Please recommend me a recipe book!

[KeepsAwayTheNargles]

I need some new recipes. What I make at the moment is either a) stuff my mum taught me to make or b) overly wintery food from A Girl Called Jack.

I need recipes that have mostly simple, cheap ingredients - I hate spending tons of money on ingredients for just one recipe, the reason I love A Girl Called Jack is that they're all generally similar so I don't feel I'm having to lay out tons of money before we've even tried anything.

Are they're other books worth getting? Anyone do similar food? I'm stuck for family friendly summer dinners other than stir frys (which DH isn't a big fan of!) and Things With Salad Or Chips... I don't like to spend too much time cooking as I have some health issues at the moment that mean I have very low energy.

We are me, DH and 1.5yo DS.

I like the look of Jamie Oliver's food but he seems to have the Expensive Ingredient Problem... I'd love to hear your recommendations!

I like River Cottage Everyday. Have found it to be reasonably easy to make, with reasonable ingredients in the main.

I originally had it from the library before buying my own copy.

How about Save with Jamie?

I really like and use alot, Fay Ripleys Family Food book

I love Jo Pratt's Madhouse cookbook. I've got about 10 lined up on a shelf but always go back to this. The roasted veg lasagna is a favourite in here.

nigella express is good

Jamie's ministry of food is fab!

Are you near a library? I went through a phase of getting a new cookbook out every week and photocopying a recipe I liked from each book. I built up about 10 we all like, which plus sausages + chips or beans on toast is fine

Anyway aside from the library, the book I use most is annabel karmel complete baby and toddler cookbook. It might sound daft but I have a 5yo and a very fussy toddler and her recipes are easy and go down quite well. We like her fish pie, cottage pie and burgers.

I've had many recipe books over the years, there's usually only ever been a handful out of each that I regularly go back to. Now I tend to look on line; Sites like Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury's, Coop as well as the 'chef' ones give me plenty of ideas. If I like a recipes then I print if off and file it

Jamie's and hairy bikers are good, only ones I actually open and use the rest just gather dust!

Definitely recommend borrowing from the library, or scouring charity shops.

The other thing would be to buy a copy of the sainsburys magazine, I always find the recipe in there work.

Ugh I find I feed my kids the same stuff all the time... This Facebook page is really good for quick and healthy kids recipes...

m.facebook.com/The-Toddler-Chef-158556911192756/?ref=bookmarks

This is the bio bit of the blog... Seems like it's what your looking for...

'I have no idea what quinoa is, I don’t stock rice wine vinegar, and as tempting as it may be I definitely don’t have time to make home made hummus when it’s easily and cheaply bought in a pot. And most importantly I’m skint. So, basically I’m not a chef. This is wholesome, healthy, awesome toddler food. A collection of meals that have generally gone down well with my two, despite the odd ‘I’m not eating green things’, or ‘the sauce is too sauce-y’or ‘I’m going to throw this on the floor because I’m really hungry, and that’s what you do when your two’. (For those of you that don’t know, toddlers would give highly trained hostage negotiators a run for their money)

These meals are quick, healthy, balanced and generally aimed at children. Loads of the meals can be portioned up for a family, you’d just need to tweak the quantities a little – we often do this, although the soon-to-be-hubby is even fussier than the toddler.

I’m always annoyed when looking at recipes that I don’t own half the ingredients, and once used for a particular meal, said ingredients will just sit in the fridge before being binned. These meals do the opposite, the ingredients get used again and again so don’t fret about buying a tub of mascarpone… look through the recipes, you’ll use it all!'

Thanks everyone, will look into these suggestions! :)

Came on to suggest A Girl Called Jack.

We go between that and Slimming World Veggie Deluxe, in a similar vein to Jack I don't find myself forking out for single use ingredients. Some of the recipes might have a bit of that going on but plenty don't.

Tom Kerridge's -- Proper Pub Grub is good.

The mumsnet cookbook is great for what you're after- it's my go to book if I haven't meal planned/ at the end of the month, as I know all the recipes will have the type of ingredients that will be knocking about.

I have an embarrassing number of cookery books and my favourite by far is Nigel Slater's Real Food. I have that I've prepared every recipie in it or the years. The spiced Indian Baguette is amazing. I also recommend Nigella's Nigella Express for everyday family food. I know what you mean about Jamie and expensive and extensive ingredients (Nigella Slater's the opposite!) but Jamie at Home has some lovely recipes.

My wife and I swear by the Good Housekeeping Cookery Book which I bought when living as a bachelor. It has great recipes for everyday and for special days. That was almost 30 years ago, and my 18 yr old daughter also loves it. It is not "Hip and Trendy" like Jamie Oliver or Nigella, but is great as a cookery bible.

Agree with others on here, Jamies books are great. Not very complicated and very tasty. Love ministry of food and Comfort food. Also couldnt do without the Good Food, goodtoknow or allrecipes.co.uk website.

River cottage everyday is by far the most used cookbook we have!

I have the Good Housekeeping book too but mine must be an older edition to the one in the link, does yours have a picture index in the front? It is very good, I use it for basics like bechamel sauce and Victoria sponge. Does anyone have the River Cottage book for Toddlers/Children?

I agree with PP and recommend Jo Pratt's "Madhouse"; it's seriously good family food with very few ingredients and easy to make.