Help me build a basic cookbook 'library' for my sister please

[Earlybird]

My sister is not much of a cook (neither am I, for that matter). She has recently expressed an interest in learning to cook more/better.

I've had the idea to give her a basic 'cookbook library' for her birthday/Christmas, and thought it might be a good start to get her one book from each of the following:

Nigel Slater
Delia Smith
Jamie Oliver
Nigella
Others?

If you were going to choose one from each as an introduction/overview for a novice cook, which would it be?

Any different/better ideas? Thanks for suggestions.

I'd get a Nigella book if I were you. Do you like baking? Some of the recipes in Domestic Goddess are quite easy, but work out really well. The pictures are great too. I love her writing in Feast but then that's me and you may hate it.

I don't think Nigel Slater is necessarily complicated. What about Appetite? It gives lots of ideas for meals, some fancy but lots not. I'm not a great cook but I find his recipes generally easy to follow.

oh no Nigel Slater is marvellous, he loves food and his recipes are wonderful imo

Delia Smith's Complete Cookery Course is a must though imo. My gran gave it to me for my birthday the summer I left home for University and 17 years later it's still going strong.

Yes, had always heard Nigel Slater was a good one, but never knew which books were good introductions.

I have a friend who swears by the Marcella Hazan 'lemon chicken' recipe. She's sure it was what convinced her dh to propose!

Katymac and all others who are teaching your children to cook - it's a real gift to give, and also wonderful to do something in the kitchen together. My mum was very much a 'kids out of the kitchen, it's my domain' sort of person, so none of us know much about cooking and tend to avoid it as much as possible because we're not good at it. Such a shame because good food is a wonderful way for a family to come together.

Prue Leith step by step
Delia complete
Good housekeeping.

Plenty of good suggestions here......but let's take it a step further.

What specific basic recipes would you recommend from the books you've suggested? Would help to say to dsis that my 'friends' have tried this/that and say it's easy/good.

Want to do everything I can to encourage her to actually get cooking. (And as I've said before, I'll be taking notes for myself too...)

excellent advice in Nigel Slater on how to cook a great steak. His toad in the hole is also a staple in this house

Nigella for pastry, gooey chocolate puddings and yorkshire pudding.

I started out with a good housekeeping book my ratatouille comes from there.

Agree with Katymac...the Dinner Lady cookbook is great as it features straightforward and wholesome recipes for all the family to enjoy. The follow-up, Second Helpings, is good too.

Apple crumble in Nigella's How To Eat is simple but scrummy

Ditto Nigella's lemon Drizzle cake in Domestic Goddess

Pot roasting brisket in Delia's Cookery Course is really simple but delicious

Nigella's cheesy yorkshire puddings in Feast are very special too

Sorry but this is making me feel peckish

I would also have a look at some non chef specific books but ones that maybe cover foods she likes e.g. Easy Indian food?

I own every book mentioned on this list and love most of them for different occaissions... however, I love to read cookery books and love to cook and think that they may seem too much to an abject beginner...

I would suggest you look at some books that focus on quick meals so she can quickly get some meals mastered and not feel overwhelmed with spending ages in kitchen to get a meal out e.g. OK sleb chef but some good and quick things in here or mary berry

-- also some chefs tend to use long lists of ingredients which can put you off so I would look at the following which is good..

only 5 ingredients per recipe

Spanish pork with olives from Delia, Chicken with tarragon a la Nigel.

I think actually the tarragon recipe is with pork (and probably not tarragon actually) but the thing I love about Appetite is that after the recipe he lists half a dozen other things you could try that are similar so if you don't have the ingredients for the recipe that caught your eye there's usually substitutions or variations that might be possible instead. Also great for ringing the changes on old favourites.

ah ha so it's not the books it's the recipes your after, thought so. Have a good look here on MN there are loads, and easy to print as well.

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If she likes cakes and biscuits, would DEFINITELY recommend Nigella's Domestic Goddess. Is not fussy or complicated. I very rarely do "proper" cooking as that's DH's department but I do like making sweet treats from this cookbook. And I'm practically kitchen-phobic.

Jamie Oliver ones are fairly simple, if you know what he is talking about and have all the ingredients, agree his are perhaps not best for beginers. There are some really good non celeb ones with more step by step guides for the basci techniques and simple stuff to get you started. Or at least books that have a good clear picture for every recipe so you know what you are aiming for, arty shots, mega close ups and pics of the chefs freinds and family don't help much .

Cheap as Chips:Better than Toast by Miranda Shearer is a good cookbook with straightforward recipes in it.

It's actually aimed at students being away from home for the first time but I found it in my local library and took it out as it had some good recipes in it, might be worth a look.

other than that definitely go with delia Smith, Nigella and Jamie.

Thanks for more good ideas.

Sixer - specific recipes are very helpful. It's always good to know what is 'tried and true' from personal recommendation. Thanks to all of those who have highlighted their faves.

Additional suggestions of cookery books/recipes much appreciated. And, think an extended trawl through the archives to see what has been discussed in the past might be in order.

The River Cafe books are quite good for inspiration although they do contain some unusual ingrediants.

We've got Eat Up by Mark Hix. It's aimed at meals young children will eat, but there are some simple, tasty recipes in it. I love the butternutsquash risotto. The DC love the chocolate rice crispie pyramid cake especially with sparklers in it.

HOw about something like a good food subscription?

On top of a basic cookbook it gives some good recipe ideas (basic and more complicated) as well as other things like information on seasonal food, specials on specific ingrediants or occasions and techniques, putting menus together etc.

Good HOusekeeping all round recipe books are good.

You really need an all round one to start, that covers not only basic recipes but also information on how to prepare and cook most varieties of veg and information on different cuts of meat, different fish and that kinda thing.

I could not cook a jot before I had kids.

I bought Prue Leith's Cookery Bible - it is a HUGE book but tells you how to do EVERYTHING. From cottage pie to pancakes - every course. Has notes about meat, bowls, measuring etc. etc.

The Prue book was all I needed for ages and then as time went on, I've added a few things -

Mary Berry's Ultimate Cake Book (for baking). Absolutely brilliant. Couldn't do without it.

Any of the Nigel Slaters which have great and easy/simple recipes for delicious meals (esp for entertaining).