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Original poster

I'm bored with my cookbooks. Can someone recommend some please?

43 replies

Twinklemegan · 01/02/2008 23:06

I currently have cookbooks by Delia Smith, Mrs Beeton, Linda McCartney and a few other random ones. I can't get inspired by the recipes at all. I'm after something, preferably by someone I've heard of, which delivers good value but interesting recipes using fairly easy to find ingredients. Although I'm not averse to trying something a bit more luxurious very occasionally.

My main foods of choice are generally casserole-type things and Italian. I'm particularly after interesting veggie recipes (cheaper), recipes using cheap but nice cuts of meat, or recipes that make meat go a long way. Oh and nice fish recipes too. Hell, in fact anything that can help me broaden my repertoire and cook more like the some of the people on Masterchef.

Has anyone got any suggestions please?

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Original poster
Twinklemegan · 01/02/2008 23:07

Oh, I should add I'm a WOHM that leaves at 6.45am and gets home at 6pm, so I don't have a lot of time to do lengthy preparation.

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Maidamess · 01/02/2008 23:08

Well if Jamie Olivers 'at home' cook book is as mouthwatering as the programme, that would be a great one.

controlfreakyagain · 01/02/2008 23:09

have a look at nigel slater's books. all fab and some aimed at "real" fast food. especially recommend his kitchen diaries....

Original poster
Twinklemegan · 01/02/2008 23:10

Yes, I'm thinking something like Jamie Oliver. I'd be interested to hear from anyone who's used any of his books.

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Original poster
Twinklemegan · 01/02/2008 23:11

I wondered if Nigel Slater's might be a bit old fashioned? But I haven't looked so there's no basis for that at all. I'll check them out - thanks.

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StrangeTown · 01/02/2008 23:13

Nigel Slater's Real Food is good - has a basic recipe then 4-5 pretty good variations of it which is very confidence building when you want to expand your recipe portfolio.

I use Nigella's How to Eat a lot too, it is actually a good read if you can get how bonkers she went in her last series out of your head.

I didn't really like Jamie's Italian one, the recipes seemed a bit hard work.

Hugh FW Meat one seemed a good idea, lots of recipes for cheap cuts, but again, in practice hardly anything I would actually make.

expatinscotland · 01/02/2008 23:14

I really like the Jamie Oliver Naked Chef and Return of the Naked Chef I picked up at The Bethany Shop in Leith for a fiver.

I cook a lot of veggie and my Madhur Jaffrey books see a lot of use.

quickdrawmcgraw · 01/02/2008 23:15

I have recently got the Avoca cookbooks and am really enjoying the results. Don't quite know why amazon is shoping them at £268.45 though
Avoca 1 is better than the second one.

bundle · 01/02/2008 23:16

Sarah Raven's Garden Cookbook is marvellous

thebluefoxategreensocks · 02/02/2008 00:15

I've got a large format pasta cookbook, everything imaginable made with pasta. If you're interested in knowing what it's called, I'll dig it out tomorrow and give you title/isbn etc. I got it for a wedding present 3+ years ago and only recently got it out & I've found lots of nice recipes in it!

Another idea is to look at websites with recipes. I sometimes have fun browsing online cookery websites and you can find some nice meals to make, just perhaps a bit overwhelming with soooo many recipes online!

Original poster
Twinklemegan · 02/02/2008 00:17

Thanks everyone. Good to hear bad things as well. Rachel - yes I'd be interested in the name if you don't mind - I love pasta.

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Pruners · 02/02/2008 00:20

Message withdrawn

Swedes · 02/02/2008 00:32

Real Fast Food by Nigel Slater - really excellent for days when you are in a hurry but don't want to eat rubbish.

Original poster
Twinklemegan · 02/02/2008 00:33

Yep, Nigel Slater's sounding good. I think there are a few in my local bookshop so I'll look them out. Is Sophie Grigson the one who know about herbs?

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suzywong · 02/02/2008 00:39

For Italian cooking you want Marcella Hazan: The Essentials of Classical Italian Cooking.

mumemma · 02/02/2008 01:19

Nigel Slater's are all brilliant.

Donna Hay's books are very good - very easy recipes, very healthy, quite a bit of pan-Asian and lovely flavour combinations - the photography in the books is beautiful but the recipes are realistic.

The Moro books are inspiring but some of the ingredients can be hard to get hold of.

I agree re Nigella How to Eat - none of the later books compare.

missorinoco · 02/02/2008 01:24

have nigel slater's the 30 minute cook. is fab.

also second jamie oliver and donna hay.

donna hay has a book called fast food which divides recipes into 10 minutes, 20 minutes and 30 minutes.

hedonia · 02/02/2008 01:27

agree sarah raven is fab but I have more cookery books than anyone I know and thehone I turn to time and time again is Bill Granger - a healthy Nigel Slater

hedonia · 02/02/2008 01:29

basically bill is a better donna hay..sometimes she is just too minimalist invher recipes!

yomellamoHelly · 02/02/2008 10:54

Also a fan of Nigel Slater. Have used his 20-minute cook book a lot. Recently become a big fan of the Tana Ramsay's books. Her meals are huge so I can cook a lot one week and hardly the next. Some of Jamie Oliver's recipes have also become standard fare here (purloined from FIL's books). My FIL got a book by an italian, Gennaro, which is also quite good (copied out a few of those too). We've also got Lindsay Bareham's One Pot book which is excellent. And dh got the Arjan A??? Indian made easy book for christmas which has some really straight-forward ones in too (and some more time-heavy ones too!).

Do you know anyone whose recipe books you could borrow from a short time and try them out. I always think you only ever take a handful of ideas from any book it's a good book and it could work out expensive if you're starting from scratch.

ProfessorGrammaticus · 02/02/2008 11:01

Another Nigel Slater fan. And I also like Jamie Oliver's books

oneweemite · 02/02/2008 11:04

Rachel Allen's at home book is excellent. lots of family meals in that one. got her new one for Christmas and there are fancier recipes in that one. both very good and easy to make recipes

bundle · 02/02/2008 11:47

has anyone got Silver Spoon for Italian stuff? friend reckons that and the Tamasin Day Lewis Kitchen Bible (never far from Nigel Slater's side, apparently) are the dogs

yummylittlelapin · 02/02/2008 11:54

I was going to say Silver Spoon. It's excellent. Also love Tamasin's Tart book. Gary Rhodes' New British Classics gets used a lot, also Leith's Bible (a real staple, I would buy this for someone who had no other cookbook). I like Jamie's Italian too.

Original poster
Twinklemegan · 02/02/2008 12:01

Wow, so many suggestions! I'm going on Amazon now to see if I can get any of them on special offer. I've no one nearby to borrow any from unfortunately.

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