January cookery bookclub: we're going veggie

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Come and join the cookery bookclub! Each month we choose a couple of books/blogs/magazines and cook at least two new recipes of our choice from each.

This month we're reprising some favourites from last year with a veggie theme. The two books are Ottolenghi's Plenty and River Cottage Veg Every Day.

People will also be adding their own veggie favourites from other books and blogs.

Haven't made anything yet but still enjoying reading the thread. I like the sound of the cabbage and paremesan soup but don't imagine for a second that dd2 would be impressed. Will have to save it for when it's just dp and I.

Just bought a lovely new book, 'World Food Cafe Quick and Easy' and want to try lots of things from it. Again though, will have to wait for dd2 to be out!

The resolution to not buy any more cookbooks this year is already fraying I feel, definitely enablers anonymous here.

Completely off thread but in case anyone else saw food and drink last week, just had the roast chicken with fruity spelt. The spelt is gorgeous, very tasty and filling, roast chicken is always good comfort food here but the spelt lifted it to another level. I didn't have any dried apples so used 2 fresh ones, sharp english red ones can't remember the name, cut up and all the juice from the lemon. The spelt will be finding its way into my basket again I think, would be filling enough without the meat using a good veg stock.

For some reason I only ever make the HFW beetroot and walnut hummus and the honey roasted cherry tomatoes. I have made both this week:).
I really didn't like his chickpea and cauli curry.

Love the Anna Jones book so happy about February!

Too busy at work to manage Plenty ATM...

Where did that smiley emoticon come from? I never use those!

Ooh, I'm new to the thread! Great idea. and Mr Flighty is a veggie so I'll have a look at both those...

Well, the spiced red lentils were ok. I liked them, DH said they were 'alright'; further probing and he said they weren't as good as the "usual" ones I make! I think Plenty's had more different flavours; mine have loads of butter/ghee

I would say if you don't have a dhal recipe and fancy making one, it's a good place to start.
I cut down the number of curry leaves to four, as I often find them overpowering. It could probably have coped with 5 or 6. I omitted all fresh coriander as DH doesn't like it. And I switched the lime juice for lemon, ditto. I liked the lemon, made it a bit like a dhansak.

Am keen to hear what is so "wow" about the Anna Jones one (don't mean that in a sarky way!! Always on the quest for the perfect dhal :))

Hi! Can I join too please? All the Anna Jones chat has sold me. I bought it a couple of weeks ago and have been cooking my way through it ever since, it is utterly brilliant. As for this month, I have never been that inspired by HFW either. I had a happy time once with the cheesy stuffed squash once and I remembered liking the roast tomato risotto. Inspired by lots of you here, I tried the beetroot hummus. Great! Even fussy baby ate it. Smelt a bit garlicky afterwards though . I love Plenty. The puy lentil galettes are always well received. I've always wanted to try the black pepper tofu but have been irrationally scared of it- going to do it!

I was going to do kale and chickpea pasta from HFW, but in the end it was a kale and chickpea curry from Appetite for Reduction by Isa Chandra Moscowitz. I LOVE her books!

It's spicy, and very nice. Could be a new favourite.

Flightywoman - that is the best named cookbook :)

I made a variation on the Kisir from Plenty, but with cooked brown rice rather than cooking the bulgher wheat in with the sauce.

Planning to do the Rainbow pie out of Anna Jones at the weekend

Hello flighty and tiny, welcome. Looks like Anna Jones is a winner.

Shall we try to plan a few months ahead for library ordering etc?

Plenty ultimate winter cous cous is divine. So flavourful and comforting. I urge everyone to make it for their next lunch, packed or otherwise. I made the veg mix yesterday so we ate it warned up ( something came up yesterday so we didn't get to eat it then) with the cous cous (fresh) and it really is gorgeous- I don't know of that's partly down to developing overnight or not, but it's definitely worth making.

Anyone who has tried the Puy lentil galette - what would you suggest serving it with?

Latecomer here but keen to join! Just got HFW's book out of the library and very tempted to buy it, has got DH enjoying cooking which is a first. Pinto bean chilli v tasty but subbed in black beans and kidney beans instead. Can't help tinkering! Both veggie so love this

Pregnantpause, you've inspired me, plenty ultimate winter cous cous is a winner. I shall be cooking it tomorrow night. Sounds very apetising.
I also have in the freezer some blackberries we picked back in the autumn. I'll look up a plenty recipe for that too :)
I've lost track a bit, which book is for february?

Delia winter / a modern way of eating and just bento. Just bento can all be found on the bento website, there are a fair few modern way of eating online in Anna jones Facebook and the telegraph. Delia winter recipes are mostly listed in delias website- so even if you don't have the books there's online access

Just got Delia's winter collection from the library, it's like taking a step back in time.....I'm a bit scared! I also got Diana Henry - A change of appetite. Guess which book I'm flicking through? But I will do some Delia.....at least some of the roasts and soups will be easy to slide into the weekly plan.

I think Delia winter will be a really good contrast to modern way of eating. They're almost opposites.

Though I've said that and I haven't even had the Delia yet so what do I know?

I'm already planning lots from Anna jones though- it really does have some great looking recipes.

I'm going to try to do at least one or two bento, though it'll have to be eaten at home on a day off - I'm a plumber and I've had enough slack for the vegetarian fayre over the last month, I don't think I'd recover if I turned up with a dainty little bento lunch- the boys would slaughter me.

Silverjohn, I've always found the lentil galettes to be a pretty complete meal on their own. Bit of salad pretties the plate up though

Thanks Tiny

Ok, just been through Delia's winter collection and have managed to find 10 dishes that spiked my interest, so that's definitely enough to be getting on with.

HuevosRancheros we made the spicy beetroot, leek and walnut salad last night. It's delicious. I'm not a leek fan but I think the boiling takes its strong taste away a bit. Thanks for the recommendation.

silverjohn I agree with you about Delia. But that's part of her charm isn't it? I really love Diana Henry's a change of appetite. Did you see she has a new book on chicken coming out later this year.

There are things in the Delia collection that I will leave - like her version of chilli, there's just nothing new or interesting in the recipe and I pretty much have my own recipe bang on.
But there are still some interesting ideas - parmesan crusted swede for example and how timely, Burns supper is on the menu today. And the recipe for Singapore noodles - it's dh's favourite takeaway and surely worth a go. And I have never made a suet puddding , so it's the perfect excuse and finally Irish stew and Borscht, two dishes I love and had forgotten about....I'm quite excited about Delia in Feb, she just not my natural go to chef, which is kind of the point of this little group - opening your eyes to new foodie possibilities, there's always something new to explore.
I'm thinking the Puy lentil galettes with a spicy carrot salad - maybe the one from Plenty which I love or maybe one of Diana Henry's - she has 4 in one book - clearly she is a woman obsessed!

I find chicken a bit of a challenge - it doesn't really add much to a dish but the kids love it, so I'll be interested to see what Diana Henry does with it.

sliverjohn I had done Delia's singapore noodles. It's not good. My go to version is from Grace Young. I have it on pepperplate which I think can be shared (will have a look).

I forgot I did the red cabbage with cranberries from Delia's winter during Xmas. Like you she just isn't my go to cook. You are right this is what a cooking group is good for. Pushing our boundaries.

I have tried two of the carrot salads in a change of appetite. They are all just so easy which is what I love. The morroccan one is now a regular in chez terror. The date one is good too but needs a bit more work. There's a mooli one and I noticed ocado stocks them. I just need to get around to order some so I can try the salad.

Is it still OK to join, Plenty is my favourite veggie cookbook & I also got plenty more at Christmas. The recipie I go back to most is Tamara' s ratatouie, it's the best version I have come across. I have Delias so get collection , I use it for entertaining the casseroles are good, her baking recipies always work. Off topic but her Vegitarian Collection is an excellent book, but probably not much use if you are a vegan.