Artichoke, onion and thyme tart
Provençal vegetable gratin (sounds lovely)
Ratatouille Provençal
Lime risotto
Veg and chickpea couscous

If you don't like cheese and mushrooms not a lot of choice for vegetarians. BUT I think these recipes are giving a guide and you can substitute veg with what you have but have an idea how to do the classic recipe as a starting point iykwim.

Can you tell it's raining, and none of our customers want to play on their bikes today? :)

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pregnantpause · 08/05/2014 17:14

I don't think it's worth it for a veggie sorry huevos. It's very neat focused IMO

HuevosRancheros · 08/05/2014 17:15

Thank you both, esp Pantah for listing the recipes!

I'll be honest, not that grabbed by any of that, which is no real surprise.... think I will disobey DH tomorrow and start unpacking my cookbooks despite having nowhere to put them, and have a leaf through Delia.

I inherited the books from my parents, though we all cooked from them when they came out - will be good to look at them with fresh eyes :) And get nostalgic and sentimental over my mum's scribbled comments Blush Grin

glorious · 08/05/2014 18:12

Don't forget the puddings, lots of those Grin But agree not worth buying for a veggie. Will list those if I get a chance later and happy to type something up for you.

Original poster
Pantah630 · 08/05/2014 19:43

Steak very nice, asparagus good but I prefer mine hot not dunked in chilled water, dressing very good I put it all on top of a green salad and the fondant potatoes? Let's say, I now know what all the fuss is about Grin will be making them again. I do feel though, as with a lot of classic recipes, there's too much oil and butter used, I use it but nowhere near as much in my usual cooking. I followed these to the letter, apart from no tarragon and substituting coriander in the dressing, and using a duck egg (MiL's eggs and free!) and did find the sheer amount of butter distressing. Most of the lemon herb butter is in the freezer for future steaks.

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Original poster
Pantah630 · 08/05/2014 19:43

Not enough cream in to do the chocolate pud, I'll have ago another day.

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spiderbabymum · 08/05/2014 20:56

Has anyone heard from mumsnet yet......in other words ....do I really get a book ...and how ?

Original poster
Pantah630 · 08/05/2014 21:03

Check your MN inbox, should have had a request for your address I'd think. Though we aren't cooking from them officially till June so no rush.

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spiderbabymum · 08/05/2014 21:43

Thanks for the reply

Nope nothing in my inbox

ScienceRocks · 09/05/2014 00:29

No mn message here either. Pantah, were the fondants really that good? also watches masterchef

madamecake · 09/05/2014 07:15

I love fondant potatoes too, though not as much as dh, he insists I make extra so he can eat them as snacks.

Despite it being grey and damp here I'm going to cook from Delia's Summer this weekend, thinking chicken basque with mini focaccia, followed by with the bitter chocolate mousse or the coffee creme caramel from French Brasserie.