Cookery book for newly widowed elderly gent

[CMOTDibbler]

FIL is in his 80's and newly widowed. He's overwhelmed by doing everything himself and told me last night when he'd had a few wines that he's really struggling to cook basic recipes and though there are lots of cookery books in the house they are all for 'fancy' dishes for 4 where he wanted me to talk him through stew, shepherds pie, pasta sauce etc
I'll give him my Delia Smith cookery course books, but wondered if anyone had recommendations of other books that might be suitable. He doesn't like online recipes, and is currently easily flustered

Jamie’s Ministry of Food would be ideal I think.

I'd go for Delia. Sure she has a how to book and one with single portion recipes.

Could you write out some simple recipes for him on index cards? Maybe go over and show him how to make them so he can pick up the tips you never put in the notes.

Does he have a sense of humour? My Grandfather quite enjoyed my cooking for one student cookbooks. The being a student of managing his own house for the first time in his life in his late 70's amused him.

Readily available cheap ingredients, not too many ingredients, well known dishes and generally quite quick to put together.

Could you write up/type up a few of the family favourite recipes into a ring binder or something? Maybe with instructions about when/how to portion the dishes off into freezer batches? All the "basic " recipes you mention e.g. beef stew, spag bol etc will be for 4-6 people, its not really possible to make them smaller.

I've got a feeling Delia Smith did a "cooking for one" book many years ago although I have read it myself.

Ministry of Food, plus a supply of freezer boxes/foil dishes so he can portion up meals.

Thanks all, I thought of One is Fun from Delia, and will get Ministry of Food as well.
I have no idea of what sort of things MIL cooked tbh as we were never there for a normal meal, and FIL can be very difficult (he is only honest when drunk) so this also has to be carefully navigated else he will disengage totally

Nigel Slater's Real Fast Food - all complete in 30 mins. Very tasty and quite a few classics.

"Oh, cook" by James May - especially if he's a fan of his programmes.
Self-confessed non-cook, but really easy to follow.

I like the nosh series and they do a nosh for families and a nosh for students. Both are very uncomplicated- stick the the classics and provide really good explanations.

www.amazon.co.uk/Nosh-Busy-Mums-Dads-Cookbook/dp/0956746446?tag=mumsnetforu03-21

Hmm, tricky if he’s not one for accepting help.

My suggestion was going to be go and cook with him - make a shepherd’s pie with him, portion it, freezes some and leave the instructions for defrosting with the recipe.

The things he wants to eat are comfort food - stew, shepherd’s pie - but not easily done for one. So then it’s batch cooking, and that’s another skill to learn - the whole meal planning side of things is daunting.

Are you close enough (distance) to go over weekly?

@Georgyporky

"Oh, cook" by James May - especially if he's a fan of his programmes. Self-confessed non-cook, but really easy to follow.

This was going to be my suggestion too. Unfussy food that's easy to cook for someone with no experience.

All the "basic " recipes you mention e.g. beef stew, spag bol etc will be for 4-6 people, its not really possible to make them smaller.
Agree with this but it's actually good as you then have several really easy meals in the freezer when you don't want to cook. Would something like an instantpot help him if he likes stews and things? Reduces cooking time and you can set the timer and don't need to keep a close eye on it.

Jane Hornby how to cook

I hope this will not offend but would you consider getting him a Home Economics/School Cookery text book. (Not in Uk so not sure of correct term). They are excellent for basic recipes but also explain terms that we often take for granted when cooking.

Age concern has a page of good recipes that you could print out. Or does he want to cook, would he prefer and afford a pile of ready meals.

Does he actually want to cook? Would Wiltshire Farm Foods or something be an option?

He doesn't want ready meals and is a bit obsessed about using up what is in the freezer as well. Unfortunately going over and cooking with him isn't possible
Thank you for further recommendations, I'll check them all out

To be fair wanting to have a crack at cooking nice food from scratch in his 80's is to be commended
A lot of people just wouldn't bother

Another vote for real fast food. Partic for quick and simple ideas.

For his age group Delia is the obvious one. But thinking of simplicity and tastiness, I also like Jack Monroe's first book called A Girl Called Jack which - if he's not offended by the thought you got him a thrifty cookbook and he likes campaigning-type people - is great. Also her book Tin Can Cook.
Can he use a computer or Ipad and is he any good with YouTube etc? I think it really helps to see it done on screen. For this possibly Jamie Oliver, following along on YouTube

I wonder if one of those tray bake recipe books would be good. Very easy to make, no fuss.

He can use a PC, but can't follow a video along. I think its too much information, where it written down simply lets him reread over again.
Tray bakes are a good shout going forward, but he's not ready at the moment to move to new meals, and wants to use up all this mince and stuff he has in - he's stressing about money at the moment even though he doesn't need to particularly

How about this book ? I read a news article about the author and it’s always stayed with me . It’s a book written as she taught her father now to survive day to day without her mother.

www.amazon.co.uk/Teaching-Cook-Flapjack-Miranda-Gardiner/dp/1740668774?tag=mumsnetforu03-21

I've got a feeling Delia Smith did a "cooking for one" book many years ago although I have read it myself.

I have this and it was my first thought but then I thought the title would be rubbing his nose in it. I would recommend the Delia "How to Cook" books.

The nice thing about Ministry of Food is that it has really clear step by step instructions and pictures, which a lot of cookery books don't even if their recipes are good. Maybe some of the Good Housekeeping books?