family cook book suggestions

[Partidgeinpeartree]

Have posted in Chat, but this is probably a better place.

I consider myself a half-decent cook but I am currently running out of inspiration. With 4 kids between 10 and 1 I find that I keep on making the same meals as anything ´new´ will result in them refusing to touch it.
I have many cook books (Jamie, Nigella, and loads by cooking magazines) but I´d love suggestions for a cookbook which is focused on quick healthy family meals with ingredients available in every supermarket. I have Jamie´s 5 ingredients book for example, but for cod it only includes one recipe. The book I´m hoping to find would have several cod recipes, several chicken breast recipes etc. We try to reduce our meat intake, so some nice recipes with tofu/etc. would also be wonderful.
Based on this, what book would you recommend?

Ooh, and I have searched and gone through many similar questions asked on this forum before. I saw recommendations for Jamie´s family book/river cottage family book etc: these seem to be more about getting family´s to cook. What looks nice to me so far are the HFW Veg book, Jamie´s Veg book (but that doesn´t include meat, no?) and the Nigel Slater books but I don´t know to what extend they are actually matching my needs (and I cannot buy them all!)
I also read about the pinch of nom books but I don´t know how good they are for families (no immediate need for slimming in the kids - me that´s another story).

have you got Jamie's family superfoods? That's good.

Why a book? What's wrong with the internet?
I often go to the BBC Food website.

I love the roasting tin book.

Super easy. Cook everything in one pan

Second the roasting tin book. Each chapter begins with a series of pictures of things you can vary and add to the tin to make it different eg fish, meat,veg, spice etc

I came on to suggest the internet too. I used to have a thin A4 folder and my collection of recipes has grown so much that it's now in a lever arch folder. DD has very kindly categorised them for me.

I use BBC Good Food, Delicious, Waitrose & Tesco websites plus Pinterest for ideas/recipes.

I also borrow cook books from the library rather than buying them so that i can copy out the recipes. That save me both money and bookshelf space!

SIL bought me 'The Hairy Bikers - One Pot Wonders' for Christmas which might fit the bill. As you'd expect there are lots of quite hearty family meals - probably more meat than fish/veggie but I can see us working through plenty of them.

I also like the 'Doctor's Kitchen' and 'Deliciously Ella' but it depends how fussy your kids are.

Agree with Senua though about the Internet - at least 50% of what I cook comes from BBC Good Food - I just have to be disciplined about saving the recipes otherwise I can never find them again!

I would suggest the library and also charity shops, they usually have plenty of cookbooks for a pound or two, if you don't like it you just redonate it and you are not much out of pocket.

I would just go online. I often look at what's in the fridge and just google a recipe with those ingredients, any good ones I add to a folder on my phone. If I want something made with cod for example, i might just google "easy recipe cod fillet" (I can recommend the hairy bikers cod with chorizo crumb topping by the way)

The books I use loads are HFW's veg (no meat there, but tons of very useful suppers), and river cottage baby and toddler (for all ages).
But the library is definitely your friend! And those cheap second hand book websites. The Mumsnet cookbook is not too bad either if you can find it.
The web is all very well (and I do use it lots), but I do like an actual cookbook.

Nigella's Kitchen has a huge amount of really varied recipes, it's useful for all occasions.

Use the veg ones and add steamed chicken or whatever meat you like?

Second the idea of charity shops. Rose Ellis does good vegetarian.
Also worthwhile keeping a packet of dried vegetarian mince in the cupboard ... makes decent lasagne and anythng else like chili con (non) carne.

The other thing though I never tried it with my DC is doing a weekly plan and involving them in it. The older ones might be quite involved.

What about the Eat Well For Less book? I often use this website it has lots of books listed and you can browse some of the recipes in the books.

thehappyfoodie.co.uk/recipes/books/eat-well-for-less-every-day

I now I am going to sound like an arse licker but one of my favourites is the Mumsnet one, Top Bananas. I have made quite a few of the recipes. A good place for other books is the shop the Works, loads of family books are knock down prices

Fay Ripley’s cookbooks are great - loads of variety for family meals to suit all ages. I outlandish ingredients either.
The intros to each recipe often make me laugh out loud, she has a very amusing style of writing! Fay’s Family Food is the first one and there are two more books after that.

Has the 4 Ingredients collection made it to the UK?

www.4ingredients.com.au/

I like this blog oneyummymummy.com/
and have her cook book. Simple recipes and they generally go down well with my fussy DCs. It's quite meat heavy though.

Go to your public library and borrow a selection. Write down anything successful and return the books and get new ones. I tend to borrow books on cuisines of countries I'd like to visit.

I own the Jamie veg one which is excellent and the kids adore Eat well for less so they are motivated to try recipes from the book

I love this book everyday

it is perfect for families as just gives main courses and is focused around a key ingredient like potato or chicken. It then allows you to adapt each dish as you cook it for kids or later in cooking to up spices/extra additions to make more interesting for adults. I love it - every recipe has worked really well - amazed it is not better known

Not what you asked but I have joined Sim,ply Cook after getting stuck in a complete rut. They send out spices / flavours for 4 meals at a time and you add the fresh ingredients, usually no more than 5 and none take more than 30 minutes to cook. I would really recommend, even one box a month is enough to get new ideas and if you dont use it that week / month it's not like a fresh delivery box where things go off. My next box has

Char Sui BBQ pork
Jerk Chicken
Malay Laska
Japanese Steak

(I don't work for them, honest!)

I also have a subscription to BBC Good Food magazine.

Should have said, you can sub out any of the proteins for veg / fish / tofu etc.

This is a self-published e-book which I like a lot;
"My Family Favourites Recipe Book" by Sue Hay. These have been collected and written by a "real mum" so are properly tried and tested. Not illustrated, just the odd photo between sections.
It's only £2 so fantastic value.

I was going to recommend the library as well. I am always borrowing cookbooks and then if I like lots of the recipes I search them out in charity/second hand book shops. I find National Trust properties often have loads of cookbooks!

I have an ancient Mary Berry Complete Cookbook which I use a lot, I also like the Fay Ripley books. I like Jamie Oliver's 30 minute meals and the Hairy Bikers Books.

There is something about a cookbook that the internet can not beat!

Another one here recommending the Good Food website (comment section can be helpful to check out too) and your local library.

Libraries need our support and they're great for trying new things like recipe books that can be expensive.