April Cookery Book Club - Diana Henry

[Pantah630]

Welcome to Spring and Cookery Book Club. This month we are testing Diana Henry's recipes from her many books and online recipes.

I have her new chicken book, A Bird in the Hand, and have made one of the spiced thigh dishes, it was good but not memorable as I can't remember the name will go back through the book and let you all know later. For those without any books or access to them through your libraries there should be recipes online.

Some of us were so enthralled by Made in India that we will still be reccing those recipes too.

[HuevosRancheros]

Two there is support for Dan Lepard
We did Short & Sweet a while back, possibly the same month as we did Paul Hollywood, though I could be misremembering!

I love S&S, but have never followed his way of kneading, I always use my mixer with dough hook.

[glorious]

I like Dan L, definitely happy to do s and s or a bread book.

[HuevosRancheros]

That's interesting Two that you didn't like Mexican made ... It was a real hit on here. I admit there weren't loads of recipes that I loved, I guess it was the new flavours - chipotle en adobo in particular - that grabbed me. Loved the tortilla soup and the frijoles refritos (sp?)


Did we ever actually do Persiana as a book??

[Cantdothisagain]

Made Kachin curry from Diana's new book tonight. It was a bit meh. Tbf she does say serve with chilli sauce as it isn't spicy but I expected flavour even without spice and it was bland.

That teriyaki chicken looks good.

[SconessMcFloness]

I have Persiana too and have yet to cook from it. I have so many Middle Eastern cookbooks but I was slightly put off Persiana because she boasts about cutting corners and presents the easier more accessible approach to Middle Eastern food. I worry that the flavour will not be as impressive ....I don't like half measures in my cooking.

[Haywire]

Oooh I don't have a good Middle Eastern book. Was perusing Honey and Co on Amazon anyone have this? Which Middle Eastern book would you recommend Persiana or Jerusalem or something else?

Yes Dan L ace but Richard Bertinet amazing baker (French) has totally dif method of kneading his book Dough brilliant and Pastry book bombproof recipes.

Love discussing cookbooks I used to love falling on cloudberries by Tessa Kiros but have not been using recently. Today am making some Tarts from Art of the Tart by Tamsin Day Lewis which is great too.

[Haywire]

Also can. Not. Leave. Made. In .india. Alone.

Had the masala omlette as suggested with Chai and served between hot buttered toast with ketchup; sublime. Also good Peshwari Roti, and we are addicted to the spinach with lemon and black pepper.

[HuevosRancheros]

I have Jerusalem which I adore, and I say that as a veggie which rules out 25-30% of the recipes!! The flavours are awesome
That's the only one I have so can't compare it to others.

Pretty sure we did Falling Cloudberries one month, I didn't do it as there wasn't anything much veggie that appealed...

Like the sound of your French baker!

I am making quinoa patties from Plenty More tomorrow to make use of the wild garlic growing in our garden :) DH had a face when I told him, hope they don't taste too quinoa-y for him!

[HuevosRancheros]

Omg, just looking at Richard Bertinet's books on amazon, they look amazing, may end up falling in my basket
Damn you!!

[TwoLittleTerrors]

If you are after a Middle eastern book you can't go wrong with Jerusalem. I haven't had anything bad from that book at all.

Should I look at this Richard Bertinet? I don't bake much and I have bought so many books this year already

[TwoLittleTerrors]

He has masterclass videos I will have a look at those first /happyface

[ScienceRocks]

Just popping in to see what has been decided for May...

[HuevosRancheros]

Don't look Two, shield your eyes

[Haywire]

Ha ha we are like co-dependant addicts! Have just put Jerusalem in my basket we don't eat masses of meat though so wavering.

Bertinet is great. His technique is unusual but really effective. He has a lovely bakery and cookery school in Bath.

[ScienceRocks]

Surely plenty, plenty more or the original ottolenghi are better than Jerusalem for veggies?

Read down the thread a bit and someone (Huevos?) asked about thomasina's other books. As a bit of a fan, i have both, so can confirm that one is called Wahaca and the other is Chilli Notes. I have cooked a lot from the former but not at all from the latter as yet.

Someone else mentioned the hairy bikers, and I have three of their books besides the curry one: the first two Hairy Dieters tomes and the Pieble. I'm not a huge fan of their pastry, but the pie fillings are good, but it is maybe a better choice for winter! The diet ones are unsurprising for experienced cooks (single cream instead of double, anyone?) but have some nice recipes that I do return to again and again.

I am having a good go at the Alex Hollywood book at the moment. I had low expectations but was swayed by reviews and have to say that I am impressed. Really good family recipes.

[BrassicaBabe]

Haywire, I've just put Lamb Raan in the fridge to marinate overnight and I'm now searching for a spice grinder on Amazon....

[Haywire]

Ooh Brassica that is high on my list to make let us know how it goes.

Hmmm Science that's what I was wondering re the Ottolenghi cannon. Not sure which to start with. I have made a few of his recipes before from the Guardian. No idea why I don't own a single book of his.

[HuevosRancheros]

I don't have the first Ottolenghi book yet

Plenty is all veggie and wonderful, I would highly recommend it (as is Plenty More, though I haven't cooked that much from it yet so can't guarantee recipe success, just that I have bookmarked most of them to make! But an ottolenghi fail is rare, I find)
We have done Plenty twice on here, and Jerusalem once, you could always have a read through our musings and see what grabs you
I would still recommend Jerusalem to a veggie - I am one after all, and I love it. Yes, not all the recipes will be suitable, but the ones that are are fantastic :)
The flavour combinations are awesome

Will have to look at Thomasina's books again :)

[HuevosRancheros]

Brassica I'm sure she recommends a specific spice grinder in Made in India.... I remember reading it and being cross as I'd just bought one and it wasn't the one she suggested

[TwoLittleTerrors]

I use my coffee grinder for spices. Is there a reason I need a different one?

[TwoLittleTerrors]

I have many kitchen items on my wish list too

[ScienceRocks]

Two, my mum always used her coffee grinder for spices. The only downside was that coffee could taste a little odd!

[HuevosRancheros]

I bought an electric coffee grinder specifically for spice grinding.
It's the Andrew James one from amazon, I wouldn't particularly recommend it, I find it grinds some bits beautifully but whirls the other half around in the air so they don't get fully ground :(

[glorious]

I use an old hand grinder for my spices. Works v well.

[Mindgone]

Hello, I've just been browsing through MN and found your group! Can I join in please? I have Arabesque and Honey & Co, but haven't done much from them yet. I also LOVE Diana Henry's Cook Simple :)