What's your most used, underrated cookbook?

[EnglishGirlApproximately]

I already have far too many cookbooks and loads of celebrity chef / famous restaurant ones but I'm always happy to buy more
So I'm after your recommendations! What do you use lots that I might not have?

I'll start - A Flash in the Pan by John White. I know he's a celeb but never see this book recommended or talked about and I use it loads. Just had a fab, easy Saag Halloumi for dinner and use it for quick weeknight meal ideas.
I'd love to get some recommendations

The Italian Cookbook by Katie Caldesi - not one of the classic Italian cookbooks nor a trendy one, but the recipes are solid. There are loads of them too - there are great photographs as you’d expect in a modern cookbook, but they complement the recipes rather than crowding them out. She also talks about how her family eat and cook, but in a way that brings the recipes to life rather than making the book about her.

Sorry, Italian Cookery Course, not Cookbook.

Gordon Ramsey’s Great British Pub Food is something I go back to again and again, in particular the toad in the hole.

Jolene Cox Family food made easy. If I could hand these out to everyone I totally would!!!!

Diana Henry's Food from Plenty is one of my most used, and I rate some of her others highly. Seconding the votes for Marcella Hazan and RFF.

I also like Samin Nusrat's book Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat for the technical understanding of why flavours work; the Flavour Thesaurus for exploring combinations of tastes, Crave by Ed Smith which sorts recipes by mood. And the Readers' Digest Cookery Year for a decent version of just about everything. However, I do not do baking or puds so don't rely on these recommendations if you want cakes and desserts.

OOP but wonderful, look for Annabel Langbein's Good Food for Busy Lives. She's NZ's answer to Delia and equally straightforward and useful.

Jane Grigson's vegetable book. A paperback with a few line drawings, no photographs. But what she didn't know about cooking vegetables probably isn't worth knowing imo.

For the real basics and for base recipes that can be adapted Delia Smiths complete cookery course.

Food porn, Adriano Zumbo’s dessert books.

Most used on a day to say basis, the two chubby Cubs books.

@HelebethH I have that Farmhouse kitchen book too, it was my first student cookbook. Had it out yesterday for advice on marmalade.
The Dairy cookbook and Ministry of Food are great for everyday recipes.

Another vote for The Joy of Cooking. It's the best.

This is my go to cookbook.

I would love a bookshelf full of the eras to compare and contrast

Another vote for Jamie’s Ministry of Food. I’ve also gotten a lot of use out of Lorraine Pascale’s Fast , Fresh & Easy Food - her recipe for salmon with puy lentils is a fave, simple and delicious!

All Anita Bean’s books. They are targeted towards runners/athletes, but the recipes are excellent, especially the vegetarian and vegan ones. They all have easy to find ingredients and are quick, plus they are calorie counted in case you need to know that detail.

I use the How Not to Die cookbook and Happy Pear Health Plan all the time. The latter sounds a bit lame due to the health plan bit - I don't use the meal plans but I adore the butter bean and sausage stew and make it all the time. Also River Cottage Much More Veg is great although DP complains that I put too much lemon in things.

The ones that aren't by someone - with the exception of Deliah's Complete Cookery course which I keep as I use it occasionally. The one I use the most is falling apart and has various years old print outs from BBC good food and handwritten recipes I've stuffed in it. I probably use those more than the recipes in the actual cook book!!

Every other cookbook by a particular chef I've ever had has gone barely used before it's rehomed.

Leith's vegetable Bible. No photos, about 8 recipes per double page. Everything is simple and works. Excellent if you get a veg box or have an allotment and need to do something with a million courgettes. A touch 80s vegetarian cafe but I quite like that.

How to be a domestic goddess is a proper favourite although I doubt it's underrated. Again, everything works.

Sophie Conran's book of stews. Her pie one is also very good. Have made loads of the recipes and they all taste great and are not too faffy

Jo Pratt's madhouse cook book. Quick family recipes - constantly make her mackerel pate and red onion marmalade, and her sausage pasta in particular.